When we come together to celebrate during this festive time, and allow light to dispel darkness, it is important to reflect. Halloween and Diwali are on the same day this year – whilst one tries to demonise evil, the other celebrates light and the possibilities of peaceful and joyful living. The contrasts could not be more striking.
World politics, economics and climate change combined with wars and powerful technologies have displaced us from the simple joys of life. We are at risk of mental illness, of job losses, of time poverty and the struggles to keep family and community going, and serious environmental threats which are beyond human control.
On our screens we have been watching for over a year the faces of innocent civilians and children constantly being bombed and shot at in Middle East. The Ukraine war has faded from the top news spot, but it is in its third year and there is no sign of peace. Closer to home, we are seeing rising prices, increasing job insecurity and homelessness. This summer we had race riots and hate crimes spreading all over Britain.
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The simplest psychological response to such events is to escape or deny – the wars are elsewhere, flooding or forest fires will never reach my home, I have enough money to protect my family from war or unemployment… the list goes on. This gives us temporary comfort, but our curious children are moved by the risks and challenges, and their questions do not stop. Why the violence? Why the homelessness and poverty? Who will survive the climate crisis? What about animals and their mass murder?
There are no easy answers. But denial is not sustainable. Diwali is asking us to practice our timeless wisdom and live simply and honestly. It is inviting us to care and share. It is showing us how to practice interdependence and not be greedy or selfish. It is inviting us to pray and meditate to discover peace from within and share it with others.
Whilst Diwali tries to give light and hope, it invites us to do our bit to spread well-being to those who are less fortunate. Such acts help us discover purpose and meaning from caring about others and NOT running away from problems. We can in our own small ways dispel darkness by becoming less selfish. Light has a magical quality of spreading organically, so never underestimate what each of us are capable of.
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Happy Diwali and a Compassionate New Year.
Professor Atul K. Shah [@atulkshah] teaches and writes about Indian wisdom on business, culture and community at various UK universities and is a renowned international author, speaker and broadcaster.