In order for real lasting progress in India and in the world we must have unity between Hindus, Muslims, and Christians. This unity must take place between the common people. Let it begin here and spread to religious group leaders. Without the support of the people the leaders have no power. Let the people remember their power to create, to influence, and to change the conditions of reality. Let us look back through history at the gains that have been made and carry on to greater heights, preserving and protecting the democratic ideals of freedom and respect. At the same time we must be honest about the work that remains to be done. We are seeing increasing religious intolerance and terrorism. This is not the message of God in any religion. Whatever is happening in the world these days is shameful. We must return to the Christian, Muslim, and Hindu scriptures and follow exactly the teachings handed down by the gods, great seers, masters, prophets, and saints, teachings which emphasize brotherhood and sisterhood. We must each feel that it is our personal responsibility, our duty, to turn the tide. If we are Hindu, we should invite our Muslim and Christian friends to join us in our religious and secular activities and if we are Muslim or Christian we should do the same with our Hindu, Christian, and Muslim friends. If we have no friends outside of our religion then we should consider ways to reach out and expand our circle of relations. We must call on our neighbors and our colleagues and seek out new opportunities for friendship for it is when we connect personally, practically that the barriers and the fighting fall.
We must take seriously the level of fighting before us and go out of our way to cultivate friendly relations with each other. We cannot expect religious and government leaders to fix the problems for us. We must take responsibility ourselves for the change we wish to see and drop negative ideas about the impossibility of the task. Instead of fighting over religious superiority and dominance we should recognize that there is only one God and respect the diversity of paths to God. We should help Hindus become a better Hindus, Muslims become better Muslims, Christians become better Christians, etc. Our actions should always be an example of the highest way. We must speak to each other tenderly and with kindness in our faces, in our eyes, in our smile, and in the warmth of our greetings. We must always have a cheerful smile and give not just our care but our hearts. Everybody today seems to be in a terrible rush, anxious for greater developments and greater riches and so on to the point that the true path of religion has been forgotten. We must return to the path of our own religion and follow it at all costs. We must make time for family and friendships and return peace to the world.
The festival Diwali (or Deepavali) is a major Indian holy day, and a significant festival in Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Many legends are associated with Diwali. Today it is celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs across the globe as the "Festival of Lights," where the lights or lamps signify victory of good over the evil within every human being. Diwali is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the month Kartika.
In many parts of India, it is the homecoming of Lord Rama of Ayodhya after a 14-year exile in the forest, after he defeated the evil Ravana. The people of Ayodhya (the capital of his kingdom) welcomed Rama by lighting rows (avali) of lamps (deeva), thus its name: Deepavali. This word, in due course, became Diwali in Hindi. But, in South Indian languages, the word did not undergo any change, and hence the festival is called Deepavali in southern India. There are many different observances of the holy day across India.
Jainism marks Diwali as the nirvana of Lord Mahavira, which occurred on 15 October, 527 BCE.
Among the Sikhs, Diwali came to have special significance from the day the town of Amritsar was illuminated on the return to it of Guru Hargobind who had been held captive in the Fort at Gwalior under the orders of the Mughal emperor, Jahangir. As the sixth Guru (teacher) of Sikhism, Guru Hargobind Ji, was freed from imprisonment - along with 53 Hindu Kings (who were held as political prisoners) whom the Guru had arranged to be released as well. After his release he went to the Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) in the holy city of Amritsar, where he was welcomed in happiness by the people who lit candles and diyas to greet the Guru. Because of this, Sikhs often refer to Diwali also as Bandi Chhorh Divas - "the day of release of detainees."
The festival is also celebrated by Buddhists of Nepal, particularly the Newar Buddhists.
While Deepavali is popularly known as the "festival of lights", a more appropriate significance is "the new year of luck and wealth".Central to Hindu philosophy is the assertion that there is something beyond the physical body and mind which is pure, infinite, and eternal, called the Atman. Just as we celebrate the birth of our physical being, Deepavali is the celebration of this Inner Light, in particular the knowing of which outshines all darkness (removes all obstacles and dispels all ignorance), awakening the individual to one's true nature, not as the body, but as the unchanging, infinite, immanent and transcendent reality. With the realization of the Atman comes universal compassion, love, and the awareness of the oneness of all things (higher knowledge). This brings Ananda (Inner Joy or Peace).
Diwali celebrates this through festive fireworks, lights, flowers, sharing of sweets, and worship. While the story behind Deepavali varies from region to region, the essence is the same - to rejoice in the Inner Light (Atman) or the underlying reality of all things (Brahman).
Diwali is a time to forgive and forget the past and move into new relationships with one another. It is a time to lay down our swords in thought, word, and deed. In order to experience a new life with one another we must let go of the past. If we really want to love we must learn how to forgive. It is impossible to hold grudges and ill-will towards one another and expect anything to change. We each have a responsibility to take the first step. We must surrender our ego and bravely step forward into a new universe of love, truth, understanding, faith, trust, and respect. Diwali marks the victory of light over darkness. We each have a choice about whether we want to live in a state of darkness and ignorance or whether we are willing to sacrifice the ordinary life of mankind in this age for a life of purity and righteousness. The human mind produces endless reasons for fighting, but these are nothing more than excuses for reproducing a reality of prejudice, war, and poverty of the soul. If we wish to see peace in this world - and it is possible - then we must use each moment to leave the past behind and live strongly under cosmic laws. Cosmic laws are strict, but they are fair and just. Stepping into this higher order of life is a real option. It takes strength of will and courage to be a forerunner, but every great social change in this world has started with a small group of people committed to a higher vision. Take the opportunity this Diwali to commit yourself - or renew your commitments - to the triumph of light over darkness, of good over evil. May Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi open the way to peace, prosperity, and joy for all as one family on one planet under one sun.It is time for us to let the divisions of race, class, gender, and religion fall. We must give freedom and respect to all religions. Let us each chose our own religious path, let us each praise God in our own tongue, and let us each worship God in our own ways. It is the worship of God that is most important. Let us understand that the diversity of religious paths is a thing of beauty and work hard to preserve and protect religious freedom and respect. When we have our eye on difference we can see only difference. When we have our eye on unity conflict dissolves. So then, let us harness the power of mind, of thought, of action, and of speech and commit ourselves this Diwali to a new order of life and society based on the highest principles of truth, love, and understanding. By elevating ourselves to a universal state of awareness we call upon our brothers and sisters world-wide to join us. This is a power we each hold. Let us all offer our commitment to God to use this power for the lasting welfare and salvation of all sentient beings.
Lokah samastha sukhino bhavanthu!
Kalik Ji Maharaj
International President - Shri Ram Sena
Former President - Shiv Sena J&K State
www.shriramsena.com
Disclaimer: The Shri Ram Sena is against all kinds of terrorism and all kinds of violence. The Shri Ram Sena is an independent body and is not involved or connected with any other organization whatsoever, including but not limited to the RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal, Hindu Jagran, Shiv Sena, and the outfit calling itself "Shri Ram Sena" in India which is presently receiving media attention for acts of violence. Shri Ram Sena is an independent and individual organization working peacefully for Hindu rights world wide.
