Awakin Readings

The Power of Myth

Joseph Campbell
  1 min read ·   18 reflections
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पौराणिक कथाओं का प्रभाव
- जोसफ कैम्पबैल (12 दिसंबर, 2012)

मोयार्स: पौराणिक कथाएँ क्यों? हमें पौराणिक कथाओं की तरफ ध्यान देना क्यों ज़रूरी है? उनका मेरी ज़िंदगी से क्या सबंध है?

कैम्पबैल: मेरा पहला जवाब होगा कि, "ठीक है, अपनी ज़िंदगी जीते रहो, ये अच्छी-खासी ज़िंदगी है--तुम्हें पौराणिक कथाओं की कोई ज़रुरत नहीं है।" मैं किसी भी विषय में सिर्फ इसलिए दिलचस्पी नहीं रखता, क्योंकि लोग उसे महत्त्वपूर्ण मानते हैं। मैं उस पर तब विश्वास करता हूँ जब वह मुझे किसी न किसी तरह कस कर लपेट लेती है। पर तुम शायद पाओगे कि अगर पौराणिक कथाओं को ढंग से प्रस्तुत किया जाए तो तुम भी उन्हें महत्त्वपूर्ण समझोगे । तो अगर ये कथाएँ तुम्हें जकड़ ही लें तो उनका तुम्हारे जीवन से क्या सम्बन्ध है?
आज हमारी एक समस्या ये है कि हम किसी आध्यात्मिक साहित्य को ठीक से नहीं समझते। हम केवल आज की ताज़ा ख़बर और हर घंटे होती सनसनी खेज में ही दिलचस्पी रखते हैं। किसी ज़माने में ऐसा होता था कि विश्वविद्यालय के परिसर में रहने वाले बाहर की दुनिया से बेख़बर रहते थे और दुनिया की ख़बरें विद्यार्थियों की अंदरूनी ज़िंदगी पर कोई असर नहीं डालती थीं, न ही उनका कोई टकराव था उस भव्य मानव विरासत से जो हमें प्लेटो, कंफूशस, बुद्ध, गर्था, जैसे दार्शनिकों से मिली है, जिन्होंने उन शाश्वत मूल्यों के बारे में' लिखा है जो हमारे जीवन को केंदित करते हैं। जब आपकी उम्र बढ़ जाती है, आपने अपनी आम ज़िम्मेवारियों को निभा लिया है, और अब आप आत्म ज्ञान पर ध्यान देना चाहते हैं, उस समय अगर आप को ये मालूम नहीं है कि वो कहाँ है या क्या है, तो आप बहुत मायूस होंगे।

किसी ज़माने में ग्रीक, लैटिन, और बाइबल संबंधी साहित्य सबकी शिक्षा का हिस्सा होते थे। पर जब इन्हें शिक्षा पद्धती से हटा दिया गया, तो हमने पाश्चात्य पौराणिक कथाओं की संपूर्ण जानकारी ही खो दी। एक समय था कि ये कहानियां लोगों के दिलोदिमाग में बसती थीं। जब कोई कहानी आपके दिमाग में घर कर जाए, तो आप, ज़िंदगी के किसी भी अनुभव से उसका सम्बन्ध देख पाएँगे। वो कहानी आपके आज हो रहे अनुभव को समझने में मदद करेगी। उन कथाओं के अभाव में, हमने वास्तव में बहुत कुछ खो दिया है, क्योंकि हमारे पास कोई ऐसा साहित्य नहीं है जो उन कथाओं की जगह ले सकता है। इस पौराणिक जानकारी के अंशों का सम्बन्ध उन विषयों से है जिन्होंने पिछले हजारों वर्षों में मानव जीवन को आधार दिया, विभिन्न सभ्यताओं को जन्म दिया, और अलग-2 धर्मों को प्रेरित किया; जिन्होंने आंतरिक गहन समस्याओं, रहस्यों, और मानव मार्ग की दहलीज पर प्रकाश डाला, और अगर हमें इस रास्ते पर आने वाले मार्ग-संकेतों का ज्ञान नहीं है तो हमें अपना रास्ता खुद ही ढूँढना पड़ेगा। लेकिन अगर एक बार यह विषय आप पर असर कर जाए तो उनमें से किसी न किसी परंपरा से ऐसा गहरा, सम्पूर्ण और जान डाल देने वाला अनुभव होता है, जो आप कभी खोना नहीं चाहेंगे।
Seed Questions for Reflection

What do you understand by the literature of the spirit? Can you share a story that reveals the Power of Myth in your life? How does mythology help you deepen your inner journey?

