Light up your life!

As Indians around the world celebrate Diwali (Deepavali) this week - the festival of lights, I want to cultivate an illuminating thought in your minds.

During Diwali we light many lamps at home and the lights apparently stand for reaffirmation of hope, a renewed commitment to friendship and goodwill, and it is a religiously approved celebration of the simple and some not-so-simple joys of life. I went to the Sydney Diwali celebrations held at the Olympic Park last Sunday, and from one of the stalls I bought these small colorful clay lamps with candle wax in it. They are so beautiful and I will light them tonight when I go home...and place them all around the balcony floor making my home shimmer in the stillness of the night...

Now tell me, have you really seen the Lights? Just look at the flame, bask in it's aura, watch it dancing to the tune of the light breeze, feel it's warmth with your palms, grasp it's beauty with your eyes, immerse in it's sparkle that's lighting the darkness...the darkness that may be in your life. Here's a little bit of a meditation tip: Visualise this flame in your heart...enlighten your deep thoughts with it's aura...burn the negative thoughts from it's fire. Now spread this light to the whole body starting from the heart...let the light flow upwards to your face...let it purify your vision, hearing, taste, speech...now take the aura to your arms and legs...let it purify your touch, deeds and may it guide you in every step you take. May your whole body dazzle in the glory of this light so that you spread the aura to all the people around you and so on...from one light to another may peace and harmony cultivate in every mind.

Lights enlighten us..only if we allow ourselves to sieze the aura when it's present. It's all in the opportunities you come across in life. Maybe it was an oppourtunity to tell someone you care for him/her or maybe it was a blessing in disguise. It may not seem like that at the moment but look with your eyes wide open. There are so many lights in your life, just that you don't see them well. These shimmering lights can really be seen only if you look hard, look from your heart. Even in the darkest times, you will find a reason to believe in life 'cos there's always light at the end of the tunnel. So light up your life with good thoughts, words and deeds no matter how dark the times may seem. Every thing happens for a reason and don't forget to bask in the light that comes with every one of those situations...

Happy Diwali to all my dear ones!