Whenever power goes off, the darkness makes us tentative, insecure, even paralytic.

No wonder we constantly strive to keep our outer world well lit. Yet we rarely strive to keep our inner world similarly lit.

In fact, we frequently don’t even realize that our inner world is often shrouded in a disturbing and distressing darkness. Out of that darkness sometimes suddenly some specters spring forth to haunt us – nasty desires, negative thoughts or needless worries that strain and drain us. If one of these specters hijacks the entire territory of our consciousness, it deludes us into believing that our inner world has become clearly lit. It makes us believe with a senseless certainty that doing its bidding and getting some particular thing will make us happy. But the specter eventually disappoints and betrays us, for nothing material ever grants lasting fulfillment. What initially seemed to light the inner world ends up darkening it further.

Gita wisdom urges us to illumine our inner world with the power of love – love for Krishna, the all-attractive Supreme who is our greatest wellwisher. The Bhagavad-gita (10.11) indicates that Krishna personally lights with the torchlight of knowledge the hearts of sincere devotees. When we direct our love towards him, we ignite the light that makes our inner world bright and right. Bright because the supreme wisdom bestowed by Krishna progressively shines on the darkest recesses of our heart, exposing the hidden harmful desires to be enemies. And right because that wisdom energizes our dormant desires to love Krishna and guides us to integrate our life’s various aspects with our service to him.

With our inner world thus made bright and right, we make the best choices in our outer world for gaining worthwhile achievement materially and eternal fulfillment spiritually.

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 10 Text 11

"To show them special mercy, I, dwelling in their hearts, destroy with the shining lamp of knowledge the darkness born of ignorance."