Shiva Sutras by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Author:Sri Sri Ravi Shankar [Shankar, Sri Sri Ravi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Art of Living Foundation USA
Published: 2016-05-17T21:00:00+00:00

FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT

Every time a firecracker is lit, it creates a loud sound, bringing your mind and consciousness into the present moment. That is why we use firecrackers. It is like shock therapy. Without the noise from the bursting firecrackers, the mind does not come into the present. The mind is constantly dreaming and wandering elsewhere. Observe the mind's fantasies. We have no time to study them, though dreams constantly come up.

Vidyam samhare taduttha svapnadarsanam

When knowledge is lost, dreams start.

In the previous sutras we looked at "Gururupayah," "Shariram havih" and "Jnanamannam." This sutra is a continuation of those sutras. You are continually daydreaming. This firecracker is only there to wake you from your dreams. Every sutra is a firecracker. It should bring light to darkness. Do you know why we celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights? The month of Karthik has the longest nights of the whole year. It is the month of darkness. In this darkness we need to light lamps. There is no point lighting a lamp where there is light everywhere. Darkness is not unnatural. Many dark moments come in life, and people keep sleeping in the darkness. That is why we celebrate this festival, in which we burst firecrackers to wake up.

Living in society, among people, sometimes hatred and anger arise. Some disturbance or argument takes place with those with whom we do not have a good rapport. All the differences of opinion we have are not with enemies, but only with friends. We store all this anger and hatred in some corner of our mind. Let it all come out at once and be sent away. This is the reason for bursting firecrackers.

Normally we do in the outside world whatever is happening inside us and vice versa. Whatever happens inside is reflected outside. When you are in a good mood, you give someone flowers, but if the mind is disturbed, then you stare at him or you pick up a rock. There is a relationship between our mind and our behavior, and our behavior also gets reflected in the mind. People always mix up one with the other. That is why the mind is happy when you burst firecrackers, light candles or arrange flowers for offering. Diwali is celebrated to kindle a light inside you that will never die.

Why are we in such a state when our nature is light? Why are we not happy? That is why it says, "Vidyam samhare taduttha svapnadarsanam." "Vidya samhare" means loss or destruction of knowledge. Knowledge is lost, so dreams arise. It means that somewhere inside, the link with knowledge has been broken. What are you dreaming about? There are three types of dreams.

Dreams of success - we think, "Everyone must garland and clap for me. Everyone should appreciate me." The cause of the mind's dreams is the desire for praise, and no amount of praise is enough!

Mullah Nasruddin was honored in some country by someone. Once the program started, Mullah eagerly looked around to see who was present at the event.

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