English, 13.dec.24

If the darkness of ignorance is to be dispelled, man needs a container, oil, wick and matchbox corresponding to what an external lamp needs. For mankind, your heart is the container. Your mind is the wick. Love is the oil and sacrifice (vairagya) is the matchbox. When you have these four, the Atma-jyoti (Divine flame of the Spirit) shines effulgently. When the light of Spirit is aflame, the light of knowledge appears and dispels the darkness of ignorance. The flame of a lamp has two qualities. One is to banish darkness. The other is a continuous upward movement. Even when a lamp is kept in a pit, the flame moves upwards. Sages have therefore adored the lamp of wisdom as the flame that leads men to higher states. Hence, the effulgence of light should not be treated as a trivial phenomenon. Along with lighting the external lamps, you should strive to light the lamps within yourself. – Divine Discourse Nov 05, 1991.