‘Wish you all a Merry Christmas’

Chennai

It is that time of the year and there is a nip in the night air. It is dark and there is lesser and lesser activity and in the middle of all this, springs the celebration. When the sun is out there, there is much activity. But at this time of the year when there is  less of the sun, when there is very little activity, when nature is sleeping and when everything has gone into hibernation; in that still and quiet night, springs the celebration with lights, joy and love, and that is Christmas.

So it is an outer symbolism of an inner phenomenon. Inside also, when you are still and quiet, and you are hibernating, then from there comes up the message of love. Stillness brings the message of love.

In activity you are busy. In activity you are looking outward, but in stillness you are looking inward. In activity you are extroverted, but in stillness you are always introverted, and  love spring from going within, from looking inside. That is why it is said: Silent night, holy night All is calm, all is bright Round yon virgin mother and child Holy infant so tender and mild Sleep in heavenly peace.

The small mind is like a child, it is always crying and grumbling, and it is dependent like a child. The big mind is like the mother. The little mind sleeps in the lap of the big mind, the little self sleeps in the lap of the universal self, and that is heavenly peace. Heavenly peace is not outside, or somewhere up in the skies. Heaven is when the small mind rests in the lap of the big mind. When the small mind is away from the big mind, then there is chaos, confusion and hell. Then when  the small mind starts crying, it runs to the big motherly mind, and there it sleeps in heavenly peace. That peace is the real peace. You are a Christmas Tree – Each one of you is a special gift on the planet! You are the Christmas tree. The Christmas tree is pointing upwards and its branches grow on all sides, and we all have that capacity to blossom to the fullest of the human potential. At the time of year when no tree bears anything, the Christmas tree has many gifts to offer and it is evergreen throughout the year. A Christmas tree bears the gifts and the lights not for itself, but for all. The gifts you are carrying in your life are for others. You offer the gift of service to anyone in need and you will wonder how your needs are being taken care of!

— The writer is the founder of Art of Living Foundation