Guest guest Posted October 18, 2003 Report Share Posted October 18, 2003 Joyous Deepawali to all of you - BABA - 24th October 2003 God exists in those who treat others’ sorrows as their own. This is Vallalar’s realization. Love is God. When a person’s being overflows with compassionate love, he becomes equal to God Himself. This is the finding of all Mahaans. Appar Swami (a Saivite saint) sings, "Vilakkittaar perumai sollil meineri Gnanamaagum" which translates to mean "the glory of lighting up lamps in the temple for the Lord indicates the path to self-realization". An episode from the Puranas (sacred texts of the Hindus): a rat scampering in a temple happened to kindle the flame of a lamp (just about to dwindle away) in the sanctum. This unintended good deed yielded for it a birth as Bali Chakravarthy (an ardent devotee-king) subsequently. This signifies that a good act, even unintentional, brings forth good results. In that sense, the garland of lamps that you light on the Deepavali day is bound to drive away the darkness in your life, replacing it with effulgence.God exists in the form of a Radiant Light. Manickavachagar (a saint) addresses God as the "Luminous Light, the Non-pareil" (OliValar Vilakke! Uvappilla Onre!). Vallallar (a saint) explains the blessings of concentrating on the Divine, thus: "Those who constantly worship the Lord who is in the form of Fire, attain a lustrous golden form"(SenJothi vadivudaya Unai anavaradham ninaipporukku enrum ponmanacchemmeni undaagum). Thirumoolar (a Seer-Poet who is known for his ‘Thirumanthiram’ that explains the incomprehensible Lord and His ways) offers the way to alleviate our miseries and shortcomings: "Light up the Lamp (within) and comprehend the Cosmos; the presence of The Light will dispel your miseries" (Vilakkinai yetri veliyinai arimin; Vilakkin munne vedhanai maarum). How do we travel from illusion to Truth, from darkness to Light, from transience to Permanence (asathoma Sathgamaya, thamasoma Jyothirgamaya, mruthyorma Amrutangamaya)? How do we attain the mellowness of ThirumangaiAzhwar (a saint) who comprehended the Lord thus: "The Divine Father merged His Form within mine in engulfing illumination" (Vilakkoliyai, Thann Uruvai en uruvil ninra Thanthai)? Only by clinging to the Lotus Feet of the Lord.Which is why Arunagirinatha (a saint) pleads with Muruga, "Bless me with a glimpse of Your cool Lotus Feet so that I may comprehend the Light." (Deepavilakkam kaana, ennul seethala Padmam tharuvaye!). Vallalar prays to the Lord to bless all his cluster of creations with the power to comprehend the Light that the Lord is (ulaguyir thirallellam olineri petrida).When we are in darkness, neither do we know of ourselves, nor do we understand of our surroundings. When we switch on a light, or light a candle, we see ourselves and everything around us.Paul Newman, an English theologician and poet, sought of God the mellowness to place every step forward in quest of the Light. "Lead Kindly LightLead Thou me onAmidst the encircling gloom Lead Thou me on yet one step enough for me" Our elders lit up lamps in various ways to comprehend the Lord who is in the form of an Eternal Light within and also without (Deepamangala Jyothi Namo Nama. Jyothi Jyothi Jyothi Sivam, Jyothi Jyothi Jyothi Param). Poigai Azhwar (a Vaishnavite saint) visualized this Earth as a Lamp, the Oceans as Ghee, the Sun as a wick, and sought the Light in the Cosmos. (Vaiyam thagazhiya Vaarkadale neyyaaga Veyyakkadhiron Vilakkaaga Seyya Sudaraazhiyaan Adikke Sootinen Sonmaalai idaraazhi neengugave enru). Boothathazhwar (another Vaishnavite saint), envisaged Love as the Lamp, Devotion as the Ghee, Heart as the wick and lit up the Lamp of Wisdom. (Anbe thagazhiya Aarvame neyyaaga Inburugu Sindhai idu Thiriya Nanburugi Gnanachudar Vilaketrinen Naaranarkku, Gnanathamizh purindha naan). Peyazhwar (another Vaishnavite saint), enlightened by the wisdom of the saints gone before him, that that which is present outside is present within too, comprehended the Lord with his inner mind and revelled in the bliss of having seen the Lord’s glowing form within (Thirukkanden Ponmeni kanden Thigazhum Arukkan Ani Niramumkanden Serukkilarum Ponnaazhi kanden PuriSangam kaikkanden Ennazhivannanpal inru ).It is that bliss which we must seek. Realize the concept our elders attempted to instil in us that "the human body is a temple, and the heart is the sanctum where the Lord resides" (Oonudambu Aalayam, Ullam Perunkoil). Krishna’s advice (in the Bhagavad Gita) to Arjuna, torn asunder by a distracted mind, is: "Like a lamp that does not flicker when lit in a cave and thus protected from the winds, steady your mind through Yoga". (Kaatru pugaadha kugaiyil yetri vaitha vilakku asaiyadhu erivadhu pol yogathaal manadhai nilaippaduthu) If we follow this path, we can attain the Lord we seek (Thedi kandu kollalaam Thirumalai). This is my Deepavali message to you.As Vallalar says, "The Lord, who is Grace personified, is on His way. Light up innumerable millions of lamps" (Arulalar varuginra neramidhu. Ayirankodi ani vilaketrungal). Light up many lamps in front of your homes ..Happy Deepavali to all of you!! Iniya Deepawali nalvaazhthukkal !! I Love You All - BABA Shankaram Shiva Shankaram Chant and be happy The New with improved product search Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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