The Earth Is What We All Have In Common

My mother taught my sister and me a prayer when we were little kids.

“Balambikesha Vaithyesha Bhavaroga Haredisha

Jaben Nama Trayam Nityam, Maharoga Nivaranam”

“Mahadeva Mahadeva Mahadeva”

Every night while chanting it I believed that I was asking Shiva to keep me healthy. And that I was asking him to cure the Great diseases of the world.

Recently

I remembered this prayer from my childhood. And found its meaning quite different.

“Oh Shiva- one half, the Goddess Balambika

You are the Healer.

You cure the struggle and suffering that arises from the repeated cycles of time

By chanting your name thrice everyday, the Great disease is cured.”

The Great Disease in Advaita is to falsely identify yourself with the world. To think of yourself as mere Ego.

The ego is a limited identity, that on arising after every sleep, first grasps hold of the body.

Having done that it begins to operate in its domain.

The Body Problem

I found this idea difficult to understand.

I’m a dancer. I’ve always viewed the body as sacred.

When I first heard someone say - “The body is a disease”, I found it sacrilegious.

I had repeatedly heard quite the opposite. “The body is a temple”. It hosts our soul.

The Axis

Not ideally, but realistically the body does feel like a sorry victim of fate. Caught like a cockroach between a kitten’s paws.

Yet, it is on what everything else seems to rest.

It has great needs.

A Great Hunger

All our lives seem to be in attendance to our bodies.

It has to be fed, clothed and sheltered.

And then it craves pleasure.

Demands comfort.

Driven By A Lunatic Ringmaster

It is brought into constant scrutiny.

Flogged into shape.

Tortured by treatments.

Punished into fashion.

Surveyed with disapproval.

Pushed into situations just for a need.

Stuffed with excess.

Ignored.

Out Of Body

I don’t know what it would mean to live in a state of complete loss of body consciousness.

If we did realise, and drop the body. If we stopped identifying with the Ego…I don’t know how that would be.

For now ,however, I know that we can look at an idea from Advaita itself, to make life easier for us.

Panchakosha : The 5 Sheaths

South Indian temple architecture is built in resonance with the structure of our bodies.

The Taittriya Upanishad states that humans beings have 5 concentric sheaths.

The first is the Physical Body. It is made of food. In temples it is the outer pillars, with motifs of eating, sex etc.

The next is the Subtle Body. Made of the breath and energy. It is the free space.

Then comes the Mental Body. Made of thoughts, sensations and emotions. Reflected in the inner chamber of pillars.

It narrows down into a smaller chamber representing the Intellectual Body. Made of reasoning. And discrimination.

Finally the sanctum sanctorum is the Bliss Body. Made of sheer happiness, joy and peace.

Balance

There is no disconnect here between the mind and the body. Or no split between the mind and the spirit.

Everything comes together when we look at a human being this way. As a whole.

There is no sense in treating the body, and ignoring the suffering of the mind.

Vice Versa

We may live a million lifetimes. But if we don’t change something, we may end up leading pretty similar lives….all our lifetimes.

One valuable , proven change we can make is a simple one.

We can detach from the world. Cut the noise out. Don’t let the world fan your insecurity.

If you do end up looking totally out of fashion. And in no way attractive according to the standards of the day. Don’t bother about it.

If you feel that it’s not helping you snag a mate. Don’t bother.

If people are making fun of you. Again don’t bother.

For now….

The Stars Are In Mars

Mars is the ruler of the body.

He is the ultimate no-nonsense guy. He cannot stand wishy-washy behaviour.

He is independent. And that’s what he likes you to be.

He is Bhumi Suta. The son of the earth.

The more you connect to the earth, the stronger your Mars.

The stronger your Mars, the more vitality, strength and vigour. The more youthful you will feel.

5 Elements

We are but expressions of Nature. We are made of what the earth is made of.

Eat what’s grown on the earth.

Take a walk.

Get some sun.

Enjoy your water when you drink.

Grow a plant.

Cook.

Cut the clutter. What’s good for the earth is good for you.

Check labels. Avoid the highly processed.

Avoid the long list of chemicals.

Lift heavy things.

Sometimes it’s your ass from the couch.

Help shoulder the weight of the people you live with.

Do those push ups.

But before you do anything…..for once, accept yourself. Who you are. How you look. What you do.

The Week Ahead

Intensity builds with the Kalasarpa activated again.

Following which Mars enters Aries. He joins the Sun and Mercury there. Aries is the domain of Mars. Especially the first 12 degrees are where he is very strong. It's a great time to start a Health Balance Program for yourself.

The best time to focus on health is now. Otherwise it is starting from May 11th.

Mars and the Sun in Aries, along with communicative Mercury, will shift the energy significantly.

Things will heat up. Start moving forward.

If you've been feeling sluggish, you may start experiencing a sense of fresh energy. Helping you start things. Helping you finish them.

As for the rest, the world will be crazy. Perhaps for a long time.

Perhaps it’s always been.

Find your feet on the ground. Your head in the stars.

Until we meet again, next week, take care.