The purpose of this lecture is to share personal knowledge, experiences, observations, and opinions about Deepavali and the author's view on Hindu philosophy
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Organisation
Sanatan Hindu Parishad Netherlands (SHPN) aims to promote Hinduism in the Netherlands according to the principles of the Sanatan Dharm and raise awareness of Dutch society's multicultural and multi-religious character.
In addition, our organization promotes the cultural, religious, and spiritual wellbeing of the members of Sanatan Hindu Parishad Netherlands in particular and outside the Netherlands in general
SHPN is the license holder of the (five) Hindu primary schools (the Shri Vishnu school in The Hague, the Shri Laksmi school in Amsterdam, the Shri Saraswati school in Rotterdam, the Shri Krishna school in Utrecht, and the Shri Ganesha school in Almere), the founder of the Organization of Hindu Media (OHM), and the co-founder of the Hindu Council of the Netherlands (HRN). In addition, the organization participates in social and political debates
SHPN is the originator of national Divali lectures in the Netherlands, to which Prime Minister Prof. Ruud Lubbers, Minister Prof. Mr Hirsh Ballin, and Mayor Drs. Wim Deetman has contributed as speakers in previous years.
Rajen Ramnath Chairman of the Board
Dr. Dewanand Mahadew
Strategist, Innovator, Management Consultant & International Speaker
Dewanand Mahadew (Nickerie 1965) is a global citizen with experience in development and implementation of projects in more than 50 countries
He has worked for several international engineering firms and was a Professor of International Business and Strategic Management at UBIS University in Geneva. He is also the inventor of five patents in chemical technology
He is currently CEO/owner of NewEconomyStrategies and Dean of the International Business Development Academy.
From NewEconomyStrategies, he advises companies on international business, strategy, and business models. He is intensively involved in innovations and manufacturing processes in the food industry, particularly plant-based and cultivated proteins Mahadew has developed various models for innovation, entrepreneurship, and internationalization strategies and speaks worldwide at conferences on macroeconomics, entrepreneurship, and society.
Deepavali
Om Bhur Bhuvah Svaha
Tat Savitur Varenyam
Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi
Dhiyo Yo nah Prachodayat
Deepavali is derived from the Sanskrit word "Deepvali" and means a string of lights. The lights burn in a diya.
Symbolically, the environment is illuminated on a dark evening, but primarily, it is about illuminating ourselves. The light is lit outside, but we must illuminate our insides and purify ourselves there
Deepavali stands for inner reflection, inspiration, self-purification and togetherness. However, the most essential thing about Deepavali is connectedness.
On your own, you cannot light up an environment on a dark night, but if everyone lights one diya, you can light up an entire village and the dangers of darkness are banished for everyone.
In addition, Deepavali has several meanings:
To banish the darkness in us, the dark elements and negativities in us, such as jealousy, greed, arrogance, vengefulness, etc.;
To keep us awake to choose good instead of evil, such as being honest, acting with integrity, justice, etc ;
To inspire us to care for each other and share with each other;
To inspire us to enrich our knowledge;
And so on
Deepavali is one of the essential foundations on which the formation, behaviour, and development of Hindus are based
Today, I will not talk about the festive and religious side of Deepavali I will also not pay attention to the modern labels as if Deepavali: It is a festival of lights; It is about lots of delicious food; That streets and buildings are lit with colourful lights; That we have to light lots of fireworks; That Laxmi mata brings us much financial luck on Deepavali night, so we go to the casino en masse; And the many other fabrications.
I will talk about the role and meaning of Deepavali in our lives
First of all, I want to share with you, as a Hindu, in a simple way, my view and experiences about Hindu philosophy; Secondly, to provide a non-Hindu context regarding Hindus' philosophy, actions and behaviour
Our Ecosystem
Hindus recite mantras to connect with the universe.
A mantra is an instrument for calming and liberating the soul It consists of a series of sounds, words or sentences that are repeatedly pronounced, sung or recited in silence.
On the Deepavali evening, the Laxmi mantra is recited, among other things
Om Hreem Shreem Lakshmyai Namah
The universe is practically empty and infinite, but it is also the path and bridge to so much and the unknown.
The universe is almost immeasurable, we only know estimated dimensions of its size based on assumptions;
Stars and galaxies are innumerable;
Time and space are infinite;
The earth and the sun continue to feed us until infinity;
Air and water between heaven and earth are constantly in motion and have no beginning or end;
In this ecosystem of infinities, we humans must take our place. What about us as humans?
