Advertisement
the relation between smokin' ganja and shiva is the the story of samudra manthan(churning of the ocean) (the mind of human consciousness) for the amrit goal of self realisation
Symbolism of Samudra manthan(churning of the ocean)
The story represents the spiritual endeavor of a person to achieve self-realisation through concentration of mind, withdrawal of senses, control of desires and practice of austerities and asceticism.
* The Devas and Asuras represent the positives and negatives respectively of one's personality. The participation of both the Devas and the Asuras signifies that when one is seeking bliss through spiritual practice, one has to integrate and harmonise both the positive and negative aspects and put both the energies to work for the common goal.
* The ocean of milk is the mind or the human consciousness. The mind is like an ocean while the thoughts and emotions are the waves in the ocean.
* Mandhara, the mountain symbolises concentration. The word Mandhara is made up of two words Mana (mind) and Dhara (a single line) which means holding the mind in one line. This is possible only by concentration.
* Mount Mandhara was upheld by Lord Vishnu as a Kurma (tortoise). The tortoise here symbolises the withdrawal of the senses into oneself (just as a tortoise withdraws its head into its shell) as one practices mental concentration and meditation or contemplation.
* Vasuki symbolises desire. Vasuki used in the churning of the ocean denotes that the Devas and the demons held desire (to seek immortality) as a rope and churned the mind with the help of concentration and withdrawal of the senses. Desire, if not controlled will overpower and destroy an individual.
* The Halahala poison(or ganja today) symbolises suffering and pain (counter-reaction of the mind and body) that one undergoes at the beginning of spiritual sadhana (practice). When the mind is subjected to intense concentration, the first thing that comes out of the process is intense suffering and great inner turmoil. These must be resolved otherwise further progress is not possible.
==> * Lord Shiva symbolises the ascetic principle. His role in this story as the consumer of poison suggests that one can deal with the early problems of spiritual life by cultivating the qualities of Lord Shiva, namely, courage, initiative, willingness, discipline, simplicity, austerity, detachment, compassion, pure love and asceticism.
The various precious objects that come out of the ocean during the churning stand for the psychic or spiritual powers (Siddhis) which one gains as s/he progresses spiritually from stage to stage. The seeker should be careful about these powers as they can hamper her/his progress unless s/he uses them judiciously, not for selfish gains but for others' welfare. This is the reason why the Gods and demons distributed these objects as they did not want to lose sight of their original aim which was to gain immortality.
* Dhanvantari symbolises health and signifies that immortality (longevity, to be correct) or spiritual success can be achieved only when the body and the mind are in a perfect state of health.
* Mohini symbolises delusion of the mind in the form of (or originating from) pride. It is the pride of achievement to which the asuras or the demons succumbed and thus lost sight of their goal. Pride and egoism are the last hurdles one has to overcome in spiritual life before experiencing self-realisation.
* The Amrit symbolises the ultimate achievement of the goal of self-realistion.
!! AUM NAMAH SHIVAYA !!
Symbolism of Samudra manthan(churning of the ocean)
The story represents the spiritual endeavor of a person to achieve self-realisation through concentration of mind, withdrawal of senses, control of desires and practice of austerities and asceticism.
* The Devas and Asuras represent the positives and negatives respectively of one's personality. The participation of both the Devas and the Asuras signifies that when one is seeking bliss through spiritual practice, one has to integrate and harmonise both the positive and negative aspects and put both the energies to work for the common goal.
* The ocean of milk is the mind or the human consciousness. The mind is like an ocean while the thoughts and emotions are the waves in the ocean.
* Mandhara, the mountain symbolises concentration. The word Mandhara is made up of two words Mana (mind) and Dhara (a single line) which means holding the mind in one line. This is possible only by concentration.
* Mount Mandhara was upheld by Lord Vishnu as a Kurma (tortoise). The tortoise here symbolises the withdrawal of the senses into oneself (just as a tortoise withdraws its head into its shell) as one practices mental concentration and meditation or contemplation.
* Vasuki symbolises desire. Vasuki used in the churning of the ocean denotes that the Devas and the demons held desire (to seek immortality) as a rope and churned the mind with the help of concentration and withdrawal of the senses. Desire, if not controlled will overpower and destroy an individual.
