Once, there were four candles burning. After burning for some time, one candle went out. Before going out, it said, “My name is Love, and nobody knows me.” That is true; for everybody love is physical, carnal, sensual and sensorial. There is no understanding of pure love any more. So the candle burnt out.

After some time, the second candle went out. As it was going out, it said, “My name is Compassion, but people don’t understand me. People have become too selfish. Nobody cares for anybody else. There is no compassion on earth any more,” and it died.

After some time, the third candle also went out. Before going out, it said, “My name is Peace, and nobody knows me. People desire me, but they do not know me.” Saying that, it died.

A child came by and saw the three burnt out candles, as well as one candle still burning, and wondered what had happened. The burning candle spoke to him, “I am a candle and my name is Hope. With me, you can light all the other candles.” The child took this candle called Hope and with it he relit the other three candles named Love, Compassion and Peace.

Never lose hope in your life. Hope is the strength of human life; it keeps us going. In all the difficult times, it is hope that inspires us to trudge on, to carry on and move on.

8 September 2012, Sannyasa Peeth

From the book “Glimpses of the Divine, Sri Lakshmi – Narayana Mahayajna”, pg.45, Sw. Niranjanananda Saraswati