Bodhi-bowl’s “Dukkha” finds profound grace within the blues. This track transforms the genre’s traditional ache into a gentle anthem of radical acceptance. From its weary opening lines to its mantra-like chorus—“It hurts, and that’s okay”—the song acknowledges life’s inherent weight with clear-eyed compassion. More than a lament, it’s a balm: a soulful, soft-spoken reminder that pain, understood and shared, is where true healing begins. This is the blues, reframed not as a cry of despair, but as a steady, resonant hum of human resilience.
Many people perceive the Buddhist message of Dukkha as sombre and depressing. Many don’t want to listen. But for me, Dukkha is something that binds us together. It’s a shared experience across humanity and even species. It assures us that we are not alone in experiencing pain. And for the kinder ones, the question then arose: “How can I not contribute to it and perhaps help to lessen it”
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Some days feel heavier than they should
Smiles wear thin, even when we’re good
We chase the light, we trip, we sway
Tell ourselves, “I’ll be okay”
[Pre-Chorus]
We pretend there’s no cracks inside
That quiet ache we try to hide
But every heart you’ve ever known
Has carried weight it bore alone
[Chorus]
It hurts, and that’s okay
This world was never perfect anyway
Every joy fades, every rose bends
Every hello learns how to end
It hurts, and that’s okay
I’m not broken, I’m aware
This world is tender, wild, and true
I feel it all—and so do you
[Verse 2]
Love arrives, then slips away
Youth grows tired, time won’t stay
Even laughter leaves its mark
When we miss who we once were
[Pre-Chorus 2]
Nothing here was built to last
Not the future, not the past
Knowing this, I finally see
I’m not alone in feeling weak
[Chorus]
It hurts, and that’s okay
This world was never perfect anyway
Every joy fades, every rose bends
Every hello learns how to end
It hurts, and that’s okay
I’m not broken, I’m aware
This world is tender, wild, and true
I feel it all—and so do you
[Bridge]
This is the truth we all deny
Birth and tears and long goodbyes
Holding on just feeds the pain
So I breathe and stay with it
[Soft Drop]
If your heart feels worn and thin
You’re not failing—you’re human
[Final Chorus]
It hurts, and that’s okay
Seeing clearly is the way
I don’t need to run or pretend
Pain is where compassion begins
It hurts, and that’s okay
I won’t turn my eyes away
In this knowing, soft and true
I’m learning how to love you too
[Outro]
It hurts, but I’m still here
Yeah, it hurts, but I’m still here
Mai bpen rai — it’s okay
I’ll take it one day at a time
To access the song, click on My Buddhist Songs.
May all be well and happy.
Categories: Articles
I am just an ordinary guy in Singapore with a passion for Buddhism and I hope to share this passion with the community out there, across the world.
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