By Sejal Shah - Lucia Whelan | Updated on : December 16, 2020
Christmas is the time of year to celebrate life as the gift it is. These thoughts from Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will inspire you to have a mindful holiday
For most people, the word ‘Christmas’ brings up thoughts of presents, cookies, and days off from work and enjoying holiday travel. In our modern world, so much of the emphasis placed around Christmas and the holidays is commercial, due to our globalized consumer-based economy and capitalist world.
However, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar reminds us that Christmas is about much more than presents and feasts. In fact, according to Gurudev, one of the underlying messages might pleasantly surprise and inspire you. It’s not about holiday parties and singing carols (although these are, of course, fun ways to celebrate the holidays, and have their place). Rather, according to Sri Sri , at the heart of Christmas is silence. But the connection between silence and Christmas is just one of the many lessons that Sri Sri has taught over the years.
Read on for more Christmas messages about silence from Sri Sri !
Silent Night: A Deeper Look
Between buying presents and attending the endless string of holiday parties, it can be easy to lose sight of the true meaning of the holidays, no matter what faith tradition you come from. However, if you are looking for deeper meaning this holiday season, consider taking a look at the song “Silent Night.” While written for the Christian holiday of Christmas, the meaning is universal and can be applied to all people:
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bring
Round yon virgin mother and child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silence and peace. How often do you experience silence and peace in your life? And by silence, I mean true silence. How often is your mind quiet, looking inward, experiencing stillness?
For many people, experiencing silence can be difficult, as we live in a world filled with so much activity, stimulation, chaos, and confusion. Especially if you live in a city, the modern world seems to never slow down or be silent, no matter what time of day. This causes a lot of stress and burnout.
Gurudev explains this beautifully, “the small mind is like a child, it is always crying and grumbling, and it is dependent like a child. The big mind is like the mother. The little mind sleeps in the lap of the big mind, the little self sleeps in the lap of the universal self, and that is heavenly peace. Heavenly peace is not outside, or somewhere up in the skies. Heaven is when the small mind rests in the lap of the big mind. When the small mind is away from the big mind, then there is chaos, confusion, and hell. Then when the small mind starts crying, it runs to the big motherly mind, and there it sleeps in heavenly peace. That peace is the 'real' peace. Holy is when the mother and child are together. When the individual self sleeps in the lap of the cosmic self, then there is heavenly peace.”
Lessons from Nature: Stillness brings the message of love.
If you look to nature, you will see that winter is a time of stillness and peace. Take a walk in the woods during December, and you will see and feel the complete stillness and quiet of the natural world. The air is soundless, as the birds sing less and fewer animals are out to roam. The trees are barren, leaves decomposing on the forest floor, preparing the soil for the coming spring. There’s a reason it is referred to as the “dead of winter.” And while this stillness may seem deadly and depressing, it is, in fact, a necessary and important time. This stillness and time of decomposition is necessary to make way for the regeneration of spring. Did you know that apple trees require a certain amount of cold in order to blossom and bear fruit in the warmer months?
Nature reflects the importance of this time of stillness and quiet. While the cold can seem never-ending and painful, it is important to see the true meaning behind wintertime and Christmastime. Stillness, lack of activity, and quiet are all qualities that allow us to go inwards and experience our true self, which is rooted in peace and love. And by embracing the stillness, we can experience the peace which blossoms into love.
Being a Christmas tree
The Christmas tree is pointing upwards, and its branches grow on all sides. Like the Christmas tree, we all have that capacity to blossom to the fullest of the human potential.
Come summer or winter or fall, it never falls. All through the year, it remains green.
Gurudev inspires us to be like a Christmas tree, evergreen. Let our life be like a Christmas tree, being equanimous. Whether in winter or summer, fall or spring, the Christmas tree remains the same. So in life, in every situation, keep yourself green!
Your life is a gift
At the time of year when no tree bears anything, the Christmas tree remains fruitful. It bears all gifts and lights not for itself but for others. Similarly, the gifts you are carrying in your life are there to be enjoyed by others.
The Christmas trees bear gifts for everybody. All that you are given in life is meant to be shared. All your talents, all that you have been bestowed with, it is all meant to help others. You offer the gift of service to anyone in need, and you will wonder at how your own needs are being taken care of. Like the Christmas tree, you will always remain green. So serve, smile, and celebrate!
While celebrating the holidays with your loved ones this year, take a little time for yourself and check out Beyond Breath, a free breath and meditation online session to learn about the program Gurudev has shared with millions worldwide- SKY Breath Meditation.
Keep smiling! Let time celebrate your presence!
Merry Christmas!
By Lucia Whelan
By Sejal Shah, E-RYT 500 Sri Sri Yoga Teacher, YACEP, C-IAYT, Meditation Teacher, SKY Instructor, NYU Post Graduate Medical School approved Yoga-CME retreat facilitator, Mind-Body Wellness Writer, Homeopath. She can be followed on YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