What about our beginning and end, and everything in between, so our life; What determines our values, behaviours and actions in life?
What and how do we determine what we do, develop and leave behind; What knowledge and transformations have we realised, and what do we leave behind for the coming generations?
Moreover, what is the relationship between all these questions and Deepavali?
What is certain, is that we are the product of our own actions
Hindu Philosophy
Hindu philosophy, a universal philosophy with its origins in the Vedas, is not confined to a specific group but is a shared understanding that transcends boundaries.
We also know the distinction between Hindus and Hindustani:
Hindus are people who have Hinduism as a philosophy of life; Hindustani are people who have their roots in the Indus Valley and live mainly according to the Hindu philosophy of life They can also be believers of other faiths or atheists.
Hinduism teaches us to fill in our lives from three dimensions: Reincarnation; Dharma; Karma.
These three elements are the basis of Hinduism and ensure that Hindus have a different perspective on life than our fellow human beings on several points.
Human life is about feeling and experiencing: The infinities, as mentioned earlier in a finite body;
Living and experiencing timelessness within the (finite) span of life; Dealing with wealth and poverty; Causing good and evil; Discovering bliss in misery
Reincarnation
Reincarnation is the concept that humans are composed of an immortal soul (atma) that temporarily lives in a mortal body The body comes into being, exists, and perishes, while the soul travels on after death. Man is, therefore, an infinity in a finiteness.
The soul must keep its relationship with its own body and other people business-like and rational If the soul fails to do this, the mind may act less rationally and favour specific people, such as one's own loved ones.
In simple terms, Maya is an illusion, a condition in which a person chooses to limit their field of vision and make wrong choices, such as favouring family and friends (nepotism)
This understanding of Maya is a powerful tool for recognising and addressing corrupt actions such as nepotism and cronyism
Hindu philosophy teaches that a person will inevitably face the consequences of their corrupt actions, underscoring the importance of ethical behaviour and the weight of our choices
To illustrate
It is just like how we deal with shoes in our lives. We need shoes, but do not wear the same shoes our entire life From time to time, we throw away a shoe, buy a new shoe and then put it on the same foot.
When you love a shoe too much, you do not throw it away in time, and that same shoe will eventually hurt and damage you.
Dharma
Dharma means right action and relates to honesty, integrity, justice and the actual intentions behind actions.
Dharma is a Sanskrit word, and 'Dhr' means 'standing up'.
However, what is standing up and standing up for what?
Dharma is:
Right action, from integrity;
Standing up for virtues, from ideals; Standing up for the good, from intentions; - fulfilling your duties, from responsibilities; But it also stands up for the virtues/rights of others, from justice
To illustrate
A child is drowning. A certain Rajan, who is sitting by the water with others, sees it happen He thinks for a moment and then jumps into the water to save the child He succeeds in saving the child.
His karma (action) is good because, thanks to his karma, the child has been saved
But what about his dharma?
If Rajen thought, "It is my duty to try to save the child," then his dharma would be good
However, if Rajan had seen a beautiful lady sitting by the water and thought that by saving the child he could impress her, then, despite his good karma, his dharma would be wrong.
Lying and cheating are the worst dharmas, especially when done consciously
Karma
Karmas are our actions, deeds and deeds
The most essential karmas that Hindus are supposed to use are:
- Seva - Service
It is about selfless love with an emphasis on attention and care for fellow human beings, regardless of ethnicity, colour, religion and background.
- Ahimsa - Nonviolence
It is about tolerance, equality, and inclusion, emphasising the connection between individuals and groups through dialogue, harmony, and well-being for everyone
- Santosham - Contentment
It is about moderation, contentment, and resignation to what you have. It emphasises sharing happiness and bliss with fellow human beings, especially not wanting to appropriate more and more for yourself The ultimate form of happiness is being content
- Deepavali - Connectedness
It is about self-purification, togetherness, and positivity, with an emphasis on purifying yourself and embracing fellow human beings for cohesion, community building, and enlightenment. It is about being with each other and for each other
Tan, Man & Hriday
Filling in life from good dharma and karma is not easy
We live in a world where good and evil run through each other. Moreover, the body tends to embrace ease and pleasure.
We can want to do good, but that is usually much more difficult. It requires a lot of time, energy, and perseverance and is a laborious and painful process
At the same time, we are flooded with the negative. It is easy and fast, requires less time and energy, and some of us have difficulty resisting temptation That is why we have to deal with the phenomenon of someone deciding to steal for an hour instead of working all day.
