Voyager / Can't Take It With You - Alan Parsons Project

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Can’t Take It with You
The Alan Parsons Project

Well, I sympathize completely
But there's nothing I can do
I am just a humble servant
With a message here for you
Well I know you have good reasons
And there's things you've got to do
But the boatman won't be waiting
And he's leaving here with you

And you can't take it with you
No matter what you do
No, you can't take it with you
Not the place you're going to...
(One more mile)
(One more road)
(One last bridge)
(One less load)

Well I sympathize completely
But there's nothing I can do
I am just obeying orders
I'm a simple soul like you
Well you really are persuasive
But I've heard it all before
And the boatman's getting restless
As he stands upon the shore

And you can't take it with you
No matter what you do
No, you can't take it with you
Not the place you're going to

Can't take it with you

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The Wave Analogous to the Life Cycle of One unique Individual

There is an ancient Buddhist analogy that compares the life cycle of each human being to a wave that rises (is born and lives) and falls back into the ocean (death) when the wave re-emerges back into the vast ocean again from which it was born.

Each Wave of the ocean is akin to the life of each individual: When the wave rises, this is the life of the wave, and when the wave melts back into the vast ocean, this is akin to the death of an individual. Thus, returning to the vast waterways of the ocean.

"When we look at the ocean, we see that each wave has a beginning and an end. A wave can be compared with other waves, and we can call it more or less beautiful, higher or lower, longer lasting or less long-lasting. But if we look more deeply, we see that a wave is made of water. While living the life of a wave, the wave also lives the life of water. It would be sad if the wave did not know that it is water. It would think, 'Someday I will have to die. This period of time is my life span, and when I arrive at the shore, I will return to nonbeing.'

A wave can be recognized by signs -- beginning or ending, high or low, beautiful, or ugly. In the world of the wave, the world of relative truth, the wave feels happy as she swells, and she feels sad as she falls. She may think, 'I am high!' or 'I am low!' and develop superiority or inferiority complexes, but in the world of the water there are no signs, and when the wave touches her true nature -- which is water -- all of her complexes will cease, and she will transcend birth and death," - Thich Nhat Hanh, The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching: Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation. New York: Broadway Books, 1999, pp. 124-125.

"Picture a wave in the ocean. You can see it, measure it, its height, the way the sunlight refracts when it passes through, and it's there, and you can see it, you know what it is. It's a wave. And then it crashes on the shore, and it's gone. But the water is still there. The wave was just a different way for the water to be for a little while.

That's one conception of death for a Buddhist. The wave returns to the ocean, where it came from, and where it's supposed to be."

This analogy also demonstrates how quickly, our lives can come and go so very swiftly when compared to the trillions upon trillions of waves over the thousands of years that have arisen and vanished back into the vast ocean: thus, do not waste your life. Learn to cherish your life every day and lean toward living a life that supports you in having a clear conscience—that is where true freedom is found while you exist on this earth.

Live a life of integrity: not living a life of selfishness or being deceitful towards others for personal gain. There is no gain for one who deceives others for their own benefit. The only thing that shall come of living a life of falseness is self-hate, guilt, and self-disgust through time. Nothing in life is worth trading your ethical standards and being true to yourself and others. Thus, protect your mind—by that, I mean your consciousness by not giving way to deceitfulness for anything on this earth.

So, just remember, whatever you gain in life, do not trade your goodness, your integrity, or your character for personal gain through deceiving another: it is simply ethically and morally wrong and you will suffer in time because of the law of cause and effect: karma.

For Steven & Hannah
Love Dad,
October 29, 2022