What is Diwali? How should it be celebrated?

Under the weight of millions of Diwali wishes on social media, somehow, the central message of Diwali seems to have been forgotten, or even seemingly lost.
Invoking this knowledge is Diwali.

Traditionally speaking, the meaning of Diwali is “ Victory of Raam ( goodness ) over Raavan ( evil ).”

Spirituality says it is not that simple.

This is a dualistic approach which leads to a divisive life, based on race, religion, sex, money, fame, nationality, etc.

Lighting the non-dual lamp within us is the true message of Diwali.

Goodness and badness are not absolute realities; they rely on each other.

Goodness of Raam would not be goodness without the badness of Raavan and vice versa.

Without Raavan, the story of Ramayana would not happen.

Goodness and bandness balance each other for Sansar to exist.

But, believing in goodness and hating the badness, only leads to a divided life.

Where are these concepts of goodness and badness hiding?

THEY ARE WITHIN US, not outside.

So, who suffers from it?

Us only.

We need to rise higher.

Beyond this divisive mind lies pure undivided consciousness.

This homogenous consciousness is the infinite existence itself.

It is Nirgun, Nirakar, omnipotent, and omnipresent, and its nature is ananda.

Raam and Raavan maybe two separate characters, but, at the existential level, both existed.

Then why do we choose one ( Raam ) over the other ( Raavan ) ?

They only played out their roles, participating in the drama of Sansar, on the stage of existence.

But, we love Raam and hate Raavan.

Such a divided mind never brings peace or harmony in life, because, it stays busyjudging the Sansar all the time, and this prevents us from looking within.
Take a different approach to Diwali this year.

Go deep, study your own mind.
Am I divided into good and bad?
Do I choose one over the other?
Do I love some and hate others?
Am I at peace?

A deep reflection will make one realize the existence of pure and clear consciousness ( awareness ) within us, which is transcendental, and is always in a state of neutrality.

The negativities of hatred, ego, desires, anger, greed, etc., are the Raavan within us, and the non-dual Advait state is the Raam within us.

Spending time in pure consciousness via meditation brings harmony within us, and binds us all in a single thread of consciousness.

“For one who sees Me everywhere and sees everything in Me, I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me”.
– Krishna ( Geeta 6.30 ).

This Diwali, do something different.

Light up this non-dual lamp within, and see the emergence of a world around you without divisions, where we all embrace in pure undivided love.

Spread the real message of Diwali this year.