Although the season has become increasingly commercialised over the years, millions of people, Christian and otherwise, celebrate the festival of peace and goodwill in many ways.
For many it has become a season of meeting, eating and gift giving. A time to show love and generosity and feel a sense of community and togetherness. Sadly, much of the real significance has been lost in today’s consumerist world.
As with all celebrations, Christmas carries a deep spiritual significance. The story seems very relevant for the seemingly dark times we are passing through now, and the birth is a metaphor for the awakening of our inner truth.
Baby Jesus was born in the dark night, bringing a ray of light into the world. Corruption, anger and violence —are these all not traits of the dark night of the soul?
He was born in a stable, surrounded by animals—in the same way our awakening takes place amidst a world where human behaviour is becoming more animal-like by the year.
It’s time now for our inner child—the purity of spirit, our original divine nature, our inner truth, to overcome the darkness. In the world we are starting to see evidence of this—it’s time now for honesty and justice.
The story tells us that the angel, a messenger of God, came to give good tidings of the birth to shepherds tending their flocks in the fields. Who is the angel, and who are the shepherds and the flocks of sheep?
The world is made up of leaders and followers—choose which one you want to be. Leaders of today are leading the folk astray. We want a new spiritual leadership—angels. These messengers of God show the way of the truth, just as the star in the sky led the three kings to the infant Jesus. We need to hold on to the light of truth and also show the way of peace and love to others.
The three kings, wise men from the East, arrived bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh—exotic and priceless commodities at the time. Could we also be those wise (wo)men? For we have travelled a long way following our compass (conscience) of truth.
Our priceless ‘gifts’ are already within us! Peace, love and purity are the treasures that we all carry at all times to share with others. We will ‘realise’ them when we follow the star of truth.
In the same way that the wise men bowed down before the infant Jesus, we also need humility at this time to realise our inner treasures, which are our true greatness, our innate God-given gifts. This respect for the self is our true nobility.
As with all good stories, there has to be a villain to make the drama all the more entertaining! In this case it was King Herod. Worried that Jesus might compete for his throne (Ego playing out), he tried to kill the baby Jesus so that he would be no threat to the king’s position. But both Joseph and the Magi had visions of Herod’s impure intentions and Joseph fled with his family to safety.
As we too embark on the journey of truth, we have to be aware of our inner ‘Herod’—demons of jealousy and envy, carelessness, laziness and other subtle vices that may kill our inner child —preventing us from moving forward. By following our inner, God-given truth, we can stay safe.
Surely, the way of the light is the need of the hour. With so much sorrow in the world, let us be the Christmas sparkle of happiness!
Courtesy of itstimetomeditate.org
Aruna Ladva, author of several books on self-development, is a Rajyoga meditation teacher who has taught this ancient art of meditation in many countries.