Everything changes over time – some things change by the second, some by centuries. This cyclical view of world is the wheel of fire in which Shiva dances. It is the wheel of Samsara. All living creatures die and are reborn. All thoughts and dreams rise and fall. At each birth a different form is taken. Shiva teaches us to sit back and observe this. Awareness will take away anxiety and fear. It will bring repose and faith.
Although nature’s truth is timeless, we forget it. Shiva dances on the back of the demon Apasmara, the demon of forgetfulness. As we suffer we imagine the suffering will never end. We forget what our mind was before it was contaminated by imagined fear.
As the New Year approaches we must choose.
One option is to spend our lives ignoring the reality of life, like monkeys spellbound by the Dhamru, held by Shiva’s upper left arm. We can focus on meaningless activities that keep us busy, distracting us from introspecting and reflecting on life.
The other option is to pierce through Maya with the wisdom of the Trishul, held by Shiva’s upper right arm. Maya is the three worlds we occupy. The world of ‘me’ (our physical and mental body), ‘mine’ (the wealth and knowledge and relationships we claim ownership over and control) and ‘not mine ‘(all the things we do not claim ownership over and are unable to control). The blades of Shiva’s trident symbolises the piecing of Maya.
In 2015, we can ask ourselves what shapes our decisions. Why are we in certain situations like the petrified deer and in other situations like the roaring lion? With introspection, we will realize that all situations are Maya – subjective realities we create that make us feel powerful. It helps us to survive the world until Shiva, the destroyer, gives us the strength to destroy fear and outgrow dependence on Maya. Shiva’s Trishul is the wisdom that will pierce through the Maya. This is Moksha.
Om Namah Shivaaya.
