Comments on: Shiva Nata: false gods?

By: Wiebke

Wiebke — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 11:37:58 +0000

Uh-oh…

I’ve just googled “Dance of Shiva”: The first two hits are Wikipedia explanations for shiva and nataraja, directly followed by this site and Andrey’s. Fritjof Capra appears only on position 10.

So much for thought #4 ;)

By: Karen

Karen — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 12:59:17 +0000

Isn’t it fascinating how hung up on systems we get? All our religions are languages trying to explain the Divine, and toolkits full of techniques for recognising our connection with and place in the Divine. And instead of being grateful for the variety of techniques for getting to the point where we’re out of our own way and able to see the connection that is always there, instead of finding the differences and similarities illuminating and providing a richer understanding of our own languages and practices, we mistake the languages and toolkits for the Divine itself.

We are weird animals. That said, to quote Doctor Who, “It may be irrational of me, but humans are quite my favourite species.”

By: Amy

Amy — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:59:58 +0000

I’m so glad I finally read this post. These are some of the very questions that have held me back for a YEAR from ordering the set. I can’t get it yet, hopefully this week, but it helps so so so much to have these fears allayed!

I was struggling with things like feeling guilty for not feeling guilty about practicing something (seemingly) based on Hindi practices. Ahh, gotta love those guilt-loops. (is that a cereal?)

Anyway, looking forward to becoming a Real Life Shivanaut!

By: Paige

Paige — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 06:24:40 +0000

Thanks, Havi, for the explanation–I had questions along these lines, which didn’t stop me from ordering (I finally ordered last night after mulling it for a while–woo hoo!), but I was really pleased to see the explanation.

paige

By: p_q

p_q — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:24:48 +0000

(Note: nglish is my 2nd. language. Sorry in advance.)

While I wait for my ShivaNata DVD to arrive(well, I couldn’t wait so much. I read all the texts and start practicing. Just 10 minutes ago I do me third practice and yesterday I been all day doing it.) I`d like to give two points of view about this.

- Shiva, like Havi says, is a representation of a force.
In the same way we represent a force with a vector, and arrow, Hinduism personificates that force (Shiva is one, there are three).
In this sence, worshiping Shiva would be like worshiping numbers.
They are only a representation of an abstraction.
A metaphor.
A beauty one, to me.

- Is just yoga. Phisic and neurologic work.
Is not more worshipìng than paying attention to our breathe or stretching our body.
Is not worshiping like Pilates is not too.

Have fun,

Alvaro

By: Hiro Boga

Hiro Boga — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:27:41 +0000

Havi, thank you for this very thorough exploration of where Dance of Shiva fits into inner work practices.

The power of myths and archetypes–no matter what culture or tradition they originate from–is that they speak to universal needs and offer guidance for ways of living and being that work for people in other cultures and other times than the ones in which the myths or archetypes were first created.

The falseness of a god lies not in the god or archetype itself, but in our relationship to it. Anything that takes us away from connection with our inner divinity can become a false god. If we give over our power (and the responsibility for our life) to it, we create a false god.

The pattern of transformation that’s embodied in Dance of Shiva is one that lies deep within our own psyche or soul. The practice is a reminder of potentials that we hold, and a way of making those potentials manifest in our lives.

Thanks so much for bringing this powerfully transformative art to us in such an accessible form.

Love, Hiro