PRAVRAJIKA SHUDDHATMAPRANA

The Meaning of Myth (I)

PRAVRAJIKA SHUDDHATMAPRANA

uman beings have a deep love, and inscrutable to the end’. Like any good fiction need, for stories—especially stories writer, James Thurber uses exaggeration to Hof heroes and heroines, or gods and the utmost to make his point. In these goddesses, many of whom have daydreams, Walter Mitty is the saviour of extraordinary powers. These stories almost the day—no matter what the situation is. But invariably represent the forces of good to his wife in his real life, who knows overcoming the forces of evil. Our lives are nothing about his imagined characters, he is filled with them. If we are not actually a mystery. ‘I was thinking,’ he tells her. reading them, then we are watching them ‘Does it ever occur to you that I am being enacted on television, dvds, or in sometimes thinking?’ To which she replies, movies. Even many news items about heroic ‘I’m going to take your temperature when I people are stories to us that we reflect on or get you home.’1 repeat to others. All over the world we find stories Heroes and heroines who risk their lives repeating the same themes of heroism, for others without any thought for selfless acts of courage, and self-sacrifice. themselves are usually held up as paragons The heroes, in fact, renounce all care for of self-sacrifice. Stories of such people are their own safety to save others and, in the especially wonderful for children, who process, manifest a higher ideal of a self. easily internalize the nobility of these But in many cases, such as in James characters. Children love to imagine that Thurber’s story of Walter Mitty, this higher they themselves can come to the rescue with ideal of a self is basically a more glorious super powers—just like Batman or Wonder ego. Yet there is another point here: To even Woman. But even adults may daydream contemplate risking one’s own life for the about being a great or heroine just sake of others indicates that we identify waiting for a chance to prove themselves. ourself with others. We feel connected to In James Thurber’s short story, ‘The others, even though this connection cannot Secret Life of Walter Mitty’, we find a be explained in rational terms. There is a bumbling, wimpy, and unaccomplished man, feeling that our self extends beyond our Walter Mitty, spending his time day- physical body. dreaming that he is a highly accomplished Thus we find that most people feel there man and a great hero, who, without a second is more to life than what they experience. thought, and with the utmost calm, risks his And this is why it is hard for human beings life at the drop of a hat. In his imagination to set limits on themselves. We all feel we he is ‘Walter Mitty the Undefeated, have more power than what we manifest.

12 Bulletin of the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture May 2018 THE MEANING OF MYTH (I)

And this is the premise behind the story of through some other kind of superconscious Walter Mitty. experience—some rare people were able to Most likely, in the earliest days of attain a state in which they realized the civilization, human beings sat around a fire ultimate reality of life itself. This reality, in the evenings and told stories of their they found, is right within us—though most ancestors. Life was a mystery to people then. of us are not aware of it at all. It is, in fact, And not simply a mystery—it was often a our own Self. terror. Telling stories of the heroism and Moreover, those very persons who adventures of their ancestors gave them attained that realization returned from that courage and strength, and perhaps helped state transformed. They were no longer them to make some sense of life. ordinary people. They spoke with authority But then there were other stories. Some and became embodiments of love for all perhaps talked about the strange dreams they beings. Others understood that such people had. Perhaps some of them dreamt about were exceptional, and some even thought deceased relatives and wondered if they they were divine—a god or goddess sent were really dead. Dreams and the death of from another realm. loved ones made a huge impact on early Black Elk was a Native American Indian human beings. What were these dreams all who had such a superconscious experience about? What happens to us after we die? in 1873 when he was just nine years old. But Was there more to life than the body? unlike the seers above, his experience came Human beings also became aware of a basic, spontaneously. As underlying longing, or angst, within described it: themselves to understand who they were and why they were here. Slowly, after perhaps Well, what happened with this young boy thousands of years, more awareness came of was that he had a prophetic vision of the other dimensions to life—that there is more terrible future of his tribe. It was a vision of to life than what is ordinarily experienced. what he called ‘the hoop’ of the nation [the Sioux tribe]. In the vision, Black Elk saw Though the origins of many of the that the hoop of his nation was one of many world’s sacred texts are shrouded in hoops, which is something that we haven’t mystery, yet almost invariably they speak of learned at all well yet. He saw the the essential or original nature of humans as cooperation of all the hoops, all the nations perfect, or even divine. From this we in grand procession. But more than that, the understand that even in ancient times there vision was an experience of himself going were exceptional people who could not be through the realms of spiritual imagery that content with a superficial view of life. When were of his culture and assimilating their their search in the external world proved import. It comes to one great statement, which for me is a key statement to the futile, they began to search within—taking a understanding of myth and symbols. He hint from their dreams. says, ‘I saw myself on the central mountain Gradually, after much reflection and of the world, the highest place, and I had a discrimination, a few people realized that the vision because I was seeing in the sacred mind has deeper and deeper layers to it. And manner of the world.’ And the sacred finally—through a state of meditation, or central mountain was Harney Peak in South

