Traditional long cotton wick of diya (lamp)

Growing up, I saw my mom lighting diyas twice a day everyday; once in the morning and another in the evening. Both times she made sure to light a diya in the temple at home and light a small one by the tulsi plant in the house. While the diya in the temple is a traditional diya (lamp) with a wick, the tulsi plant only got a ghee soaked wick placed on a stone platform next to it.

I have learned to prepare the diya wicks from my mom. She used to take a long wick and fold it right in the middle and twist it. Now the wick is much thicker, can soak a little more ghee and hence will burn for a little longer. If you look at the wick at any point, it has two ends; a beginning and an end. But when you follow the threads of the wick, you'll know that there is only one wick; the beginning and the end meet at the same point.

Lately every day when I prepare the wick for our home temple, this thought has been very prevalent. And it makes me wonder if in a very similar way, the beginning and end of life also meet at the same point; though we don't remember it quite that same way. Such wondering helps me delve into my own inner world and workings of the body and mind.

May this inspire you to wonder about small and big things in life; and make observations which bring us closer to the ultimate reality in life.