Plateau, the higher meaning of the Nirvana song

Many a hand has scaled the grand old face of the plateau
many people have attempted to become enlightened using that old time religion and reached a plateau

Some belonged to strangers, some to folks you know
Some of them were Pratyekabuddhas (don't teach), some were Samyaksambuddhas (do teach)

Holy ghosts and talk show hosts are planted in the sand
over time even the most enlightened subjects tend to disintegrate into meaningless drivel

To beautify the foothills, and shake the many hands
these produce beautiful culture providing a sense of what is possible, and those who are helped by enlightened ones

nothing on the top but a bucket and a mop
in emptiness of enlightenment there is much work remaining to help others clean up karma and deluded thinking, it's normal

And an illustrated book about birds
and the biographies and hagiographies of those who have become enlightened and have gone beyond before you

See a lot up there but don't be scared
there is a lot of information about the various techniques, but don't be frightened of all the paths and choices

Who needs action when you got words?
because you don't need to worry about karma or other forms of action tantra when mantrayana exists

finished with the mop then you can stop
once you have calmed your own mind and cleaned your karma out, you can stop

And look at what you've done
observe the real, observe yourself

The plateau's clean, no dirt to be seen
where you are is perfection itself, pure emptiness

And the work it was fun
self realization is fun but work

nothing on the top but a bucket and a mop
from the highest view there is pure body speech and mind

And an illustrated book about birds
and illusion is obvious, such as greed, hatred, and delusion (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhavacakra)

See a lot up there but don't be scared
there are left handed and right handed paths

Who needs action when you got words
but mantrayana works if you don't choose action tantra or yoga

Many a hands began to scan around for the next plateau
lots of seekers start to look for yet another plateau

Some say it was Greenland, and some say Mexico
thinking it is someplace else they will go north or south, or choose some other path


Others decided it was nowhere except for where they stood
but the wise and realized understand that samsara and nirvana are the same - where they stand now

But those were all just guesses, wouldn't help you if they could
But this is just a story, you have to have the experience yourself

Thanks to Fred, Nathan, and Chris for this idea...