Bulletin of the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture May 2018 13 PRAVRAJIKA SHUDDHATMAPRANA

Dakota. And then he says, ‘But the sacred parables or allegories. Still other stories tried central mountain is everywhere.’2 to convey the visions and spiritual ‘That,’ said Joseph Campbell, ‘is a real experiences of these great souls. Some of mythological realization. . . . The central these latter stories were quite mysterious and point of the world [which Black Elk says is on the surface did not seem to have any everywhere] is the point where stillness and meaning at all. Yet, in fact, these stories movement are together. Movement is time, work on another level of the mind, a deeper but stillness is eternity. Realizing how this level. As they are trying to describe the moment of your life is actually a moment of indescribable—a spiritual experience—they eternity, and experiencing the eternal aspect employ symbolism to do this. of what you’re doing in the temporal Regarding these stories of ‘yoga experience—this is the mythological experience’ in India, Heinrich Zimmer says: experience.’3 ‘[Such stories] are effective primarily on a Invariably, however, when these subconscious level, touching intuition, teachers, like Black Elk, wanted to share feeling, and imagination. Their details their message—or when the followers and impress themselves on the memory, soak disciples of these great seers wanted to down, and shape the deeper stratifications of convey their teacher’s message to others— the psyche. When brooded upon, their they faced a dilemma. How would ordinary significant episodes are capable of revealing people, who cannot understand anything but various shades of meaning, according to the this gross external world, fathom such a experiences and life-needs of the message? As the lives of these great souls individual.’4 were often so unusual, and their spiritual In the Christian and Jewish traditions, experiences even more so, how could people the biblical book known as the Song of grasp it all? The solution they found—and Solomon can be considered such a story. we can see this in many of the Hindu And in the Hindu tradition, the story of scriptures—was to teach people through Markandeya’s vision of Vishnu as a baby stories. lying on a banyan leaf, as well as the story of Stories were told of the lives and Vishnu as Trivikrama covering the earth, the activities of these teachers—people who heavens, and the nether regions with his lived extraordinary lives. Taking a cue from three steps—these are also examples of a ordinary tales, these great souls were often myth describing a spiritual experience. They depicted as superheroes, yet they went are both mysterious stories that seem beyond the ordinary mould of heroes. They unintelligible on the surface, yet they both were God-like. Here legends and facts often have a profound inner meaning. got combined, but enough of a picture of Regarding the first type of story— their lives came through so that people could stories of great souls and their teachings— understand that some very great souls had who can say now how much history there is lived on this earth. in them—or if there is any history at all? But Again, other stories presented the over the centuries, one thing became clear: teachings of these great souls—sometimes Some stories—especially those that have as direct teachings and other times as been retold and ritually re-enacted over and

