Siddhartha's

Heng Sure's imagined framing of Prince Siddhartha's departure from his household.

Ravenna Michalsen: LISTEN: Songs About The Buddha-To-Be Ravenna Michalsen 2011

Heng Sure's imagined framing of Prince Siddhartha's departure from his household.

Ravenna Michalsen: LISTEN: Songs About The Buddha-To-Be Ravenna Michalsen 2011

The chorus is then punctuated by the calling of his wife's name, Yasodhara, and Prince Siddhartha's first-person musings that already bear the imprint of what would become part of Buddhist thought: an emphasis on impermanence, the dangers of the various forms of attachment, and renunciation.

Ravenna Michalsen: LISTEN: Songs About The Buddha-To-Be Ravenna Michalsen 2011

Even though these songs are musically very dissimilar, what I admire about each is the precision of the imagined lyrical details about Prince Siddhartha's decision to leave his wife, child and kingdom, as well as the training he underwent leading to his eventual experience of awakening.

Ravenna Michalsen: LISTEN: Songs About The Buddha-To-Be Ravenna Michalsen 2011

Heng Sure uses the verses to provide a simple narration of Prince Siddhartha's life around age 29: royal, married, a father, sheltered and yet deeply dissatisfied.

Ravenna Michalsen: LISTEN: Songs About The Buddha-To-Be Ravenna Michalsen 2011

The chorus is then punctuated by the calling of his wife's name, Yasodhara, and Prince Siddhartha's first-person musings that already bear the imprint of what would become part of Buddhist thought: an emphasis on impermanence, the dangers of the various forms of attachment, and renunciation.

Ravenna Michalsen: LISTEN: Songs About The Buddha-To-Be Ravenna Michalsen 2011

Before his achievement, Mara--the supreme foe who tempts all beings into unconsciousness--was determined to prevent Siddhartha's liberation from occurring.

Larry Yang: Toward Freedom And Enlightenment Queerly: LGBTQ And Dharma Larry Yang 2012

Before his achievement, Mara--the supreme foe who tempts all beings into unconsciousness--was determined to prevent Siddhartha's liberation from occurring.

Larry Yang: Toward Freedom And Enlightenment Queerly: LGBTQ And Dharma Larry Yang 2012

What this track evokes for me is both the mystery of what happened that night and a completely uncomplicated optimism regarding the results of Siddhartha's training.

Ravenna Michalsen: LISTEN: Songs About The Buddha-To-Be Ravenna Michalsen 2011

Heng Sure uses the verses to provide a simple narration of Prince Siddhartha's life around age 29: royal, married, a father, sheltered and yet deeply dissatisfied.

Ravenna Michalsen: LISTEN: Songs About The Buddha-To-Be Ravenna Michalsen 2011