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18 Past Reflections
AN
Andrew
Jan 20, 2026
I thought this was useful to someone who struggled with these problems
A
A
Jan 17, 2026
Yes I understand, This relates to my life with Jesus. I love Jesus he saved me and my family. He is someone so special to me even tho Iam not his greatest follower Im trying to get better. It helps me stay happy and be with God and my soul full of life. I have been through it and Jesus was the only one that known me and was with me during it and loved me through it all.
GA
Garinder
Nov 22, 2023
Awesome reading
RK
Roma Kapadia
Dec 12, 2012
David Doane....I absolutely agree with you and love your analysis...thanks for sharing it....Chris....I have read Robert Johson too and really did like what he wrote as well....
A
a
Dec 11, 2012
 Literature of the Spirit:  "It's the song that my heart sings." The Power of Myth in my life:  "I am a servant. To family, to extended family, to the children I work with at school (my workplace), to church, . . .  I serve.  As in the story of Cinderella, the main character "worked" but her spirit carried her  elsewhere.  Myth assists one to be in two places at one time . . . where we are . . . and where the "literature of our spirit" takes us.  "The power of myth in life" . . .  takes us (spiritually) out of routine . . . lifts us from painful places . . . teaches . . . entertains . . . helps us endure . . . .  Cinderella was portrayed as being a happy person.  She was happy, not because of her physical circumstances, but rather because of her "heart/spirit/mind song." Life is hard.  Myths transcend us.  (And I think God smiles, as He listens to our "s... View full comment
NA
Narendra
Dec 11, 2012
 Updated... What do you understand by the literature of the spirit? Spiritual literature is about our multidimensional consciousness and Universe. The physical dimension or conscious mind, is only one aspect of consciousness. Rationality, emotion and intuition are the three layers that correspond to conscious, subconscious and the common conscious mind. The dominant aspects of life are emotion and intuition. Myths, poetry, music, rituals and ultimately spiritual practices, satisfy the needs of these layers of consciousness. They provide collective security and comfort to a complex multidimensional consciousness of a life-form.….Most life forms are driven by the body genetics and the environment. As life evolves with experience, an individual consciousness develops as a separate primary consciousness, with unique emotions, thoughts and reason. As dullness reduces and sensitivity is increases, life becomes complex and unstable. At this stage, it is necessary to understand the... View full comment
BM
Bill Miller
Dec 11, 2012
Given our inability to apprehend the Infinite directly, *everything* about life is essentially an oversimplified story (“myth”) regarding the same - or is a tool in service of a myth. “We need iPhones because technology is a means to stay connected.” Sure, that’s a functional story, but there are certainly other stories that might serve as well.
RE
Rekha
Dec 11, 2012
Mythology is powerful literature, and sometimes seems to provide very contradictory messages and difficult to understand and appreciate by using just the intellect. I feel the power of these stories have to be learnt from at an inner level, level of the pure heart from a Guru - a God realized soul, who can help us navigate the path of these stories and provide their relevance to our current lives. Once understood to a certain extent, they can provide a solid anchor for our lives and help us figure out the meaningfulness of any actions and effects of previous actions, taking place now. For example, the concept of Karma, originating from Hindu mythology, gives me a perspective about loosening my control  over effects of my efforts in my day to day life. Things don't always turn out in direct proportion to my effort. But I have to consciously keep moving in a positive direction in order to create new Karma and also to mitigate any effects of past Karma. At the same time unde... View full comment
CH
Chris
Dec 11, 2012
Robert Johnson wrote a relevant primer to myths in the introduction to "She": Myths are rich sources of psychological insight. Great literature, like all great art, records and portrays the human condition with indelible accuracy.   Myths are a special kind of literature not written or created by a single individual, but produced by the imagination and experience of an entire age and culture and can be seen as the distillation of the dreams and experiences of a whole culture.   They seem to develop gradually as certain motifs emerge, are elaborated, and finally are rounded out as people tell and retell stories that catch and hold their interest. Thus themes that are accurate and universal are kept alive, while those elements peculiar to single individuals or a particular era drop away.   Myths, therefore, portray a collective image; they tell us about things that are true for all people.  This belies our current rationali... View full comment
SU
sudhakar
Dec 11, 2012
 I was told if I offered my head hair to the God, he will make me get admission into engineering school by my parents. I promised the God I would offer my hair to him. He did not fulfill his promise. Rationally thinking, how can one God give the same seat to multiple of people though all wished the same very sincerely. Fortunately I realized the foolishness of this popular myth.  A wise person pointed me to the truth to be found within one self starting with the breath. The burden of mythology is finally  removed when followed the observation of the breath to a deeper level. The biggest myth is "I am this body and I will live forever". If the author meant mythology is the study the false/impermanent/impersonal nature of body, mind, etc. then it is useful otherwise it one more burden like I used carry in my head.

