What is your favorite music lyric that reminds you of a Buddhist teaching?

In each issue of our magazine, we ask you, our readers, to “Share Your Wisdom” by answering a question we’ve put to you.

Rod Meade Sperry
2 December 2015
music, lion's roar, share your wisdom, buddhism
Photo by Tiger Pixel.

In each issue of our magazine, we ask you, our readers, to “Share Your Wisdom” by answering a question we’ve put to you. This seems to us like an especially fun installment. Here’s the question, to be found in the March 2016 premiere issue of Lion’s Roar (formerly the Shambhala Sun).

What is your favorite music lyric that reminds you of a Buddhist teaching?

Thanks to all those of you who sent in your replies. You may well see yours printed in the magazine.

In the meantime, here’s one song that comes up for us. It’s “Aerials” by System of a Down. So what’s the Buddhist connection? The lyrics do seem to have a dharmic tone to them—and that’s because they’re a musical retelling of an actual teaching by Shunryu Suzuki Roshi. (To hear that teaching, as read by actor Peter Coyote, click here.)

Rod Meade Sperry. Photo by Megumi Yoshida, 2024

Rod Meade Sperry

Rod Meade Sperry is the editor of Buddhadharma, Lion’s Roar’s online source for committed Buddhists, and the book A Beginner’s Guide to Meditation: Practical Advice and Inspiration from Contemporary Buddhist Teachers. He lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with his partner and their tiny pup, Sid.