True realisation of the actual nature of this material world, its perishable, transitory and illusory aspects best dawns on a person in suffering.
It is not that you read a book, pass an examination and finish with education. The whole of life, from the moment you are born to the moment you die, is a process of learning.
As long as you have attachment to the body and attachment to objects, fear and suffering will be with you. Therefore Krishna told Arjuna to develop his discrimination and rid himself of body consciousness. Only then he would be able to develop integral vision.
Christmas is forever, not for just one day, for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf. The good you do for others is good you do to yourself.
