You light a candle, Its flame will give out light as long as it is fed by the burning wax

"You light a candle… Its flame will give out light as long as it

is fed by the burning wax. This combustion is in a way a

sacrifice. There can be no light without sacrifice. A fire needs

to be fed, and the candlewax is that food. This you know. But

what you don’t know is that human beings are rather like candles,

for they possess all the materials needed to feed the flame

within, namely, those of their lower nature – selfishness,

aggression, sensuality, and so on. They must sacrifice them to

keep the flame burning.

Humans are prevented from making this sacrifice by their fear of

disappearing. Of course, something of us will disappear, but that

is what has to happen for something purer and more luminous to

appear – just as when the candle’s physical substance disappears

so that the light can continue to shine. You will say that after

a while there is nothing left of the candle, and this is true.

Human beings, however, can burn indefinitely. Once lit, they

remain alight, for the fuel in them is inexhaustible."

Omraam Mikhaël Aïvanhov