In a world where too many are shown the door, this week’s featured track opens a window—and it’s filled with boundless, radiant light. “Come As You Are” is a breathtakingly tender response to the pain of conditional love, a musical sanctuary built for those who have been made to feel they don’t belong.

Addressing the deep wounds of religious and familial rejection with heartbreaking clarity—”Family photos missing your face,” “love shouldn’t come with a price or a sentence”—the song doesn’t just dwell on the hurt. It masterfully pivots into a powerful affirmation, a chorus that feels less like lyrics and more like a direct, healing embrace. The recurring mantra, “Come as you are, there’s nothing to prove,” is a radical act of love in itself.

This is more than a ballad; it’s a spiritual homecoming set to music. By framing the Buddha’s light as an “unbiased” refuge, it offers a profound alternative to dogma: a love that sees no shame, only wholeness. For anyone who has ever been asked to hide, to repent, or to change their truth, this song is the gentle, unwavering voice reminding you: “You’ve been whole and worthy all along.” It’s not just a song you hear; it’s a sanctuary you feel.

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Did they tell you love was conditional?
Prayers unsaid, like whispers in the air,
Family photos missing your face,
Fractured hearts in a world of despair.
Letters scribbled full of ‘repent,’
No ‘how’s your health?’ in their tight-lipped silence,
You tried to find a home in a faith that’s bent,
But love shouldn’t come with a price or a sentence.

[Chorus]
Come as you are, there’s nothing to prove,
In Buddha’s light, there’s a home for you.
No judgment here, no need to hide,
True love is unbiased, and it’s on your side.

[Verse 2]
Did they call your truth a heavy shame?
Try to paint your joy with their narrow frame?
But your heart still beats its steady song,
You’ve been whole and worthy all along.
No more silence, no more disguise,
There’s nothing broken in your eyes.
In kindness, in peace, you’ll finally see—
Love was never theirs to decree.

[Chorus]
Come as you are, there’s nothing to prove,
In Buddha’s light, there’s a home for you.
No judgment here, no need to hide,
True love is unbiased, and it’s on your side.

[Bridge]
Lay down the sorrow you carried for years,
This is a refuge that gathers your tears.
Here in this moment, you’re safe, you belong,
The truth of your being has been love all along.

[Chorus]
Come as you are, there’s nothing to prove,
In Buddha’s light, there’s a home for you.
No judgment here, no need to hide,
True love is unbiased, and it’s on your side.

[Outro]
So if they turn away, don’t bow your head low,
In compassion’s garden, your true self can grow.
With Buddha’s love surrounding, you’ll never be alone,
In this light of acceptance, you’ve found your home.

In its original teachings, Buddhism is fundamentally free from bias and discrimination. This is powerfully illustrated by the story of Angulimala, a serial killer whom the Buddha accepted as a disciple; Angulimala subsequently achieved enlightenment. However, as Buddhism spread across different cultures, its expression was inevitably shaped by local customs and social values. Out of respect for these communities, Buddhist teachers often incorporated regional moral principles, sometimes introducing elements that were not present in the earliest Buddhist texts.

My hope is that this song brings solace to the marginalized and broadcasts a powerful truth: some religions, like Buddhism at its core, welcome all.

May all be well and happy.