Editorial
Light a Lamp from the Lamp You Bear,Be Truly Useful to Others Everywhere
Everyone lives for his own selfish ends. Even animals, birds, and insects live for themselves, spending their entire lives fulfilling their desires. Ultimately, they become consumed by these desires, yet their desires remain unfulfilled. Is the condition of human beings not similar? Can humans think of anything other than their own self-interest today?
For selfish reasons, a person might even call a donkey his father; yet without reason, he may refuse to acknowledge his own father. This is such a selfish age—Kaliyuga. There is no guarantee of a selfish person; he can betray anyone. This is a special sign of today’s selfish age, Kaliyuga.
Spiritual saints preach that human beings should live for altruism as well, helping the needy. It is a human duty to nurture one’s children, work hard for them, educate them, and instil good values. This is not attachment; rather, according to religious beliefs, it is the duty of human beings.
However, people spend day and night accumulating material goods—legitimate or illegitimate—without once remembering God and the Supreme Lord, and then they claim, “I do not have time for devotion.” On the other hand, even if the entire night is spent in jealousy, hatred, gossip, and backbiting, they do not seem to tire at all. One should ask where they find the time for such things.
This is what is generally seen everywhere. People eat, drink, and indulge in sensual pleasures, and by morning they return to the same routine. Animals do the same: eating, drinking, sleeping, and procreating. Is there any difference? Yes, there is a significant difference—if a human being understands the value of this precious and rare birth.
This precious human birth is meant to grant the soul salvation after countless lifetimes. It is given for salvation, which is possible only through true devotion to God. If a person does not follow the true path shown by spiritual saints, abandon evil habits, and connect with the true Name of the Lord, he will waste this most excellent, independent, and free life and return to the world of bondage.
Spiritual saints have stated that it is a person’s duty to earn his living through honest and diligent labour and to chant the Lord’s Name. Furthermore, he should also devote time to human welfare helping the needy in every possible way.
According to the words of the Most Revered Saint, Dr Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan, if a person spends even two hours out of twenty-four each day—in the morning and evening—in constant remembrance of the Lord, it is impossible for the soul not to experience His vision, His grace, and His eternal happiness. The Supreme Lord fulfills every legitimate need without being asked.
Therefore, spiritual saints declare that although human beings are free-willed and repositories of knowledge, what is the use of holding the lamp of knowledge if they themselves remain in darkness, falling into a pit or well? Great men have said:
The evil mind knows all, both wrong and right,
Yet commits sins despite that guiding light.
What wisdom can such learning tell,
If lamp in hand, one falls in well?
There is also a Punjabi saying: “There is darkness beneath the lamp.”
All religions share a common teaching: human beings should live like a lamp and be a guide for others. Revered Hazoor Pita Ji states that humans should live like a lamp, showing the path to others while protecting themselves from the darkness of ignorance (that is, evil).
Those who do this, light other lamps with their own lamp—the lamp of knowledge. In other words, they use the light of their wisdom to remove the evils of others and engage them in acts of goodness and service to humanity. These are the hallmarks of their goodness and well-being, and they become an example to the world.
