There are moments in life when we pause and look at the people around us : some are blessed with abundance and peace, while others struggling through endless challenges and I wonder, why such stark differences?
Why do only some use their gifts to grow in light, while others sink deeper into the shadows despite having everything?
Recently, while reflecting on life’s contrasts, I recalled and revisited a beautiful timeless discourse by Goenka Guruji that I heard when I attended Vipassana 10 days courses, and it is based on the profound teachings of the Lord Buddha about the Four Types of Souls (or beings) who take birth on this Earth — and how their actions (kamma) determine the direction of their destiny.
Each soul, he said, is defined not merely by its birth, but by the direction it chooses to move in — towards light or darkness.
This understanding is both humbling and illuminating. It helps us see life not through the lens of wealth, birth, or circumstances alone, but through the movement of consciousness — the inner evolution that determines destiny.
Guruji explains that every being on Mother Gaia belongs to one of four categories — depending not on their external circumstances, but on the direction of their consciousness.
The Four Types of Souls:
1. Born in Darkness and Proceeding Towards Darkness:
These are souls who face difficulties and suffering from the very start — physical illness, poverty, emotional turmoil, or family strife.
Beings who, already burdened by past unwholesome actions, take birth in adversity and continue to act under ignorance and defilements. They remain trapped in cycles of anger, greed, deceit, jealousy, or violence — deepening their karmic darkness. Instead of learning from pain, they react to it, creating even more suffering for themselves and others. Instead of cultivating wisdom from their hardship, they allow bitterness, anger, and hatred to rule their hearts and make choices accordingly. They blame others for their misery, planting more seeds of negativity, ensuring that darkness multiplies in their future as well.
Their present is misery - They are born in darkness, and their future too remains bound in deeper darkness — a tragic spiral that continues until awareness arises in some future life.
Personally, if I were to give an example of this category, it would be Adolf Hitler.
Though his early life was marked by pain, rejection, and hardship, instead of transforming that suffering into compassion or wisdom, he allowed hatred and delusion to consume him. His choices brought immense suffering — not just to others, but to his own soul.
He stands as a reminder of how unhealed inner darkness, when combined with power and ego, can lead to catastrophic consequences for oneself and for the world.
2. Born in Light but Proceeding Towards Darkness:
Some souls are born into comfort, privilege, and opportunity. These souls begin life in favorable conditions with good fortune — good families, opportunity, education, wealth, status, beauty, comfort/ luxuries, thus their lives begin in brightness — all fruits of wholesome past-life kammas.
Though born in light, they move towards darkness — an unfortunate reversal of the soul’s evolution. By making unwholesome choices, they begin to exhaust the merits of their past lives and accumulate new burdens for future ones.
Despite being surrounded by light, they allow ego, greed, or delusion to guide their choices. Somewhere along the way, Temptations through Desire, Lust, Aversions (Illusions) — the Three daughters of Mara, as Buddha described — distracts them and successfully takes hold of their consciousness.
They become enamored by sense pleasures, power, or self-importance, and lose touch with Dhamma.
Their inner compass weakens, and slowly, the light of wisdom fades.
Lacking wisdom and humility, they become arrogant and lose sight of Dhamma.
The brightness of their birth blinds them; ego, greed, power and indulgence replace compassion and gratitude. They misuse their knowledge, wealth, or influence, gradually exhausting their accumulated merits and create new seeds of suffering — falling from light into darkness.
This is what Goenka Guruji meant when he spoke of “souls who are in light but proceed towards darkness.” It captures those who are blessed with intelligence, opportunity, power and influence, but whose choices — driven by ego, pride, greed or delusion — lead to immense suffering for themselves and others.
A profound example of this is Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer, the brilliant physicist who led the creation of the atomic bomb during the Manhattan Project. His creation made it possible to wipe out city at the snap of a finger - cities that were having many innocent souls with no relation or bearing on international politics. In that moment, humanity’s brightest scientific minds also unleashed one of its darkest chapters.
Later in life, Oppenheimer expressed deep remorse and introspection over the consequences of his work, famously recalling the Bhagavad Gita:
“Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.”
His life stands as a haunting reminder of how brilliance without wisdom can turn light into darkness — how intellect, when unanchored from compassion, can become an instrument of suffering.
3. Born in Darkness but Proceeding Towards Light:
This is the most inspiring category.
These are the true heroes and exemplify integrity and spirituality.
Born in early challenging and unfavourable circumstances — perhaps into poverty, sickness, abuse, adversity, harships, loss, deprivations or ignorance, but they do not curse fate or harbour anger, resentment and jealousy. These beings nevertheless awaken to the Dhamma and make conscious choices to generate light, compassion, and positive karma.
