Hari Aum.
I happened to come across this interesting article online (see link below) which describes the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly.
It is such an extraordinary journey, so challenging and yet so beautiful. And of course, a perfect metaphor for spiritual life, hence the reason I am writing about it here.
I thought I would write a small story describing the very real challenges that we spiritual seekers face on our journey.
Imagine a scene in a lush rainforest in the tropics, perhaps in Kerala. A number of worms wiggle about on various plants and leaves and on the earth. Some are caterpillars, others are earthworms, centipedes and millipedes. They eat leaves with great enjoyment and grow bigger and bigger.
One day, some of them dimly perceive (their eyesight is not very good!) a dash of moving colour amongst the flowering plants. They wonder what this might be. Some of the worms declare that they spotted a winged insect, the mythical creature called a butterfly. Others declare that butterflies do not exist at all-- the only type of creature that exists is the worm!
Some of the caterpillars earnestly explain to the other worms that butterflies are real. These beautiful creatures truly exist!
However, the earthworms dismiss this as a fairytale! There is no such thing as a butterfly, they declare with absolute certainty! Those that talk of butterflies are simply delusional-- one should stay away from them (in case the madness is catching!).
Saying this, the earthworms bury themselves in the dark, moist earth. (Earthworms are wonderful and useful worms-- in this story, however, the earthworm represents tamas, a love for darkness and spiritual ignorance.).
Centipedes are creatures that can bite quite viciously. Upon hearing the caterpillars talk about butterflies, they get very angry! What nonsense! It is a complete pack of lies to believe in butterflies, let alone imagine that a worm can become one!
A worm is a worm and should know its place in the world—which is to crawl upon the ground. It is perfectly absurd for a worm to imagine itself flying about in the sky!
The centipedes tell the caterpillars that they are either lying or mad or both! They then march off in a temper to find some insects to inject their venom into and eat. (In this story, the centipede represents the rajasic mind, that thinks it knows everything, that is close-minded, haughty and aggressive).
Hearing these arguments, the millipedes become very nervous. They think there may be some truth in what the caterpillars say but are afraid of saying so openly. They are scared of being ridiculed by the other worms.
So, they defensively curl up into little balls and disappear from sight. They effectively deny what they know to be true. (In this story, the millipede represents those who know there is a spiritual reality, but who are very fearful, who lack the courage and conviction to acknowledge this truth and seek it in their lives.)
The caterpillars, on the other hand, represent spiritual seekers. They represent the sattvic mind, the higher mind filled with positive qualities.
After eating a lot of leaves (representing spiritual practices!), they have grown quite a bit. They have shed their outer layers a few times and the next stage has come-- the time for major transformation, the stage of the chrysalis.
This is a very challenging stage. They will need to retreat from the world completely and conceal themselves within a special case called the chrysalis. Within the chrysalis, they will have to give up their very existence as caterpillars.
They will need to do what the yogis tell us spiritual seekers to do-- 'die to live'.
The caterpillar will need to melt its very being into a 'soup', losing the body that has so far been familiar, losing its very identity as a caterpillar. It digests its own body which is then re-organised into that of the butterfly. This is an extraordinary and magical process.
Therefore, the caterpillars make their way to a secluded spot where they will commence the process of becoming butterflies. They secrete a silken thread and, mixing this with earth and leaves (to better hide themselves), begin to wrap this all over themselves. Soon, they are hidden from view and the silken structure becomes more firm and forms the protective chrysalis.
Inside the chrysalis, each caterpillar must face the great transformation alone (only God is present to support it). The caterpillar alone knows what it goes through during this time of intense change. As its body begins to melt away, it must have faith that it will succeed in forming a new one, the one that is its destiny.
The caterpillar must also have great courage. To melt oneself into nothing is no easy task. To give up that which is comfortable and familiar is not easy. However, it trusts in the process and surrenders to it. It allows Mother Nature to do Her work.
The caterpillar also requires great patience. It must be prepared to spend a certain period of time within the chrysalis. The time required to transform is predetermined; this cannot be hurried in any way.
