what did it mean?
You must have heard the story of Sati? And how it was a test of faith-ful ness.
Well, one (me) could argue that why do you even want to prove? for who’s sake? The feminist in me loudly disparages such practices which puts women on pedestal for being stupid enough to satisfy someone’s ego.
What gives anyone the right to demand such a thing? And what makes anyone oblige to such deranged demand? I would have kicked everyone in the butt if they asked me such a thing.. whether or not… you know! esp. whether
If not, well then, this discussion would not have taken birth.
Anyway, when i calmed down and gave thought to the metaphorical outlook.. it made much more sense. I have been toying with the metaphorical interpretations of mythology these days.. it’s a fun PoV.
Sati (from Pali: सति; Sanskrit: स्मृति smṛti) also means mindfulness or awareness, a spiritual or psychological faculty (indriya) that forms an essential part of Buddhist practice. It is the first factor of the Seven Factors of Enlightenment.
Shloka 36 of Ch.4 from Bhagwad Gita (Geet-a) states that (my interpretation) even if you have committed unlikable things, once you understand the supreme teaching that you can anytime cross-over to the ‘otherside’ (by aligning good actions with your dharma), you can embark the boat 🛶 to a kind-hood with genuine camaraderie.
Believe me, they are right to say — change is the only constant.
Now, if we are saying that sati or the fire was awareness or mindful action that a person (Sita as eg) has to undertake.. fire cuz it’s painful.. awareness is painful.. like a burning sensation.. when you know .. are aware of all aspects of you.. it is not a pleasant feeling to face and accept/change the things you don’t like about yourself (trust me, i know :D).. the ones you like, are plenty aware about that and make others aware too 😀
(S)he did it because (s)he understood the goodness of kind-hood. It is the work of egoistic minds to think that they can make others’ act as they wish.
And if the story of Sati is that awareness fire you have to go through to come to the otherside unharmed.. the side of faith.. where you could trust yourself.. then I understand the story.
Then I agree with the story also.
If and when we bring our unlikable deeds to the surface, we will have to cross that fire once to come to the otherside.. where we are awake 🥱 enough to trust and accept all aspects of us… with total and complete awareness.
How would we know?
Well, do you trust all your actions?
Your intentions?
Do they trouble you or don’t?
You kno-w, don’t you? 🙂
Shloka 5.16 of BG says.. when you understand and accept your true nature then only the light of truth can shine inside of you like the sun.. (🌞 supreme light😎)
Are YoU ready to find your 🕯️ light?
Are you ready to shine? ❤️💙💟
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Previously Published on Medium
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