Happy Diwali to all the readers and a story

On the occasion of Diwali I wish all the readers of Yoga Vision a very happy, joyous and prosperous Diwali. May this festival of light fulfill all your desires.

I would like to share a small story from Katha Upanishad that has deep meaning. The story goes like this...

Once upon a time there was a poor Bramhin named Vajasravas. Though poor he was a pious and religious by nature. One day he decided to perform a Yajna (fire sacrifice). As a sacrifice he put all his resources, which mainly included feeble, weak and old cattle. His son Nachiketa sensed this and told him to sacrifice him along with the cattle. Enraged by his son's words and angered by his own inability, the poor Vajasravas cursed him to go to Yama, the god of death.

Nachiketa being an obedient son promptly left his father's house and went to Yama. To his utter disappointment, Yama was not home and Nachiketa had to wait for three days before Yama arived. Making a guest wait is considered against culture and to make up for this, Yama offered Nachiketa three boons.

For the first boon Nachiketa requested that his father should be pleased to see him back home. For the second boon, he requested knowledge of the supreme sacrifice. For the third boon he requested Yama to teach him the secrets of death!

Yama wholeheartedly agreed for the first two boons but refused to teach him about death. Yama suggested that instead of Nachiketa's third wish he will offer him wealth, prosperity and fame. But the young boy persisted to his wish of knowing the secret of death. Yama was pleased by Nachiketa's eagerness, zeal and curiosity. Yama taught him all the secrets about the death and gave him the knowledge of immortal Atman. Thus Nachiketa was enlightened by the true knowledge.

We all should strive to get this enlightenment, joy and happiness. Does that mean that worldly pleasures are useless? No. They have their own significance. Only when we pass through the worldly pleasures we understand their fragile nature. Only when we understand that worldly pleasure cannot last forever we start looking for the divine happiness, bliss and joy.  It is difficult for most of us to give up worldly pleasures altogether. But slowly and steadily we should seek divine happiness that replaces our mortal desires. May this Diwali take you closer to that true and unending happiness that is the quest of human life.