In this dynamic, the soul often keeps the body in control regarding desires and urges for ease, pleasure, and exuberance and negative things such as greed, self-enrichment at the expense of others, stealing, nepotism, etc.
Hindus distinguish three levels of action: Tan, Man and Hriday
Tan refers to the body, the physical, impulsive desires and short-term gratifications. Tan is often the source that asks for quick gratifications and can make us decide on the negative, such as stealing;
Man refers to the mind, the heart, understanding and intellect. These are processes that make us think, rationalise, and make choices This often makes us decide for the good such as working, studying, developing ourselves and working upward; Hriday refers to the spiritual, the holistic, the Atma, and the connection with the previous life and the hereafter. It concerns our choice to undertake actions from heart and soul and realise meaningful developments for ourselves and others.
Everything counts, and everyone can do it. Think of actions such as caring for others or volunteering, but also impactful transformations that positively impact society and humanity even after death, such as a cultural community centre.
We tend to act from Tan; Deepavali teaches us to act more from Man and Hriday
The Five Elements
On a meta-level, Hindu philosophy teaches us that everything on earth consists of five elements in varying compositions:
Water (Jala) provides coolness and purification;
Earth (Prithvi) provides life and reproduction;
Fire (Agni) provides warmth and conversion (growth);
Air (Vayu) provides movement and distribution;
Ether (Akasha) provides connection and emptiness. It does not have the solidity of earth, the coolness of water, the heat of fire, or the power of wind but is the most subtle of all elements. Emptiness provides peace and connection with the past and the hereafter
Everything originates, exists and perishes to these five elements. Including us humans!
Our body exists and lives only because of the same homeostasis principle, which keeps the elements individually and collectively in balance and makes our body exist and live
We are not exactly familiar with the mechanisms that make the sun shine, the earth turn, air circulate, water wave and flow, and the universe and stars in balance. But it happens! It lives!
And that is precisely how humans function.
It is an interplay between the soul (atma) and the body Our body lives because several organs in a certain way, in conjunction with each other, produce processes that give us energy and make us live, think and act. The body comes into being, grows and dies, and the atma lives on until infinity
The same principle applies to a diya
Five Basic Elements
My Childhood
I was born in 1965 in a rural area of the former plantation Paradise in Nickerie, Suriname. My grandparents were Girmitiyas; they came from India to Suriname in the early 1900s for contract labour on the plantations.
After the end of indentured labour in 1917, the local economy in Suriname fell into disrepair. The coloniser remained in power, but the dynamics of the plantation economy quickly declined and concentrated mainly in Paramaribo and the immediate surroundings.
Many of the Girmitiyas and their descendants decided to settle in Suriname and focus on agriculture Gradually, some of them left for remote areas in the districts of Nickerie, Saramacca, Wanica and Commewijne.
My Grand parents: Mr Ramdin Mahadew en Mrs Sarjoedee Sewbalak (1950)
In those parts of Suriname, there were no roads at the time, only footpaths Transport was done by boat or donkey cart. Land was cleared and cultivated with (homemade) garden tools and partly by using bulls However, the Girmitiyas saw opportunities and possibilities here.
Behind these people's simplicity lies a firm determination to improve They used individual passion, solidarity, hard work, and a vision of society and the future as a basis for community building, progress, and development Education and acquiring knowledge became their new mantra. They could transform forests into large blooming rice fields and other food products through cooperation
What I remember from my Nickerie is the use of 'statements' to constantly point out dharma and karma to each other
To illustrate, I will name a few below:
Jaha sumati taha sampati – Where there is unity, wealth arises. This statement was often used to resolve conflicts in the family atmosphere. Together and with each other, we can consistently achieve more than individually;
Karo Kassala to Khaw Massala – Only what you have worked for is yours. In concrete terms, stop dreaming and start working You may never appropriate what is not yours The body may eat the stolen goods, but the soul will be unhappy from it;
Nadiya na piye kabhie apna jal, brech na khai kabhi apna phal – Never be greedy and be generous A river does not drink water, and a tree never eats its fruit With moderation, there is enough for everyone.
Santosham param Shukham - Contentment is the ultimate form of happiness;
Sada mil jul ke rahna - Mercy - From each other, with each other, for each other. Always living together and with each other, a team is more than the sum of the individuals. Sharing is more than multiplying. That, what you give away, you get back in abundance.
