Seek the Light Within

Traditionally, both in the Eastern and Western civilisations, the celebration of a festival was associated with a religious or spiritual quest. The emphasis on Inner Purification, Contemplation, Swadhyaya, and Self-Exploration prepared the ground for outer rituals that connected with the essence of a quest. Ritual was the connecting bridge between the Inner and outer aspects of Consciousness. 

The celebrations and festivities came at the end of the practices of Swadhyaya, Retreat, Mauna, and Fasting. So the celebration of Diwali would come as a culmination of Adhyan and recitals of epics like Ramcharitramanas. Those given more to learning through art, dance and music, connected through Ramlilas and Kathakkali, the performing arts, an experience where the one performing and the other witnessing, became One in touching the core of the epic.

The epics and the art forms were not confined to elite theatres or the crowded temples. Some of us may recall the excitement of the Ramlila stage being set in the open Maidans. As children, one may have booked the front rows on the carpet for the night show to begin. There was a sense of awe in witnessing a next-door neighbour playing the role of Rama, and one may even have cried along with him in separation from Sita. 

In a small village like Madhubani, the walls of the mud houses were etched with episodes from the Ramayana. Walking through that village was like reading Balakanda, Bharatmilap, Sundarakand, Sitaswayambar, Ramrajabhishek. At Ramlila and Kathakali performances, the actors wore masks to personify the characters assigned to them, where both Ravana and Rama played their roles in the service of the divine.

While we mostly celebrate Diwali to honour the Saguna Ram, it is important to contemplate on the Nirguna Ram too. In Saint Kabir’s words - “Ek Ram Dashratha ka beta, Ek Ram ghat ghat mein baitha, Ek Ram ka sagal pasara, Ek Ram hai Jag te nyara”. There is one Ram who was born to Dashratha, there is Ram who resides in every being, there is one who has created the whole world, and then there is Ram who is beyond all manifestation. The spiritual meaning of the word Ram is the Blissful Consciousness. 

Today, how many of us connect with festivals like Deepawali as an occasion for self-purification, Swadhyaya, with melodious chanting of Ramcharitramanas or with the collective consciousness of India through the performing arts of the great epics?

Most have already started preparing for Deepawali, marking a list of gifts to be exchanged, the sweets and dry fruits to be purchased, and even crackers to be blasted, insensitive to the noise and pollution levels in the cities and villages. The annual rituals of clearing the unnecessary clutter in the family homes to welcome Lakshmi and the simple joy of sitting together to make festive sweets have been outsourced to big vendors. 

Then there are others who would be preparing to take a flight to party with friends and family in less polluted corners of the world, and invariably carrying the “celebrations” from the large cities to the quieter corners and changing these too into meaningless festivals. 

Could there be another way to celebrate the auspicious occasion that helps connect with our inner being, with a small community of like-minded people? 

The Sacred Grove offers an opportunity to self-retreat and seek the light within. The serene and organic ambience of the Grove, and the contemplative listening of Sri M’s Teachings could unfold the essence of Ramayana, opening the doors of reflection on the Nirguna and Saguna Ram.

This journey of seeking the light will be supported by Nature walks, Yoga Abhyasa, Chanting, Silent meditations, cooking together to make offerings at the shrines and sharing with all who have helped bring up the precious Grove, and of course, lighting the lamps at the shrines and connecting with the divinity within.

So, this Diwali, if you are looking for a peaceful break away from the festive hustle, come join us at the Sacred Grove for the Diwali retreat from October 17 - 23, 2025.
Register - https://mepl.satsang-foundation.org/cpalle