Q: What does this have to do with Buddhism?

A: Nothing! (Of course.) Though it might cause some of us to recall the third precept.

So what’s it doing here?

Well, it was found whilst stumbling through music blogs, and this album by exotica musician Martin Denny caught my eye… for some reason. Looking at the list of songs, two titles (titles, I said!) jumped out: “Burma Train,” and “Buddhist Bells.” So I gave it a listen.

Good fun, but there’s pretty much nothing Buddhist about it.

But browsing has its rewards, and other Dharma-Burger-rific album covers were found.

Here are some more:

This one’s the cover for Lotus, by Santana. This was a live album recorded in Japan and released in 1974. Recorded in Japan, so it gets a Buddhist-y cover? Sure, why not.

I don’t have anything to say about the music here because I can’t stand Santana. Sorry.

Next up is A Meditation Mass, recorded by the funky German psychedelic band (the term for this kind of music is, really, “krautrock”), Yatha Sidra. Haven’t heard it yet, but it sounds like it’s gonna be pretty nutty and fun.

(In case you can’t make it out, the album’s cover is comprised of a close-shot of the Buddhist Wheel of Life, with some seriously goofy text laid over it.)

You can here it here, where I found it.

Last up is the cover for an album called Karma, by a band called Buffalo. How much does it have to do with karma, much less Buddhism? Dunno yet. But my guess is that, since it’s being compared to metal bands like Kyuss, Slayer, Corrosion Of Conformity (all of whom I like) and Alabama Thunderpussy (whose name is one of the most embarrassing of all time), I don’t think it’s gonna be much like, say, going on a silent retreat. Hear it here.