Life is like the wick of the lamp

Diwali is a time to let go of all the bickering and negativities of the past and instead reflect on the wisdom you have gained and welcome a new beginning.

Diwali is essentially celebrated to light the lamp of wisdom in every heart, the light of life in every home, and bring a smile on every face. Lamps are lit on this day not just to decorate the homes, but also to communicate a profound truth about life. Light dispels darkness and when the darkness of ignorance within you is dispelled through the light of wisdom, good wins over evil.

For an oil lamp to burn, the wick has to be in the oil yet out of the oil. If the wick is drowned in oil it cannot bring light. At the same time, if there is no oil in the lamp the wick cannot burn. The same is the case with human life. If you are drowned in the materialistic things of the world, you cannot bring joy and knowledge in your life. Life is like the wick of the lamp, you have to be in the world yet remain untouched by it. By being in the world, yet not drowning in the worldly aspect of it, we can be the light of joy and knowledge.

Every lamp that you light is symbolic of a good quality. There are good qualities in every human being. Some have forbearance, some have love, strength, generosity; others have the ability to unite people. The latent values in you are like a lamp. Don’t be satisfied with lighting one lamp; light a thousand for you need to light many lights to dispel the darkness of ignorance. Everyone in society has to become wise. Happiness and wisdom have to spread and that can happen when all come together and celebrate in knowledge. Diwali is that festival of celebration of wisdom.

By lighting the lamp of wisdom in you, you awaken all the facets of your being. When these facets are lit and awakened, it is Diwali. The festival is about being in the present, so drop the past and the future and live in the present moment. Any celebration is incomplete without the spirit of seva; whatever we have received from the Divine, we should share it with others. That is true celebration. Celebration means dissolving all differences and basking in the glory of the atman which is gyan samarpi.

For the one who is not in knowledge, Diwali comes only once a year, but for the wise, Diwali is every moment and every day. This Diwali celebrate with this knowledge and take a sankalpa 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 and the lamp of wisdom to dispel the darkness of ignorance.

(The author is a global humanitarian leader and spiritual master who founded The Art of Living in1981. As Gurudev turns 70 and The Art of Living steps into the 45th year of making life a celebration on this planet, month long celebrations are underway at The Art of Living International centre with eminent personalities from the sphere of politics, entertainment, arts, academia and faith arriving at the centre for thoughtful conversations, cultural showcases and launch of several service initiatives.)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

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