From Physical to Spiritual Light

The year 2015 was designated by the United Nations as the ‘Year of Light’. Light indeed is precious; it helps dispel darkness just as the light within removes ignorance. And light-related technologies have contributed to quality of life.

In the physical domain, many have contributed to understanding of light. Newton showed that white light has colors. Research on light has corrected human vision. Lasers have brought about painless surgery.

The philosophical aspects of light are even more illuminating. Sai Satcharitra has many references, as Sai Baba referred to light, fire, moon, radiance and effulgence in several instances in his interactions as practical aspects of the bondage of human existence. In the Gita, when Arjuna beholds the cosmic form of Krishna, he says: “If the splendor of a thousand suns were to blaze forth all at once in the sky, that would be the splendor of that Paramatma”. Arjuna is able to see a spectrum of colors in that exalted form exuding a blazing radiance.

As a school student, I read a poem entitled ‘Lead, Kindly Light’ by John Newman. Here the light being referred to is Lord Almighty and the poet prays that he is encircled by the darkness of gloom and, although during his youth, pride ruled his will, the time has come when he no longer can find his own way. He prays the ‘Kindly Light’ to lead him on the right path.

We often hear great men urging us to follow the Guru within, but perhaps when we sit before his ‘Samadhi’ shrine that Sai Baba blesses us in an inimitable manner. We always invoke Sai Baba to shed light on us: “Lead us from unreal to real, from darkness to light and from death to immortality”.

Lord Sainath who is our ‘Antaryamin’ is close behind our thoughts. Sai Baba attained Mahasamadhi in 1918, but we have experienced his continual presence, to explain to those younger than us, and more importantly, living up to what Sai Baba stood for universal brotherhood.

Sai Baba has a special significance for all of us. He is our father, mother, an older brother, and we call him God. I have also come to see the world and my place in it in a certain way because of his grace. I cannot presume to explain him.