14 Bulletin of the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture May 2018 THE MEANING OF MYTH (I) over again—have a power to awaken a reverberated in the subtle atmosphere. Then, higher consciousness in people who when Swami Vivekananda spoke those contemplate them. They have a power to words of religious harmony at the World’s transform people and help them realize their Parliament of in Chicago in 1893, own divine nature. a paradigm shift was set in motion. As that We should not be surprised at this, as power was already in the subtle atmosphere, even stories of ordinary heroes and heroines, people somehow, without consciously being who are willing to sacrifice their lives for aware of it, recognized the message that was others, have power, because people want so spoken and they responded by welcoming it. much to identify with them. Yet sacred And it all came from the power of myths have even more power because these Ramakrishna’s spiritual experiences. stories touch something deeper within us. Yet, to keep that divine power alive They reveal a higher dimension to life. through the following generations, events like this must be celebrated, or re-enacted. Sacred myths and ordinary stories We could say that the present-day inter- Sacred myths may often resemble religious conferences, and the Parliament of ordinary stories, but they are not. Rather, Religions that are held every few years— sacred myths inspire human beings to these are the celebrations. And these transform their lives—sometimes to the celebrations themselves become the ritual. point of prompting people to renounce In another incident, Ramakrishna everything to seek the Ultimate Reality touched many of his disciples on 1 January behind our existence. Stories of ordinary 1886 at the Cossipore garden house, and he heroes and superheroes—no matter how awakened divine consciousness in them, the righteous they may be—cannot take us this consciousness of their divine nature. And far. Where does that power of sacred myths even now thousands of people come to the come from? Sceptics may say it comes from Cossipore garden house every year on 1 people’s blind faith. But don’t children have January to re-enact that episode. Moreover, intense faith in Santa Claus or Superman? if others cannot come, they read or recite the Yet that same kind of power is not there. story of this incident, or sing songs about it. The power of sacred myths comes originally This is how the power of the original divine from the lives and spiritual experiences of act is carried on. Not that everyone who the great souls who lived these myths. Then, celebrates this incident has his or her as the stories are retold and become consciousness awakened. But as people’s ritualized, they gather more power. minds are turned in that direction, some Let us look at some recent stories that benefit accrues. we know have a historical basis, and that So this is why rituals have evolved to refer to spiritual experiences. From these we celebrate or re-enact sacred events and keep can see that their power is manifest from the them alive. Black Elk, in fact, created a very moment the sacred act or vision takes ritual for his tribe to re-enact the story of place. For instance, when Sri Ramakrishna his own realization and vision so that a path did intense spiritual practices of various could be opened for others to follow him. religions, the power of his sadhanas Whether, in the following generations,

Bulletin of the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture May 2018 15 PRAVRAJIKA SHUDDHATMAPRANA

everyone in his tribe understood what the ‘What Would Do?’ The idea is to ritual was about was not so important. What discipline your life in such a way that you was important was that his vision should be respond to serious events in your life by first kept alive, and also that the path be kept reflecting on and then trying to emulate what open for those who could grasp it. In this Jesus would do in a similar situation. This is way, Black Elk’s story could remain alive no small thing. It is, in fact, the way to get a and ‘awakened’—that is, it could retain the sacred myth to work for you. Moreover, this power to enlighten those who could grasp is the true purpose of a sacred ritual. it. This is exactly what St. Francis of Assisi Again, the night before Christ’s death, did. After his first two followers joined him, he asked his disciples to continually re-enact Francis decided that the three of them should the scene of their last supper together—‘in get the Lord’s command as to how they remembrance of me,’ as he said. Other should live their life. With this in mind, they incidents in his life are also celebrated, but went to a church in Assisi and began to he especially wanted this one particular fervently pray, ‘Lord God, Father of glory, incident to be remembered—and not just we ask you in your mercy to reveal to us remembered, but re-enacted. That incident what we have to do.’6 was to give people a reminder of his saving After praying like this for a long time, grace, and by its continued re-enactment, the they went to the priest of that church and power of that grace would remain alive. asked him to open the Bible anywhere and Moreover, by celebrating such incidents read whatever words of Jesus from the and by reflecting on the lives of such great Gospels he saw. The priest did this three souls—like Christ, Buddha, Ramakrishna, times, and what he found was: ‘If you would etc.—we begin to internalize their lives. Just be perfect, go, sell what you possess and as children internalize the lives of Luke give to the poor, and you will have treasure Skywalker or Rey, so also by meditating on in heaven; and come, follow me.’ (Matthew and celebrating the lives of these great souls, 19:21) The next reading was: ‘If anyone their lives and actions become paradigms for would come after me, let him deny himself us. and take up his cross and follow me.’ When we identify ourself with a myth5 (Matthew 16:24) And finally: ‘Take nothing by internalizing it, what we want is for that for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor myth to guide and inform our whole life and bread, nor money; and do not have two being—to be one with our life. To be truly tunics.’ (Luke 9:3) effective, our chosen myth must touch the Thus was founded the Franciscan innermost part of us. It must resonate with monastic system. For the rest of their lives, the divine within us. Then only can we Francis and his followers followed literally access through it our inmost Self and attain these words of Christ. In fact, St. Francis spiritual strength and bliss from it. embodied Christ’s teachings so much that he became almost a second Jesus. True purpose of a sacred ritual About two hundred years after Francis’s In recent years there has been a passing away, Thomas à Kempis, a monk of movement among some Christians called a different Catholic Order, wrote a treatise

