Is your life devoted to the Spotlight, or is your life devoted to the Inner Light? According to all universal spiritual teachings, the difference between a person whose life is devoted to the Spotlight and a person whose life is devoted to the Inner Light is that the former focuses on things outside their control (Spotlight) whereas the latter focuses on things inside their control (Inner Light). For example, the spotlight may be compared to the light of the sun, whereas the inner light may be compared to the light within our house. Just as the sun sometimes shines on us and sometimes shines on someone else, so also the spotlight sometimes shines on us and sometimes shines on someone else.

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However, it should be pointed out that a foolish man never pays his light bill because he always expects the sun to shine on him, whereas a wise man always pays his light bill because he never expects the sun to always shine on him. Similarly, only foolish people never pay the price of hearing teachings on how to remain enlightened with humility because they always expect the spotlight to shine on them, whereas wise people always pay the price of hearing teachings on how to remain enlightened with humility because they never expect the spotlight to always shine on them. In other words, a person who always expects the spotlight is not known as optimistic but proud, whereas a person who doesn't always expect the spotlight is not known as pessimistic but humble.

 

The conclusion is, if we're engulfed in darkness because we failed to pay our light bill, then are others unhappy or are we unhappy? Similarly, if we're engulfed in the darkness of envying others because we failed to pay the price of hearing teachings on how to remain enlightened with humility, then are others unhappy or are we unhappy? In other words, if a person doesn't pay his light bill, he's not hurting anyone but himself. Similarly, if we don't pay the price of hearing teachings on how to remain enlightened with humility, then we're not hurting anyone but ourself. Therefore, ancient Greek philosopher, Aristotle, beautifully wrote, "It is plain then that the wicked man cannot be in the position of a friend even toward himself, because he has in himself nothing which can excite the sentiment of friendship. If, then, to be thus is exceedingly wretched, it is man’s duty to flee from wickedness with all his might and strive to be good, because thus may he be friends with himself and may come to be a friend to another.”

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The conclusion is, according to all the enlightened teachers throughout history, only foolish people focus on things outside their control, whereas wise people focus on things inside their control. For example, controlling the sun is outside our control, whereas paying our light bill is inside our control. Similarly, controlling the spotlight is outside our control, whereas focusing on the inner light is inside our control. Therefore, ancient Greek philosopher, Epictetus, beautifully wrote, "Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle: Some things are within our control, and some things are not. It is only after you have faced up to this fundamental rule and learned to distinguish between what you can and can't control that inner tranquility and outer effectiveness become possible."

 

Indeed, although the light may not always shine on us from the outside, but the light can always shine on us from the inside. Therefore, there's a famous quote that says, "People who shine from within don't need the spotlight." In other words, if our happiness is dependent on the sun, then it won't be stable, whereas if our happiness is dependent on paying our light bill, then it will be stable. Similarly, if we're dependent on the spotlight, then our happiness won't be stable, whereas if we're dependent on the inner light, then our happiness will be stable. Of course, we may all consider ourselves a good person. However, it should be pointed out that anyone can be a good person when they're put in the spotlight, but try being a good person when someone else is put in the spotlight. If we're dependent on the spotlight, then we're a good person some of the time, whereas if we're dependent on the inner light, then we're a good person all of the time.

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Therefore, it is said: