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Diwali’s call: Be the light, share the light

In her talk, BK Sister Kala explained that Diwali’s deeper call is to awaken our inner light and embrace spiritual wealth.

by Parveen Chopra
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Sister Kala reveals Diwali’s deeper call

This article is transcribed from Sister Kala Iyengar’s keynote speech, which she delivered at a Diwali celebration on October 27 at Global Harmony House, the North American headquarters of the Brahma Kumaris in Great Neck, New York. After her talk, she conducted a guided meditation for the audience.  

The true light of Diwali isnt in the lamps we see, but in the light we feel.”

With these words, Sister Kala Iyengar, Director of Peace Village, a Brahma Kumaris retreat center in New York’s Catskill Mountains, introduced Diwali’s deeper spiritual significance at the elegant event celebrating the Festival of Lights.  

While Diwali has become a universal festival celebrated globally, Sister Kala invites us to look beyond its physical representations — the candles, the fireworks, the colorful festivities — and journey within to rediscover the festival’s true meaning: illuminating the soul’s inner light.

Diwali, derived from ‘Deepavali’, literally means a string of lights. Sister Kala explains that each light represents not just a lamp but a soul — a living light with inherent qualities of joy, peace, love, and wisdom. In a world often dominated by darkness, this inner light has the power to guide us through life’s challenges. But accessing this light requires more than flipping a switch; it calls for a deliberate, mindful return to who we truly are.

The choice between darkness and light

Sister Kala shares that Diwali represents the universal struggle between light and darkness. The challenge, however, is not about choosing one over the other, it’s about recognizing the light within and learning to stay connected to it, even when life is difficult. “When we make the focus on knowing the light, the struggle fades,” she says. “It’s no longer about resisting darkness but embracing something eternal, something real.”

It is easy to be drawn away from this inner essence in today’s fast-paced world. We often forget our inherent peace, love, and joy, becoming consumed by the pressures of daily life. But Diwali invites us back, offering a unique reminder that our true nature is unchanging, no matter the external circumstances. “Imagine being a clay lamp,” Sister Kala says, “a simple vessel that houses a powerful light, the light of our spirit, our soul. Our bodies are like that lamp, but the light within brings the body to life, filling it with all the emotions and feelings we experience.”

The living light within

Sister Kala describes the traditional Diwali lamps that required careful preparation before modern electric lights: shaping a clay lamp, pouring oil, and lighting a wick. This ritual is symbolic of tending to our inner light, our consciousness. Just as oil fuels a flame, she suggests that spiritual knowledge is the oil that sustains our awareness of this inner light.

“When we pour the oil of knowledge into the clay lamp of our bodies, we are reminded of our divine light,” she says. This self-awareness connects us to something beyond physical, a timeless and infinite light. This awareness is not just an intellectual concept but an experience—a feeling of joy and love that is intrinsic to our being.

Anjali Grover performed a ‘light ceremony’ at the event.
Anjali Grover performed a ‘light ceremony’ at the event.

When we make the focus on knowing the light, that we are the light, the struggle fades. It’s no longer about resisting darkness but about embracing something eternal, something real.

Meditation ~ A tool for inner illumination

For Sister Kala, Diwali is a practice of nurturing this inner light, and meditation is one of the tools that helps keep it alive. “Meditation is an act of remembrance,” she says. It is about reconnecting with our authentic self, the self that is inherently light, joy, and peace. In Raja Yoga meditation, as taught by the Brahma Kumaris, the emphasis is on remembering who we truly are and reconnecting with the ‘Supreme Light’ – an eternal source that fills and sustains us.

She recalls her journey from being a pediatrician, having the satisfaction of helping others but sensing that something was missing. “At the end of the day, I would question myself, is this all there is?” This longing to make a deeper impact led her to the Brahma Kumaris and the practice of Raja Yoga, where she found a path that resonated with her search for purpose.

