[FairfieldLife] Re: Hindu mythology and current Bipartisanship [just for fun]
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "do.rflex" wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Richard M" wrote: > > > > Thanks - I enjoyed that. Brilliant. > > > > And yet... > > > > How do you get to this? > > > > "It's tough being the good guysIt gets wearing, having to be > > the bigger person all the time." > > > > Can I become "a good guy"? What's the secret? The technique? > > > > Do you ever entertain any self-doubt? That perhaps you are NOT the > > "good guy"? Or have you found a way to overcome that? > > > > Perhaps I misunderstand you (Dang! There's that irritating self-doubt > > again!). OK, I know, it was "just for fun". > > > > Those are interesting questions indeed. Perhaps however, it isn´t > beyond you to notice that I wasn´t the author of the piece - as the > attribution at the end clearly indicates. > Doh! Does seem to be beyond me. Never mind. > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "do.rflex" wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > The benefits and perils of bipartisanship are described in the story > > > of Lakshmi, the Hindu Goddess of good fortune. > > > > > > > > > Hindu theology is complicated, and has many different branches (and > > > even has atheistic forms). One deity may have many manifestations > > > (for instance, Radha and Tulsi are both said to be aspects of > > > Lakshmi), but in most forms of Hinduism all deities are ultimately > > > part of a single divine force. In the stories, however, they are > > > usually treated as separate entities. > > > > > > Lakshmi is the bringer of all forms of good fortune: health, wealth, > > > and love. She's much beloved by my Hindu sister-in-law, which may > > > explain why there's a gorgeous Lakshmi statuette in her Jewish > > > mother's home. (We are, to put it mildly, an ecumenical family.) > > > Lakshmi is sometimes said to be fickle, as good fortune comes and goes > > > at odd times. > > > > > > Lakshmi's story begins at a time when the lesser divinities (devas), > > > led by Indra , were faring poorly in their ongoing conflicts with the > > > demons. (Yes, in this post-partisan era, it's bad manners for me to > > > cast the Republicans as demons but if the shoe fits the cloven hoof, > > > may as well wear it.*) In desperate need of help, the devas spent > > > many days in prayer to Vishnu , the Preserver. > > > > > > Vishnu appeared in a radiant blue light. He told them that they could > > > have the greatest gift of all: the Elixir of Immortality. But they > > > would have to get it by churning the entire Ocean of Milk (the Milky > > > Way). To accomplish this, they would have to call a truce with the > > > demons and work together. And that was the easy part. > > > > > > When Indra explained the plan to the demons, their first response was, > > > "Are you f'ing kidding me?" But Indra pointed out that there was > > > something in it for them. Both sides wanted the elixir, and neither > > > side could accomplish it alone. So, the rivals struck a bipartisan > > > compromise. > > > > > > First, they cut off the top of Mount Meru, the pillar of the universe, > > > to use as a stick to churn the ocean. Vishnu took the form of a giant > > > turtle and then swam underneath to keep it from sinking. > > > > > > No rope in the universe was strong enough for this task. So Vishnu > > > sent for Vasuki, the king of the serpents. The great snake coiled his > > > body around the mountain. The devas held onto his head, the demons > > > held his tail, and they took turns pulling the mountain back and > > forth. > > > > > > [Illustration, if you're having trouble picturing this: > > > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kurma_Avatar_of_Vishnu._ca_1870.jpg ] > > > > > > And the Ocean of Milk began to churn. > > > > > > Soon a great silvery orb arose from the ocean, bathing them all in its > > > soft light. It glided up into the sky, and became the moon. They all > > > stared in wonder at the shiny object. But it was not the Elixir of > > > Immortality, so they set back to work. > > > > > > Over the hours and days that followed, fourteen treasures were churned > > > forth from the Ocean of Milk, including Surabhi (the sacred cow), > > > Kalpavriksha (the wish-granting tree), Kaustubha (the word's most > > > precious jewel), and Varuni, the Goddess of alcohol (which, > > > surprisingly, is not the Elixir of Immortality). > > > > > > Finally the great serpent could take no more. He had been pushed, > > > pulled, turned and squeezed for days. He opened his mouth and vomited > > > his poison into the sea. Vasuki's poison was so toxic that it could > > > end all life in the universe. > > > > > > The devas and demons cried out to the only on who could save them: > > > Shiva , the Destroyer. Shiva came from heaven, bent down and drank > > > all the venom. The poison was so strong that Shiva's neck turned > > > blue. But the universe was saved. > > > > > > The devas and demons were
