Be a Light Unto Yourself
Swami
Chaitanya Keerti
For Osho-lovers around the world, the celebration is not confined to any
particular day such as Holi or Diwali. Osho teaches us to live each moment of
our life with a spirit of celebration, as it is a non-ending phenomenon of
timeless dimension. But at the same time we welcome each festival celebrated by
different people of different cultures, as our basic approach is positive. What
really matters is positive and celebrative approach. We welcome Diwali and all
other festivals with this spirit.
This festival of lights is very significant for all of us, as it can
function as a reminder that we need to bring light into our life. Though there
are historical reasons to celebrate Diwali - to remember Lord Rama's victory
over Ravana, victory of Good over Evil, and celebrate with lighting the lamps
and enjoying the firecrackers but that's not the main purpose of celebrating
Diwali. People need to meditate and transform their lives, enlighten themselves
and spread light all around.
Osho says: Two religions in
That is the Hindu reason. For Jains this is not the reason. Mahavira became
enlightened on the same day, and Mahavira is the most important individual in
the history of Jainism. Jainas are celebrating because Mahavira attained
liberation. And he attained liberation in a unique way - Gautam Buddha became
enlightened on a full-moon night. And except for Mahavira, anybody who has
become enlightened has done so either on a full-moon night or close to it.
Mahavira is unique in that he became enlightened on the night of amawas ,
no moon, and complete darkness. He is alone; there is nobody else who has
become enlightened on the night of amawas.
Osho adds: Mahavira became enlightened
on the no-moon night, amawas . The full moon night is called purnima -
the moon has become perfect, purna. And the no-moon night is when there
is no moon at all, absolute darkness. Except Mahavira, nobody has become
enlightened on amawas, no-moon night. Mahavira's name was not Mahavira -
Mahavira means a great warrior. His name was Vardhaman. But because he became
enlightened on amawas , no-moon night, he proved that he could go
against the current. It was natural for everybody to become enlightened on the
full moon night, but this fellow Mahavira tried to go against the normal order
of things, and still managed to become enlightened.
In
Diwali simply means moving from darkness to light - Tamso Ma Jyotirgamaya .
And that's the message of Upanishads, the sages and all the enlightened Beings.
Buddha says: Appo Deepo Bhav . Be a light unto yourself.
