Inspiration Corner

Salt and Light 

13 You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

In Jesus’s times, salt was a particularly valuable commodity. People travelling in the extreme heat of the desert would carry pieces of rock salt, which they licked to lessen their thirst due to dehydration. So if anyone shared this life giving salt with another, the term “eaten his salt” came to be used, to indicate sharing his high confidence. Not only life saving, salt gives pleasurable flavour to food. Similarly, Jesus compares man to salt, saying that man is “the salt of the earth” implying that humans have the highest capacity to do good to others. Just like when salt on losing its flavour, becomes useless, human beings who lose the essential soul qualities through their ignorant living cease to be the most serviceable beings on earth.

14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

“You are the light of the world” signifies that human beings make the earth luminous with their presence. Without the light of the human consciousness to appreciate their mystic beauty , the beauty of the star and moon decked night, the oceans, the mountains decorated with silvery peaks would fade into oblivion.

Just like lighted candles are not meant to be covered by bushel baskets, good people should not hide their radiant soul qualities. No saint likes to perform miracles, and no devotee likes flattery or acclaim for goodness. But when the light of wisdom has been lighted in the devotee, he doesn’t hide it in the back of his mind. He sets it on a candlestick by open and sincere living, so that others may be inspired by this. Awakened souls make visible through their actions, the invisible light of God’s goodness. They become a beacon to guide others out of darkness.

The explanations have been based on my reading Sri Sri Paramhansa Yogananda’s book “The Second Coming of Christ”.

Please forgive me for any mistakes, and please feel free to correct me… This is a humble attempt to bring to you these profound teachings, with my limited understanding.