So, with great courage, faith, patience and surrender, the caterpillar allows Mother Nature to do Her work. It cooperates with Her, it does not resist when Nature commands it to begin the process of transformation. It does not protest, it does not say it is too painful and difficult.
No the caterpillar allows Nature to take its course. It allows Nature to mould it, to transform it.
And, after a period of time, when many wonderful changes have taken place, the new butterfly forms. It must now carefully squeeze itself out of the chrysalis, a process which again takes some time.
Finally, after completing the incredible transformation and emerging from its chrysalis, the butterfly must wait patiently for its wings to dry before it can take flight.
Only the butterfly knows the bliss of the wonderful nectar it drinks from various colourful flowers. It alone knows the sublime joy it feels as it flutters high above the earth, and as it plays with other butterflies in the air (those who have also completed the same arduous journey; it takes a butterfly to truly know another!).
These are the sweet rewards it receives from Mother Nature for having gone through such an immensely challenging journey.
It marvels at the world that appears so different from its previous experience as a caterpillar—it can see so much more clearly and can do so much more. It has a much more fulfilling existence than previously.
(And perhaps without realising, it has become a vital part of Nature needed to support life on our planet—by supporting the growth of plants through pollination. Not to mention the joy it unknowingly gives other beings by displaying the stunning artwork on its wings.)
As the butterflies of various colours fly swiftly past the next generation of little caterpillars chewing upon their leaves, some of them might whisper in the breeze: ‘Truly, you are baby butterflies! You are one of us and you too can make it as we did. Do not give up; keep going! We’re cheering you on. It is very much worth it!’
The naysayer worms, who continue to wiggle about on the earth, may or may not believe they exist. They may argue and debate this amongst themselves endlessly—but the butterflies simply do not care! They are too busy enjoying their new and beautiful existence!
The little caterpillar is a true inspiration for us spiritual seekers. It represents immense faith, courage, surrender and patience.
In a sense, we are all spiritual caterpillars. Despite the doubt, disbelief, anger, fear and other negative qualities that abound on our planet (both within and without us), we must work for our spiritual growth. We must break free of the misery of the cycle of birth and death for that is our spiritual birthright as human beings, it is our destiny.
And, as those who have attained spiritual knowledge (our teachers/Gurus, represented here by the butterflies) tell us, there are no shortcuts on the spiritual path.
Each caterpillar has the potential to attain its destiny of becoming a butterfly. However, it has to be willing to go through the process in full. It must develop the necessary qualities and make a serious effort.
The existence of butterflies gives hope and encouragement to caterpillars that they can do it too. What one has done, another with the same potential (and we all have spiritual potential) can also do.
As spiritual seekers who perform sadhana, we are currently within the sacred space of our own chrysalis. It will take time for us to transform but we have to trust the process.
As the caterpillar melts its body, we melt our ego, our individual sense of self. And this is a great task. It is immensely challenging.
And there may be times when we understandably simply want the process to be over. We may want to escape the chrysalis before we are ready. But we must not because that would be most unwise.
We have to allow Mother Nature/ the Divine Mother to perform Her work upon us. And we do this, by performing a simple daily spiritual practice of our liking-- be it mantra japa, bhajan, puja, homam, karma yoga or anything else.
And we must encourage each other to keep going. Hearing another caterpillar in distress within their chrysalis, we must be able to say 'Hang in there, it is going to be ok!'. And there will be times when others will say the same to us when we are facing our own challenges in life. There will always be ups and downs within the chrysalis of sadhana.
However, just as God who exists everywhere, is present with every caterpillar within its chrysalis, so also He/She is with each one of us (whether we feel it or not) every step of the way as we go through our own spiritual transformation.
I will conclude with a couple of sayings of my Guru, Sivananda.
He said to humanity:
“Eating, drinking, sleeping! A little laughter! Much weeping! Is that all? Do not die here like a worm. Wake up! Attain Immortal Bliss.”
“The goal of life is God realisation. Never forget this. It is your birthright.”
Om Namo Narayanaya. Om Sri Durgayai Namah.
Om Namo Bhagavate Sivanandaya.
Hari Aum Tat Sat.
