Introduction:

How do you approach happiness and illuminate the world around you? Are you a Diya or a Jugnu – an oil lamp or a firefly? This philosophical analogy may help you understand the different approaches towards happiness and personal well-being. Please refer to our reading guide before proceeding.

Body:

The Diya’s Sacrifice:
Society often urges us to prioritize others’ happiness over our own, likening us to the wick of a Diya, which burns itself to illuminate its surroundings. But this viewpoint prompts a crucial question – can an unhappy individual genuinely contribute to others’ happiness? Pause for a moment and reflect on this.

Understanding the Diya:
On closer examination, the Diya’s base remains in darkness while it spreads light around it. The wick’s longevity is contingent on the oil’s quantity and once exhausted, the wick is rendered useless. Notably, the wick doesn’t ignite itself; someone else sparks the flame.

The Jugnu’s Glow:
Contrastingly, the Jugnu, or firefly, also emits light but doesn’t burn itself in the process. The firefly’s light lasts longer and originates from within, independent of external factors. Its focus is inward, perpetuating its own energy.

The Firefly’s Dilemma:
If the firefly’s primary objective were to illuminate others’ paths, it would incessantly deplete its energy without restoration, leading to its own downfall. However, when the firefly focuses internally, it continually regenerates its energy, indirectly spreading light regardless of the external environment.

The Essence:
Like the Jugnu, a genuinely content individual doesn’t consciously aim to spread happiness; it radiates naturally from them.

“Jo aandar se aati hai woh reh jaati hai,
Jo bahaar se aati hai woh beh jaati hai.”

(What originates from within stays,
What arises from outside will eventually flow away.)

Your Choice – Diya or Jugnu?
So, what will you choose to be – a Diya or a Jugnu? The decision is yours.

Key Reflections:

Upon evaluating why some individuals strive to make others happy, it seems they derive their own happiness from such acts. Thus, whether you seek happiness directly or indirectly, the choice is yours. However, the question remains, can an unhappy person truly make others happy? Is it possible for an empty water can to water plants?