It was Diwali yesterday, an Indian festival where we celebrate the dispelling of darkness from our minds and from our lives with the light of wisdom. A festival of togetherness and gratitude, when we gather with family and friends to honor the abundance life has showered upon us.

The day before, I was soaring. I had attended the ‘Soak in Bliss’ event, where guruji Sri Sri Ravi Shankar addressed a large group in the Seattle Convention Center. His profound wisdom on how to transcend the intellect and soak in bliss, along with the immensely powerful meditations – left my mind still and my heart wide open.

The View from Above vs. The View From Home

My journey home was a perfect continuation of that peace. I had a lovely flight, memorable in every way as I watched the mountains, clouds, and valleys from above.

I saw my mind quietly admiring and wondering the untouched side of the world where humanity doesn’t wander. And then, amidst those same mountains, the human-made reservoirs and dams, hallmarks of creativity and proof of how far we can go and what we can build with our intelligence. This dichotomy, the natural wonder and the intelligent creation, felt beautiful and balanced.

As I returned home, I found a flurry of activity – cooking, cleaning, preparations for prayers, decorations, everyone moving in different directions. Amid it all, I had my own small agenda to complete. It was indeed a lot to manage, and my intellect whispered that it didn’t have to be this way – if only a few things had been taken care of earlier, if only I didn’t have an agenda..

I wished nobody felt stressed or tired. I thought – how nice it would be if a celebration could be simple and joyful without having to juggle a lot of things. Why do we try to do so many things? To celebrate do we need to do so much? I was frustrated that something wasn’t right – that I was wanting to do many things.. only to get tired, and miss the peace and joy of simple living.

It sounds simple, but in that moment it wasn’t. I could feel my stress building, turning into frustration.. and then there was frustration at the frustration itself 😀.

I didn’t want to feel that way on such an special day. I tried to chant, hoping the vibrations would dissolve the irritation, but it lingered like smoke after the flame. I finally surrendered with an inward sigh: ‘This is all I can be… despite all the learnings I took back home from the discourse.’

The Trap of the Intellect

It was in that moment of surrender that a memory from Guruji’s talk, from the previous day came flooding back. I remembered what He had said, when I was sitting in the second row, nodding in peace as if I fully understood.

He said – There is so much diversity in nature.. There are so many kinds of flora and fauna. There are so many kinds of people in this world. But why is there so much diversity in this universe? It is there to create ‘wonder’ in us! Because it is wonder that helps us transcend beyond intellect and reach our purest and blissful Self.

Ah, she is like this – what a wonder!

Ah, he is so different – what a wonder!

So many types of flowers, how beautiful – what a wonder!

When we wonder, we are not using our intellect. When we wonder, we are asking a question without expecting an answer.

He explained the subtle difference: when the intellect asks why, it demands a because.

Why are you like this? Why did you do that? Why did you cheat me?

And every answer only leads to another question, creating an endless loop of analysis and dissatisfaction.

When a child asks in wonder, they accept whatever you say. Because their question does not come from the intellect. They are not seeking an explanation; they are marveling at existence itself.

Guruji added, “Not saying that asking questions is not good. You should ask questions and use your intellect. But you should know when to use it – and when not to.”

And then came the line that struck deepest:

The intellect wants to know everything. How much will you know, and what will you do with that? Stop asking questions and stop looking for answers.

He spoke of the exhaustion we unknowingly carry, the burden of expectation behind every question.

‘Ever noticed,’ He said, “that when someone asks a question, you feel obliged to answer? It’s a burden. Imagine if someone questions you and you don’t have to answer – how light you would feel.’

From Irritation to Illumination

That night, as I watched the lights flicker, I realized that my mind had been asking ‘why’ all evening – why things weren’t easier, why plans didn’t align, why others didn’t see what I saw.

But Diwali, the festival of light, isn’t about perfect plans. It’s about seeing the light even when the mind wants to complain about the dark.

When expectation gives way to wonder, irritation turns into awe. The same moment that once felt heavy suddenly glows.

And maybe that’s what true celebration is – to stand before life, not demanding explanations, but embracing its magnificent mystery.

Before you close this page, take a quiet pause. Think of the one thing that has been bothering you – a person, a situation, an unfinished plan. Notice how the mind wants to ask why – why this, why me, why now.

Now take a breath, and instead of asking why, let the heart wonder,

Ahh, what a wonder – things can be like this too! People can be like this too!

See if the tightness eases, even a little. That small shift – from complaint to curiosity, from expectation to wonder – is where the real light of Diwali begins to shine.