Riding The Dragon

Dr. Rajesh Bhola
India
Sep 07, 2012

One of my Chinese friends is working as the country head of a multi-national company in India. One day I asked him why the Chinese use the imagery of a dragon every where, and at all the occasions in their lives.

He started with this. “The dragon commands great respect in Chinese culture. If you want to give the greatest compliment to any Chinese citizen, call him the Dragon Face.” Dragons are revered as the representatives of the primal forces of nature, religion and the universe. They are associated with wisdom, are often said to be wiser than humans, and are known for their longevity. They are also said to be capable of speech. The dragon is the highest-ranking animal in the Chinese animal hierarchy, and was strongly associated at one time with the emperor—and hence with power and majesty.

Chinese dragons traditionally symbolise potent and auspicious powers – particularly control over water, rainfall, hurricane, and floods. The dragon also has the power to release water to parched lands – and so brings abundance and relief. Excellent and outstanding people are compared with the dragon, while incapable people are compared with dis-esteemed creatures, such as the worm. Ancient Chinese dragons are the ultimate symbols of cosmic Chi (energy). The dragon is said to be the most potent symbol of good fortune in the Chinese pantheon of symbols. 

I also realised that, potentially, we are all riders of great dragons. The fire animal is within our selves. Western religions have often sought to kill the dragon within us. The spirit of the Eastern religions is to ride the dragon. A dragon’s scale becomes a magic aid bestowed by the dragon, as an appreciation of the hero’s virtue or courage – and it conveys special protection and power. The enlightened approach is to befriend the fire animal, and so gain the benefit of its power – which can then be used for good in the world. 

As long as we are at the mercy of the winds of greed, hate and delusion, we will continue to create injustice, oppression, cruelty and ill will – however much we may believe that we are good civilised citizens. By becoming masters of our fire, however, we become awakened beings, capable of working for the real good of the world. Such persons have spiritual fire, and have it well-sheltered, so that it is at their command. I have been fortunate to have met people like this, people who have pursued the righteous path, and become great dragons. υ

Dr. Rajesh Bhola is President of Spastic Society of Gurgaon and is working for the cause of children with autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and multiple disabilities for more than 20 years.

The Chinese dragon has a horse’s head and a snake’s tail. Further, the dragon is also known for its nine resemblances: 

σ Its horns resemble those of a stag

σ The head that of a camel
σ The eyes those of a demon

σ The neck that of a snake

σ The belly that of a clam

σ The scales those of a carp

σ The claws those of an eagle

σ The soles those of a tiger

σ The ears those of a cow.