Conquering The Inner Demons With Lord Ganesha | Addiction Recovery
Lord Ganesha, who is also acknowledged as the remover of obstacles, is a powerful motivational symbol for those who have the willingness to overcome addiction, whether from alcohol or drugs. The very image of Lord Ganesha is depicted with many objects that have a direct connection with an addict's life, inspiring him to move from darkness towards light.
From Darkness To Light: Lessons From Lord Ganesha
Anyone can become a master of his desires, just like Lord Ganesh sits on a rat (the desire), given the fact that rats are greedy and lack self-control. Lord Ganesh wants us to become powerful enough to let go of the things that are destroying us so that we can truly achieve happiness and lead a meaningful life.
Similarly, the noose held in His hand represents that we all have the inner power to subdue evil thoughts and to capture our negative emotions with the help of conscious thinking. Being ignorant of our thoughts means letting our mind loose into the space where it may wander off anywhere or nowhere.
In His Left Hand, Lord Ganesha holds the Axe that teaches us to kill our ego for the sake of saving our relationships. When our loved ones get hurt due to our actions, it is best to remove our false ego and welcome those who love us into our lives with a big heart. To conquer the hearts of our loved ones, we must first conquer our destructive habits. In His Right Hand, He holds the lotus that has the fragrance of gratitude towards everyone who wishes for our good health and prosperity. It is this very lotus (the feeling of gratitude) that leads towards spiritual perfection and power.
His large ears keep reminding us that listening is more important than speaking, as real learning is not in sharing what you know but in listening to what others have to say. During active addiction to alcohol and drugs, one rarely pays heed to what is told and spends a large chunk of energy thinking and speaking only about oneself. Science has proven that 80% of learning in our lives occurs through listening.
The two tusks express that wisdom to differentiate between what is right and wrong makes all the difference in life. If we make all the decisions flowing into a fury of emotions, like in active addiction, then things are going to get ugly and we are going to end up breaking trust and our bonds with others. On the contrary, if we exercise control & patience in matters that emotionally charge us, then good karma prevails. Wisdom to differentiate between what is good for us and what is not helps us maintain cordial relationships and be at peace with the world, and most importantly with ourselves.
Finally, we see a bowl of modhaks at Lord Ganesha's feet, that is a symbol of celebration. When a person follows the path of righteousness, good things are bound to happen. Those who take conscious actions towards recovery will also get to eat the fruits of their positive actions. So when you achieve the 'fortune of recovery', celebrate & embrace everything in life with energy - including your saved relationships, improved health, stronger mindset, and even the bigger challenges that may face you!
OM
This blog is written by a recovering addict who found his wings in the hands of 'Shafa'.
Shafa Home is India's largest & oldest rehabilitation centre for correction, detoxification and treatment of alcohol and drug related problems. To see us in action, Please Visit our YouTube Channel.
