Deepak Chopra - December 27, 2006
Q. Why did you choose to use allegory, such as the story of Savitri and Yama, in writing Life After Death?
A. To provide an emotional experience of confronting death, and also to reach into the archetypal level of consciousness, the shadow, where death is always present. In my childhood I heard quite a few stories involving Lord Yama, the god of death. They stuck with me over the years, and I thought they would be a good framing device in this book.
One of the most famous tales is that of Savitri. I greatly expanded it in the book and gave it a new twist, so I don't mind telling you the childhood version. A beautiful princess named Savitri is sent out from Benares to find a husband. She's riding through the woods when she sets eyes on a handsome woodcutter named Satyavan. They fall in love, and she marries him. Her father, the king, is so displeased that the young couple is banished to a hut in the forest.
One day Savitri walks out into the front yard to see Lord Yama sitting there. Trembling with fear, she asks why he has paid her house a visit. "I am Death," Lord Yama replies, "and I have come for Satyavan."
Savitri begs him to reconsider, pointing out that her husband is young and fit, while there are many old, suffering people begging to die. But Lord Yama is implacable. Savitri decides to show him great hospitality, since that is her duty to a guest, and after she dances for him, Lord Yama is so charmed that he grants her any wish.
"I want life," says Savitri.
"But you're already alive. That's no wish," Yama replies. However, Savitri is not to be dissuaded, and reluctantly Yama grants her the boon of life. She then reveals that she cannot possibly live without her beloved Satyavan, and by this ruse she outwits Lord Yama, who goes away empty-handed.
It's a simple tale, but it brings out the main theme of Life After Death, which is that we are all confronting the darkness and doing what we can to move into the light. Savitri's redemption of her husband in the name of love symbolizes our own personal quest.
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Posted by Deepak Chopra at December 27, 2006 11:42 AM
Dear Deepak,
The simple stories are the best. I keep finding that the deepest secrets of life (and death) are very simple.
This is what I desire. For this moment right now, let me take back what I have given to Lord Yama so that I can be fully here and truly alive.
Love, Kristin
There are many levels of understanding in this story. I have seen a level that is too remind us that there is great value in our preferences.
Lord Yama helped Savriti see the great value in the choice she made. Her father was so unhappy with her choice that he banished her. Lord Yama came to remind her that she chose love from from her soul.
She was able to see that when she was given any wish it was to choose exactly what she had already chosen.
There is great value in our own preferences.
Dear Deepak
Savitri's story is for me the perfect expression of love.
Dear guinevere_tor
Savitri knew her purpose all along, and used every means at her disposal to achieve it. If she'd needed reminding, her timing or focus might have been off or diluted, and she might not have succeeded. So I don't think Savitri needed that reminder. I think we need her story, to be consciously aware that it is possible to love that way.
love, Heath
SAVITRI ALLEGORY
Savitri begs Yama, "Please,
O please, let my husband live.
Don't pull out his soul with a
noose, he will be lifeless."
"What would I do
without my spouse?
My father kicked me out
of his palace and I've
nowhere to go. Please,
O please, let my dear
love live."
"Nah, nah," said the King of Death.
"His Karma was bad, and he did no Dharma.
I will pull out his soul with a noose."
Yama, with a heart of granite, could not be placated,
Till
Savitri started dancing before
him in her flowered tattered sari,
showing her calf here, her thigh there.
Still Yama was not to be pleased.
Finally
Savitri cast off all her clothes,
little by little, like in porno clubs,
including her little top choli and
her underneath soft laced chaddi.
Yama could not keep his eyes off her.
Her breasts bounced as she swirled and danced.
Yama's heart went into frenetic stirrings of love.
He loved her, but could not touch her.
All against the holy rules, like in porno clubs.
Savitri tried hard, very hard, pleasing Yama.
But he'd not give in, his heart hard like Jaipur marble.
Till in a desperate attempt, Savitri did something exciting.
Her bouncing breasts she brought closer to his heaving chest!
And lo! Exclaimed Yama, "All your wishes are granted.
Please Satyana as you pleased me and live with him
a happy life. Bear him children, grand children and
grand-grand children till you both set out to heaven."
Savitri pleased Yama with her body, outwitting him with her clever words.
Your Guru fooled you cleverly and outwitted you with salads of words.
She got back her husband's life. You got back your lost-spiritual soul.
She pleased Yama for her hubby. You please your guru with your money.
"All's well that ends well." Nothing else matters.
A poem from sulekha web
Dear Heath,
I loved your post it was something I needed to hear. For me it is a reminder that the love I have for my husband comes from the soul. Sometimes I get distracted by the ego:)
Dear guinevere_tor
Me too. The story means so much to me because I'm still learning it. :)
love, Heath
The death of the body is like liquid water turning into its vapor state. Water is absent yet it is present in another form ready to condense back to water when the conditions are right. The 'conditions' are 'mind fields' whose absolute understanding exposes the body as a utilitarian device and unveils the universal energy behind it and all existence, thus starting an infinite exploration ending all finites.
Just a 'condensed' thought.
The simple tales are the ones that go deepest. This excruciating, all-consuming love is what brings us through stories populated by yearned-for and adored worldly symbols, to our true Beloved, the one and only without whom we cannot live. In that ecstatic union, Yama becomes a mirage and life simply is.
I'm gonna let you in, a little secret..
guys..
No, it, istn't because there was absolutly!, no
piece of good ass!..eeuhh pie.. at the bar tonight..
