People are like stained-glass windows......

People are like stained-glass windows.....They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within....

I remember coming across this quote several times.... however, today it made me pause and think...my mind wanted to seek the meaning of this true and beautiful quote...
One thing which I realized was, how blind we actually are to the world around us.. We keep moving in quest of money, fame , riches... in search of life and happiness and fail to take a look deep inside us, fail to realize our inner self, fail to liberate our souls from the chains of materialistic possessions, we fail to realize that all this will be left behind that one day, when we start the journey to our heavenly abode.

As we grow we get more and more entangled in the chains of materialism, drawn as a magnet towards worldly attractions and start moving further and further away from spiritualism and the Almighty. We become like the musk deer, who searches for 'Kasturi', madly, rooming here and there; failing to realize that it is actually within himself. And when the journey of life finally ends... at the purple altar of death, I suppose, we realize the futility of our materialistic endeavors... Anyways, coming back to the original point, I decided to keep my eyes open, keep my mind receptive and my senses alert to the world and learn from Universe, the greatest University. Be willing to learn, think, take an inward journey of self realization and self actualization and to finally work towards liberating my soul.. We are humans, so we cant expect ourselves to completely de-attach ourselves from materialistic possessions, name and fame. However, we must always keep in mind that nothing lasts forever....nothing is permanent.. nothing really belongs to us... as we come alone and leave alone... that's the truth and we will have to except it and live with it..

The quote beautifully reflects that what lies before us and what lies behind us is immaterial when compared to what lies within us. I remember my early school days at Carmel, Durgapur and recall how our motto was "Let your light shine". If there is light within no matter what happens there will always be a halo of light around us. If we do not have that light, when the clouds of distress tend to darken our lives, it will be difficult for us to sail through.
The world bears witness to the fact that for liberated souls their is no stoppage. They are liberated.. meaning they are free from the bondage of fear and loss... The light within may not mean living the life of a saint.. its ultimately our mindset... cultivating the virtues of mankind within is the "LIGHT". Then whether you are saint or a normal human being - a family person, it doesn't matter. We are the torchbearers in the journey of life... Lets make our virtues and base so strong that we are able to meet each and every challenge that life throws at our face.
Also the world is made of we- the people... If each one of us works towards the betterment of our inner self, the world would be more peaceful and better place to live in.

Buddha says:
“Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue.”

Beauty without virtue is like a rose without smell. I urge myself to take a step towards cultivating virtues as a part of my character, as I choose not to be a tainted glass.