I'd like to give a shout out to matchboxmatt! The title of the song 'Lotus Flower' certainly draws attention to elements of Buddhist philosophy that seem to pervade K of L. Keep in mind, though, by the same token, Radiohead's other great song about water - Pyramid Song - shares the same themes identified by matchboxmatt as being expressed throughout King of Limbs, namely, the spiritual cycle of life, death, and rebirth, albeit filtered through Greek and Egyptian Mythology. Hence, my confidence in equating Thom's use of water with the River Styx, or perhaps even with the river Lethe ('Amnesiac').
Both Codex and Pyramid Song (and to some degree 'I Might Be Wrong') feature a protagonist who casts aside fear and doubt to jump into the water. But whereas Pyramid Song borrows heavily from Ancient Mythology, Codex, especially in the context of the album as a whole, seems imbued with Buddhist leanings. These songs are essentially the same, but their theme, though identical, is tackled from an entirely different philosophical lense.
I think it is fair to say we are both on equal footing with our understanding and appreciation of the song. It is impressive how Thom's understanding of the spiritual cycle of life, death, and rebirth continues to evolve.
I'd like to give a shout out to matchboxmatt! The title of the song 'Lotus Flower' certainly draws attention to elements of Buddhist philosophy that seem to pervade K of L. Keep in mind, though, by the same token, Radiohead's other great song about water - Pyramid Song - shares the same themes identified by matchboxmatt as being expressed throughout King of Limbs, namely, the spiritual cycle of life, death, and rebirth, albeit filtered through Greek and Egyptian Mythology. Hence, my confidence in equating Thom's use of water with the River Styx, or perhaps even with the river Lethe ('Amnesiac').
Both Codex and Pyramid Song (and to some degree 'I Might Be Wrong') feature a protagonist who casts aside fear and doubt to jump into the water. But whereas Pyramid Song borrows heavily from Ancient Mythology, Codex, especially in the context of the album as a whole, seems imbued with Buddhist leanings. These songs are essentially the same, but their theme, though identical, is tackled from an entirely different philosophical lense.
I think it is fair to say we are both on equal footing with our understanding and appreciation of the song. It is impressive how Thom's understanding of the spiritual cycle of life, death, and rebirth continues to evolve.