What do we do now?

At the end of a yoga class, it is typical to bow to your fellow yogis and utter, Namaste. This loosely translates into, The light in me shines on the light in you; we are all part of the same light. As human beings, we are all flames of the same fire. For one to deny the light and refuse to shine is to make the bonfire smaller. Pausing to judge, complain, and blame only douses the flames some more. The remedy is to redouble our efforts to feed the flame and increase the light that encompasses us all, for we are all connected, together, as One.

Think of a candlelight service. It begins in darkness, but as soon as the first candle sparks, there is light. One candle ignites the next, and soon the light encompasses all. It takes one candle to begin, one person to hold the light for his neighbor who cannot bear it right now, one person to pass the flame. The light passes on to the next heart and the next, vanquishing the darkness and opening our hearts to compassion, forgiveness, and love. Especially love.

I take a deep breath and imagine this light glowing in my heart and moving out into the world, growing stronger and brighter with each breath. If you knew that was all it took to vanquish Darkness, wouldn’t you do that, too?

That’s all it takes. Do it.