Figuring out Tisha B’av was not an easy task,
It is a big day in Judaism, many atrocities are attributed to this day throughout the last 2000 years, its considered as the saddest day in the Jewish calendar. “It is thus believed to be a day which is destined for tragedy”.
The destruction of the First and Second temple, the crushing of Bar-Kokhba’s revolt by the Romans, the beginning of the First crusade marked by the killing of 10,000 Jews and many more.
However, looking at this day through the lens of Vedic astrology did not reveal anything out of the ordinary.
Puzzled by this mystery, I asked Amir Paiss for some insight. Amir is a great poet, musician, well versed in the Jewish spiritual path and have the gift of seeing through the veil.
Amir raised the plausibility, the likelihood that not all these events happened precisely on the same day and it may have spread across a few days or even weeks.
That sparked the unity, the alignment I was hunting for between the Jewish and Vedic paths of truth.
In Hinduism, this month is a month of Shravana, a very auspicious month and devoted to Shiva. There are many different ceremonies all through this month. Devotees fast every Monday for Shiva, wake up early morning to perform special Puja, and deepening their connection with the divine forces.
Shiva; the destructor of Ego, is in charge of the dissolution of all existing structures in creation that do not serve us any longer. Shiva helps us to move past our material, physical attachments.
Shiva is intense, remorseless and brings to light deep subconsciousness Karma, helps us to evolve, by hook or by crook.
When devoting this month to rituals, fasting, mantras and ceremonies, it helps us to dive deeper into our inner Shiva, our inner guide, and create a better relationship with these forces of nature, guiding us how to let go of things easier.
In Judaism, it seems that the same energy was recognized and funneled down to one day. And therefore, considered as the saddest day of the year, a day of fasting, special prayers and minimum activities. No bathing, no eating or drinking, no wearing leather shoes, immersing into the energy of grief.
Amir then added- The Hasidim Jews know that through any act one can reach unity with the divine, even grief.
“Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.”
For the first time, it struck me, an answer to the big question; why is it that Jewish people are so deeply connected to there lifetimes of suffering?
Through correct understanding and relationship with the pain, grief inside us, we can experience the divine, the unity with God. Known in Hebrew as Ahdot.
In the Tantric tradition, They speak about the many aspects of Kali. Kali, as the active force (Shakti) of the destructive Shiva.
And within her she has different aspects, all of them considered as divine forces or goddesses and worshiped sincerely by many.
Each aspect speaks about the different quality of pain in us. When we see it also as a divine force, as supreme consciousness, we allow it to run its course of action through us. We allow ourselves to experience the bliss and silence within that pain.
So recognizing and experiencing the divine through the pain, hardship, or even longing we no longer need to protect ourselves from it. We can welcome it when it comes, letting these forces move through us, make us more humble, grateful, compassionate and at peace within ourselves.
So, recognize the pain in you, the hardship you and your ancestors went through, allow it to surface and allow yourself to experience the beauty in it. Let it bring you to silence and bliss. Through that, we become invincible!
