Wishing you an Auspicious and Pro-active Deepawali 2022
Our natural attraction towards Deepawali reminds us that our innermost desire is that the light of happiness, love, harmony and peace should pervade our lives at every level, internally and externally. For this, a pro-active effort to manifest the divine attributes and the characteristics of a devotee, as described in the scriptural-texts, is very necessary. But looking at our capability, our circumstances and the behaviour of others towards ourselves, manifesting these qualities seems very difficult sometimes. Some useful tips on this subject, based on the words of Shri Dharmendra Mohan Sinha (Poojya ‘Nanaji’), are presented here :
1. There is a grand assurance by the Lord in the Gita (16/5) – ‘O Arjun! Do not grieve, as you are endowed with divine attributes.’ Hence, manifesting these qualities is a simple, natural act for every human being. Difficulty is experienced because, on some pretext or other, we consider contrary thoughts and conduct to be appropriate for us, and therefore, we ourselves put a veil on our divine nature.
2. If we claim we do not have the ability to remove these veils, then Poojya Nanaji ’s answer to remove this illusion has been – ‘The blanket that you are able to put on, you can certainly take off too.’
3. It is clear in the Gita (6/5-6) that it is the Lord Himself who is manifesting before us in the form of each circumstance and each person, so that we may get an opportunity to manifest these divine qualities. Hence, when we make good use of such an opportunity, we are our own friend, but when we blame any circumstance or person for our misconduct, then we become our own enemy.
4. For manifesting the divine attributes and the characteristics of a devotee –
- First of all, through self-study (swadhyay), satsang and contemplation, we should fully understand these traits one by one and then internalise them, strengthening the belief that our ultimate welfare solely lies in being endowed with these traits.
- At the same time, in order to remove the weaknesses of the mind and to manifest these traits, imploringly pray to the Lord with a sincere heart.
- On a practical level, revered saints have recommended three infallible practices for destroying the demoniacal attributes – to constantly apologize for one’s misdemeanour, to express gratitude to the Lord and Gurus, and to behold the Lord in everyone, focussing on their virtues and praising them.
5. We have been given human birth for the sole purpose that we become free of all these impurities and vices. Param Poojya Radha Baba assures us that if the desire to be rid of these defects is intense, then the Lord’s grace will surely free us from them. So, the main requirement is a sincere and strong desire to discard them.
Hence, taking support of the Lord’s grace, let us pro-actively engage in this task so that on Deepawali, all the four directions – internal as well as external – are illuminated with the joyous sentiments of devotion, harmony and love.
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