Vedanta - It's Good to be a Loser
SUDHAMAHI REGUNATHAN
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What happens when you `lose'? Besides the fact that winning and losing are relative terms, it is really not so bad to lose once in a while. Sometimes, by losing, you could gain more. It is the one who loses, so to say, who actually keeps rolling. This is not to glorify losing, but to turn the focus to a balanced development rather than glorify the obsession to win always.Shiva and Parvati were playing dice. Each time Shiva rolled the dice, Parvati's supporters squealed with joy , while Shiva's companions cried in anguish. Parvati kept winning. Once Shiva lost the last piece of cloth he wore, to Parvati. “Why do you always lose?“ asked Shiva's supporters.
Shiva lost to win. In the be ginning, all was one, the undifferentiated, motionless One. When it separated into two, Purusha and Prakriti, there was Creation, there was activity .Narada taught them the game of dice. When Shiva plays with Parvati, it is the play of Purusha with Prakriti, inactivity with activity .
The wager was a hug. If Shiva won, he would embrace Parvati. Beautiful as that sounds, people were worried because once again, Shiva would envelop Parvati in himself and return to the inactive state of Ardhanarishvara. This would mean all activity would come to a standstill; it would be the end of the world. So, it was crucial for Parvati to win and for Shiva to lose, so that there's no break in activity .
To keep activity going, to maintain harmony and balance, we have to experience both, winning and losing. This way , the cosmic play ensures that the cycle goes on.
Shiva lost to win. In the be ginning, all was one, the undifferentiated, motionless One. When it separated into two, Purusha and Prakriti, there was Creation, there was activity .Narada taught them the game of dice. When Shiva plays with Parvati, it is the play of Purusha with Prakriti, inactivity with activity .
The wager was a hug. If Shiva won, he would embrace Parvati. Beautiful as that sounds, people were worried because once again, Shiva would envelop Parvati in himself and return to the inactive state of Ardhanarishvara. This would mean all activity would come to a standstill; it would be the end of the world. So, it was crucial for Parvati to win and for Shiva to lose, so that there's no break in activity .
To keep activity going, to maintain harmony and balance, we have to experience both, winning and losing. This way , the cosmic play ensures that the cycle goes on.