Embracing the wealth of inner treasures

As much as Diwali is associated with light, it is also a festival of wealth, symbolized by Goddess Lakshmi. However, this wealth is not limited to material riches; it represents an inner prosperity of virtues and values. Lakshmi’s wealth is of patience, courage, wisdom, and benevolence. According to Sister Kala, these virtues are the real treasures that can lead to lasting happiness and fulfillment.

The more we connect with our light, the more we accumulate these virtues. “Virtues are not passive; they are active energies that guide us through life,” she says. These qualities enrich our lives and transform our interactions with others, allowing us to contribute to a more harmonious world.

The supreme light ~ A guiding force

In Sister Kala’s perspective, the journey toward light is supported by a supreme, unchanging light — the Divine. This light is like a beacon that keeps us connected, especially when we forget our true essence. “Just as a single flame can light countless lamps, the Supreme Light connects us all,” she shares.

When we feel disconnected or dimmed by life’s trials, this higher light can ‘pour oil’into our inner lamps, reigniting our inner glow. This relationship with the Supreme Light, she says, allows us to sustain our spiritual journey, even amidst life’s distractions and demands.

The power of living as light

At the heart of Sister Kala’s message is the transformative power of seeing ourselves and others as beings of light. When we cultivate this awareness, it doesn’t just change our perspective — it changes our world. “Imagine the impact of seeing everyone as light,” she suggests. “This perception changes the way we interact, the way we speak, and even the way we perceive challenges.”

She points out that even science aligns with this principle. Quantum physics suggests that the observer does something to the observed. By seeing others as light, we invite them to shine, creating a ripple effect of positivity and understanding.

Sister Kala Iyengar received a citation from New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.
Sister Kala Iyengar, accompanied by Sister Anjani, received a citation from New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.

Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped on Diwali. She bestows wealth of patience, courage, wisdom, and benevolence. According to Sister Kala, these virtues are the real treasures that can lead to lasting happiness and fulfillment.

Creating a lifestyle of remembrance

To keep this light alive, Sister Kala emphasizes the importance of integrating spirituality into daily life. It’s not enough to light the lamp once and consider the work done. Our busy lives can lead us to forget, so we need routines, disciplines, and practices that help us reconnect. “It’s about creating a lifestyle that supports remembrance,” she says.

Meditation becomes not a ritual but a moment of joy — a chance to experience our essence and reconnect with the Supreme. And as we strengthen this connection, we uplift ourselves and become a source of light for others.

Diwali as a call to collective light

Sister Kala reminds us that Diwali symbolizes a string of lights—a rosary of souls, each one a living light. As each reconnects with their inner essence, the world can transform. “It starts with one light, but it has the power to spread,” she says. This journey, which began in 1936 with the founding of Brahma Kumaris, has since inspired millions worldwide to embrace this path of self-transformation.

As Sister Kala concludes, Diwali is a festival of both individual and collective light, a reminder that each of us plays a role in lighting up the world. In embracing our true nature as beings of joy, love, and wisdom, we bring this light into our communities, societies, and world.

Diwali, then, is not just a celebration but a call to action. It invites us to remember who we are, live as the light, and share that with others. As Sister Kala Iyengar eloquently says, “We are each a clay lamp, housing a powerful, eternal light. May we all find the courage to shine this Diwali.”

About Brahma Kumaris 

Global Harmony House Newyork

Brahma Kumaris is a worldwide spiritual movement dedicated to personal transformation and world renewal. Founded in Sindh in undivided India in 1937, they have spread to over 110 countries, impacting many sectors as an international NGO. The spiritual headquarters of Brahma Kumaris is in Mount Abu, India. Activities of international interest are coordinated regionally from offices in London, Moscow, Nairobi, New York, and Sydney.

Global Harmony House (pictured) in Great Neck, NY, is the national headquarters of the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual Organization in the United States and the regional headquarters for the Americas and the Caribbean. They offer the teaching of Raja Yoga Meditation to people from all religious and cultural backgrounds as a way of experiencing peace of mind and a positive approach to life. For more information: https://www.globalharmonyhouse.org/#/

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