The Serpent

The image of the serpent appears across many spiritual traditions, often carrying dual meanings of danger and wisdom, deception and transformation. In Buddhist contexts, while the serpent is not a primary symbol, its metaphorical resonance aligns closely with the dynamics of craving, fear, and awakening.

At one level, the serpent represents the lurking dangers of desire and aversion — powerful forces that coil beneath the surface of the mind, striking suddenly when provoked. Craving seduces with its hypnotic charm, while aversion lashes out when its illusions are threatened. These reactions are swift, instinctive, and deeply conditioned, making them challenging to confront directly.

Yet the serpent also points toward transformation. Like the shedding of its skin, spiritual practice involves peeling away layers of identification, delusion, and habit. Each discarded layer reveals a new freedom, a closer encounter with the raw vitality of experience stripped of conceptual overlays.

In some esoteric interpretations, the coiled serpent reflects the latent energy within the human being — the untapped potential for awakening when disciplined practice and insight align. The very forces that entangle can, when understood and purified, serve as catalysts for profound realisation.

Ultimately, the serpent reminds us that danger and wisdom arise from the same ground. The path requires both vigilance and courage — to face the venom of clinging and fear, and to harness the latent power of transformation hidden within our own conditioned nature.

“The same fire that burns can also give light; so too, that which entangles can awaken, if understood.”
— Tibetan proverb