First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is.
The chorus of this song: “First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is,“ may sound incomprehensible or silly, but the lines are a Zen saying Donovan borrowed and which have a meaning. The lines are intended to succinctly describe three stages of Zen. Pre-enlightenment, one’s aware of the Universe as physical (there is a mountain). Then through meditation one may experience a visionary state where the physical Universe seems to disappear (no mountain) where the “Buddha Mind“/Tao [Zen first developed in China as a blend of Indian Buddhism & Chinese Taoism] root of reality behind physical appearances is experienced as non-physical. After that vision, the mountain reappears, except in ones new enlightened state one is simultaneously aware of the physical mountain & the Void/Tao non-physical reality behind it & at its root... And now you know the rest of the story!
As a Theravada Buddhist, I think of jhana. When one gets into these deep absorption states, you no longer see the mountain. When you come out you see the mountain and reality, clearer.
My girlfriend filmed this when we spent Christmas of 2014 in Whistler, BC. This is filmed from the top of Whistler Mountain, just before we took the peak to peak gondola across to Blackcome Mountain.
Donovan in Concert - There Is a Mountain
There Is A Mountain
16 views
3086
751
4 weeks ago 00:01:06 1
HAPPY Birthday Song – Happy Birthday to You
4 weeks ago 00:03:11 1
(AI) BLACKPINK - ’MEOW’ LYRICS+LINE DISTRIBUTION
4 weeks ago 00:02:43 1
(AI) BLACKPINK - ’Chk Chk Boom’ Color Coded Lyrics
4 weeks ago 00:03:22 1
Dope . - What Happened | Official Music Video
4 weeks ago 00:02:47 1
Joy Division - Isolation - HD Audio & Video Remaster
4 weeks ago 00:03:43 3
Cancelled Test at Area 51 Groom after base’s UH-60 spots me on Tikaboo! October 12, 2023
4 weeks ago 00:01:08 1
Underground Blossom Main Theme - Victor Butzelaar and Sebastiaan van Halsema 🎶
4 weeks ago 00:03:18 1
Modern Talking - Cheri Cheri Lady (Video)
4 weeks ago 00:37:51 1
Su-35: a guest from the future. The fastest and the most maneuverable fighter of the Air Force
4 weeks ago 00:23:33 1
Садхгуру | Мантра ИНВОКАЦИЯ [Тот, кто вне времени]
4 weeks ago 00:10:38 1
Angry Video Game Nerd Adventures Guitar Medley
4 weeks ago 00:09:17 9
[RemKaioh] NEW DIO MASTERY SHOWCASE + GETO ABILITY & MADARA FREE RELEASE [Realm Rampage]
4 weeks ago 00:09:25 1
Boss RC-505 Loop Station - Multi-Instrumental Live Looping - Reinhardt Buhr
4 weeks ago 00:03:44 1
ALICE IN WONDERLAND VILLAIN SONG - I Only Paint in Red Now | Song by Lydia the Bard & Tony
4 weeks ago 00:08:28 1
Wardruna - Lyfjaberg (Healing-mountain) Official music video
4 weeks ago 00:03:18 1
Falling In Reverse - “Ronald“ (feat. Tech N9ne & Alex Terrible)