Source: Lallarookh.nl - Pulled from the clay!, April 24, 2019
It was a very beautiful environment in which the aspects of dharma and karma came together, with Deepavali as the highlight of the year
The result was that, at a rapid pace, an above-average percentage of their children, via Paramaribo, the Netherlands and other countries, have worked their way up to become highly educated professionals, including engineers, lawyers, doctors and professors.
The Girmitiyas and their descendants have experienced this characteristic development throughout Suriname The same is true for the Girmitiyas and their descendants in other countries, such as Guyana, Trinidad, South Africa, Fiji, Mauritius, and others. In all these countries, they have built independent communities, which have been the basis for solid developments
Deepavali in My Childhood
In my Nickerie, Deepavali was the ultimate moment of the year In my early years, when our path did not yet have electricity, it was the most illuminated evening of the year.
However, the process beforehand was more important. The Deepavali day was one of being from each other, with each other, and for each other. Almost everyone made several (vegetarian) dishes, snacks and sweets In fact, everyone made a little more than their own family needs anyway. Then, perhaps more than 80% was distributed to neighbours, families, and others (15 - 20 families), so you only had a tiny bit left of what you had made. However, because everyone did more or less the same thing, you got the dishes they had made from perhaps ten families So in the end everyone ate from each other
So you had the feeling of luxury without having to do much It brought everyone together; we ate the same from each other's kitchens.
In the evening, the diyas were lit The diya is a gathering of the previously mentioned five primordial elements: Earth (clay), water, fire, air, and space, which come together alternately to obtain a half-stone-like ball
Then ghee (vegetable oil) is put in the diya, and a battie (wick) is made of cotton; First, you dip your right hand's thumb and index finger in ghee We use ghee because it is pure, has a disinfecting effect and has a higher burning temperature, which gives you a dancing yellow/red/blue flame. Ghee also ignites our chakras; Then you take a piece of cotton and twist it between your thumb and index finger to deform it into a compact round strip with a length of 10 – 15 cm; When twisting the cotton between your fingers, the idea is that you mentally say that all your arrogance, jealousy, greed and other forms of negativity enter the battie via your fingers and ghee and thus leave your body So it is a cleansing process
When the diya is lit, the fire ensures that the negativity is burned out of you and disappears into the ether. After that, no one is bothered by this anymore
It is comparable to the Hawan process during a puja, where the samagri (with ghee in it) is picked up with four fingers and placed with the thumb via the four fingers in the havan kund for burning and where the word "Swaha" is pronounced.
For the diya to burn, the battie (wick) must only be partially submerged in the ghee/oil. If the wick is completely drowned in the oil, it no longer has access to air and can no longer produce fire.
The wick symbolises man's life On the one hand, it illustrates moderation (not wanting to be in all the oil at once), but on the other hand, it also illustrates that you have to survive in a world with negativity and always keep yourself in balance
If you drown in materialism and negativity, you can no longer purify yourself and be meaningful.
By being in the world, but not drowning in negativity, we can be the light of joy and knowledge. The diya flame always points upwards, and in the same way, Deepavali lets us look upwards for contemplation, reflection, passion, and positive energy to then be inspired to be busy with and for our fellow human beings throughout the year
Why am I sharing all this with you?
People, regardless of origin, religion, ethnicity, place of existence, etc., generally assign meaning to their actions. That meaning comes from their own accountability for their actions and the justification they seek from themselves, the community and other stakeholders.
The frames of reference, including the rules and behaviours in the immediate environment, upbringing, and social control mechanisms, significantly influence the choices we make, the paths we take, who we become, what we achieve, and the impact (positive and negative) that we bring about and leave behind for humanity.
It is important for individuals to act according to their values under all circumstances and for others to understand them as well
It happens worldwide that Hindus are not understood because their way of life and actions differ from the actions of others
Just like most cultures, Hindus have their peculiarities and characteristics:
This starts with the food, about 70% of the Hindus in the world are vegetarian; Ahimsa teaches us that we as humans have no right to kill animals and eat them; Collectivism (almost sectarian!) involves much contact with family and loved ones; Seva teaches us that we must care for, support, and care for each other In addition to the social, this also has economic advantages, such as taking care of each other's children;
The red dot on the forehead of married women; The sari (a piece of cloth) is a traditional dress; Language with its own script and logic; etc.
However, apart from these visible things, there are also differences inspired by the Hindu philosophy of life, which is based on the concepts of atma, body, reincarnation, dharma, and karma
The Hindu philosophy of life can be summarised as follows:
Geodetic structure: A system, in this case, architecture of the society, which is round and smooth and self-supporting. They need little outside support, rely less on the government, and create little resistance and friction As a result, they lose little to no energy due to conflicts with others.
