Christmas is a season of red, white, green, holly, mistletoe, gifts, cards, family, cheer, and Santa Claus.

Santa stands for Christmas and for unconditional love. Saint Nicholas, the real Santa, used to help the poor by throwing gifts and money through windows and down chimneys. Which is why Santa comes down chimneys. Not because it soots him! The good old saint was a shy guy, and was embarassed by demonstrations of gratitude. He really meant it when he said, "Don't mention it!"

So his help and gifts were given anonymously, which is a lesson direct from the One who was born on Christmas day.

The world was given the biggest gift ever on the first Christmas, the Christ child. And by God, who is the biggest giver ever! And what did this Gift give us in His turn? He gave Himself, and He told us so many things. Do we listen?

I'm not a Christian by birth, and will not be converted to Christanity formally. But I'm more Christian than those who war on their brothers, absolutely forgetting what it is to be a Christian. What is the message given to us with the Gift? What did Christ stand for? Is it possible for us to follow all that in this fast-paced, rat-racing world? Let's see...

What did He stand for?

He stood for almost everything except the businessmen making a mess of the temple.

Well, He asked us to show our other cheek and He asked God to forgive those who persecuted Him. That's the golden rule: Do good unto your enemies. Saint Nicholas' policy of giving gifts without expecting gratitude and the policy of returning love for hate: these will solve most of our political problems today.

The Greatest Christian was a Hindu!

You know who was the greatest Christian according to me? It was Gandhi, who practised what Jesus preached, accepted the violence dealt to him by the British police of the time, and won freedom for his country. That's the power of love given in return for hate.

He is known to have said:

"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

It is not impractical, it is a powerful, practical policy that will transform you and others around.

So let your love fill the coffers of your heart, spill over to your family, and friends, and then beyond, to all the world. Even after Xmas, for ever!