Brian Wilson, like the Buddha, achieved his pivotal enlightenment at sunrise.


I was sittin' in a crummy movie
With my hands on my chin
all the violence that occurs
Seems like we never win

Love and mercy that's what you need tonight
Love and mercy to you and your friends tonight

I was lying in my room
And the news came on TV
A lotta people out there hurtin'
And it really scares me

Love and mercy that's what you need tonight
Love and mercy to you and your friends tonight

I was standing in a bar
And watching all the people there
Oh the loneliness in this world
Well it's just not fair

Love and mercy that's what we need tonight
Love and mercy to you and your friends tonight

The back cover of Pet Sounds features photos of the Beach Boys as Zen embracing samurai warriors.


"Really Zen, Right?"   -Brian Wilson 1967


"The eternal now, right?" ~Brian Wilson
Surfing Saints Cheetah Oct. '67

    
	
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    View Libera perform a moving rendition of this song for honoree, Brian
Wilson.
    

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Brian's Label artwork featured this uniquely American symbol of enlightenment.







"Smile" was Brian Wilson's one word synopsis of the imperative of enlightenment.  Finally released in 2004, "Smile" was almost 40 years in the making.  It was an impressionistic attempt at expressing Brian's highly personal experience of enlightenment.  Songs like "Surf's Up" and "Our Prayer" attest to the contemplative nature of the album.