For this column I have chosen two songs about different moments in the life of historical Buddha-to-be Prince Siddhartha. Even though these songs are musically very dissimilar, what I admire about each is the precision of the imagined lyrical details about Prince Siddhartha's decision to leave his wife, child and...

I recently received a copy of composer and guitarist Steve Tibbetts' newly re-mastered three CD set, Compilation: Acoustibbetts / Elektrobitts / Exotibbetts and was absolutely arrested by the song "Kangyi Tengi," originally from the 1997 album Chö. Chö is an unusual collaboration album between Tibbetts and the Tibetan Buddhist nun...

There are a tremendous number of mantra-based songs in the American Buddhist soundscape, particularly the mantra for the bodhisattva Ārya Tārā. For now, let's set aside who or what bodhisattva Tārā (Sanskrit. "star") is except to say that she arose as a bodhisattva with 21 different forms in Mahāyāna Buddhism,...

1. "Let It Ache" by Heather Maloney from her 2009 debut album Cozy Razor's Edge. (Listen here.)

This is a terrific song released by an independent musician who has a developed sound and recognizable style. Ms. Maloney has said she wrote the song during a weeklong silent retreat...