The Hindu celebration of Diwali, the Indian “New Year,” falls towards the end of October, or first half of November. Often people find Hinduism confusing , so many “Gods” (Deities) so much complex “mythology” and stories woven with a multiplicity of characters and their interrelations.
However, Hinduism, if you go deeper is really simple. The outer aspect of Hinduism, the deities and mythology is the symbolic of the inner qualities and forces that play out their dramas inside every human being, the eternal struggle between the “good” and “bad” within the battleground of the mind and the emotions.
The Hindu narrative is a vernacular to objectify and explain life in a palatable manner that gives ordinary people a point of anchorage whilst they are caught up in the thrall of Maya (illusion on the physical level).
The quest for spiritual enlightenment, or the unceasing churn of the sensory, material desires demanding the indulgence of expression in life?
During the Festival of Diwali, which actually lasts five days, Hindus symbolically light lamps. The lamps illumine the outer environment, the material darkness. The deeper meaning to this ceremonial act is concerned with the light of the Divine, the light of the Soul residing in the depths of the human heart. Lighting the flame of love, so that the spiritual aspect of the human being radiates and shines upon the outer environment to lead the way.
The light blazing from the heart reveals the true purpose of life, realising one’s true nature, realising and manifesting one’s True Self and becoming a perfect, Self-Realised human being.
When you say to people it is possible to become a perfect human being, you will typically be honoured with a look of incredulity, if you are fortunate. If you are less fortunate, then a tirade of ridicule and accusations of living in a world of fantasy will tumble towards you.
The ancient tradition of Hinduism is the singular one within the various faiths in that presents the possibility of staining perfection through the application of practical and scientific methodology that goes well beyond the confines of supplicant belief. This is achieved through Yoga, the esoteric path within Hinduism.
The yoga that people commonly understand is Hatha Yoga, which is based on asanas or physical postures. Hatha is the oldest form of Yoga, but as a practice it can only take you so far spiritually, as it was intended to help people 100,000s years ago to develop themselves spiritually. Hatha is concerned with maintaining the condition of the body, then controlling and attaining mastery over it.
The consciousness of Humanity has predominantly moved on (although its exoteric actions suggest to the contrary), since then and requires other forms of yoga to sequentially transcend not only the body, but also the emotions and mind.
Yoga is the bridge to Self-Realisation. It is a proven (not only a relative belief) range of techniques that for thousands of years has enabled ordinary people to fulfil their spiritual potentiality and tranform themselves into yogis, Rishis, Saints and Masters.
Self-Realisation is a state of being whereby an individual has gained mastered over their personality life expression as demonstated through their physical, emotional and mental apparatus, and is able to fully manifest their Divinity moment to moment with no cessation.
You will find no shortage of people who will proudly proclaim they can control their body, but how many of them can instantaneous stop (and not act upon) the body craving food, drink, sex or any other sensory impulse, without it being a protracted inner battle?
The same goes for the emotions, if you suddenly feel anger, impatience, jealousy, can your mind calmly say to yourself, “l do not want to feel that way’ and the feeling immediately subsides and then dissolves? If a negative or destructive thought arises in your mind, can you consciously apply your awareness to see it for what it is, not be consumed by it and then to neutralise it, before it takes root and develops further?
In the sphere of contemporary spirituality the Soul and experiencing it is regarded as the pinnacle of achievement. This is not in fact the case. In order to become Self-Realised a human being must even transcend the Soul. How many of us, if asked, would wiling accept the dissolution of our Soul, contact with we have assiduously nurtured for (theoretically), thousands of lives?
In the final stages of Self-Realisation the Soul dissolves into the spark of Divinity within us, so there is no mediation agency between Divinity and the lower vehicles of outer expression, the body, emotions and mind. The physical body is then made up of pure light inwardly, although it looks the same outwardly. The emotional and mental aspects become purified, so they are pellucid, neutral fields through which Divinity can perfectly express itself without hinderance.
A Self-Realised beings are no longer bound by the elemental laws of nature as recognised by modern science. They can change their appearance instantly to any form they choose, They can travel from one side of the planet to the other in the blink of an eye. They can physically disappear and reappear in front of thousands of people.
These capabilities are only the lesser aptitudes of a Self-Realised person. The fundamental qualities of utmost importance is their infinite capacity to express intelligence (as distinct to intelellectual prowess), wisdom and unconditional Love.
The ability to manifest unconditional Love is arguably the true mark of a Self-Reslised person, as it is one of things ordinary people are so seldom capable of expressing. In our well constructed self-deception we may THINK we loving unconditionally, but at the core of every though is a overt or covert motive of selfish interest of wanting something in return.