NA
Narendra
Dec 11, 2012
 What do you understand by the literature of the spirit? Spiritual literature is about our multidimensional consciousness and Universe. The physical dimension or conscious mind, is only one aspect of consciousness. Rationality, emotion and intuition are the three layers that correspond to conscious, subconscious and the common conscious mind. The dominant aspects of life are emotion and intuition. Myths, poetry, music, rituals and ultimately spiritual practices, satisfy the needs of these layers of consciousness. They provide collective security and comfort to a complex multi dimensional consciousness of a life-form.….Most life forms are driven by the body genetics and the environment. As life evolves with experience, an individual consciousness develops as a separate primary consciousness, with unique emotions, thoughts and reason. As dullness reduces and sensitivity is increases, life becomes complex and unstable. For a complex life-form to be happy, all layers of conscio... View full comment
RK
Roma Kapadia
Dec 11, 2012
I agree with Campbell when he says that nowadays we are not well acquainted with the literature of the spirit. Myths and mythology have significance if you use them in the correct connotation in your current scenario. Not only does mythology deepen your outlook to life, it helps you make judgment of many things correctly. Mythology propagates a thought, a way of being and way to live by....It shows you structure that you can make decision through! A very nice and well written piece!
L
L
Dec 10, 2012
 There are still schools that foster this kind of education. St Johns College for one. I raise my glass to it. 
SH
sharad
Dec 10, 2012
 This stuff helps u find out who u are and also helps you move away from 'myness' or I-ness' to become unselfish.
DD
david doane
Dec 9, 2012
Campbell says so well that literature of the spirit is literature about the "inner life" and about "eternal values that have to do with the centering of our lives."  I agree and would add to that that literature of the spirit is about the 'big' questions in life such as who am I and what am I doing with my one precious life and is there a value or purpose to my life and to life in general and is there a soul and am I a spiritual being having a human experience or am I simply a human being with no spiritual side.  Literature of the spirit stirs my thoughts and response to such questions and provokes my search.  The question about the Power of Myth in my life triggers for me at this moment my identifying with Sleeping Beauty a bunch of times in my life, and some one or some event that woke me up to a vision about me and life that was more than what I had and prompted me to move and pursue in a different direction.  I spent the first couple ... View full comment
TH
Thierry
Dec 7, 2012
I had the opportunity to watch a few days ago, a series of lectures given about the Bible by a true scholar and humanist. And I remember having read long ago, with the same interest, the Bhagavad Gita with commentaries by Sri Aurobindo Ghose, another eminent scholar and philosopher. To me, both books belong to the litterature of the spirit because they depict stories whose heroes ( gods, kings, prophets) are either in search of, either demonstrate truth and wisdom, the qualities of spirit. They make great use of literary artifacts such as metaphors, parables and do not use direct psychological language as opposed to most spiritual teachings, especially modern ones. There are two ways of reading this literature. Through literalism, often the official version given by the official clergy, or through in depth interpretation. I find the later, as offered by often revolutionary scholars, richly informative and intelectually vivifying. If I dare paraphrase Jesus... View full comment
SS
susan schaller
Dec 6, 2012
 Recently, at a meditation retreat, it was pointed out that as we moved closer to the unconscious mind, we moved closer to the universal.  The surface distinctions of culture and personality are in the conscious mind.  We are all the same at the unconscious level where myths are from.  Archetypes and myths are the same all over the globe, thus, they point the way to their source where we can all return to find the peace that passes understanding.  As the Tau Te Ching describes: " When we realize where we come from, we naturally become tolerant, disinterested, amused, kindhearted as a grandmother, dignifid as a king."
CP
Conrad P. Pritscher
Dec 6, 2012
 literature of the spirit is what catches me for longer than a brief period. Nothing is permanent.  In that sense, everything is myth.  When one presently notices what they are noticing while they are noticing, that noticing can continue for a long time and help one be caught up.  One can be caught up for nearly all of one's life even though it is quite rare.  People like Gandhi, the Buddha, Jesus, Mohammed, some Rabbis, and Albert Einstein were frequently caught up.  When caught up, one may notice more connections than divisions between everyone and everything.   Schools and often universities could capitalize on what students are caught up about.  Frequently they don't because they are often bow to the 1% to promote jobs and the economy rather than powerful learning to help one be caught up.  As a result, we have a need for radical school transformation which can help people get caught up about their daily living.  Being caugh... View full comment
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