16 Bulletin of the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture May 2018 THE MEANING OF MYTH (I) called The Imitation of Christ, which that person so much that you become very continued and elaborated on the ideas of St. much like that person. It is said, ‘As one Francis—that is, to return to the teachings of thinks, so one becomes.’ Christ as he taught and lived them. Though St. Francis did exactly this. He loved The Imitation of Christ was originally meant Christ so much that he emulated him till he for Catholic monks of his day, it still became Christlike. Such was his humility, continues to inspire both monastics and lay however, that he could not bear to hear people all over the world. Swami anyone comparing him to Jesus. Yet, Vivekananda was very fond of this book. He towards the end of his life he meditated so not only translated part of it into Bengali, deeply on Christ and his sufferings, and but also kept a copy of it with him during his became so identified with Christ, that the itinerant days. marks of the stigmata—that is, the wounds But Christ’s life is a difficult ideal to that Christ received on his hands, feet, and follow. In order to make sure that this ideal side when he was on the cross—appeared on would be followed in its true spirit, St. Francis. Just as Ramakrishna felt the blows Francis insisted that the monks of his Order when one fisherman was beating another, take the three vows of Roman Catholic and the marks of those blows were found on monasticism—that is, the vows of absolute his body, so also the pain and the wounds of poverty, absolute chastity, and absolute the stigmata came on Francis’s body. obedience (ie, humility). He knew that all We must remember, however, that this the checks and balances that are needed to is an inner journey. The path is within. bring the ideal of following Christ to fruition Though outwardly Francis vowed to live— would be taken care of by the faithful and did live—just as Christ did, his real observance of these three vows. transformation was in his inner life. An In Francis’s mind, he was simply doing external life of poverty does not necessarily as Christ commanded: ‘Follow me’. But to imitate Christ. It is Christ’s spirit that must follow someone means that you constantly be imitated. think of that person. In fact, you meditate on (To be concluded)

NOTES AND REFERENCES

1 ‘The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,’ by James Civilization, by Heinrich Zimmer Thurber; in An Introduction to (Princeton: Princeton University Press, Literature : Fiction, Poetry, Drama, ed. by 1972), p. 40. Sylvan Barnet, et. al. (Boston: Little, Brown 5 I am using the term ‘myth’ in the broad and Co., 1985), pp. 239-244. sense of any story of a person, event, or 2 The Power of Myth, by Joseph Campbell, deed—whether historical or revealed in a with (New York: Doubleday, sacred manner—that gives an explanation of 1988), p. 89. and/or meaning to life for a group of people. 3 Ibid. 6 Francis of Assisi, by Gianmaria Polidoro 4 Myths and Symbols in Indian Art and (Assisi: Edizioni Porziuncola, 2016), p. 40.

* Pravrajika Shuddhatmaprana is a nun of the Vedanta Society of Hollywood, currently posted at the Vivekananda Retreat, Ridgely Manor, in New York. She is the author of Indian Saints and Mystics published by the Institute.

Bulletin of the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture May 2018 17