Hari
OM
Story-day is for cultural exploration, puraanas and
parables and finding out about leading lights in spiritual philosophy.
This is a busy week; the B'hai faith has two holy days - the 25th
and 27th, - there was another Sikh festival on the 24th, which was also the day
of Thanksgiving for the United States. Then there is the first Sunday of Advent
of Christ tomorrow. Indeed, this part of the year is well-laden with festival
days!
It is fair to say that majority festivals took place, originally,
only in the Northern hemisphere, as that is where the centres of civilization
and organised faith structures developed. Whether of the naturalistic,
Pagan-style or the highly intellectual such as Kabbalah and Vedanta, it is not
hard to see why most festivals took - and continue to take - place in the
winter months. It is difficult to resist the pull of Nature and the run of the
year as driven by the seasons. Even though calendars may vary between different
cultures, months named differently, years running differently, there is a
commonality with regard to season and an understanding of the analogy of destruction, renewal and recovery.
No matter what culture one is from, the drawing in of winter
encourages a review of what has been, preparation for the immediate months of
withdrawal, and looking forward to improved times as the following seasons
spring out again.
This applies at the naturistic level and at the intellectual. The
former is easy to understand, for we have the laying-in of produce from this
year to see us through the fallowness of winter, and ceremony to encourage the
Earth Spirit to be kind to its devotees. For the more intellectually-minded
sadhaks, we have for example Christ's 'birthday' to enhearten and brighten
our deep winter with the promise of new life, or the ascendence of Gurus and
saints (Abdul-baha, Tegh Bahdur, Tapovanam), or dedications to the continuation
of sacred places and scriptures (Hannukah, Bhagavad Gita Jayanti). Many are the
days ahead which offer doorways to expand one's spirit, whether through living
example, learned pursuit, or simple gratitude for the resplendence of life.
There is no reason to become despondent at the onset of winter. Use
the quietude it brings to reflect on the many ways of worship, the many joys to
be had from each moment and the benefit to be gained from having some 'down
time' to prepare for the 'up'!
Greet the seasons, as the Season's Greetings begin to ring.
