Background articles

There is more to light than meets the eye

Extracts from an interview with Mansukh Patel

Mansukh Patel was born in the Great Rift Valley, amidst the political turmoil of Kenya in the 1950s. Mansukh was born into a family where the presence of the light within the practice of prayer was a natural way of life. In fact Mansukh himself reflects that he had always taken the presence of the light for granted until one day his father pointed out that the light contains a secret power that Mansukh could discover with study and experiment.

Throughout history light has been universally respected as being the most important source of inspiration and over the years through his travels across the world Mansukh has witnessed just how many families and communities are kept together by the light of a family fire and celebrated with the flame of a candle.

Mansukh Patel explains that whilst it is no secret that light is essential for our physiological health, it may be less well known that it can also be crucial in maintaining our emotional health. On a more subtle level still, Mansukh recognises that in the presence of light, human beings experience more passion to be creative, dynamic and expressive. You see this in the work of artists and many great poets.

At the deepest level, Mansukh reminds us, we have the light of spirituality. Every tradition in the world has always recognised the presence of light at the beginning of creation. Light is, therefore, a very powerful representation of life itself.

The power of light has been brought to the forefront of our minds in recent years with the creation of the World Peace Flame of which Mansukh Patel is one of the driving inspirations. One of the main objectives of the World Peace Flame as Mansukh highlights, is to free people from all kinds of fear and confusion and to release their inherent courage and self worth. It is a way of returning people's power to them. That power already exists in them, it just needs re-awakening.

Finally, Mansukh draws our attention back to the truth that light is a universal symbol that cuts across all boundaries of race, religion and class. It takes people towards a change in their perception of reality and a recognition of our connectedness with the cycles of the universe. In Mansukh’s words ‘’When you are connected with the centre of life, you are free; and in this freedom you find peace.’’

For more information, consider:
The Flame that Transforms – Mansukh Patel, Savitri MacCuish and Andrew Wells
The Peace Formula – Mansukh Patel
Soulforce Awakening - Mansukh Patel
The Secret Power of Light – Mansukh Patel
Dru Yoga – Stillness in Motion – Chris Barrington, Anita Goswami, Annie Jones, Mansukh Patel
Dru Yoga DVD - Mansukh Patel and Coby Langford
Imagine World Peace - Mansukh Patel