26th October 2011
Shubha Dipāvali

Adorable Self and loving souls,

The new moon celebrated as Dipāvali is often called the festival of lights. Traditionally, the lighting of lamps peaks on the new moon evening and the festival typically lasts five days centered on this night. The translation of this simple Sanskrit word implies arrays of lights – arrays consisting of strings of lights linked as in a garland or a necklace.

Dipāvali reminds us to kindle discrete lights and arrange them in a pattern in remembrance of the ultimate divine wealth – the lamp within. Meditators take this opportunity to be peacemakers silently illuminating the darkness of ignorance. On a more practical level, there is the significance of welcoming the divine mother Laxmi of plenitude on this evening.

Seer is the light in the heart. Seer is discrete. Seer is the knower. Sreyānsi bahu vignāni – a famous Sanskrit saying implies that binding together for noble service is fraught with challenges. This is because ignorance is commonplace. Ignorance is akin to darkness. Ignorance is widespread. Collective ignorance is easily garnered. There is no collective consciousness. Rumour spreads much too easily, while truth remains hidden afar. Connecting the lights should be invoked instead of exploring or shaping darkness. 

Consciousness is discrete and countless in number, just like on this evening when there will be innumerable lamps lighting up. Countless seers manifest innumerable lights. Similarly countless stars light up the otherwise dark night sky. It is matter which is one, making all energy linked and transmissible. Matter is dark unless lighted by the consciousness that is the seer. Matter is the knowable when lighted by alignment with consciousness. When matter reflects the light of consciousness through their alignment, we strive to shatter the ignorance inherent in the shadows and shades around light. The lamp of knowing is rekindled on this night.

Lighting the lamps in an array is like binding the spirit. The lamps of knowing when connected bring about the lighted space. The string of lights illuminates a lighted path. And RigVeda inspires us to save and protect the lighted paths attained through truthful deeds. We strive to light the pathway of divine wealth and welcome Laxmi again on this dark new moon night.

The paths are lighted by the light of seeking, serving and giving. RigVeda teaches us that genuine giving wins the world over just like light fills darkness. Kindness and charity are exemplary virtues, both rooted in compassion. And compassion exudes from repose in that light. Affirmations to alight along a spiritual path or to align with a noble cause bind the spirit and nurture the bonds which build a divine shelter – the nurturing shelter of motherly Laxmi.

RigVeda beautifully teaches us that light makes the nectar in honey flow. The light in the heart when realized makes life fulfilled. Fulfillment is experienced through love. Devotional rapture brings about the ultimate experience – divine love. Love floods forth as the flow in the heart when the light within is realized. The one light within is shining forth – the light which is the consciousness or the Self in itself. Indeed the seer is the light in the heart. Let the many seers light up again together on this Dipāvali. Let the arrays of lights bind our spirits. Let the spirited ones pray to the great enlightened beings and to the merciful One.

In light and love,

Swami Vidyadhishananda

PS: References for RigVeda verses are 10-53/6, 8-24/21, 9-86/10.