TIME

Time is created due to the sun in the solar system. In the galaxy, there are innumerable stars, planets and a multitude of other astronomical bodies. Man’s discovery of space, through technological devices and mystic powers gained by saints through spiritual practices, enabled the humanity, over ages, to imagine, schedule and follow time. Various races and religions divided time into many segments according to their tradition and culture. Some time calculations are so critical and absurd that we cannot imagine it. Now the people across the world are following the time of 24 hours, in which there are a day and night. A day may last for 12 hours and a night for 12 hours. This does not happen exactly in many regions and time zones. Time has been an imaginary concept from one perspective because we cannot feel it through our senses except understanding it based on the weather on a day or night. Day and night are occurring due to the rotation of earth. Earth planet takes 24 hours’ time to revolve around itself once and about 365 days to make a revolution around the sun. One half of the earth planet, which faces the surface of the sun, enjoys daytime. The remaining half of it, which turns and remains dark due to lack of sunshine, enjoys nighttime. Theists and common people believe that God intentionally set the earth and sun in this order to create and sustain day and night for the sake of humanity. The wonder is that earth planet has been following these timelines of its rotation for millions and billions of years with perfection. We cannot help believing that somebody is really overseeing it. Scientists profess that rotation of earth is automatic and part of evolution of this universe. Spiritually oriented ones state that God is creating and running this entire universe, including earth planet. Man’s exploration of space continues as long as his passion for the mysterious parts of this universe remains active. Many countries in this world have been spending huge money for space related research, machinery and applications. NASA in the USA and ISRO in India are just two examples for the scientific institutions focused exclusively on investigating and benefiting from the treasures in the space. Some business entities started proposing sale of plots in other planets. They ideate that human life, on a large scale, in other planets, is going to be achieved soon.  60% of the people in this world die without knowing that they actually lived in a globe in the space, which rotates around itself with unbelievable speed. In other words, we are all hanging in a ball run and managed by gravitational forces. Our knowledge about this universe is very little because our potential to explore it is limited by many inevitable phenomena and conditions. Seasons are blessings of the sun to creatures on earth for variety and existence. The idea of time has been chasing us for millions of years. History means a record of the phenomena and events that occurred over a period of time in the past. We cannot understand the present without studying the past. We cannot assess the future without grounding ourselves on the present and past. As such, time has these three main categories in it. Each creature has a lifetime. In each lifetime, a number of changes occur in the body and mind of the living organism concerned. Infancy, childhood, youth and old age are main stages of human life. Similar developments occur in almost all creatures in this world, though we cannot trace and ascertain each of it, considering our limited abilities in exploring organisms and explaining their lifecycles. Nature fixed the lifespans of millions of creatures in this world. Nobody can alter or stop it in any age, except those who are beyond the influence of this material world. They too can reduce or prolong their lifespan with their mystic powers but not those of others bound to destiny. Time allows man to look back and look forward while chronicling his history and mystery. The most haunting theme and phenomenon across the world is time because it is not in the control of man but sun in the solar system. Man evolves in course of time and disappears from this material world. The same is the case with millions of other creatures. Nobody is permanent here. All melt in the fire of time. All get carried away by the gales of time. Every creature has to submit to the dictatorship of time. It ruthlessly spells its magic on every entity present in it. There is no use of praising or criticizing it. It is not a kind entity to listen to us. It is an invisible and mysterious master of our universe. It shapes and ends our lives at will. It is a vague concept but it haunts us always from birth to death.

Time leaves us with many memories. What we know, feel, face, experiment and experience now turns into a memory the very next moment. Memories mostly generate regrets, grief, pain and repentance rather than joy and fulfilment. It is almost impossible to erase some memories from our subconscious mind.

1. Death has been the most haunting memory for humanity for ages. We all know that death is inevitable to all living organisms. We don’t take the deaths of unrelated creatures seriously. The deaths of those with whom we had a deep physical and psychological relationship for years turn and chase us like haunting memories. We suffer for that, which we cannot create again despite our best efforts. Death has been such a challenge to humanity for long. These memories chase us till the end of our lives. We suffer silently.

2. Many happy, sad, dangerous and strange events in our lives also turn into unforgettable memories and stay with us for long. A beautiful girl kissed and hugged you in your college once to express her sense of love for you publicly, among all, bravely. Your pet dog met with an accident and suffered a lot for about four years. Your friend escaped from a fatal accident caused by bike skid when you were behind him. You found a suitcase of money in your bedroom and the local police arrested you within hours.

3. Sad memories chase you as long as you cling to them. You can get rid of them if your willpower and efforts to forget them are strong. You failed in love. Tell yourself repeatedly, “Love failures are a universal truth. I am not the only victim. There is no use in thinking and worrying about that, which is not in my control. Hereafter I love all girls and women just like that. I love nature. I love God. I love my work and my affectionate family members and friends. When I focus on many things which I enjoy and celebrate, I can forget which I should forget for my sake”. Self-tuning is the best medicine for curing the pains of sad memories. If you don’t educate and train yourself in this direction, you would slowly become a victim of your recurring thoughts and feelings of pain. When we are sad and depressed, we should not spend alone. We should mingle with people. We should go to such places where happy and crazy events of celebration and entertainment are taking place. Extroverts celebrate their lives better than introverts.