You die every night.. you get into
delta brainwaves, and/or lower..
You re-incarnate every day..over and over..again..
into..
that is, the..
magic..
or
Love, Passion,
Ps. I'm serioulsy gonna sue the..(*pick a flavor of your, ;) princess..;)
Maybe some of you would like to mix this topic with tibetan vision of the dead.
Here is:
The tibetan book of the dead (part one)
Here is:
The tibetan book of the dead (part two)
(Click my deadly name)
Well, last working day in 2006..
I just made a dealine with some boring paperstuff, but we gave it..a 'special' polish touch, ;)
anyhow,
Cool link Jean-Francois,
Here's some..
Anthony Robbins on CNN, Larry King Live, December 30, 2005
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4Bx1Qs7p40
With,
Love, Passion,
and a ..;)
because,
Wasn't it Chopin? who said,
'people who take life serisouly, are not serious people..'
So,
When I was young, my dad gets me to see, a doctor, for what he thought was insomnia,
he couldn't find a cause, so, up to the next one, and so on and so,
and before I knew it, winded up, with the best sleepspecialist in Belgium, after doing all the usual stuff, he asks: marek, do you have a girlfriend? well, no I say, 'get one! and don't come back here anymore!'
So, dr. Chopra, I was thing of a song..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIUTMuyDy9o
;)
Love, Passion
This mail..lol,
here, kiddies,
have fun,
with
Love, Passion,
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Silva UltraMind
Date: Fri, 29 Dec 2006 17:00:55 UT
Subject: Something to Share, Marek
To: Marek
Hello Again Marek
The last lesson we sent you was on The Mind-Body Connection (if you missed it, go to this page to get another copy). The next lesson you get will be a very interesting story on how Jose Silva first made his discoveries.
In the meanwhile, if you have been enjoying this program, we'd like to ask you for your help.
We want to keep this program free and to produce and give away more free and quality writings and audio recordings. To do so, we need to get lots of visitors to our website. We don't ask for a penny for this program, but we do ask that you help us share it with the world.
If you liked this program, please share this free program with people you know - friends, family and colleagues at work can all benefit.
Friends at work can benefit from the free relaxation exercise in Lesson 2.
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Teenagers and college students can benefit from the entire course. (shouldn't this be a subject taught in schools?)
Any adult can benefit from the lessons on goal setting and thinking big.
William James, the Harvard Psychologist known as the Father of American Psychology, once said:
"The greatest discovery of the 19th century was not in the realm of the physical sciences, but the power of the subconscious mind touched by faith. Any individual can tap into an eternal reservoir of power that will enable them to overcome any problem that may arise. All weaknesses can be overcome, bodily healing, financial independence, spiritual awakening, prosperity beyond your wildest dreams. This is the superstructure of happiness."
Let's help more people realize their full potential and understand what William James meant by the "superstructure of happiness".
Please share this program with as many friends, family members and colleagues as possible.
Below, we have included a simple email to forward.
Just click the forward button and remove all the text above the jagged line (-----).
May the rest of your life, be the best of your life Marek.
Sincerely
Jill Magso
Online Programs Manager
www.SilvaUltraMindSystem.com
Email to Forward Starts Below
---- Pls Remove all text above this line when forwarding -----
Hi Everyone
I have been listening and reading this free program on the internet called "The Unlimited You". It's a self-empowerment program that teaches people how to use their minds to take greater control of their lives, goals and ambitions.
It also covers things such as meditation, goal-setting, intuition, healing and the power of your mind to shape your dreams. It also includes a free guided meditation audio that you must listen to.
Visit their website and subscribe to it. You can get the program from this page:
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Visit the site today.
Thanks.
Marek
PS: I recommend you listen to the audio provided lesson 2.
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"One of the most famous tales is that of Savitri.
I greatly expanded it in the book and gave it a new twist."
~Deepak Chopra
***
LIFE AFTER DEATH, Making Holy Money
Life before death is a tale
a tale of illusions and delusions
Begging for life is a tale
a tale of spiritual proportions
Of Savitri, her spouse and Yama
who comes after you for bad Karma
Life after death is too a tale
twisted by a tale master in detail
In stuipd, stupendous proportions
making holy money in transactions
a poem from Sulekha
A letter to the Afterlife believer:
A SELFISH SPIRITUAL CHASING AFTERLIFE
Dear selfish spiritual, you
Are greedy, and want
No end to your life.
You speculate on afterlife.
Misconstrue science, and convince
Others of life after death.
Scientists look into the cosmos,
Marvel at how it works,
And come with scientific laws.
You look into the cosmos,
Bullshit like the ancients did,
And worship that doesn't exist.
~a poem from Sulekha
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A letter to the Afterlife believer:
"One of the most famous tales is that
This mail..lol,
here, kiddies,
ha
and a ..;)
because,
Wasn't it Ch
Well, last working day in 2006..
I just m
I be totally honest, deepak, I expected some, easy to read, hardcore scientific stuff, maybe explorations on, delta brainwaves, from the book, instead, you give that epilogue with Ramana,
Nice too, but I thought (* isn't that a contradiction..;), 5th plane and so, imagination, was to be transcended..
right?
Humhmnn..
Anyhow,
whatever,
Make some new CD's! love 'em!
(*works miracles on the girls..;)
With Love, Passion,
"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love!"
"Don't be afraid of opposition. Remember, a kite rises against, not with the wind."
--Hamilton Wright Mabie