E038 Dr. Shirish Nathwani on Diwali Festival of Lights
Let’s Be Well Together Podcast - Episode 38
Date: October 18, 2022
Participants: John Webster, Sammy Damaren, Cameron Earnshaw and Sheila Webster
Guest: Dr. Shirish Nathawani
Start times and Segment Segments:
[0:00:45] What’s On Your Mind: We start with a facet activities series, talking about activities that foster environmental wellness. Today’s chat focuses on a couple things: reducing the use of water in everyday life and keeping the house clean.
[0:08:49] Expanding Minds Interview: [Spritual Wellness] Dr. Shirish Nathwani returns in the area of Spiritual Wellness. We are reaching out to people of different religious, outlooks and beliefs. Our goal is to open people’s eyes to the things we share in common, break down barriers and dispel myths. Shirish tells us about the Hindu festival of lights called Diwali. Diwa means light, which signifies knowledge and brightness in one’s life. There are stories behind it, the most important is about Prince Ram, who was exiled from his kingdom and came back after 14 years. The day is celebrated as the day of the light coming back into the lives of the people. They do colourful designs at front entrances, using coloured powders. It’s called rangoli. Puja is a ceremony you do at Diwali. You light lamps, which is important. You make your own Diwa, maybe in a little clay dish. In that dish or cup you put a wick in oil and light it. Light purifies, like fire does. You can contaminate the water, the earth and nowadays even space, but fire you cannot contaminate. It’s purified. Whatever you put in a fire is purified.
[0:22:09] Adventures of the Starving Artist: Cameron was having one of those days. He got a short message from a friend in the middle of it, that turned it around for the better.
[0:24:45] Move That Body: Somehow we’ve learned to suppress ourselves. Why aren’t we chomping at the bit to get outside to walk or run or do other physical activities?
[0:27:33] Running Popup: John conveys a work lesson he learned that applies in many contexts: forget the windup and make the pitch.
[0:29:39] Flipside of the Coin: On a long run John saw many people walking while glued, head down looking at their phones. They were missing the people and the world they were passing by.
Quotes and Take-Aways:
Sammy – Something I’ve been very aware of recently is how much water is wasted, for example letting the water run while I brush my teeth or waiting for the shower to get warm.
Shirish – Diwa means light. Light becomes very important, because light signifies knowledge. Light signifies brightness in one’s life, and joy.
Shirish – Diwali has many stories behind it, but the most important story behind it is that it was the prince who was exiled from his kingdom and after 14 years he comes back – Prince Ram. The day he comes back is celebrated as the day of the light coming back into the lives of those people.
Shirish – In brief, the story goes that he was exiled just the day before he was going to be coronated, because the stepmother wanted her son to be the king
Shirish – Victory of good over evil is a theme of Diwali.
Shirish – They do colourful designs at front entrances, using coloured powders. It’s called rangoli.
Shirish – Puja is a ceremony you do at Diwali. You light lamps, which is important. You make your own Diwa, maybe in a little clay dish. In that dish or cup you put a wick in oil and light it.
Shirish – Light purifies. It’s like fire, which purifies. You can contaminate the water, the earth and nowadays even space, but fire you cannot contaminate. It’s purified. Whatever you put in a fire is purified.
Shirish – At a certain age we start to decay. The only solution is liberation – how to be liberated from the body and mind. That is what I feel is the total solution to all problems. You live a life where you are detached from your body and mind.
Shirish – The divine is everywhere. It’s in the body too. The body helps us to discovery the divine, so we have to pay attention to the body.
Bulletin Board Quote brought to you by John: That guy woke up 100 years from now. It’s not my problem.
Guest Information: Dr. Shirish Nathwani is a retired physician and surgeon living in the Waterloo region of Canada. A humanist, in essence, Shirish brings with him the perennial Hindu tradition of India. He is a director of a Canadian charity called Samarpan Meditation which is dedicated to offering a free and simple technique of meditation to all. He was nominated Ambassador to Canada for the Vienna-based Curators of the poetic revelations called Devayan (the third and the latest great Epic from India after Ramayan and Mahabharat). He sees himself as a dedicated medium in bringing lasting happiness to one and all.
Connect with Let’s Be Well Together Podcast:
website: https://letsbewelltogether.com
Follow our Instagram account: @lets.be.well.together use hashtag #letsbewelltogetherpodcast
Provide input on Instagram using hashtag #letsbewelltogetherinput
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Lets.Be.Well.Together
Thanks for joining us,
(-(-_(-_-)_-)-) Your wellness check-in team
John, Sammy, Cameron, Sheila and Julie