Full Moon, 21st November 2010
Kartika-Purnima, Deva-Dipavali

Blessed Self and Adorable One,

I am writing to you about the spiritual teaching of Yoga philosophy on being wisely proactive. This full moon of the soli-lunar Vedic calendar called Kartika-Purnima is also known as Deva-Dipavali signifying a lighted presence which silently but valiantly radiates the clarity of spiritual perception.

This lighted presence gently resolves the issue of indifference and intervention by invoking the teachings on how to be proactive or corrective. Likewise, meditation and its persistent practice gently resolves this issue of indifference and intervention.

Upon recognizing non-virtuous actions, an attitude of indifference needs to be cultivated. Such an attitude maintains mental balance. This indifference is a neutral stance that does not indicate inaction. Counteraction can be applied to oppose the non-virtuous activity. However, in this situation, the mind should not be disturbed by a feeling of vengeance.

The question then arises with regard to vicarious participation during violent actions. Can one be deemed an indifferent witness to a violent action? Should one do nothing in such a situation and simply be a disinterested observer? Yoga philosophy considers such a vicarious onlooker to be a responsible participant in a harmful situation. Even though the onlooker may not be deemed as responsible as the person directly performing violent action, this onlooker cannot be a disinterested witness because the mind is negatively affected.

Moreover, watching a wrongful act and doing nothing is deemed to excite and inflate the ego, which ultimately weakens the will. Therefore, in this situation, an intervention is indicated. Simply making a rash response is not the answer. A wise corrective intervention that is not bereft of compassion is needed. This wisely proactive response is a deliberate corrective measure based on a deeper understanding of the individual situation. This intervention is aimed at removing the long-term effects of being a vicarious participant in harmful action and does not contradict the attitude of indifference toward the non-virtuosity.

A meditator or a student of Yoga philosophy is able to discern this subtle distinction and take wisely proactive steps to counter harm. Such a person remains balanced by being neither reactive nor inactive. The lighted presence is verily the clarity of spiritual perception. And today the tradition calls for taking a holy bath and offering lamps on the water or deeply meditating on the inner light to invoke blessings so that one can be perceptive and proactive in the right way.

With my abounding holy blessings,

Swami Vidyadhishananda
(from Varanasi, India)