Desire-Part IX-Vignesha's Crib

Bacchus felt the vibrations of the music before he actually heard it. The raucous strains shook the heavens around him. Swathes of jewel-studded toile hung from every turret, every column, every balustrade of Vig’s not-so-humble abode. Scantily clad apsaras materialized around him as he walked up the sapphire path to the main entryway.

“Ladies,” he said and nodded at them. Their reply—only a tinkling of giggles. Tempted to give himself over to the charms of their coconut-scented skin, Bacchus managed to wade through the sea of beauties.

Servants appeared to attend to Bacchus: one to open the massive white marble doors, one to take his cloak, and one to offer him any number of divine concoctions. He chose a flute of vibrant lavender syrup. An apsara, who was nude save for the gold leaf covering her body, intertwined her arm with his and escorted him through the opulent receiving hall to the lush oasis out back.
Liquid-silver waves lapped at the shore of a ruby sand beach. Golden palm trees reached up into the endless blue velvet sky. Countless merrymakers frolicked in the surf and danced around almost every square inch of open space. Bacchus took a moment to adjust to the grandeur of it all. His human senses could barely handle the splendor surrounding him.

Parting the crowd of bodies, his lovely guide led him into a private tent, set apart from the raging party. Vignesha lay in all his glory on a brocade hammock, receiving a saffron oil rub down from the most beautiful of celestial nymphs.

Vig’s eyes fluttered open at the sound of approaching feet. “Bro, you made it up here. How awesome.”

“Thanks. I see you’re still living large.”

“You know it. Pull up a chair. I’ll order up some more drinks, get some more nymphs in here.”

“You’re too gracious, old friend, but I was hoping I could speak to you alone.”

Jumping up from the table, Vig didn’t bother to cover his bare body, but instead walked the shapely women to the tent opening. After kissing each of their hands, he said, “Don’t go too far now.” They disappeared in twittering laughter.

“It’s just not the same without you here.” Vig put his arm around Bacchus’ shoulder, enormous phallus flopping from right to left. “Oops, just grazed you with my naked bits, didn’t I?”

Bacchus chuckled. “Think nothing of it.”

They settled into a pile of large of satin pillows.

“So, what’s up?” Vig asked.

After taking a long sip from his drink, Bacchus launched into the events that had transpired earlier.

“Antithesia is trying to help you? Dude, you are so screwed. Aw, righteous, that rhymed,” Vig said.

“I know. But I’m desperate. The fact that I’m even considering advice from that fork-tongued battle-axe should tell you that much,” Bacchus replied.

“I hear ya. Well, it’s like this. Everybody on Earth’s got their own Pandora’s box, Sorrows box, whatever you call it, man, they are forbidden to leave the palace.”

“What does the box do?”

“Captures Sorrows. But if you really want to know the whole scoop on the boxes, you have to talk to Pandora. She’s got loads of box knowledge.”

“Do you think she’ll make an exception and give me Arianna’s?”

“Nah, bro. She can’t, and don’t put her in that position because she’d get herself in trouble trying to help. She’s sweet like that.”

“So I’m screwed.”

“Well, there’s one god who might be able to help you cuz he don’t give a flip what trouble he gets in.”

“Oh no, you’re not talking about…”

“Loki. Yeah, he’d probably steal it for you, but you gotta keep your eyes peeled while you’re there. Who knows what other crap he’ll try to stir up.”

“I don’t know that I can in my current condition.”

“Well, you dudes get caught, don’t leave Madame Pandora out to dry. You feeling me?”

“You have my word.”

“Cool. I’ll send Loki your way. The Mother and The Father be with you, bro.”

Desire-Part V-Joyful Participation in the Sorrows of the World

A rolling cloud of violet smoke announced the arrival of his eagerly awaited visitor. Bacchus closed the door to the guest bedroom more out of protective reflex than concern about disturbing Arianna’s slumber. Pan had scrounged up a draught from Morpheus to help the poor woman rest and nothing could rouse her until the satyr administered the antidote.

Coughing his way through the purple haze, the fallen god extended his hand. “Vighnesha, hey, thanks for showing up.”