* The Halahala poison(or ganja today) symbolises suffering and pain (counter-reaction of the mind and body) that one undergoes at the beginning of spiritual sadhana (practice). When the mind is subjected to intense concentration, the first thing that comes out of the process is intense suffering and great inner turmoil. These must be resolved otherwise further progress is not possible.
==> * Lord Shiva symbolises the ascetic principle. His role in this story as the consumer of poison suggests that one can deal with the early problems of spiritual life by cultivating the qualities of Lord Shiva, namely, courage, initiative, willingness, discipline, simplicity, austerity, detachment, compassion, pure love and asceticism.
The various precious objects that come out of the ocean during the churning stand for the psychic or spiritual powers (Siddhis) which one gains as s/he progresses spiritually from stage to stage. The seeker should be careful about these powers as they can hamper her/his progress unless s/he uses them judiciously, not for selfish gains but for others' welfare. This is the reason why the Gods and demons distributed these objects as they did not want to lose sight of their original aim which was to gain immortality.
* Dhanvantari symbolises health and signifies that immortality (longevity, to be correct) or spiritual success can be achieved only when the body and the mind are in a perfect state of health.
* Mohini symbolises delusion of the mind in the form of (or originating from) pride. It is the pride of achievement to which the asuras or the demons succumbed and thus lost sight of their goal. Pride and egoism are the last hurdles one has to overcome in spiritual life before experiencing self-realisation.
* The Amrit symbolises the ultimate achievement of the goal of self-realistion.
!! AUM NAMAH SHIVAYA !!
posted by:
|
India
|
Advertisement
Advertisement
-
Re: the relation between smokin' ganja and shiva is the the story of story of samudra manthan(churning of the ocean) (the mind of human consciousness) for the amrit goal of self realisation
Tue, February 7, 2006 - 8:31 PMI think that is really interesting and have never heard that before. Thanks, Manish, for reposting that here.
"The participation of both the Devas and the Asuras signifies that when one is seeking bliss through spiritual practice, one has to integrate and harmonise both the positive and negative aspects and put both the energies to work for the common goal."
Om Namah Shivaya!
-
Re: the relation between smokin' ganja and shiva is the the story of story of samudra manthan(churning of the ocean) (the mind of human consciousness) for the amrit goal of self realisation
Tue, February 7, 2006 - 8:36 PMi posted this in shiva tribe after atarting an very interesting discussion it is worth reading in that tribe. and is good to know that many people have misconception about ganja 70% just smoke without knowing the significance of it but pretend that they are doing it for shiva and they forget that shiva symbolises a fight between drugs and meditation shiva symbolises self (atman and an egarness to to realise atman).
and the people with whome they smoke in india basically they don't know the symbolism of it themselves they just know the process of passing the chilom and will get angry if you pass it incorrectly that is good but what is wrong is that one should know what shiva means, and how we can apply the conception of shiva to ourselves. one more thing i would like to point out here that mearly by growing the beards and hair like jatadhari it is not necessary that one become a great philosopher or guru or shiva.
there are three types of gurus 1.stone , 2. leaf , 3. wood .
suppose some point in life you are in the midst of a wirlpool (wirlpool of life) and you goto the first guru and ask i am in darkness and there is a big wirlpool my gurudev please make me cross the river (river of life ). the first guru is stone. he says sit on me i will make u cross the river he sits and as the guru enters the water both of them sink.
if you goto the second guru the leaf and ask the same your guru says ok sit on me i will make you cross the river. when both of you enter the water you go to some distance and both of you sink but, yes but, the guru was a leaf he was lighter than water he came up the water but you could't come up.
if you goto the third guru the wood and ask him to make you cross you the river. what he does is that he makes a small bote himself being a wood and asks you sit on him he has firmness in his nature as well as beauty. and both of you cross the wirlpool of life the river safely...
so beaware in searching a guru or believing any other jatadhari he might be a leaf or stone search for the wood guru, who has consciousness and bliss both at the same time :-)
!! AUM SHANTI !!
