Deepavali- An event to signify the cleansing in ourselves
Though, at the time of birth, man has no good or bad
qualities, changes occur in his nature due to
the food he consumes, and the influence of associates around
him. One develops ego and attachment based on the
company he keeps. As a person gets educated, he or she develops pride and
entertains vainglorious thoughts about one's superiority over others. This
conceit pollutes the heart.
When dirty water gets mixed with milk, the milk has to be
boiled to make it pure. Likewise man has
to undertake various types of Sadhana to
purge his heart of impurities. Exercises such as meditation,
Yajna or thapas can
only provide mental satisfaction. It is only when the heart is melted
in the heat of Divine love that one can succeed in getting rid of bad qualities
and make the heart shine in its pristine effulgence. Just as. the sun's rays
can bum a heap of cotton if the rays are concentrated by
passing through a lens, the rays of the intellect will destroy one's bad qualities
only when they are passed through the lens of Divine love.
