In an age of curated enlightenment and performative wellness, a new track arrives with a wink and a well-aimed jab. “Hypocritical Brother” sets its sights on a very modern archetype: the spiritual poser. This isn’t a song about generic villains; it’s a sharply observant and playfully scathing roast of the peacocks in monk’s clothing.

With lyrics that nail the contradiction of “meditation selfies” and preaching karma while living like you’re “outside its hold,” the song holds up a mirror to anyone who confuses the aesthetic for the authentic. The energy is infectious, bouncing between a K-pop-esque playfulness and the direct, crowd-energizing chant of “미쳤어!” (“Are you crazy?”), before landing the serious, cross-linguistic punch of “走火入魔…” — a Chinese idiom for spiritual cultivation gone dangerously awry.

It’s more than a call-out; it’s a cheeky intervention. “Hypocritical Brother” is the musical equivalent of a friend nudging you, pointing, and asking with a laugh, “Do you even hear yourself?” The ultimate message, delivered with a knowing wink in the outro, remains the timeless truth we all need to be reminded of: “Don’t mock the basics, just practice what you preach.”

Lyrics

[Verse 1]

Talk compassion, hand on your chest,

But when beggars pass by, you say, “Eh, that’s their test.”

Preach karma all day like you’re spinning gold,

But you live like somehow you’re outside its hold.

[Pre-Chorus]

Not swatting flies, you brag it loud,

But your tongue’s a knife, cutting through the crowd.

Meditation selfies, incense smoke,

Meanwhile your ego’s the loudest joke.

[Chorus]

Hypocritical brother….,

do you know what you’re up to?

Is it ignorance, or are your wires all screwed through?

미쳤어, 미쳤어, 미쳤어? (michyeosseo?) (crowd echoes: “미쳤어!”)

Did you ?

走火入魔…!

Don’t mock the basics, just practice what you preach!

[Verse 2]

Say “Be humble,” but your robe’s on parade,

March like a peacock in a monk cosplay.

Teach “Detach,” but your phone’s your shrine,

Counting followers, chanting, “All mine, all mine!”

[Pre-Chorus]

You shout “peace!” like a protest song,

But your mind’s a storm just raging along.

Tell folks “be mindful, sit calm, be still,”

Then you honk your horn when they cut your wheel.

[Chorus]

Hypocritical brother…,

do you know what you’re up to?

Is it ignorance, or are your wires all screwed through?

미쳤어, 미쳤어, 미쳤어? (michyeosseo?) (crowd echoes: “미쳤어!”)

Did you?

走火入魔…!

Don’t mock the basics, just practice what you preach!

[Bridge]

Loving-kindness in the dharma talk,

But behind closed doors, hear the gossip walk.

All this noise, but the heart ain’t clear,

Enlightenment ain’t just a mask you wear.

[Chorus – Big & Playful]

Hypocritical brother….,

do you know what you’re up to?

Is it ignorance, or are your wires all screwed through?

미쳤어, 미쳤어, 미쳤어? (michyeosseo?) (crowd echoes: “미쳤어!”)

Did you?

走火入魔…!

Don’t mock the basics, just practice what you preach!

[Outro – Spoken/Sung Callback]

(Spoken, playful)

So, brother… sister… teacher too…

Before you point fingers, maybe check your view.

(Sung lightly, almost joking)

미쳤어, 미쳤어? yeah, maybe we all are, a bit…

But hey — practice with heart, and the shoe might fit.

(Spoken with a wink)

Don’t mock the basics…

(Sung, drawn-out with crowd)

Just practice what you preach.

Shouldn’t we focus on ourselves instead of criticising others?

You are right! And there’s no one stopping us from self-examination when listening to the song.

On a lighter note, you may also be reminded of someone. We just need to remind ourselves not to become someone like that too.

Note: You can download this song by going to “My Buddhist Songs” in the menu above.

May all be well and happy.