Introduction

Bodhi-Bowl returns with a powerful, introspective anthem of un-becoming: “No i.”

This track is a raw excavation of identity — moving from the suffocation of inherited labels to the liberating spaciousness of emptiness.

Over a brooding, wrathful, atmospheric production, the lyrics trace the painful yet necessary dismantling of “borrowed names” and “secondhand truths.” It questions the quiet assumptions we build our lives upon: the roles we were assigned, the beliefs we inherited, the masks we learned to defend.

The song does not crescendo into a new identity.
It dissolves into release.

The chorus becomes a vow — freedom from illusion, from costume, from “borrowed skin.” And that catharsis erupts into the echoing incantation of the Heart Sutra mantra in Japanese:

Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhi Svaha

In this moment, philosophy becomes visceral.
“Form is emptiness” is no longer a concept — it becomes a battle cry.

“No i” is not about becoming someone new.
It is about the fearless freedom of standing in the open air when there is nothing left to defend.

The Story Behind the Song

“No i” is inspired by the Buddhist doctrine of Anatta (Non-Self), taught by the Buddha in the Pali Canon and central to the wisdom tradition of Buddhism.

For many people, the idea of “no soul” sounds frightening — even nihilistic.

For me, it felt like oxygen.

As a child, I was told that without faith in a particular religion, I would burn for eternity. That idea leaves a deep imprint. The fear of eternal punishment is powerful.

But if there is no fixed, permanent soul to condemn…
What exactly burns?

The teaching of Anatta does not mean we do not exist. It means what we call “self” is not a solid, eternal entity. It is a dynamic process — shaped by causes and conditions: culture, family, trauma, expectations, education, memory, fear.

When we see this clearly, identity becomes workable.

We are not trapped inside a sacred label.
We are not frozen in someone else’s definition.
We are not condemned by inherited narratives.

If the self is constructed, it can also be deconstructed.

And in that space, there is tremendous freedom.

“No i” is therefore not nihilism.
It is rebellion against psychological imprisonment.
It is permission to question what you were told you must be.
It is the courage to step outside inherited fear.

Why the Mantra?

The mantra chanted in the hook comes from the Heart Sutra, one of the most influential Mahayana Buddhist texts.

In Japanese it is chanted as:

ぎゃてい　ぎゃてい　はらぎゃてい
はらそうぎゃてい
ぼじそわか

This mantra points beyond conceptual thinking. It celebrates crossing over — going beyond fixed views of self and reality.

In the song, the mantra is not ornamental.
It represents the leap.

The moment when thinking collapses and something lighter remains.

Lyrics

If This Resonates

You can find my music on Spotify and most streaming platforms under Bodhi-Bowl.

If this song speaks to something in you:

• Save it to your library
• Add it to a playlist
• Share it with someone navigating identity or spiritual doubt

These small actions tell the algorithm that Dharma-inspired music deserves to travel further.

My hope is simple:
To make Buddhist insight feel emotionally honest and relevant to the modern grind — work stress, bullying, expectation, fear, identity pressure.

If you prefer, you can also download the unmastered MP3 here on the blog.

Thank you for listening.
Thank you for questioning.
Thank you for stepping beyond.

May all be well and happy.