Althouse: "He has investigated a lot of deities and read all the sacred books..."

February 25, 2009

"He has investigated a lot of deities and read all the sacred books..."

"... trying to understand in some way who wrote them as much as the subject matter itself. It’s for his own healing that he reaches for those places. If he has one great love, it is his search for God."

15 comments:

Anonymous said...: There is no reason to search for God. God hasn't gone anywhere, He's right here, waiting. Uh, ever heard the expression "Can't see the forrest for the trees"?; 2/25/09, 6:19 AM
traditionalguy said...: Cohen is the sensitve one always expressing his human spirit's longing for a relationship with the Creator Spirit. That is a heavy task that makes Cohen suffer the pains of separation that most of us try to avoid feeling.; 2/25/09, 6:52 AM
KCFleming said...: Clearly, Cohen hasn't read the memo.

God is dead, for chrissake. Get with it. Bottled water is out; atheism is in.

They'll keep the cool artwork, though.; 2/25/09, 7:12 AM
Big Mike said...: There have been times, as a parent, when I wished I worshipped the Carthaginian god Moloch.

Now that they're grown the kids aren't so bad.; 2/25/09, 9:05 AM
Hazy Dave said...: I always thought his best songs seemed to be at least as inspired by "one great love" closer to his trousers. The spiritual aspect was evident, too, but it sometimes seemed more like a strategy for pulling sensitive chicks.

He was also smart enough to play down his old school Red political ideals while still fitting in with the antiwar crowd(s). But the man's sense of humor comes through, too. Even when he's being serious, he doesn't take himself too seriously. Thanks for linking the story, Professor.; 2/25/09, 9:29 AM
Michael McNeil said...: Moloch was hardly just a Carthaginian god.

Carthaginian pop quiz:
1. What did the Carthaginians call themselves?
2. What language did they speak?

Answers:
1. Canaanites (Kena'ani)
2. Hebrew

(More properly, perhaps, both Hebrews and “Phoenicians” spoke Canaanite.); 2/25/09, 11:01 AM
stoqboy said...: Separated at birth: Leonard Nimoy/Leonard Cohen.; 2/25/09, 12:15 PM
BJM said...: Cohen has led an interesting, self-destructive but instructive life. I've always considered his work more that of a poet than bard.

There ain't no cure for love.

Love of God, country, family, woman, man, whatever object of veneration/desire is futile. Love of oneself is the key as the godhead flows from within each of us wanted or not. Some will not understand until the last veil lifts.; 2/25/09, 12:43 PM
William said...: I haven't listened to his music for a while. His melodies didn't usually have any hooks or driving rhythymns but his lyrics were those of a true poet. He thus presented the opposite of someone like Springsteen. "Like a bird on a wire, I have tried in my way to be free." Great stuff, but if you want a private jet, you need to have a toe tapping back beat.... I suppose the time spent in a Zen monastery allowed him to acquire the equilibrium to accept the fact that his manager filched all his money. That's the bright side of Zen monasteries. The down side is that the time spent living above the clouds allowed his manager to embezzle his accounts. Wharton offers a Zen MBA program to help financial advisers resolve this seeming conundrum.; 2/25/09, 12:50 PM
LutherM said...: a great quote FROM THE ARTICLE
“All these things have their own destiny; one has one’s own destiny. The older I get, the surer I am that I’m not running the show.”

In my NORTON ANTHOLOGY -
My favorite - SUZANNE

Suzanne takes you down to her place near the river
You can hear the boats go by
You can spend the night beside her
And you know that she's half crazy
But that's why you want to be there
And she feeds you tea and oranges
That come all the way from China
And just when you mean to tell her
That you have no love to give her
Then she gets you on her wavelength
And she lets the river answer
That you've always been her lover
And you want to travel with her
And you want to travel blind
And you know that she will trust you
For you've touched her perfect body with your mind.
And Jesus was a sailor
When he walked upon the water
And he spent a long time watching
From his lonely wooden tower
And when he knew for certain
Only drowning men could see him
He said "All men will be sailors then
Until the sea shall free them"
But he himself was broken
Long before the sky would open
Forsaken, almost human
He sank beneath your wisdom like a stone
And you want to travel with him
And you want to travel blind
And you think maybe you'll trust him
For he's touched your perfect body with his mind.

Now Suzanne takes your hand
And she leads you to the river
She is wearing rags and feathers
From Salvation Army counters
And the sun pours down like honey
On our lady of the harbour
And she shows you where to look
Among the garbage and the flowers
There are heroes in the seaweed
There are children in the morning
They are leaning out for love
And they will lean that way forever
While Suzanne holds the mirror
And you want to travel with her
And you want to travel blind
And you know that you can trust her
For she's touched your perfect body with her mind.; 2/25/09, 2:15 PM
LutherM said...: a great quote FROM THE ARTICLE
“All these things have their own destiny; one has one’s own destiny. The older I get, the surer I am that I’m not running the show.”

In my NORTON ANTHOLOGY -
My favorite - SUZANNE

Suzanne takes you down to her place near the river
You can hear the boats go by
You can spend the night beside her
And you know that she's half crazy
But that's why you want to be there
And she feeds you tea and oranges
That come all the way from China
And just when you mean to tell her
That you have no love to give her
Then she gets you on her wavelength
And she lets the river answer
That you've always been her lover
And you want to travel with her
And you want to travel blind
And you know that she will trust you
For you've touched her perfect body with your mind.
And Jesus was a sailor
When he walked upon the water
And he spent a long time watching
From his lonely wooden tower
And when he knew for certain
Only drowning men could see him
He said "All men will be sailors then
Until the sea shall free them"
But he himself was broken
Long before the sky would open
Forsaken, almost human
He sank beneath your wisdom like a stone
And you want to travel with him
And you want to travel blind
And you think maybe you'll trust him
For he's touched your perfect body with his mind.

Now Suzanne takes your hand
And she leads you to the river
She is wearing rags and feathers
From Salvation Army counters
And the sun pours down like honey
On our lady of the harbour
And she shows you where to look
Among the garbage and the flowers
There are heroes in the seaweed
There are children in the morning
They are leaning out for love
And they will lean that way forever
While Suzanne holds the mirror
And you want to travel with her
And you want to travel blind
And you know that you can trust her
For she's touched your perfect body with her mind.; 2/25/09, 2:15 PM
Beau said...: The first concert I'll be going to in 25 years. Wouldn't miss it.; 2/25/09, 2:59 PM
blake said...: In the Cohen film bio I'm Your Man, they have all these other people singing his songs, like Nick Cave and Wainwright kids.

Then at the end they actually have him sing. Ye Gods.; 2/25/09, 3:54 PM
Beau said...: Then at the end they actually have him sing. Ye Gods.

His singing is definitely a matter of taste. Somewhat like Tom Waits. For some reason I love gravelly sounding voices.; 2/25/09, 4:01 PM
blake said...: I'm sure I could get used to it and come to enjoy it. I love a lot of bad singers. Heh.; 2/25/09, 7:44 PM