shubh diwali: drop the inauspicious
Diwali, the festival of lights, is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in India and among Indian communities worldwide. But beyond the mesmerizing display of lights and the festive atmosphere, Diwali some other meaning. We often tag Diwali as “shubh diwali,” meaning auspicious. However, the auspiciousness, for most of us, is lost, since we don’t burn down the inauspicious dimension. In this article, we delve into the evolutionary perspective of Diwali and its connection to the ancient epic of Dussehra.
The Auspicious concealed behind inauspicious: “I”
Diwali is often referred to as a “shubh” festival, signifying its auspicious nature. But do we truly understand its auspiciousness from an evolutionary perspective? To comprehend this, we need to explore the deeper layers of symbolism and how it relates to our human experience.
Diwali: Dissolving Physicality
The word Diwali itself carries profound meaning. It is derived from the Sanskrit word “Deepavali,” where “Deepa” means lamp or light, and “Avali” means a row. Diwali, therefore, can be interpreted as the “row of lights.” These lights symbolize the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. However, light cannot spring forth, unless we admit, that “we,” are the darkness, hence burn from within.
Diwali can also be seen as the celebration of dissolving physicality. In the ancient epic of Dussehra, Lord Rama vanquished the demon king Ravana. Ravana, in this context, represents our physicality, the ego, and the boundaries that define us. When these boundaries dissolve, our inner light, our soul or “Rama,” can shine brightly. In this sense, Diwali signifies the journey from physical constraints to spiritual liberation. It is a time, to lose ourselves!
Boundaries and Information
Our physicality thrives on boundaries and information. Without boundaries, we cannot have a physical form. Just as the lines define a shape on a canvas give it structure, our physical bodies are defined by boundaries. These boundaries, give us a taste of our exclusive existence.
Furthermore, our physicality is also comprised of information in the form of genes and DNA. This genetic information acts as a blueprint, giving us a well-defined form. It is through this boundary and information that we exist as distinct individuals.
dont hallucinate light, but drop the dark
The boundaries that define our physical existence also give rise to the “Ravana” within us. This inner Ravana manifests in various forms, including:
Pride and Envy: Boundaries create separation, and this separation leads to a viewpoint of “I” versus the world. This separation gives rise to envy and pride, as we constantly compare ourselves to others. Till the time we continue perceiving “others,” this can never end.
Lust: Our physicality is inherently limited to reproduction and self-preservation. The desire to expand physically naturally gives rise to lust as we seek to perpetuate our existence.
Mind, Ego, and Anger: The mind is the movement of information, causing thoughts. Ego means identifying ourselves with our information-bound persona. When we become trapped in this identification with information, compulsive thinking like anger becomes a lifelong companion.
Intellect and Delusion: The intellect’s role is to dissect and discriminate, allowing us to navigate the world. It is because of dissection, that we see “others,” being separate from us, hence creating a I versus others attitude. Because of the intellect, we cut things, and tag as negative-positive. We never get to see the truth of “one” manifesting as many, but just see bits and pieces. In short, we have lost our vision.
Greed: We all yearn to expand our experience of life. Desires arise as a result, but they often lead to a limited and constipated expansion. Stuck in the limited, we always yearn to expand, through desires. To experience the highest human potential, we must transcend the limitations of our physicality. The more “I” we feel, the more we try to accumulate.
burn yourself, not statues or crackers
Diwali, at its core, represents the journey from darkness to light, from the egoic “Ravana” to the enlightened “Rama.” However, this cannot happen, unless we see “ourselves,” as a source of negative tendencies.
We must recognize that these boundaries and information trap us in a cycle of desires and egoic attachments. However, through viewing ourselves as a limitation, we get enough reasons to drop the trap. There is actually no other way to go about it.
So, as we celebrate Diwali, we need remember its evolutionary significance. It encourages us to go beyond the physical and embrace the light of our true selves. It is not about burning statues or crackers, but ourselves. Shubh Diwali to all, as we embark on this transformative journey towards spiritual illumination.
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