Hindus find it essential to be self-reliant: Worldwide, they have built self-supporting communities to help them maintain and develop themselves. They create their own structures for community development and to accommodate each other. We do not want to 'get' things, we want to 'earn' them Others may experience it as 'being too busy with their own kind';
Intercultural form of society: A form of society where multiple cultural and ethnic groups live together but next to each other while retaining their identity, culture, language, etc. Hindus are very attached to their culture Worldwide, they have their own organisations to mobilise capacities and funds for constructing their own facilities, such as mandirs. Others may experience it as 'closed' communities;
Introvert: People who are focused inwardly Exuberance and showing yourself off are seen as bragging. Others may experience this as 'quiet' or unfathomable;
Sense of duty & sense of responsibility: A fundamental part of the upbringing of Hindus is the awareness that everyone is responsible for their own actions. Everyone has the duty to work on their own self-reliance and good karma;
Self-realisation: Hindus do not generally focus on competition with others They work on themselves and get the best out of themselves. Looking at and comparing others wastes time and leads to negativity The attitude is: I want to be the best version of myself, I get the very best out of myself;
Accommodating: Just like a sphere, the atma has no friction, and that is why Hindus generally do not seek friction, resistance or conflict In fact, they are often conflictavoidant, shy away from rivalry, and prefer accommodating others rather than confronting them
The Significance of Deepavali for contemporary Social Challenges
The world is increasingly becoming a global village.
There are now more than 50 cities and countries where the local population consists of residents from more than 100 different countries and cultures. Through the internet and other digital possibilities, we are practically daily connected to people with different origins and backgrounds.
Worldwide, the rapid pace of modernisation, materialism, and the ruthless pursuit of success often overshadow fundamental values such as compassion, empathy, integrity, and moral uprightness
This leads to reprehensible incidents such as corruption, nepotism, intolerance, robberies, discrimination, rape, violence, environmental pollution and other unacceptable things
Conservatism and aristocracy ensure that, in some countries, parts of their community, such as LGBT groups, are isolated or even restricted in their lives.
Geopolitical tensions are causing erosion of values
Values that have served as a foundation for creating civilised communities from different cultures are falling into disrepair and replaced by tension, strife and even war
Deepavali teaches us that inner self-purification enables us to rise above material things Prosperity and adversity are two sides of the same coin, and we as humans must be able to deal with both sides.
Prosperity should never lead to the display of power and arrogance, and adversity should not lead to the abandonment of principles and values
Deepavali emphasises the importance of knowledge and wisdom in dispelling ignorance In a world where misinformation and ignorance can have serious consequences, pursuing knowledge is essential for the betterment of society.
'Santosham' and 'Ahimsa' make us realise that we are born empty-handed and that the atma is not interested in the material At death, the atma leaves the body empty-handed Only the dharma and karma go with it
Fighting each other for wealth and possessions is pointless.
Ahimsa also teaches us not to (anonymously) smear each other negatively via social media and other forms of communication.
Seva and Deepavali teach us to give, share, and connect with each other They encourage us to extend a helping hand to those in need and foster a spirit of compassion and charity. This is crucial in tackling challenges such as poverty, unequal treatment, discrimination, corruption and many other forms of social injustice.
In Conclusion
To me, Deepavali means inner reflection, self-purification, togetherness and connectedness. It is one of the most essential foundations on which the development and formation of Hindus is based.
People like to give meaning to their actions regardless of origin, religion, etc. However, the desired meaning, the leitmotifs, the interpretations and the way of fulfilment can differ
Worldwide, Hindus are not understood and sometimes even treated negatively. This is partly due to the fact that Western and many other cultures are often focused on competition, rivalry, and stepping out Hindustanis are 'geodesic'; they are very focused on family, self-reliance, and their own social networks and are often introverted. They often have an accommodating attitude and avoid confrontation.
I have deliberately avoided comparing the Hindu philosophy of life with other cultures or claiming that it is better or worse than other cultures. It also does not mean that all Hindus live and behave according to these principles It is not my intention that all Hindus agree with my interpretations Everyone has the right to live and experience life in their own way and to give it meaning.
Love your neighbours, your neighbourhood, your fellow human beings and the entire humanity (regardless of their race, colour, religion, etc.) and serve them from the previously discussed Seva. Your karma determines the hereafter.
"yada yada hi dharmasya" –
Let us always work on positive vibrations, improving focus and concentration and promoting inner peace and spiritual growth-. Deepavali
