Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

On Holi, let our lives blossom with enthusiasm and love. Our faces should shine with happiness and our voices should be sweet. The colors of life should be born out of deep faith in divine. We should celebrate with vibrant, fragrant, and beautiful colors, not with the ‘muddy water’ of negative emotions like anger, craving, greed, attachment, aversion, and lust.

We are faced with challenges; people with mindsets very different to ours but when we broaden our perspective, we are able to let go of these issues that seem so significant right now in the scheme of time.

How to deal with people of different colorful temperaments?

Lights of different colors glow within each person- some may have lot of anger, others may be jealous. If you find negativity in some people, treat them like we see a flower. Flaws in people wither away with time. Know that people do change. They may change with time, so give them a chance. If not, move on. Or you can tell yourself, “Okay, let them be. They are going to bring out better skills from within me.’ They will make you a stronger person. The last thing is surrender to the Almighty. Just look within, observe the negative and positive qualities in you. And all that you need to focus on is how to improve on these qualities. How should the others improve-let that be their business. Pray for those who trouble others, since they are hurting within themselves. A happy person won’t trouble others. Pray for everyone’s mind and intellect to be pure and directed in the right way.

Nature reflects what you give. If you give misery, you receive misery. If you give happiness, you receive happiness. Sharing what you have with others brings back manifold of it. All kinds of people are needed in the world. They make the world more interesting, enjoyable and colorful. They will push certain buttons and evoke certain emotions in you. See how you act or react to it! Our goal should to tell everyone who come our way- ‘Wake up! Laugh, and smile.’

If you are on this path, then you should emit the fragrance of love and happiness wherever you go. Regardless of the events and circumstances in your life, remain centered, established and steady in the Self. Inner contentment helps us fulfill not just our desires but gives us the ability to bless others and fulfill their wishes too. Holi is a festival of fun and happiness. Let this spirit drive us to do good for society and the nation.

Desire is important for life to be vibrant and joyful, like the colors of Holi. However, it’s crucial to control desires and not let them control you. Just as different colors represent different emotions, each person is like a fountain of colors, constantly changing.

When desires arise, it’s good to examine them with intellect. If desires are uncontrolled, they can lead to problems, much like a horse that is out of control. The key is to be able to drop desires when needed and have them when they are beneficial, just like being able to control a horse.

When desires are burnt in the fire of awareness, life becomes a celebration and more colorful. This celebration is the true nature of the spirit, and it is called meditation. Through meditation, not only do we find harmony within ourselves, but we also influence the subtle layers of creation. This leads to a deeper understanding of the spiritual nature of existence and allows us to celebrate life spontaneously, like a vibrant fountain of colors.

So, don’t just play Holi by applying colors externally alone. Let the colors of your soul shine.