Learn from Mythology
Dissolve mediocrity. That’s the key to allowing relationships to guide your life in more meaningful ways.
For example, a stranger can come into your life with a roar. Do you weather the unwarranted, unexpected blast of anger without judgment? Or do you go into spiritual neurosis, wondering what karma or past action brought you face to face with this effect?
However you choose to deal with the anger of another can speak volumes about your consciousness. And whether or not you believe in past lives, cause and effect in this life is something you can actually observe and learn from.
Mahabharata as allegory
You can also learn from mythology. In my last article on relationship, I related how the Gita can teach about relationships. I like to think Krishna was talking not only about past life relationships, but energy records themselves.
Energy records live in the body. They can plaque you in the moment, whether they stem from past actions or are born of irrational fears about the future.
Krishna’s direct approach – to stand, face and conquer evil where it dwells within – may be a hard pill. Even if you see the Mahabharata as allegory, you may relate to Arjun’s sensitivity. You may also be startled to realize how unprepared you are to sacrifice your all, just to change things for the better.
So what do you do if you come to this spiritual crossroads feeling you can no longer stomach going merrily through life with your spiritual blinders on? Should you worry that life just might rip them off for you?
That’s where Krishna’s advice to Arjun may help. The answer lies in how you can develop a deeper inner awareness. Because the relationship of your thoughts to your interactions with others does form a large part of your life’s experience.
However deeply you choose probe the Gita, there is more to it than how to connect with devotion to your higher self or that of another. It doesn’t merely preach and leave you hanging; it shows you how to sincerely recognize your soul records and then how to transmute them. Like all mythology or spiritual teaching, it has the potential to heal you with its passionate allegory. It can help train your consciousness to view your old ‘stuff’ in a new way.
In the important opening of the Gita, Krishna prompts Arjun to observe how his relationships have effected both his subtle and obvious decisions and actions. His teaching provides powerful allegory on how and why your thinking and feeling really must be bridled. If you are not consciously aware, you may just allow these energy projections to unilaterally make decisions for you.
Spiritual Crossroads
Do you really have choice about how to live your life or about what comes to you? Or do you take a fundamentalist view of the Gita (or any philosophy), that life is all about fate, and nothing is in your hands? What is the truth?
Truth is private belief. And it can be found in either view, or both. If you reflect on this, your own life may be filled with examples of each.
This is why mythology is so powerful.
Your outer relationships reflect your inner drama. You are your own hero or heroine, creating your own story or following the world’s script for you.
You get to write, direct and act your favorite story, every moment of every day. Or you might decide to sit and watch, eating your bonbons. Just don’t get lost in the grip of your life’s serial…
Want a video series on Krishna’s life that includes the Mahabharata? Here is an oldie but goodie (my affiliate link).
Even though I really like bon-bons, this is an absolutely wonderful essay…
I like ’em too. Thanks for your kind notice, Ed. Means a lot coming from a published author…!
Donna