Diwali reminds us that the battle between light and darkness is not only cosmic or historical, but also deeply personal. Within every heart resides a Rāma, the voice of truth and compassion, and a Rāvaṇa, the impulses of pride and greed.
The festival calls upon us to let our higher nature prevail, allowing the light of understanding to dispel the shadows of ignorance and envy. Wishing all those celebrating a joyous and light-filled Diwali.
Transcript
Hi everyone. My name is Ellen Clark-King. I'm the Dean of King's.
And I want to wish a joyful and prosperous Diwali to all our Hindu students and staff, and to all others who celebrate the festival.
This joyful celebration of the triumph of light over shadow, of knowledge over ignorance and of good over evil, reminds all of us that even in the hardest times, there is the potential for hope and for new life.
This can be difficult to hold onto when our own lives, or the wider life of the world, feel messy and bleak. But one thing that makes hope come alive is when we receive kindness from other people and see others’ willingness to hold the light for us in our own times of darkness.
I hope that you are finding friendships like these through your work or your studies at King's.
May we all have times of celebration and joy this autumn, and a Happy Diwali to all who celebrate.