As the winter air grows crisp and the world begins to sparkle with lights, it is easy for those of us walking the path of Advaita Vedanta—the path of non-duality—to feel a little like outsiders. We might look at the nativity scenes and the church services and think, "That is beautiful, but it belongs to someone else."
But does it?
The beauty of our path is that it dissolves boundaries. We know that Truth is One, even if the sages and storytellers call it by many different names. So, this year, what if we didn't stand on the sidelines? What if we embraced Christmas not as a religious obligation, but as a beautiful, shared celebration of Self-Realization?
Let us light a candle and explore how we can find our own truth in this season of joy.
Recognizing a Kindred Spirit
When we read the words of Jesus of Nazareth, something stirs within the Vedantic heart. We don’t hear the voice of a distant, judgmental deity. We hear the voice of a brother—a great Jivanmukta (one who is liberated while living)—who broke through the illusion of separation.
When he whispers, "The Kingdom of Heaven is within you," we smile, because we recognize the ancient teaching: Tat Tvam Asi (You Are That). When he declares, "I and my Father are One," we hear the echo of our own highest meditation: Aham Brahmasmi (I am the Absolute).
So, this Christmas, let us celebrate Jesus not as the property of a specific dogma, but as a master who realized the light of the Self. We honor him by remembering that the same light that shone in him is shining right now, in us.
The Nativity as Our Own Story
We often view the nativity story as history, but what if we viewed it as a map of our inner world? If we look with the eyes of wisdom, the stable in Bethlehem transforms into a symbol of our own spiritual journey.
Think of Mary not just as a historical figure, but as the symbol of the pure, quiet mind. Just as she births the divine without "worldly" intervention, our own spiritual awakening is born when our minds are silent, pure, and free from the frantic cravings of the ego.
And consider the Manger. Why was the light of the world born in a humble stable rather than a grand palace? Because the light of the Self rarely reveals itself in the "palace" of intellectual vanity or arrogance. It is born in the humble heart—the heart that has emptied itself of the "I," making space for the Divine.
Even King Herod, who tries to hunt the child down, plays a role. He is our ego. The ego always feels threatened by the birth of wisdom, because it knows that once the inner light is lit, the darkness of the false self cannot survive.
The True Meaning of Giving
One of the loveliest parts of this season is the spirit of giving. But for us, giving is not just a social nicety; it is a recognition of reality.
In the world of duality, I give to "you"—a separate person. But in Advaita, we know there is no "other." The Consciousness that looks out of my eyes is the exact same Consciousness looking out of yours.
So, when we wrap a gift, cook a meal for our family, or offer a coin to someone in need, we are engaging in a profound act of worship. We are loving our own Self in a different form. We give because, in truth, we are all one. The hand that gives and the hand that receives belong to the same body of the Divine.
A Gentle Practice for the Day
So, how shall we celebrate when the 25th of December arrives? We don't need elaborate rituals. We can simply let the day be a gentle sadhana.
Perhaps, in the quiet of the morning, we can read the Sermon on the Mount. As we read the beatitudes—"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God"—we can meditate on them just as we would the Upanishads, letting them cleanse our minds.
When we turn on the Christmas lights, let us whisper the ancient prayer: Tamaso Ma Jyotirgamaya—"Lead us from darkness to light." Let us visualize that the lights on the tree are merely reflections of the light of Awareness that illuminates our own thoughts.
And perhaps the hardest practice of all: let us try to see the "Christ Consciousness"—the Divine Self—in everyone we meet. In the noisy neighbor, the stressed cashier, the difficult relative. Let us make a silent bow to the Divinity within them.
The Eternal Birth
Ultimately, Christmas is a reminder. It reminds us that the birth of the Divine isn't something that happened once, two thousand years ago. It is an event that is waiting to happen, moment by moment, in the cave of our own hearts.
So, from all of us on this path to all of you: May your heart be humble like the manger, pure like Mary, and bright like the Star.
Merry Christmas, and Om Tat Sat.