Lighting the Inner Lamp: Shree Ram & Guru Vasistha’s Wisdom to Achieve the Impossible
In this season of renewal and reflection, we are invited to understand the importance of our thoughts and contemplate what true illumination means.
The Festival of Light and the Light Within
Every year, as Diwali approaches, lamps illuminate homes and hearts alike. The glow of the diyas seems to whisper ancient truths of victory over darkness, of righteousness over ignorance, and of light over shadow. Yet, beyond the festivities and sparkling lights lies a profound reminder: Diwali is not merely a celebration of the outer world but a sacred call to awaken the light within.
It is not the external brilliance of lamps alone that dispels darkness, but the radiance of a pure, disciplined, and peaceful mind. This very idea shines forth vividly in the ancient dialogue between Shree Ram and Guru Vasistha, as explained beautifully by Swami Mukundananda Ji.
The conversation between the divine student and his enlightened teacher, recorded in the Yoga Vasistha, holds an ageless message, that the outer world is a reflection of our inner state, and that the mind is both the source of our bondage and the key to our liberation.
As we light our lamps this Diwali, perhaps we can also turn inward and ignite the flame of awareness, understanding and self-mastery. This is the true essence of Deepavali, the awakening of inner light.
The Journey Begins: Shri Ram’s Inquiry into Suffering
The story begins with a simple but profound act of compassion. Lord Ram, the epitome of dharma, toured his kingdom and was deeply moved by the sight of people afflicted by illness and sorrow. Their suffering pierced his heart, and upon returning to his Guru, Maharshi Vasistha, Ram asked the timeless question:
“Maharshi, what is the cause of disease and suffering in the world?”
It was not a question born of curiosity but of empathy. Ram, even as an incarnation of divinity, sought wisdom not through power but through inquiry. This is a model for every seeker.
Vasistha’s response was extraordinary, not only in its spiritual depth but in its scientific foresight. Swami Mukundananda notes that the sage’s answer would sound like music to the ears of Harvard Medical School, for it revealed truths that modern science is only beginning to grasp.
Vasistha said:
“Ram, disease begins with the mind."
Thousands of years before the advent of modern psychology and neuroscience, the Vedic sages had already understood what today’s science calls the mind-body connection. The mind, they taught, is not a passive observer but the active creator of our inner and outer realities.
The Mind: The Subtle Architect of Reality
Swami Mukundananda Ji elaborates that the mind is not the brain. The mind is the factory of thoughts — subtle bundles of energy. Modern neuroscience is still unraveling this mystery: are thoughts mere chemical reactions in neurones, or something subtler and more profound?
According to Vedic wisdom, the brain is the hardware, while the mind is the software that animates and directs it. Just as a computer’s operating system governs the hardware’s functioning, the mind governs the brain and the body.
Our thoughts, invisible yet potent, are the seeds from which actions, habits, and ultimately destiny arise. Science acknowledges this too, because brain waves shift as our mental states change. Calmness brings alpha waves; creativity brings theta waves. The mind, through thought, sends ripples of energy throughout the body.
When thoughts are harmonious, they create coherence; when they are chaotic, they disturb our inner balance. And this subtle imbalance, according to Vasistha, manifests as disease.
From the Mind to the Body: The Sheaths of the Self
The Yoga Vasistha describes a model of the human personality as comprising five koshas or sheaths:
- Annamaya Kosh – the physical sheath (our body)
- Pranamaya Kosh – the vital energy sheath
- Manomaya Kosh – the mental sheath
- Vigyanamaya Kosh – the intellectual sheath
- Anandamaya Kosh – the bliss sheath
When negative thoughts such as anxiety, greed, anger, jealousy or hatred, disturb the manomaya kosh (mental sheath), the imbalance spreads to the pranamaya kosh (vital energy sheath), disrupting the harmonious flow of prana or life force. Eventually, this disturbance seeps into the annamaya kosh, manifesting as physical illness.
Thus, disease does not begin in the body; it culminates there. Its true roots lie in the mind.
Vasistha’s teaching mirrors the holistic understanding that modern integrative medicine now embraces: that healing must begin not just with the body, but with the mind and soul.
Every Thought Matters: The Science of Subtle Vibrations
To illustrate the power of thoughts, Swamiji recounts a fascinating experiment by Masaru Emoto, author of Hidden Messages in Water. Emoto discovered that when water was exposed to words like love or gratitude, it formed exquisite, symmetrical crystals upon freezing. But when subjected to words like hate or anger, the resulting crystals were distorted and ugly.
Water, it seemed, responded not to language but to vibration, which is the subtle energy behind words and emotions.
Now, consider that the human body is 60–80% water. If water can absorb and reflect emotional energy, imagine how profoundly our thoughts and feelings shape our cells, tissues, and health.
“Every cell in our body,” Swamiji explains, “is listening to our thoughts.
In other words, every emotion we entertain is a message broadcasted to every part of our being. Love and peace nurture; fear and anger corrode.
This is not mere philosophy — it is living science. Our thoughts are the architects of our physiology, our relationships, and our destiny.
The Mind: Garden of the Soul
Swamiji compares the mind to a fertile plot of land entrusted to our care. Just as a gardener must tend the soil, remove weeds, and sow good seeds, so must we cultivate our thoughts with patience and vigilance.
“The weeds always grow faster than the desired plants,” he says.
How true this is! Negative thoughts of fear, jealousy, and resentment spring up effortlessly, while noble thoughts of compassion and gratitude require conscious nurturing.
Yet, as Swamiji reminds us, this inner cultivation requires nothing external — no special equipment or wealth. The only ingredient needed is sincerity. With sincere effort, we can become skilled gardeners of our own mind, plucking the weeds of negativity and sowing the seeds of peace.