[FairfieldLife] Re: Hindu mythology and current Bipartisanship [just for fun]
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Richard M" wrote: > > Thanks - I enjoyed that. Brilliant. > > And yet... > > How do you get to this? > > "It's tough being the good guysIt gets wearing, having to be > the bigger person all the time." > > Can I become "a good guy"? What's the secret? The technique? > > Do you ever entertain any self-doubt? That perhaps you are NOT the > "good guy"? Or have you found a way to overcome that? > > Perhaps I misunderstand you (Dang! There's that irritating self-doubt > again!). OK, I know, it was "just for fun". Those are interesting questions indeed. Perhaps however, it isn´t beyond you to notice that I wasn´t the author of the piece - as the attribution at the end clearly indicates. > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "do.rflex" wrote: > > > > > > > > The benefits and perils of bipartisanship are described in the story > > of Lakshmi, the Hindu Goddess of good fortune. > > > > > > Hindu theology is complicated, and has many different branches (and > > even has atheistic forms). One deity may have many manifestations > > (for instance, Radha and Tulsi are both said to be aspects of > > Lakshmi), but in most forms of Hinduism all deities are ultimately > > part of a single divine force. In the stories, however, they are > > usually treated as separate entities. > > > > Lakshmi is the bringer of all forms of good fortune: health, wealth, > > and love. She's much beloved by my Hindu sister-in-law, which may > > explain why there's a gorgeous Lakshmi statuette in her Jewish > > mother's home. (We are, to put it mildly, an ecumenical family.) > > Lakshmi is sometimes said to be fickle, as good fortune comes and goes > > at odd times. > > > > Lakshmi's story begins at a time when the lesser divinities (devas), > > led by Indra , were faring poorly in their ongoing conflicts with the > > demons. (Yes, in this post-partisan era, it's bad manners for me to > > cast the Republicans as demons but if the shoe fits the cloven hoof, > > may as well wear it.*) In desperate need of help, the devas spent > > many days in prayer to Vishnu , the Preserver. > > > > Vishnu appeared in a radiant blue light. He told them that they could > > have the greatest gift of all: the Elixir of Immortality. But they > > would have to get it by churning the entire Ocean of Milk (the Milky > > Way). To accomplish this, they would have to call a truce with the > > demons and work together. And that was the easy part. > > > > When Indra explained the plan to the demons, their first response was, > > "Are you f'ing kidding me?" But Indra pointed out that there was > > something in it for them. Both sides wanted the elixir, and neither > > side could accomplish it alone. So, the rivals struck a bipartisan > > compromise. > > > > First, they cut off the top of Mount Meru, the pillar of the universe, > > to use as a stick to churn the ocean. Vishnu took the form of a giant > > turtle and then swam underneath to keep it from sinking. > > > > No rope in the universe was strong enough for this task. So Vishnu > > sent for Vasuki, the king of the serpents. The great snake coiled his > > body around the mountain. The devas held onto his head, the demons > > held his tail, and they took turns pulling the mountain back and > forth. > > > > [Illustration, if you're having trouble picturing this: > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kurma_Avatar_of_Vishnu._ca_1870.jpg ] > > > > And the Ocean of Milk began to churn. > > > > Soon a great silvery orb arose from the ocean, bathing them all in its > > soft light. It glided up into the sky, and became the moon. They all > > stared in wonder at the shiny object. But it was not the Elixir of > > Immortality, so they set back to work. > > > > Over the hours and days that followed, fourteen treasures were churned > > forth from the Ocean of Milk, including Surabhi (the sacred cow), > > Kalpavriksha (the wish-granting tree), Kaustubha (the word's most > > precious jewel), and Varuni, the Goddess of alcohol (which, > > surprisingly, is not the Elixir of Immortality). > > > > Finally the great serpent could take no more. He had been pushed, > > pulled, turned and squeezed for days. He opened his mouth and vomited > > his poison into the sea. Vasuki's poison was so toxic that it could > > end all life in the universe. > > > > The devas and demons cried out to the only on who could save them: > > Shiva , the Destroyer. Shiva came from heaven, bent down and drank > > all the venom. The poison was so strong that Shiva's neck turned > > blue. But the universe was saved. > > > > The devas and demons were exhausted. They had been churning the ocean > > for days, and still did not have the elixir. And now they were > > afraid: what if they brought forth more poison? > > > > Vishnu urged them to continue. This was the greatest task they had > > ever undertaken; it wasn't supposed to be easy. The goal was wor
