It is that time again when we reflect on the past year and either make resolutions or wish-lists for the coming year. This year I am taking heed of the many teaching stories that remind us to have resolve. For there is much to be distracted by, along the way to manifesting what it is we are intending to create. One of my favorite stories on this theme is the Hindu myth about the churning of the ocean to create Amrita, the nectar of the gods.
In this myth, the gods have been at war with their enemies and were unable to defeat them. They approached the Lord and asked him for a boon to conquer their enemies. The Lord told them that first they should make peace with their enemies until He gave them the ability to become stronger and invincible. The nectar, Amrita that can make the gods victorious, could only be obtained by churning the ocean with the help of their enemies. The Lord’s advice was that the gods should allow their enemies to have anything that fancied them that was churned out of the ocean and that He would take care of the rest.
The churning began and many delightful beings and things, as well as the unpleasant and poisonous, came out from the ocean before the appearance of the Amrita. The enemies as well as the gods were enamored of the beautiful nymphs and treasures that came out, each side taking what they desired. Along with the pleasant there was also poison which was compassionately swallowed by the great Lord Shiva to protect his people. A few drops of it dropped on the ground and were taken up by some plants and snakes.
While the gods and their enemies were distracted by the bounty that was being created from the ocean, the Lord transformed himself into a most irresistible woman, Mohini. Everyone was so lured by her dazzling light and beauty, that when the Amrita showed up, the enemies of the gods were sure that she could be trusted to share the Amrita equally. While their enemies were entranced in Mohini’s charm, they did not notice that she was only offering the nectar to the gods. Only one of them, Rahu realized what was happening and tricked Mohini by pretending to be a god. When the gods were alerted to what happened, they cut off his head. Rahu’s body died and only his head lived and in revenge, he became a planet in the heavens and each year he sucked the sun and the moon at different intervals creating a total darkness in the skies.
This story is a wonderful metaphor for being mindful of our creations, that there is much that is delightful and pleasant but not necessarily in our best interest. There are many lessons to be gleaned from this myth and one that really stands out for me right now, is that life is a mix of the pleasant and the unpleasant.
In the churning that takes place in the ocean of the unconscious, there are many kinds of thoughts, feelings and experiences that will be thrown up. We ask for the nectar of life that will give us peace, joy and light. On the way to receiving that gift, we first have to make peace with all the enemies of the mind. We make friends with the ego and all of its desires. The path of moderation, not denying the ego, being mindful of the goal, not caught up in illusions of good and bad, even poisonous thoughts and feelings would be absorbed by the compassionate self to bring clarity. Along the way, we do encounter the stray bits of poison and the pleasant distractions, but when we just let things be, not fighting them, our energies are free to focus on what we do want. We are filled with resolve to accept the gift of our birthright. With practice we come to identify with our divine aspect, our true nature. Through the gift of grace, we realize eternal love, peace and truth.
On this eve of the new year, may you be blessed with the gift of resolve to unfold the greatness of the truth of who you are.
Happy New Year!
Namaste!
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh Miruh!
It is wonderful to see you back blogging again. Thank you for the inspiring story this first morning of the year! I agree, that when you do not fight the poison, it becomes less powerful. Thank you for the lesson.
Wishing you warmth, love, generosity, truth and perfection for 2010!
Nicole
How great that you are back. I hope you had a wonderful sabbatical and came back with the resolve you write about so eloquently. Lovely story to read during the first week of the year 2010! Happy New Year to you and yours…I hope you have a wonderful year!
Dear Miruh,
What a wonderful story…and what a great message! I have missed reading your wise and beautiful words. May 2010 bring you and yours gentle Peace, soft Love and radiant Joy.
Love, Light and Peace, Linda
Insightful and must appreciate the way you have expressed. So easily could relate with live full of awareness…
wishing you, my beloved friend, the abundance of awareness!
Hello Nicole,
Yes it does feel good to be back at the keyboard again.
Isn’t this a wonderful story? At first I was puzzled by what it is about. We can take away so many gems from this ocean of wisdom!
Thanks for the blessing, may it be returned a thousand fold!
Hello Marion,
It was a sabbatical from blogging but not from much else contrary to my plans.
It sure is wonderful to be blogging again with some balance. Yes I resolve to continue with my writing, giving voice to that urgency, I am sure you know that feeling.
Glad you liked the story.
May you too have a wonderful 2010!
Hello Linda,
I missed visiting my friends too. A much needed break from the computer to put my energy into other projects and it’s great to be back again.
Wonderful story and so much can be read from it. We each get the message that we need.
Thanks for the new year blessing. May it be returned a thousand fold!
Hello Merging Point,
I wonder how many ways this story has been interpreted. We each get the insights we need. Awareness is the foundation of the path to freedom.
Thank you my friend for your gracious presence here. May you always walk with truth, light and love.
Miruh,
It’s lovely to see you in the blog world again. I hope you had a beautiful holiday season!
This is a great story. We manifest our life moment by moment, but it is prudent to be aware of what you are creating in your life, because as you said they may not always be in our interest. Although, each choice we make does develop us into the being that we are at any given moment. And when we fight anything, it will always fight back. So be mindful of acceptance as you so beautifully wrote!
Wishing you a beautiful 2010!
Hello Stacey,
Yes, it is great to be back after a break from the computer. My energy was focused in other areas like you say, “doing what you love.” The holiday season was a great reminder to find balance, enough time with others and also myself.
I am glad you brought up the point that all choices we make serve to enhance our growth and I like how you put this: “And when we fight anything, it will always fight back. ”
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.
May 2010 be as adventurous for you and Bern!
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