Today, 15 Feb., is celebrated by Buddhists as Nirvana Day, commemorating the death of the Buddha at age 80, as he reached Enlightenment: the end of rebirth, and beginning of peace.
Ironic, isn't it, that yesterday the Western world had St. Valentine's Day, a tribute to longing and desire as flames of life, while today Buddhists celebrate the exact opposite, the cessation of desire, as the source of happiness.
Well, it strikes us as ironic, anyway. It also strikes us as ironic that the Bee Gees and Missing Persons both had songs called "Words", but the songs are very different.
Here's our weekend contest. Tell us your preference, Valentine's Day or Nirvana Day. Desire or none. Bee Gees or Missing Persons. Cheesecake or cannoli. We don't care what it is. Enlighten us. No kidding.
We'll select a random entry as winner of a $10 gift certificate to Small World Music. Post a reply here at Ithaca Blog, or write Small World Music at sworldmu@twcny.rr.com.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog and Small World Music
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