Lighting the Inner Lamp-part 2

[Guest guest]

*Lighting the Inner Lamp- part-2*

**

 

Lighting up the inner lamp of viveka and shraddha begins with the awakening

to a new reality of life. This means learning to look at life from a

different perspective, a better perspective. And this means discovering the

ultimate goal of life, which according to Vedanta, is to experience the all

pervading reality of our being, the Atman. 'God-realization is the purpose

of human life,' drives home the same truth in a much more intimate manner.

Anyone can discover this goal for himself through patiently analysing how

short-term all other goals in life are.

 

Seeking that ultimate goal is the fuel for the inner lamp. One should not

give up this search, however discouraging and daunting may be the path. The

oil that burns the inner lamp is the oil of constant seeking, and of

absolute integrity of purpose. This seeking manifests through our willing to

undergo all hardships and to carry on with out spiritual striving. Besides

doing mediation and prayer, one of the very vital constituents of this

seeking lies in keeping a watch over oneself. *Our habitually outgoing mind

finds it easy to look at and point out what others are doing or even

thinking but rarely does it learn to find out how much needs to be done in

one's own life. Holy Mother's well-known words, 'Learn to see your own

faults,' points out the need to introspect and self-inquiry as the means to

attaining peace and joy in life *.

 

Keeping the inner lamp of constant discrimination and shraddha burning is an

essential need for healthy living. One needs to be always alert. Let not the

oil of seeking burn out. In other words, let not the goal of life slip from

our inner eyes. We need to replace or trim the wick from where the light of

wisdom emanates and lights our steps. The wick means our attitude and

outlook towards life. We may need to check occasionally whether what we

believe needs revision or modification.

 

The calm mind is likened by Sri Krishna to 'a lamp kept in a spot sheltered

from the wind.' Indeed the most essential condition for drawing benefit from

its inner light, the mind should remain calm. What makes us restless is our

endless identification with the pheno- menal world and forgetting our true

nature which is divine. Maintaining the inner calm may be challenging but it

is worth all the effort. Many of us are apt to curse the world saying what a

hell it is. But, says Swami Vivekananda, 'To those who have not controlled

their minds, the world is either full of evil or at best a mixture of good

and evil. This very world will become to us an optimistic world when we

become master of our own minds. Indeed the Hindu festival of lights ( *

deepavali*) is a celebration of this fact. When Rama, the king of our

hearts, the representative of the higher Self, 'comes back' into our life,

everyone rejoices by lighting lamps everywhere. The festival of light is, in

fact, a celebration of the light of wisdom.

 

When we are equipped with our inner lamp, no darkness of the external world

can threaten us anymore for, light has no fear of darkness. However

intimidating may be the darkness of the night, a lighted lamp has nothing to

become anxious. It may be tiny in size but does the size of a lamp preclude

its ability to locate a piece of gold?

 

'From darkness, lead me to light' *(tamaso ma jyotirgamaya*). Whatever be

our language and expression, lighting the inner lamp is what is wanted in

life—in order to walk on the path that leads to inner light and joy.

 

Taken from : www.sriramakrishnamath.org

 

Regards

 

Prasanna Kumar