The 1973 song "Bodhisattva" by Steely Dan is a satire on the vogue for Eastern mysticism (Transcendental Meditation, Hare Krishna, Zen Buddhism etc.) in hippie culture of the 1970s.
Its title refers to the Bodhisattva, those of the belief that they have achieved spiritual perfection but remain in the material world to help others.
This is similar to the concept of a saint in Christian tradition. They dedicate their lives towards the well being of others
Keyboardist Donald Fagen said this song was "sort of a parody on the way Western people look at Eastern religion - sort of oversimplify it. We thought it was rather amusing - most people didn't get it."
"Bodhisattva" portrays a very superficial and materialistic person, with no real understanding of what he is saying.
Like many new-age adherents, he thinks that a Bodhisattva has all the answers. All he has to do is simply renounce the world (‘sell my house in town’), and be led ‘by the hand’ into spiritual progress.
The singer has learned the words but missed the point; the chances of meeting an actual Bodhisattva are vanishingly small, and in any case, they do not grant wishes, offer enlightenment, or solve other people’s personal problems.
There is a note of cynicism under the surface of the lyric. The equivalence of ‘shine on your Japan’ and ‘sparkle of your china’ reflects a ‘whatever’ ignorance of the huge cultural differences between Japanese and Chinese spiritual traditions, and the shiny, sparkly superficiality of their attraction to jaded Westerners.
As a practicing Buddhist I have to chuckle, especially the end, when they say Bodhisattva over and over... That's a parody of Buddhist chanting...
This is a cover by Elliot Randall
FAIR USE DISCLAIMER
This video may contain copyrighted material, the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making said material available for the purpose of for fair use commentary, criticism, and educational purposes. See Hosseinzadeh v. Klein, 276 F. Supp. 3d 34 (S.D.N.Y. 2017); Equals Three, LLC v. Jukin Media, Inc., 139 F. Supp. 3d 1094 (C.D. Cal.2015). Allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as commentary, criticism, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
Guitar's Practicing Musicians Volume 1(1989)
