At this time of the year people around the world are getting ready to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights. One of the biggest festivals of the East, Diwali symbolizes the victory of good over evil, light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.
For an oil lamp to burn, the wick has to be partially immersed in the oil. If the wick is completely drowned in oil, it cannot bring light. Life is like the wick of the lamp, you have to be in the world and yet remain untouched by it. If you are drowned in the materialism of the world, you cannot bring joy and knowledge in your life. By being in the world, yet not drowning in the worldly aspect of it, we can be the light of joy and knowledge.
Diwali is the commemoration of the light of wisdom in our lives. Lamps are lit on this day not just to decorate homes, but also to communicate this profound truth of life. Light the lamp of wisdom and love in every heart and bring a radiant smile on every face.
Diwali is also called Deepavali, which literally means rows of lights. Life has many facets and stages to it and it is important that you throw light on each of them, for life to be fully expressed. The rows of lights remind you that every aspect of life needs your attention and the light of knowledge.
Every human being has some good qualities. And every lamp that you light is symbolic of this. Some people have forbearance, some have love, strength, generosity, while others have the ability to unite people. The latent values in you are like a lamp. Don't be satisfied with lighting just one lamp; light a thousand! You need to light many lights to dispel the darkness of ignorance. By lighting the lamp of wisdom in yourself and acquiring knowledge, you awaken all facets of your being. When they are lit and awakened, it is Diwali.
Another profound symbolism is in the firecrackers that are burnt on this day. In life, you often become like a firecracker, waiting to explode with your pent-up emotions, frustration and anger. When you keep suppressing your emotions, cravings and aversions, they are bound to reach a bursting point. Bursting crackers is a psychological exercise created by the ancient people to release bottled-up emotions. When you see an explosion outside, you feel similar sensations within you as well. Along with the explosion, there is so much light. When you let go of these emotions, serenity dawns.
There is also symbolism in the exchange of gifts and the distribution of sweets during Diwali. Sweets and gift exchanges symbolize the dispelling of the bitterness of the past, and renewal of friendship for the times to come.
Any celebration is incomplete without the spirit of service. Whatever we have received from the Divine, we should share it with others because it is in giving that we receive -- that is true celebration. Happiness and wisdom have to spread and it can happen when people come together in knowledge.
Diwali means to be in the present, so drop the regrets of the past and the worries of the future and live in the moment. It is a time to forget the bickering and negativities that have happened through the year. It is a time when you throw light on the wisdom you have gained and welcome a new beginning. When true wisdom dawns, it gives rise to celebration.
Celebration is the nature of the spirit. The ancient sages brought sacredness in every celebration, so that you don't lose the focus in the hustle-bustle of the activity. Observing rituals and religious practices (called Puja) is simply showing one's gratitude to the Divine. This brings depth to the celebration. The tradition is to put all the wealth you have earned in front of you and feel the abundance. When you feel lack, the lack grows but when you put your attention on abundance, then the abundance grows. In the Arthashastra, Chanakya says, "Dharmasya Moolam Arthah," which means, "prosperity is the root of righteousness."
For the one who does not have spiritual knowledge, Diwali comes only once a year, but for the wise, Diwali is every moment and every day. Wisdom is needed everywhere. Even if one member of the family is shrouded in darkness, we cannot be happy. We need to ignite the light of wisdom in every member of your family, extend it to every member of society and every person on the planet. When true wisdom dawns, it gives rise to celebration.
The Yajurveda says, "Tanme Manaha Shivasankalpam astu" -- let noble intentions flow from this mind of ours. This Diwali, celebrate with knowledge and take an intention to serve humanity. Light the lamp of love in your heart; the lamp of abundance in your home; the lamp of compassion to serve others; the lamp of Knowledge to dispel the darkness of ignorance; and the lamp of gratitude for the abundance that the Divine has bestowed on us.
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Diwali - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Urt_Ay59qs8
To all celebrating.... and nice to see Sri Sri on HP :)
(By the way I am one of the Directors of the UKs oldest Muslim group - The Association of British Muslims and we appreciate people of different faiths and no-faith as Muslims and Islam is supposed to be)
rock on homie! keep spreadin the positive words!
diwali (aur eid!) mubarak!!!! :)
F and F
As far as mainstream religion goes, this may be true. However, as far as the deepest wisdom -- the teachings, techniques and resources which can lead us to the fulfillment that all religion promises (whether it is called heaven, God, nirvana, enlightenment, the Tao, or whatever) are found in the mystical/experiential paths of all religions.
A few of the major ones:
Judaism - Kabbalah
Hinduism - Yoga, Tantra, Advaita
Islam - Sufism
Christianity - Mystical and Gnostic Christianity; Christian Kabbalah
.. as well as paths not affiliated with major religions (for instance, Western Hermetic Alchemy, Celtic Druidism, and so on).
The thing that makes these paths unique, is that standard religious terms (God, Christ, Shiva, Krishna, etc.) are understood as they were originally designed to be understood - as symbols of certain operations, actual or potential, within consciousness -- and these symbols are utilized as a framework to guide the expanding consciousness of the practitioner who utilizes practices (meditation, directed breathing, etc. etc.) to reach the fulfillment to which those symbols point.
Very simple - and utterly lost on the limited, egoic minds who tried to interpret the wisdom of ages gone by - and who gave us the error-based stews of so many mainstream religious teachings.
To argue about one set of religious symbols vs. another, or one interpretation of those symbols vs. others, is to argue about the style of the map, instead of taking the journey ourselves.
http://livingunbound.net
My stance is that,(and it can be confirmed with the norse countries, Norway, Sweden, Finland, ect.) That so much of the true old ways were destroyed by monotheistic religion that they are unsure what is the proper ways of rituals, worship, ect. Though some of the symbols have survived, the knowledge of how they piece together is lost. Which is why over 80% of the population are either atheist or agnostic, even though they are registered with the church upon birth. So even with the experimental paths one is unsure what is true and what is not. The only evidence is that it says so in this book or that book. Not much to cross reference.
I mean, really, WCWJOBTK?
(Whose Children Would Jesus Order Bears To Kill?)
Luke Parable of the Rich fool, chapter 12 Verse 20
But God said to him. You fool, this night, your life will be demanded back of you and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong? Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself, but is not Rich- in what matters to God.
Meaning the rich do not know they are the spiritual poorest of all. It is not the physical poor who are spiritual poor.- thou they are tole they will suffer on earth for a little.
The rich are here to save the poor, but in the end the poor will save the rich. For the poor have a purpose work to do also, to be seen, for the rich then will have no excuse on judgment day. And the poor on judgment day will beg for mercy, toward those who have help them.
And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. Mat 19:24
It is impossible for a camel, or even a rabbit to go through the eye of the needle. Rich men have no salvation, period, according to Christianity.
One wonders: why do so many rich folks cling to Christianity?
Hope you see the light & wisdom in the spirit of Diwali.