From the Rig Veda Burial Hymn:

Listen to parts of this evocative burial hymn from the Veda:

Those who are alive have now parted from those who are dead. Our inviation to the gods has become auspicious today. We have gone forward to dance and laugh, strethicn farther our own lengthening span of life.

I set up this wall for the living, so that no one llse among them will reach this point. Let them live a hundred full autumns and bury death in this hill.

I take the bow from the hand of the dead man to be our supremacy and glory and power, and I say, ‘You are there; we are here. Let us as great heroes conquer all envious attacks.

I am struck, first of all, by the vigor in which the composer(s) both set themselves apart from death and the dead one (while praying for his safety and health in the afterlife) as well as glorify the living. There is the same sense that we today feel at funerals, “not for us,” we are here and continue “to dance and laugh,” we hope. Although one does hear of greater attempts in our society not to have funerals simply being a an affair of sorrow, it is difficult for us to remove ourselves from the cloud of death. I know it is for me. But death can serve to remind us of the joy of being alive; to be thankful for that experience even if the most wise sages beckon us not to be attached to it. If we knew we only had one day left to live—and let’s say we knew in our hearts we would continue afterwards—I think of how rich every experience would seem, and all the intensity of the senses. Ken Wilber speaks of the pre/trans fallacy that obtaining enlightenment is not simply returning to the joy of childhood but is richer and built on deeper experiences and not dominated by the massive ego of childhood. Nonetheless, a part of truly appreciating being alive is to experience the freshness of everything without judgement. Not to remove it—for how would we fix society’s ills—but I can remember growing up in Boston and how these little light blue lights that guided our way around Harvard University at dusk seemed so luminously brilliant to me. That color and its small size felt so otherworldly and transcendent to me then whereas now I might simply note it. However, when I quiet my mind of all the overload of various information and issues I find its still there. The vivid freshness of experiences never dulls it only recedes to the background as logical, "to do" information dominates and the experience is no longer new. And so we go “forward to dance and laugh” regardless of whatever life throws our way for “we are here.” Whatever one's views of the afterlife are, death is a real loud bell to "be here."

LINKS:

Mexico is posed to legalize light possession of some illegal drugs. We are dropping miles and miles behind this issue. That alcholism, for example, is far more damaging to communities and families than pot smoking is just one little start to the hypocritical nature of American drug laws.

Bill Kristol is given a tougher interview by Colbert than in the real media.

$4 billion in Iraq war money is just gone and "untrackable"

John Lydon records an introduction to punk fashion for a new exhibtion at the Met. As ridiculous as he can be, you've gotta give him this, unlike most rockers he does actually say things of interest.

Potentially excellent new blog tracking developments with philosopher Ken Wilber. It's off to a good start as it criticizes the increasingly insulated atmosphere of the integral world.

This is the best site I can find for photos of the bizzare world of deep sea fish. I'm really really constantly amazed at these creatures. I just wish there was more on them on the Web.

Interesting blog by a Lutheran minister.

Great Dylan performance--1964: