Sacred Thoughts on Deepawali: Dark And Light
The
Times of India
17
October 2009
If you
want to light a lamp, you need four things. First a container, second oil,
third a wick and fourth a match box. If anyone of these is lacking, you cannot
light the lamp. This lamp can, however, remove only the darkness that lies
outside.
How is
the darkness in the heart to be removed? It can be removed only by Jnana Jyoti,
the light of wisdom, and by nothing else. How is this spiritual light to be
lit? This also needs four elements.
Vairagya
or detachment is the container. Bhakti or devotion is the oil. Ekaagrata,
one-pointed concentration, is the wick. Jnana or knowledge of the Supreme Truth
is the matchstick. Without all the four, the light of spiritual wisdom cannot
be got.
Sri
Sathya Sai Baba
---
Our
society is bathed in artificial light, and submerged in spiritual darkness.
Everywhere there is light, except in the hearts of the people. Spiritual
enlightenment is our greatest need.
Roy
Davison
---
Light
thinks it travels faster than anything but it is wrong. No matter how fast
light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first, and is waiting
for it.
Terry
Pratchett
---
All
the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.
St
Francis of Assissi
Compiled
by The Times of India