Stars twinkle on Earth too!

Weekend LongReads!!! Hope you’ll enjoy!

Today, in the era of Information technology, gadgets are connecting us within seconds, there are spacecraft with successful landings on various planets, there are submarines to take us deep down, but is there any mechanism for Self-Realization? Today, when there is data on the cloud, there are human footprints on the moon, and we are strikingly aware of things around us, are we Self-Aware?

In search of the true identity of the self, I came across many definitions proposed by various philosophers and experts. They have different opinions and perspectives. But when perused carefully I found their researches have one thing in common that is LIGHT. Also many have proposed that it is a concept based on one’s experience. Thus I decided to explore it. While exploring an aphorism grabbed my attention it says,

“We are stars wrapped in skin- the light you are seeking has always been within.” -Rumi

The very idea that I am a luminous star captured my interest and gave me comfort. The inner star is known by many different names. A few call it light or the soul, while some refer to it as divine energy. Many entitle it as the inner being or an invisible power. Ultimately it is a dazzling form of Light.
The color of this radiant light is gleaming white. According to basic sciences, white light when passes through a prism, it gets dispersed into component colors forming a visible spectrum. Also, a rainbow appears when water droplets break white sunlight into the colors of the spectrum. Similar to the seven colors in a rainbow (इंद्रधनुष के सात रंग), seven notes in music (संगीत के सात सुर) there are seven colors in the inner gleaming light. Each color signifies a different virtue. The inner light has virtues like peace, purity, bliss, happiness, love, knowledge, and power.
Virtues of the soul – ७ मौलिक गुण (Click to know more)

Ride Through Thoughts – Seven Virtues of the Soul

Qualities of a normal candle include its fresh fragrance, a dose of warmth, and illumination. It has religious significance as well. I believe the qualities of the inner light are very similar to that of a candle.
Purity is implicit to the soul. Purity not only means being clean and tidy but also refers to goodness in thoughts, words, and actions. The inner dazzling star is righteous and unalloyed. They say Purity is the pride of man. This is because conscience in a man is originally uncontaminated and angelic. The one who is ethical in thoughts, words, and actions is believed to be a man of great persona. This awareness impulsively spreads fragrance full of moral values and can even inspire others to be the same.

Lighting a candle for rituals marks peace. The inner light is also peaceful and tranquil. Peace comes in when there is harmony. Some might refer to harmony as good relations or harmony among nations. But I believe enduring peace is harmony with ourselves i.e. we try to accept things the way they are. At times people and situations may be out of my control. They might not necessarily work according to me. That is a turbulent time and probably the right time to check whether I am in harmony with myself. State of mind at that moment of chaos might help in deciding whether or not we are dependent on people or physical (outer) things for peace.

Often, when we sit at the seashore, all alone, away from frenzied city noise and watch the waves and hear the surf, we do experience silence. Serenity around fills us with calm. It feels good. But what there makes us question-less and confusion-free? It is actually the inner being. When it is left alone with nature, it reveals its original form, resulting in solitude and immense peace. This experience determines that peace is intrinsic to the soul, making the inner being independent, undisturbed, irrespective of matter around. Gradually this state of independence brings harmony with the inner self, helping to improve and change the outer world. Thus we remain at ease with peace.

“Warmth of love is enough to enlighten one’s heart, Like a candle’s flame is enough to lighten a room.”
-Bumblebee

The loving nature of the inner being is similar to the warmth of a candle.
While sprinkling cologne, firstly we get a whiff of perfume, and later its fragrance enters into the air. Affection is also a type of cologne. Love with the self is essential for us to love people around too. But today, in the world, there is a call for unconditional true love, that can come with unconditional acceptance. When I possess knowledge that I am a point of light, it becomes easy for me to recognize others as light too. We often judge people by their normal (day to day) habits, possessions, status symbols, the color of the skin, looks, or appearance. Unconditional acceptance is when the focus shifts from physical materialistic belongings to intrinsic virtues of the star.
Following the wrong and assuming we accept them unconditionally, is not what I mean. Unconditional love is righteous, pure, and comforting such that it can guide one through the right path. Only then one can become a true guiding light.

The kindness of the sun is not hidden either. It rises and brings in new ambition, positivism, and spreads bliss all around. From the early morning energetic Surya Namaskars to marking the end of darkness, the sun continues to radiate hope. The rays of the sun open windows for knowledge and wisdom. The inner luminous is as happy as the morning sun.

What is it that humans always desire or wish for? It is Happiness and Bliss. The ultimate goal behind every deed is to be happy. We only can desire what we actually once had. When we forgot our true identity, we started searching for pleasure outside. We thought that the materialistic world gives pleasure. We became dependent on everyone else for delight. But happiness is contentment and has something to do with the self. When deep within you are content and satisfied with whatever you have, you become optimistic towards life and start enjoying life in all its forms.
Being content with what we have, does not mean to stop trying or stop working. It means attempting to achieve, work, and live with a happy state of mind.

“A wise man never loses anything, if he has himself.”
-Michel de Montaigne

I believe, the proverb somewhere hints to the inner wisdom being a valued possession of a man. Everyone today can differentiate between right and wrong, good and bad. Even a thief knows that stealing is wrong. A liar knows that truth will make its way out. In fact, the one who lies also expects others to speak the truth. Dust of unawareness of the self over the years has covered true wisdom. This makes people inclined to do ‘not so good’ deeds. Maybe it is time now to allow knowledge to clean the dirt and let the inner star shine again. Maybe it is time now to allow wisdom to overpower negativity and return to a bright wise self.

The rays of the Sun are considered to be useful and extremely powerful. Plants use sunlight for photosynthesis, animals use it for respiration, and in winter humans wish for warmth of the Sun. (The Sun indeed has a lot more to do.) The power of the inner light is similar to the powerful rays of the Sun. The inner power might help when we feel helpless. Maybe it is time to call out the inner forces and bring them into action. (Not referring to physical strength.) The flash within has beautiful powers including the power to tolerate, the power to decide, the power to resist, the power to cooperate, the power to wind-up and settle, the power to absorb, the power to test, and the power to summarize. Using the right powers at the right time requires a great deal of wisdom. The true identity of the self brings wisdom.
Eight powers of the soul – अष्ठ शक्तियाँ(Click to know more)

“O, Sunshine!
The most precious gold to be found on earth.”
-Roman Payne

Sunshine is considered to be as precious as gold maybe because it brings brightness, newness, and hope. What would earth be like without the Sun? We’d find ourselves in complete darkness. The absence of light means blackness. When I the being am unaware of myself then I am like a quenched candle in absolute darkness. Or maybe my world becomes the one without the sun. Over the years, we’ve become like extinguished sources of light, dependent on one and other. When a quenched candle cannot light-up another candle, how can a person in darkness give illumination to the other. One move from out-to-in, with the alertness of being awake, might remind of the inborn virtues of the self. The subtle thought of consciousness, an awareness that I am light, brings brightness and reminds me that peace is my original nature. The light which I was seeking in the outer world is within me and to be precise, it is me.

The inner being is peaceful, pure, blissful, happy, and glee. Its role is to radiate love, compassion, goodness all around. Its role is to help and give comfort to the needy through thoughts, words, and actions so that even others realize the self and light-up with joy. Self realization is liberation; The more you realize, the more you liberate. It is time now for us to awaken and make the earth a place full of twinkling stars.

We (@ridethroughthoughts) are new to blogging and have just shared a few of our thoughts and beliefs. In the time of virus, when there is chaos all around, the aim of this article was to make readers realize the self and find peace within. Hope it elevates your thoughts!
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