Nihilists, Buddhists: Dust in the Wind?

[Sweetie]

I always loved this song, it's an awesome song as far as lyrics, music and vocals are concerned so listen to it if you ever get the chance.

Anyways, so, I can't really figure out if it has a nihilistic slant to it, or a Buddhist one, or both. Too, I wonder what these words might mean to the nihilist and Buddhist, if they consider something true in them and if they could expound:

Dust in the Wind - Kansas

I close my eyes only for a moment, and the moment’s gone
All my dreams pass before my eyes, a curiosity
Dust in the wind, all they are is dust in the wind

Same old song, just a drop of water in an endless sea
All we do crumbles to the ground though we refuse to see
Dust in the wind, all we are is dust in the wind

Don’t hang on, nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky
It slips away and all your money won’t another minute buy
Dust in the wind, all we are is dust in the wind
Dust in the wind, everything is dust in the wind


I had real trouble deciding where to put this either in Arts and Literature or Philosophy and Morality, but what I'm really aiming for is a discussion of the philosophy behind the thoughts presented or just some insights from others on the subject so I settled for here.

[Zoot]

Has a Buddhist feel to it.

I'd only object to the implications of "all we are", as if somehow something is lacking.

[Petra]

Hey! I remember that song from my early teens. Used to drift off in early teen romanticism over it occassionally, too. Although, Blue Oyster Cults Don't Fear The Reaper was way betterer.


The problem with this songs' lyrics as I read them now is that they are abstract and vague. They don't really say anything. :shrug:



If you really want nihilism and buddhism, though, may I recommend some Bob Dylan, some Tom Waits, some Miles Davis and John Coltrane, some Joni Mitchell, and a smattering of Pink Floyd.



From there, you'll find you're not in Kansas anymore. :wink: :cool:

[Dragar]

I like that song too (it has a fun guitar part to play). And technically, they're right. Unless we get off this rock some time in the next few billion years, the sun will turn into a red giant and wipe out every human in existance at the time. :)

Not even sure the 'earth and sky' would survive that one.

[godfry n. glad]

We are the stuff of stars, according to Carl Sagan.

Star barf. Actually, we are the minute stuff growing on old star barf.

[Dragar]

Pretty much true. Elements heavier than iron are only produced in a supernova. Our solar system, including the sun, probably formed from the remains of a star that did just that.

We're recycled, all the way. :)

[justaman]

Haven't heard it before. I think it shares the worldview of both Buddhism and nihilism in some ways. The only real difference between nihilists and Buddhists is that nihilists get pissed off about the fact that nothing is as special as it seems while Buddhists revel in it.