Monday, May 23, 2016

Self-realization and 'The myth of Theseus and the thread of Ariadne' ~ Atman Nityananda




The myth of Theseus and the thread of Ariadne 

Theseus had to slay the Minotaur. The Minotaur was imprisoned inside the labyrinth (maze) - a confusing, complex building constructed by Daedalus. Once somebody entered the labyrinth, it was impossible for him to leave and he was devoured by the monster. Ariadne therefore gave Theseus a spool of thread that he let unwind through the labyrinth so that he wouldn't lose his path. Theseus managed to kill the Minotaur and, using this thread, to get out of the labyrinth and to finally escape from Crete.

The labyrinth and the Minotaur represent our lower self, the low nature or shadow, the aggregation of fears, passions and suppressed and undesirable aspects of our character; the labyrinth represents the various subconscious levels of our mind in which the various aspects of ego is crystallized and the Minotaur the instinctive desires and passions and especially the sexual desire.

We are the hero Theseus that has to slay the ego (Minotaur) and Ariadne represents a reflection of our Soul or the light of awareness and our divine mother as well who always protects us and help us kill the ego and realize the Truth. The thread represents our connection with the light of awareness. We are connected with our soul when we are aware of the silent space of awareness within; this is what we call Self-awareness or Self-remembrance. We can connect with our Divine Mother by prayer, meditation, devotion, repetition of Shakti mantras and we can activate her power in us by awakening the Kundalini –Shakti.

We cannot explore and be aware of our subconscious egoic patterns if we are not capable to remain detached from the mind, its mental, emotional formations and impulses. We cannot remain detached if we have not developed a sattvic mind and self-awareness.

Self-awareness together with discrimination, dispassion, courage, determination, faith, patience, perseverance are the necessary virtues in order to slay the multi-face ego and realize our divine nature which is eternal, indestructible, peaceful and blissful.