In the end of December of every year most of the western world and also many people in the east celebrate the birth of an exceptional man called Jesus the Christ.

This great man is what in the Vedic culture is known by an Avatar or an earthly incarnation of God. And a man who can be called a God is a man who exhibits exceptional qualities and virtues of the human species such as being humane, kind, considerate, understanding, sympathetic, tolerant, approachable, accessible, compassionate, selfless and who ultimately is able to sacrifice himself for the sake of others.

God descends from his celestial plane and take human form to teach people by example of behaviour what is expect of  the other men (and of course the women) – in other words, what is expected of the human race as a species. The true followers of such God-Man are those who make all efforts to apply such behaviour and conduct in his daily life, and in such a way, practice his ways towards divinity themselves.

This is the true spirit of Christmas: to follow in essence the teachings of the Christ or to consciously copy his behaviour making his one’s own.

Those who make undue use of commerce, display luxury in manners of dressing & eating and indulge in intoxication of the body and mind are in no ways celebrating Christmas or the birth of Christ or his teachings.

Christmas is time for penance – but not in the sense of self-punishment or mortification – but in the sense of modesty, simplicity and ascetic austerity which allows to introspection and meditation.

These are the essential attributes that will allow the awakening of the divinity sought within.