“Oh, no sweat. It’s totally cool. When Pan popped in at Amarapura I was all like ‘dude, where you been, man?’ But you know, at first I didn’t even know if he was really there. I’d gotten this righteous bud from the Disciples. Man, last time I got some shit from them, I woke up a century later with this elephant head on. I still haven’t lived that down. So yeah, I was totally freaked by the goat-man.”

“Sorry about that.”

“Nah, it’s all good. So, Bacchus, dude, how have you been? It’s been ages.”

“Well, aside from being stripped of my status as a god, I’m peachy.”

“Really, man? That’s totally harsh. Why’d they kick you out?”

“Something about me causing more suffering than I alleviate.”

“That’s totally bogus. How’d they figure that?”

“I’m not sure. Actually that’s why I called you; I need a favor. You’re one of the only beings I know, aside from Bodhi himself, who has mastered Bodhi’s philosophies. I need you to explain something to me.”

“Ah yeah, Bodhi’s got mad meaning-of-life skills. Go ahead, shoot.”

“What in Hades is he talking about he when he advocates ‘joyful participation in the sorrows of the world?’”

“Okay, bro, it’s like this: You only gotta know three things in life—Life’s a bitch and then you die. The reason life’s a bitch is because you want more than you got. But if you want life not to suck you have to stop wanting anything.”

“The root of all suffering is desire,” Bacchus murmured.

“Right on.”

“But how can all desire be bad? There’s nothing more uplifting than falling in love and joining bodies with someone else.”

“True, but think about it, you ever been with a chick you really, really dug?”

“Oh yeah. Aphrodite can do this thing where she puts an ankle behind her ear and—”

“Right? I know the thing your talking about and somehow she flips over and can still grab your junk. Woo, good times.” Vig paused to tuck a lock of hair behind his ear. “Anyway, so what happened when Aphrodite was gone?”

“Bastet came by for a visit.”

“Okay, bad example. How about this—Have you ever lost something important to you?”

“Uh—hello.” Bacchus waved a hand. “One cast out god over here.”

“Sorry, man, I forgot. But cool, that’s the perfect example. How do you feel about all that?”

“I’m pretty miserable.”

“There you go. You get what I’m saying, bro? The desire to be a god again is bringing you down. If you accept your new lot in life and go with the flow, you wouldn’t feel so fucked up.”

“So wanting anything is bad?”

“Not bad. No. Bodhi’s not making it some good or bad kinda deal. He’s saying be happy with what you got.”

“And how does all this relate to ‘joyful participation?’”

“This is the best part. It’s so friggin’ elegant it makes me want to cry. Okay, it’s about enjoying something cool while it’s there to be enjoyed. Then letting it go when it’s time for the experience to end.”

“You mean like Aphrodite and Bastet? I enjoyed Aphrodite, but when it was time for her to go, I didn’t beg her to stay or mope because she left. I turned around and enjoyed Bastet.”
“Right on. The journey is the destination. Be here now.”

“I think I understand. It’s not intoxication and ecstasy that’s feeding The Sorrows. It’s the desire for intoxication and ecstasy. More than that it’s weakness in the face of that desire.”

“You got it, my man. So whoever put the finger on you did the world wrong. And you gotta get The Council to see that.”

“And I have to do it before my followers lose faith or die out. Can you imagine a world devoid of strawberry margaritas?”

“I shudder to think of an existence without umbrella drinks, bro. Anything I can do to help?”

“You’ve done more than enough on that front. I may need some backup for some nasty business brewing down here, but I’ll send Pan for you if things go bad.”

“I’m totally there. Whenever and where ever. And I’ll give Heracles, Cúchulainn, and Gilgamesh the heads up, too. Those dudes are itching to throw down.”

“Thanks, Vig.”

Vig scratched the round blue belly under his golden vest. “Hey, I hate to ask, but I got fierce munchies. You got anything to eat around here.”

“I don’t,” Bacchus replied. “But let me introduce you to an exquisite service the humans invented. It’s called ‘pizza delivery.’ You’ll love it.”

“Sweet, bring it on, bro. And don’t forget the extra cheese.”