Through suffering, they gain humility and wisdom. They begin to question life’s purpose, seek truth, and align their actions with compassion and mindfulness.
Their journey is inspiring: from the weight of suffering to the deliberate creation of goodness in the world.
They meet the Dhamma, or awaken through their own wisdom, and begin to understand:
“This hardship has come from my own past kammas. May I not create anymore suffering for myself or others from this point onwards.”
With love, compassion, and self-awareness, they transform their darkness into light.
Their present may be painful, but their future shines bright — for they have changed the direction of their soul’s journey through their awareness and choices.
By transforming pain into insight and darkness into understanding, they reverse the current of karma.
Their journey may be difficult, but each step is luminous. They are born in darkness, yet proceed towards light — symbols of hope for all who seek redemption and awakening.
A shining example in India is Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar - The Father of Constitution Of India
Born in darkness: Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar was born into a marginalized Dalit family in British India, facing severe social discrimination, poverty, and exclusion. His early life was full of hardships and systemic oppression.
Proceeding toward light: Despite these adversities, he didnt let bitterness take place in his heart but instead pursued education relentlessly, eventually earning doctorates from Columbia University and the London School of Economics. He became a champion of social justice, architected the Indian Constitution, and worked tirelessly to uplift the oppressed. His life reflects conscious effort, wisdom, and moral courage that transformed personal suffering into a force for collective enlightenment.
Dr B.R. Ambedkar’s life exemplifies how souls born in darkness can consciously cultivate light — not only for themselves but for entire communities. He reminds us that adversity, when met with wisdom and perseverance, can become a powerful catalyst for spiritual and social illumination.
4. Born in Light and Proceeding Towards Light
These are beings who, due to past-life merits, take birth in favorable circumstances — in loving families, with good education, health, and opportunities.
They are surrounded by abundance, loving families, education, opportunities, comfort, and noble influences, yet they walk the path of humility, service, and righteousness. But most importantly, they recognize the preciousness of Dhamma when they encounter it. They understand that all worldly joys are temporary and recognizing that their present brightness is the result of past meritorious deeds, and instead of wasting it on ego or indulgence, they use their abundance to uplift others. These are souls who not only enjoy comfort, wealth, love, and happiness in this lifetime but wisely utilise the fruits of their past good kamma for themselves becoming blessings for others as well. They live with gratitude, humility, and compassion, planting new seeds of brightness for lifetimes to come.
They continue walking the path of righteousness, compassion, meditation, and wisdom — thus using their good fortune to evolve further.
Such souls are like flames that keep rising higher, turning their blessings into service and spiritual growth.
From brightness, they move towards more brightness — expanding the light within and around them, the true progression of an awakened being.
Shining examples include Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi and J. R. D. Tata
Swami Vivekananda, born into a well-off and intellectually nurturing family in 19th century India, could have enjoyed a life of comfort. Instead, he chose the path of spiritual awakening and service, bringing Vedanta and yoga to the world stage. Through his teachings, speeches, and personal example, he inspired millions to live a life of courage, selfless service, and higher purpose.
Gandhiji, born into a respected family and educated as a barrister in London, could have easily lived a life of comfort and prestige. Instead, he renounced material privileges and dedicated himself to the pursuit of truth (Satya) and nonviolence (Ahimsa). His moral courage and compassion transformed not only a nation’s destiny but also the conscience of humanity. Gandhiji’s light illuminated millions of lives — proof that true brightness multiplies when guided by humility and higher purpose.
Similarly, J. R. D. Tata, born into privilege, wealth and influence, lived a life defined not by luxury but by service. Born into privilege and wealth, he could easily have led a life of luxury and detachment from the struggles of the common man. Yet he chose to dedicate his life to nation-building and human welfare. Under his leadership, the Tata group pioneered countless employee-welfare measures, promoted women’s employment, and upheld ethics and integrity as sacred principles in business.
As an industrialist, he humanized the world of business — introducing labor welfare, women’s empowerment, and ethical corporate practices long before they became global ideals. His life reminds us that privilege becomes sacred when turned into compassion.
Swami Vivekanand's, Gandhiji's and J. R. D. Tata’s life were a journey from brightness to greater brightness — Souls who used their blessings and fortune to create light for others.