[FairfieldLife] Re: Hindu mythology and current Bipartisanship [just for fun]
Thanks - I enjoyed that. Brilliant. And yet... How do you get to this? "It's tough being the good guysIt gets wearing, having to be the bigger person all the time." Can I become "a good guy"? What's the secret? The technique? Do you ever entertain any self-doubt? That perhaps you are NOT the "good guy"? Or have you found a way to overcome that? Perhaps I misunderstand you (Dang! There's that irritating self-doubt again!). OK, I know, it was "just for fun". --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "do.rflex" wrote: > > > > The benefits and perils of bipartisanship are described in the story > of Lakshmi, the Hindu Goddess of good fortune. > > > Hindu theology is complicated, and has many different branches (and > even has atheistic forms). One deity may have many manifestations > (for instance, Radha and Tulsi are both said to be aspects of > Lakshmi), but in most forms of Hinduism all deities are ultimately > part of a single divine force. In the stories, however, they are > usually treated as separate entities. > > Lakshmi is the bringer of all forms of good fortune: health, wealth, > and love. She's much beloved by my Hindu sister-in-law, which may > explain why there's a gorgeous Lakshmi statuette in her Jewish > mother's home. (We are, to put it mildly, an ecumenical family.) > Lakshmi is sometimes said to be fickle, as good fortune comes and goes > at odd times. > > Lakshmi's story begins at a time when the lesser divinities (devas), > led by Indra , were faring poorly in their ongoing conflicts with the > demons. (Yes, in this post-partisan era, it's bad manners for me to > cast the Republicans as demons but if the shoe fits the cloven hoof, > may as well wear it.*) In desperate need of help, the devas spent > many days in prayer to Vishnu , the Preserver. > > Vishnu appeared in a radiant blue light. He told them that they could > have the greatest gift of all: the Elixir of Immortality. But they > would have to get it by churning the entire Ocean of Milk (the Milky > Way). To accomplish this, they would have to call a truce with the > demons and work together. And that was the easy part. > > When Indra explained the plan to the demons, their first response was, > "Are you f'ing kidding me?" But Indra pointed out that there was > something in it for them. Both sides wanted the elixir, and neither > side could accomplish it alone. So, the rivals struck a bipartisan > compromise. > > First, they cut off the top of Mount Meru, the pillar of the universe, > to use as a stick to churn the ocean. Vishnu took the form of a giant > turtle and then swam underneath to keep it from sinking. > > No rope in the universe was strong enough for this task. So Vishnu > sent for Vasuki, the king of the serpents. The great snake coiled his > body around the mountain. The devas held onto his head, the demons > held his tail, and they took turns pulling the mountain back and forth. > > [Illustration, if you're having trouble picturing this: > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kurma_Avatar_of_Vishnu._ca_1870.jpg ] > > And the Ocean of Milk began to churn. > > Soon a great silvery orb arose from the ocean, bathing them all in its > soft light. It glided up into the sky, and became the moon. They all > stared in wonder at the shiny object. But it was not the Elixir of > Immortality, so they set back to work. > > Over the hours and days that followed, fourteen treasures were churned > forth from the Ocean of Milk, including Surabhi (the sacred cow), > Kalpavriksha (the wish-granting tree), Kaustubha (the word's most > precious jewel), and Varuni, the Goddess of alcohol (which, > surprisingly, is not the Elixir of Immortality). > > Finally the great serpent could take no more. He had been pushed, > pulled, turned and squeezed for days. He opened his mouth and vomited > his poison into the sea. Vasuki's poison was so toxic that it could > end all life in the universe. > > The devas and demons cried out to the only on who could save them: > Shiva , the Destroyer. Shiva came from heaven, bent down and drank > all the venom. The poison was so strong that Shiva's neck turned > blue. But the universe was saved. > > The devas and demons were exhausted. They had been churning the ocean > for days, and still did not have the elixir. And now they were > afraid: what if they brought forth more poison? > > Vishnu urged them to continue. This was the greatest task they had > ever undertaken; it wasn't supposed to be easy. The goal was worth > it. And so, slowly at first, they once again began to pull the > mountain back and forth. > > After hours of their labor, a Goddess emerged from the sea of milk, > enthroned on a giant red lotus. She was incomparably beautiful, > dressed in red silk and dazzling jewels. Her body glowed with a > golden radiance. Her dark eyes shone with joy and compassion. Two of > her four hands made gestures of blessing and protection. A th
