Diwali or Deepavali is also known as the festival of lights. Diwali is a time for new beginnings and it celebrates the victory of good over evil, light over darkness, wisdom over ignorance and more.
This festival teaches us how to transcend the challenges we face as described in the great epic: the Ramayana. This year the festival falls in late October/early November. Below are 4 simple deepavali lessons to reflect upon this season.
1. believe in yourself
Hanuman, the beloved deity recognized in the Ramayana is most often celebrated for his unwavering faith and devotion to Dharma, or righteousness. His devotion is so great that imagery of him often shows him with his chest wide open and an image of Ram and Sita lodged in his heart.
What’s also true about him is that he trusts himself and believes in himself firmly - without any doubts. In Hanuman's mind, there is no way he won’t reach his goals to be of service to Dharma. Failure is never an option for this devoted bhagat. Even in the face of great challenges, Hanuman always finds a way through - he will move mountains if he has to!
Lesson: Are you facing a challenge? Believe in yourself with your whole heart. You can do it!
2. Prioritize what matters
On Naraka Chaturdashi, the second day of the 5 nights of Diwali, we recognize the great battle between Narakasura and Sri Krishna. Narakasura was a villian consumed by ego and obsession who terrorized humanity in his quest for dominance and power. He enacted horrible suffering on humanity and caused a great deal of suffering. At the moment of his demise at the hands of Sri Krishna, he had a sudden and vivid moment of clarity. He became horrified that he had wasted his life and harmed as many as he did. He completely and instantly realized his terrible mistakes and made an internal shift.
He requested that his death anniversary be celebrated with colors and lights as the recognition of the death of ignorance and limitations .He wished that his demise be celebrated as a day of remembrance of what really matters in life: to be liberated and be free of ignorance
Reflect: What matters the most to you in your life and how can you uplift & center those righteous goals?
Abundance is not what you think
Lakshmi Devi, the Goddess of Abundance reminds us that abundance is the more than gold coins and material wealth. We often think of abundance as 'stuff' that we can accumulate and collect. Things that have so-called 'value'. True abundance is the gifts of nature & existence: the rays of the sun, fresh water, all of nature’s splendor. Abundance is recognized through gratitude. She calls on us to thank her for these gifts. Let’s reimagine abundance. It’s more than precious things, it’s about precious life
Practice: Light a candle and express your gratitude for all that you have in your life.
A celebration of light
Deepavali, ultimately, is a festival of light. Diyas lit in rows to illuminate the streets are a reflection of the inner light. Illumination is for all! The spark of the divine resides within each of us. We are all limitless beautiful beings and there is more that unities us than divides us. Let’s come together and share in our love and appreciation for the goodness that flows from that inner spark. Shubh Deepavali! Happy Diwali!
Action: How can we share in that joy & uplift others this season?
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