Swami Vivekanand, Gandhiji and J. R. D. Tata exemplify what Goenka Guruji and Lord Buddha meant — souls born in light, who consciously continue walking towards greater light. They show us that enlightenment is not only confined to renouncing the world and living in monasteries or meditation halls, but can also be lived through karma yoga — conscious action, integrity, compassion, and service to humanity by engaging with life selflessly, turning privilege into purpose, and transforming prosperity into compassion.
Goenka Guruji’s Teaching
As Goenka Guruji beautifully summarizes:
“The Buddha said: I see four types of people in this world —
those running from darkness to darkness,
those running from brightness to darkness,
those running from darkness to brightness,
and those running from brightness to brightness.
One is one’s own master; one is the master of one’s own future.
The present is the child of the past, but the future is the child of the present.
Develop brightness within. Let your present be full of Dhamma,
and your future will naturally be full of happiness.”
— S. N. Goenka
My own Reflection Upon The Mirror of Dhamma:
When I reflect upon this teaching, I see how truly it mirrors the world around us.
Everywhere, we meet people who fall into these four categories — the ever-evolving, the declining, the awakening, and the lost.
And yet, none of these are fixed. Buddha never taught condemnation — only transformation.
At any moment, with awareness and right effort, a being can turn from darkness to light.
The Dhamma is that bridge.
Even one moment of insight, one sincere act of compassion, can begin reversing the tide of lifetimes and it is never too late to reflect inwards and grow upwards in our thoughts, words and actions, it is just a matter of choice and resolution
With Dhamma, At Any Moment, a Soul Can Turn from Darkness to Light
One of the most powerful examples of transformation in the Buddha’s teachings is Angulimala. Born into a troubled life and driven by malicious rumors, Angulimala became an outlaw and vowed to kill a thousand people. He kept count by taking a finger from each victim, earning the name “Finger-Garland.”
Even as he became the terror of the countryside, the Buddha intervened — not with force, but with wisdom and compassion. Angulimala’s confrontation with the Buddha became the turning point of his life. The Buddha explained:
“I have stopped. It is you who have not stopped.”
These words from The Enlightened One broke through the fog of Angulimala’s mind. He surrendered his weapons, sought guidance in meditation, and began cultivating love, patience, and moral conduct. Over time, he transformed from a fearsome murderer into a compassionate, mindful, and peaceful individual, devoted to helping others.
Angulimala’s story reminds us: no matter how far someone has fallen, no matter how much darkness surrounds them, the potential for light always exists. Awareness, guidance, and conscious effort can help a being course-correct, cultivate compassion, and evolve spiritually.
Even a soul that has caused immense suffering — like Angulimala, who had taken countless lives — can choose transformation. The Dhamma is that bridge: it allows us to consciously move from darkness to light, from ignorance and harm to wisdom, compassion, and freedom.
This example is especially inspiring when reflecting on our own lives. If a man capable of such ruthless killings and destruction could turn into a a liberated Arahat (Saint/Siddha) in that very life, then at any moment, we too have the capacity to recognize our mistakes, align with Dhamma, and consciously proceed toward light.
As I observe life and people’s journeys — including my own — I realize how beautifully compassionate this teaching is.
This discourse reminds me that our external situations don’t define us — our choices do.
We cannot control whether we are born in brightness or darkness, but we can always choose which direction we move toward.
That choice — made moment by moment, thought by thought — is what defines the evolution of the soul.
Whether our lives begin in light or in shadow, the Dhamma gives us the power to change direction.
The past may not be in our hands, but the present moment is — and that present moment contains the seed of all future brightness.
These Teachings doesn’t label our consciousness, it invites us to see that consciousness is ever changing and ever evolving, helping us to become aware and make conscious choice to grow towards light.
It reminds us that being “born in light” or “darkness” is merely the starting point — what defines us is the direction we choose.
Every act of mindfulness, kindness, and self-awareness moves us towards light.
And every moment of ego, deceit, or greed pulls us back towards shadow.
The choice — in every breath, thought, and action — is ours.
In the End…
The four types of souls are not four types of people — they are four states of consciousness that coexist within all of us.
At different stages of life, we might experience all four.
The Dhamma simply shows us the way back — from darkness to light, from ignorance to wisdom, from bondage to liberation.
So today, I pray —
May I walk from darkness towards light.
May I honor my karmic gifts and learn from my karmic lessons.
And may I never forget that the ultimate light lies within each one of us - to never brand or label any being / soul because we all have the potential seed of Bodhi in each soul
As Guruji says:
“Be master of the present. Let your present be full of Dhamma — and the future will be full of happiness.”
May all beings be happy.
May all beings be liberated.
Forever A Humble Seeker Of Truth & The Divine
Meraki Pegasus
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