It is a natural phenomena — Peak of the darkness blooms into dawn with one drop (point) of light.
It is this darkness and ignorance which has caused us to close ourselves to the truth and has made us unconscious. In this state we have become oblivious to see the light, recognise its purpose, and experience its warmth.
We refuse spirituality in our day to day life and we enjoy a deep sleep which is a symptom of one’s addiction to vices and illusions. “Ignorance is bliss” — has been our blanket into which we have plunged, feeling illusionary security in comforts and feeling an elusive warmth underneath for decades.
There are only two aspects, “truth” and “hidden truth.” Existence of the light is truth. If I open my eyes I see the truth, but if I close my eyes and refuse to see it, the truth is still there but is not available to me.
Here, my effort is in opening the eyes to know the truth. Our physical senses have been conditioned to absorb physical things, overshadowing the subtle senses of the soul which are the mind and the intellect. Though we may see, hear, touch and feel but ignore to sense the truth through the mind and intellect, it can not be called “being sensible” this ignorance is “senselessness”.
It is now the time, to understand the significance of everything that we have been doing for decades. We often celebrate, perform rituals, observe fasting, remain pure in the name of God, only to extract and invoke purity, peace, love, happiness, and the will power to control the senses within oneself.
Though we feel refreshed and replenished, and do accept that retrieving these powers makes us powerful and feel great, why do we not have the courage to continue these celebrations, rituals, and remain pure forever? When we accept that it does something good, why do we limit it just to a day or a certain period? Very commonly we say: “We have other work to do.” or “We have a life to live” or “We have a family to look after” . Does it mean that being god conscious becomes an obstacle in my life?
We have understood spirituality, celebrations and rituals as physical “doings.” That’s why, when you are up to doing something, you can only do one thing at a time. So when you are performing a ritual, you cannot go to office and take care of your responsibilities. And rightly so, all celebrations, rituals and religious ceremonies have been restricted to holidays. However, we can sensibly understand that they are not just for the sake of doing or performing only.
For example, if I am a child of a father, “Being a child” is the truth. With the awareness of this truth, everything I do with happiness, love and peace will please my father. But if I ‘am doing everything on my own whims and fancies, then subsequently to please my father I have to do something different.
“Doing” is one thing and “Being” is another. When, I do something just to please my father, that creates a lot of boundaries and is very limited. But when I apply the attention of “whom I belong to” in all my actions, that insight will please him naturally. Then, I just have to observe “How am I being while I am doing?” Eventually, my ‘being’ and ‘doing’ are not paradoxical but are in harmony. Every father expects his child to be loving and happy, while doing and not to do by demand or force.
Spirituality, is giving attention to “how we should be.” rather than “what we should do” to feel the presence of god. This reveals the authentic significance of our doing and performing of rituals.
Now, all our “doings” emphasise our belief in the existence of god and his descending to earth as we keep on calling him or pleasing him. But again, why is it only restricted to festivals and celebrations and auspicious days? “Truth” needs to be understood sensibly.
“Shiva Rathri” is celebrated as the day (or rather the night) of god’s descending to this world. But, why is it restricted to only one night? Why does he come? What does he do?
We stay awake the whole night of that particular day. It is believed that those who stay awake will go to heaven. Is it that simple? Will staying awake, fasting or consuming only (offering to god) and maintaining purity please god?
But, the real challenge will be to integrate this practice into our everyday life, to please god and thereby go to heaven. If we can translate this understanding from just “doing” to” being”, then going to heaven is possible.
In spiritual language, Shiva means light — Bestower (as a sun he spreads his blessings equally). Presence of light dispels darkness automatically. All religions believe and see god as a form of light. What does the light do? It does revelation of the truth.
“What is it”? “Where is it’? and “How is it”? All of these searches come to an end. Very clear knowledge of peace, happiness, or love can be experienced.
Even though, god dispels darkness, it is for me to open my eyes and open my intellect to know who he is and who am I and what is his purpose. This consciousness should awaken.
The whole world may be in deep darkness and at the peak of ignorance, but it is only during this time that we can make this light, this god’s presence as our search light and be able to carry out every thought and every deed in the right direction. Performing actions with the awareness of his presence signifies “being awake in the night”.
Fasting, and feeding on only pure food and prasad is not all about feeding the body, but it is fasting or feeding the mind with pure information that will reflect the lightness and positivity in thoughts.
Hence, being knowledgeable, about the self, the supreme and the time — though time looks very dark with overflowing negativity — means understanding that the peak of darkness is always transformed into a golden dawn.
Pure, peaceful and happy is what our father expects us to be. This state of “Being” and awareness of our every “Doing” will be a real offering to god that will please him.
Thus, our every second in this life becomes a celebration to welcome the golden dawn, with god as a light in the darkness.