Radio Ruhaniyat: October 14, 2017

A gracious hello to everyone & welcome to this episode of Radio Ruhaniyat.

We wish all of you a VERY Happy Diwali this month….and let me emphasize: when we say: Happy Diwali, what exactly do we mean? What exactly do we intend to wish each other? Diwali is called the Festival of Lights and light is the knowledge, the truth. Although we all are celebrating the return of Lord Rama from Exile, we are actually celebrating the triumph of truth over Evil. So this month, when you wish others Happy Diwali, in your mind, wish that they be granted knowledge of the Truth. A Diya or a lamp is indicative of light, so when you light the Diwali diyas, ask to be blessed with the truth and the knowledge that comes along with it.
They say that ignorance is a dangerous thing. When we are ignorant about something, we prohibit our success. The success could be either materialistic, or spiritual.
There was a father from a very remote village, back in the old days when electricity was not easily available to everyone. He sent his son to the city for his college education. A few months after the young boy had moved to college, the father decided to come to the city to check on his son. Early in the morning, when it was still dark, the young man got ready and left for his classes. When daylight struck and the sun’s rays pierced through the windows, the ignorant father decided that there was no need for the bulb in the room, so he tried to turn it off. Since they had no electricity in his village, he was used to lighting lamps every night. So the father climbed up a chair and went close the bulb and started blowing air on the bulb as if he would be able to blow off the intense flame coming out from it. He puffed harder and harder, but the bulb wouldn’t turn off.
During the course of the day, the ignorant father took several breaks and would go back to his task of blowing air on to the bulb, thinking that these city diyas have one strong flame. When his son came back from college, he found his father standing on the chair, blowing air onto the bulb. “What are you doing father?” he asked. “I’ve been trying to turn off this city lamp of yours since morning” he said. “You probably need the city stamina to work these lamps,” he added. Still standing at the entrance of the room, the son reached out for the switch on the wall and with one flick of a button, turned the bulb off. The father gasped: was that ALL that needed to be done?
All he needed was the knowledge, the awareness.
Similarly when we live in ignorance, we are living in darkness. Knowledge gives us the wisdom, which in return, illuminates our lives. So this month, when you wish everyone: Happy Diwali, wish for them, the knowledge and the wisdom, which will help them, brighten up their lives. Don’t just say Happy Diwali, merely for the sake of saying it, MEAN it!
Diwali should also remind us of ACCEPTANCE. If Lord Rama could accept 14 years of exile without any complaints, then the little problems that we face in our lives should be negligible. Why complain? When even the prophets can willingly accept pain, then who are we to complain? Next time you have a problem, compare your problem with Lord Rama’s 14 years of exile. Think of the times when he, being a prince, walked in the jungles barefoot, ate food from the jungles and slept on the bare floor: not for a day or a week, but for 14 long years. And as if that was not enough, think of the times when Ravana kidnapped Sita and Lord Rama had to go fight the evil to establish victory of the Truth. Is your current problem bigger than that?

Jesus had to accept being nailed to the cross and he still forgave his sinners. Guru Nanak Dev ji’s own parents failed to acknowledge that their son was the prophet of the time. Guru Gobind Singh ji’s two young sons were buried alive inside a wall, Guru Tegh Bahadur was beheaded and Guru Arjun Dev ji had to sacrifice himself on burning hot sand. Is your current problem bigger than that? If our prophets could face life’s biggest challenges with total acceptance, then why can’t we?
The problem is not that there is a problem in our life, the problem is that we fail to acknowledge, that problems ARE a part of life and if we receive them with acceptance, then there IS NO PROBLEM anymore.
Diwali is also the beginning of a new year, so this new year let’s make a fresh resolution to always keep ourselves lit with the flame of knowledge: the knowledge of spirituality.

This Diwali, remind yourself: WHAT WE ARE, IS GOD’S GIFT TO US. WHAT WE BECOME, IS OUR GIFT TO GOD.

Live like a lit candle that gives out light, not like the unlit one that is merely there, but is serving no purpose. When you shine and spread light around you, you then have the power to light everyone that comes in contact with you. This Diwali, may the lamps of truth, light up your lives and May that light illuminate everyone that comes in contact with you! Happy Diwali everyone!

-Until next time, this is Preet Sahi reminding you to Stay Spiritual!

Radio Ruhaniyat is inspired by thoughts and views from members of the Sant Nirankari Mission, along with Inspirational & Motivational speeches, posts, articles & stories. The Foundation of this program and the message being conveyed is inspired from www.nirankari.org