Yesterday morning as I woke up, I caught a poem running through my mind. If it arose from a dream, I had no memory of it. I briefly tried to reach for anything that might have triggered the passage--but nothing immediately linked, although I have used it before in a Sunday post over the years. It seemed an isolated recall from the 14th century Kashmir Poet called Lalla (also known as Lal Ded).
"God of the dark blue throat, who drank the poison to save us, You have six powers, and so must I! But I've grown separate from You, and taken on another six ... They deceive me."
(from Naked Song, translation by Coleman Barks)
I considered that perhaps the "message" was simply about personally "taking on too much", and I entered the fullness of the day. Later, I sat to begin the post for today, on Palm Sunday, the first day of Easter Holy Week in Christianity. Growing up in a Protestant Church, I viewed childhood scenes of waving Palm leaves as part of the excitement buildup of Easter brought Easter Services, special choir music, a great meal, and afternoon visits with aunts, uncles and cousins, Easter baskets, and egg hunts. It was many years later before I understood the larger role of Palm Sunday. Yes, the day marks the Biblical story of Jesus entering the holy city of Jerusalem, riding on a humble donkey, as crowds of followers gather in the streets, waving palm leaves in his honor, as he passes by. But, what begins as a great celebration and welcome, will end in betrayal and death, culminating one week later, with the mystery of the resurrection. In essence, the joy of this dynamic entry is meant as an affirmation of Jesus, as the promised Christ, the anointed Savior of Israel, and beyond that, potentially of the entire world. Many though, envisioned this destiny in the context of a political revolution to overthrow the Roman empire, and restore Israel to freedom and power. Instead, Jesus walked a path of total surrender to God's Will, through humility, sacrifice, forgiveness and love. "My kingdom is not of this world." Here, the spiritual supersedes our limited perspective--our dramas, fears, and fights. It is a call to that which supersedes separation, competition, and personal, worldly gain.
As it turns out, my contemplation on Lalla's poem led me back to the theme of Divine Intervention through sacrifice. The poem refers to the blue throat of the Hindu God, Lord Shiva, Hindu mythology tells the story of a time when Gods and demons came together to churn the oceanic waters releasing the "nectar" that lay at the bottom. This collective churning produced minerals, gems, animals and other coveted materials that were divided up and distributed to the participants. But along with these elements, there was a deadly poison--so deadly it threatened all existence. As the only being with the power to survive the poison, Lord Shiva assumed responsibility and drank the poison, saving life and restoring peace. He swallowed all of it, but did not allow it to move beyond his throat, blocking the esophagus until the poison was absorbed. The effort turned his throat blue. Lalla, in her spiritual trials, gives gratitude for this story of intervention as she realizes that she, too, now has powers, and with them, responsibilities. Yet, she has also come to see the temptation to over-extend, and assume personal power that she can no longer hold. The illusion of personal power will only create the self-deception of separation. She, too, must totally surrender.
If all the plot twists and roller-coaster shifts of 2025 disrupt your peace, give yourself a little more time to re-set everyday. Find those points of good, of well-being, of gentle affirmation, and your personal path of surrender to the larger, overriding, spiritual field. Peace is often practice. (Susan Nettleton)
for Poetry: https://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/Poets/L/Lalla/Playfullyyou/index.html https://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/Poets/L/Lalla/Tolearnthe/index.html https://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/Poets/M/MertonThomas/APsalm/index.html