Guest guest Posted June 27, 2005 Report Share Posted June 27, 2005 About a week ago, on National Public Radio, they interviewed American country-singer Glen Campbell, and the songwriter Jimmy Webb, who penned a number of Glen's hits ("Wichitaw Lineman," The Moon'a A Harsh Mistress," etc.). Webb's lyrics are often intelligent, moving, and evocative. They played the following song in live performance. Perhaps being aware of my father's immanent death, it moved me to tears. But it typifies the difference between the Western and the Hindu/Buddhist views of reincarnation. I found myself talking to the radio: "Yeah, well we Westerners see reincarnation as a new adventure. And the song's examples are all romantic, swashbuckling adventures. The vast majority of lifetimes are devoid of heroism or even real challenges. Nobody remembers past lives of poverty and hardship, frustration, illness, perpetual childbirth, with no hope for release. The Eastern view of reincarnation, the point of the exercise, is to get OFF the wheel, not continuously ride it like a kid on a merry-go-round!" A Neo-Pagan friend wrote me, "May your beloved Ganesha remove all obstacles to your father's quick reincarnation into a better, more exciting life." I dunno... What about Moksha? Here's the lyric: > > THE HIGHWAYMAN > > I was a highwayman > Along the coach roads I did ride > With the sword and pistol by my side > And many a young maid lost her baubles to my trade > And many a soldier shed his life blood on my blade > They fin'lly hung me in the spring of '25 > But I am still alive > > I was a sailor > And I was born upon the tide > And with the sea I did abide > I sailed a schooner 'round the horn of Mexico > I went aloft to furl the mainsail in a blow > And when the yards broke off they say that I got > killed > But I am living still > > I was a dam builder > Across the river deep and wide > Where steel and water did collide > A place called Boulder on the wild Colorado > I slipped and fell into the wet concrete below > They buried me in that great tomb that knows no > sound > But I am still around > Seems like it all goes 'round and 'round > and 'round and 'round ... > > I'll fly a starship > Across the universe divide > Until I reach the other side > I'll find a place to rest my spirit if I can > Perhaps I may become a highwayman again > Or I may simply be a single drop of rain > But I will remain > And I'll be back again > and again, and again, and again. -- Len/ Kalipadma __ Sports Rekindle the Rivalries. Sign up for Fantasy Football http://football.fantasysports. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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