Happy Diwali, to all!
Diwali, as many of you know it, is the Hindu Festival of Light. But, you don't have to be a certain religion to invite light into your life. Every step any of us takes toward education, toward knowledge, toward truth is a step toward our own inner light. Today, I invite that light into my home and into myself so that I may spread light on to others.
As I grow older, I find it more difficult, in many ways, to keep with the traditions of my culture and family. When I was younger, my parents led the charge, making sweets, putting up lights, and having us sit down together in prayer. In college, being so connected to a group of youth similar to myself culturally and spiritually made it almost as easy. Celebrating these holidays was a fun, shared experience. As a full-fledged adult, it's harder for me to set time aside for these things. I have to do it very intentionally. It's so easy to plan my year around the "normal" holidays (e.g. Christmas, Thanksgiving), even though I don't really celebrate these. It is very easy to jump on the bandwagon, though, and buy others presents in December, to put up a tree, to enjoy the singing of carols.
I want to continue to honor these holidays that are part of American culture, because this is also my culture. These holidays have beautiful meanings, and I think there is so much to be learned from the spirit of these holidays, if one practices them with intention. It is so important to me to stay connected to my original culture, though. And so, I am making this specific intention today live my life in the light, and always striving toward truth. I will always invite those into my home and myself that bring me closer to the truth, and I will work to rid myself of the "shadows" (e.g. ignorance, negativity, judgment of others, mindlessness). I am also making the intention of remembering the light others have given me through their words, their smiles, their kindness, and through imparting their knowledge.
One of my favorite quotes is "Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." (Martin Luther King, Jr.). And so, let us remember that a single light is all it takes to light a room; just as a single love can eliminate a thousand hates.
May the light that shines within all of us burn brightly this Diwali.
Poonam
Diwali, as many of you know it, is the Hindu Festival of Light. But, you don't have to be a certain religion to invite light into your life. Every step any of us takes toward education, toward knowledge, toward truth is a step toward our own inner light. Today, I invite that light into my home and into myself so that I may spread light on to others.
As I grow older, I find it more difficult, in many ways, to keep with the traditions of my culture and family. When I was younger, my parents led the charge, making sweets, putting up lights, and having us sit down together in prayer. In college, being so connected to a group of youth similar to myself culturally and spiritually made it almost as easy. Celebrating these holidays was a fun, shared experience. As a full-fledged adult, it's harder for me to set time aside for these things. I have to do it very intentionally. It's so easy to plan my year around the "normal" holidays (e.g. Christmas, Thanksgiving), even though I don't really celebrate these. It is very easy to jump on the bandwagon, though, and buy others presents in December, to put up a tree, to enjoy the singing of carols.
I want to continue to honor these holidays that are part of American culture, because this is also my culture. These holidays have beautiful meanings, and I think there is so much to be learned from the spirit of these holidays, if one practices them with intention. It is so important to me to stay connected to my original culture, though. And so, I am making this specific intention today live my life in the light, and always striving toward truth. I will always invite those into my home and myself that bring me closer to the truth, and I will work to rid myself of the "shadows" (e.g. ignorance, negativity, judgment of others, mindlessness). I am also making the intention of remembering the light others have given me through their words, their smiles, their kindness, and through imparting their knowledge.
One of my favorite quotes is "Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." (Martin Luther King, Jr.). And so, let us remember that a single light is all it takes to light a room; just as a single love can eliminate a thousand hates.
May the light that shines within all of us burn brightly this Diwali.
Poonam
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