This inner gardening is what the Vedas call sādhanā — spiritual practice. Each positive thought is a lamp lit within; each act of mindfulness, a diya against the darkness of ignorance.
The Power of Malleability: Shaping the Mind’s Destiny
One of the most hopeful teachings in Swami Mukundananda Ji’s discourse is that the mind is malleable. It is not fixed or fated; it can be shaped, trained, and transformed.
“The mind,” he says, “is like soft mud — it takes the form we give it.”
Wherever we invest our attention, the mind takes on that color. Spend time listening to spiritual discourses, and even your dreams will echo those divine stories. Spend time in worldly indulgence, and your subconscious will replay that, too.
This means that we are not prisoners of our mind — we are its sculptors. Each day, through our choices, we mold the landscape of our inner world.
In the words of Maharshi Vasistha, our thoughts are the “subtle causes,” while our actions are the “gross effects.” Just as a tree grows from a seed, our actions sprout from the seeds of thought. If we wish to transform our outer world, we must begin with the inner one.
The Root of Achievement: Inner Mastery
Swamiji reminds us that the seemingly impossible becomes possible when we align our mind with divine wisdom.
Every great achievement — whether material or spiritual — begins with belief, faith, and clarity of thought. The world’s greatest innovators, saints, and heroes have all testified to this inner alchemy.
But in the Vedic sense, “achieving the impossible” is not about conquering the world outside — it is about conquering the mind within.
When the mind is restless, even small tasks seem impossible. But when it is calm and focused, mountains move.
The Bhagavad Gita echoes this wisdom, in the verse 6.6: "For those who have conquered the mind, it is their friend. For those who have failed to do so, the mind works like an enemy."
Swamiji’s teaching aligns perfectly with this eternal message — that the secret to health, happiness, and success lies in mastering the inner world first.
The Mind as Energy: The Invisible Thread of Creation
Let us revisit the idea of thoughts as energy. Every thought, whether noble or ignoble, emits a vibration into the universe. These subtle vibrations affect not only our body but also our surroundings.
That is why being in the presence of a saint or a positive person feels uplifting — their thoughts radiate purity. Conversely, negative environments drain our vitality.
Vedic philosophy calls this samskaras, the subtle imprints left by repeated thoughts and actions. Over time, these samskaras form the blueprint of our personality and destiny.
The good news, as Swamiji reminds us, is that we can rewrite this blueprint. Each positive thought, each moment of prayer, each act of kindness alters the vibration of our consciousness. Gradually, we shift from darkness to light; from tamas to sattva.
The Eternal Message of Diwali
As this reflection draws to a close, let us remember that Diwali commemorates more than the homecoming of Lord Ram. It celebrates the eternal possibility within each of us to return to our true Self: pure, luminous, and free.
Each lamp we light outside is a symbol of the light we must ignite within. Each sweet we share is an offering of goodwill and unity. Each prayer we utter is a spark that bridges the finite to the infinite.
Swami Mukundananda’s discourse on Shri Ram & Guru Vasistha’s Wisdom to Achieve the Impossible teaches us that the real impossibility is not conquering the world, but conquering the mind. Once that is done, nothing is impossible.
This Diwali, may we resolve not only to decorate our homes, but to sanctify our hearts; not only to light diyas on our doorsteps, but to ignite wisdom in our minds; not only to seek wealth and joy, but to embody peace and purity.
When the mind becomes serene, the body heals, relationships harmonize, and destiny unfolds gracefully. The darkness of ignorance recedes, and the light of divine awareness shines without end.
Conclusion: The Inner Diwali
The outer Diwali fades with dawn; the inner Diwali shines forever.
Let us, like Lord Ram, seek the guidance of our inner Guru, the voice of wisdom, and light the lamp of discernment. Let us, like Guru Vasistha, remember that all change begins in the mind.
When every thought becomes a lamp of truth, every word becomes a flame of love, and every action becomes an offering to the Divine, then the festival of lights will no longer be a date on the calendar, but the very rhythm of our life.
May this Diwali awaken the Shree Ram within us: the conqueror of darkness, the embodiment of virtue, and the eternal light of consciousness.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the core message of Swami Mukundananda on the converation between Shree Ram and Guru Vasistha?
The core teaching is that the mind is the root of both suffering and success. By mastering thoughts and emotions, one can achieve harmony in health, relationships, and spiritual growth.
2. How is the mind-body connection explained in the Yoga Vasistha?
Maharshi Vasistha explains that mental disturbances affect the pranic (energy) sheath, which then manifests as physical disease. True healing begins with purifying the mind.
3. What is the significance of Diwali in this spiritual context?
Diwali symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, the triumph of divine wisdom over ignorance within. Lighting lamps externally mirrors the need to light the inner lamp of awareness.
4. How can one cultivate a pure and disciplined mind?
Swamiji advises practicing awareness, discernment, and substitution: replacing negative thoughts with noble ones, through meditation, devotion, and positive association (satsang).
5. What does “achieving the impossible” mean in this philosophy?
It means conquering the inner world and mastering the restless mind. Once the mind is harmonized, every goal, spiritual or material, becomes attainable through divine alignment.
Call to Action
✨ Light your inner lamp this Diwali! ✨
Join the festivities at the Radha Krishna Temple of Allen, Texas and celebrate Diwali not only with lights and joy, but with inner reflection, prayer, and transformation. More details and registration available at: https://www.radhakrishnatemple.net/diwali-mela-dallas
💛 Experience the real Deepavali: the victory of truth, wisdom, and divine love, through JKYog’s online sessions, discourses, and programs that bring ancient wisdom to modern life.
👉 Visit www.jkyog.org to explore upcoming events, guided meditations, and Swamiji’s wisdom series on living with light, purpose, and peace.