4. Family upbringing, contemporary social trends, disasters and natural calamities too leave us with lasting memories. We lived without food and shelter for years in childhood being ignored and ridiculed by our family members and society. We lived in a town at a time when people killed one another out of selfishness, helplessness or cruelty. 1000 passengers got burnt in a train accident caused by a track problem and we witnessed their pain personally. Our belongings and house got carried away by a cyclone.

5. Anything that we felt strongly once through our five senses also leaves great memories in us. We saw a pathetic beggar near our house almost daily when we were children. We saw his dead body one day. When we see any beggar now, we recollect that past. We used to smell jasmines every night while sleeping in our front yard once. When we smell them any night in any house now, we remember our house in the past and the time we had there then. There was a classic musician beside our house once. He played the piano melodiously every Sunday for two hours. If we hear anybody playing on piano now, we go back to those days of the past. A cute boy hugged you whenever you were sad. You felt deeply relieved when he did so out of pure love and innocence as a child. If you hug any baby now, you would recollect those days with that boy. A fisherman offered you very delicious fish soup whenever you went to his home in your childhood. When you have tasty fish soup now, you may refresh those memories.

6. What happened and influenced us deeply when we were children, form into strong memories than those that we get when we are adults. When grown up, we accept or reject something based on our logical thinking. We don’t take many things into our mind. Children are innocent and receptive. Their feelings and thoughts are more genuine and reliable than ours. Their brains and subconscious arenas are like a sensitive white paper. Incidents and experiences draw various images on them strongly. If we want an ideal generation tomorrow, we should treat our children generously today. If we torture them now expecting more and more from them, irrationally, illogically and cruelly, they turn into introverts or anti-social elements soon. Childhood is gift of God to all humans. We should make their childhood happy and memorable.

7. We cannot imagine the life of any healthy creature without memories. They are like our assets. We should plan and unlearn at our level to derive maximum pleasure from them, but not pain. It is easier said than done but we can be successful if we try hard. What we see, hear, feel and forget within minutes, hours or days are due to short term memory loss. We die with hundreds of unnecessary and stressful memories if we are not equipped with short term memory loss. There are certain things and experiences which we should remember forever. Our marriage day, the days we spent with our beloved, our days at school or in some companies continue to be our sources of bliss and inspiration even after months and years. They stay in our long term memory. Brain is a divine piece in a body. Its wonders and mysteries are outstanding. It knows what to save in its storehouse of memories and what to delete in course of time.

8. We should record the present intelligently with quality devices and store them in high quality storehouses to make our future bright and divine. Since change is the quality of time, nature and everything and everybody created by God, what we see and feel today may not be there tomorrow, after a month or after a few years. If you love something or somebody, express it decently. Record those wonderful moments taking a photo or video of it, or recording that voice or doing something similar. What you do must withstand the impact of time to a great extent. For example, you love your daughter a lot. You want to do something great for her, which lasts for about 100 years at least. You struggled a lot and built a beautiful house with such unique material and design, which cannot be seen in any part of the world. You may die one day but your daughter feels your presence as long as she lives in that house out of pure love and psychic attachment with you beyond your earthly existence. What if you bought 100 acres of land, deposited one million dollars for her in a bank account or bought an island for her in a foreign country. Land is a creation of God. Money is a creation of man and there is no your value addition to it. An island is also a beautiful drawing of God or a utopian. Things of the past turn and remain unique and memorable only when you add your intelligence and creativity to create a masterpiece. Many live depending on memories alone, not on other things much. To create such atmosphere in the lives of those whom we love or those who love us deeply, we should live ideally, creatively or uniquely. Creating great memories in others is not an easy job. We should struggle and suffer for years to give sublime memories to our dependants. When we go to historical places, we feel elevated and cry at times. The virtues in the lives of those, who sacrificed their lives for the sake of a nation or cause, make us belong to them. Freedom fighters, scientists, social reformers, innovators, martyrs, leaders and saints leave us with such memories. Even after years and decades, some stories and legends keep inspiring and changing us silently. We should have such thoughts and lead such brave and ideal lives to leave great memories as intangible assets to our future generations. Memories are invaluable assets when they provide us with positive energy. They are forces of destruction when they lead us towards pain and suffering. We should balance both. If we get carried away by them, we can’t achieve anything worthwhile. Life should not be a trunk of useless memories but a bank of constructive and visionary acts that educate and guide others.

Time responds or reacts like a psychologist or general doctor towards us. We need to wait and wait to allow time to sort out or end things in our lives. Time solves many problems if we wait patiently.

1. You loved a boy very deeply. You wanted to marry him at any cost. You struggled a lot with your parents and society to realize your dream but you could not succeed in it. You suffered a lot for a few months when you knew that he married another girl. After five years, you knew that his wife left him not being able to bear with his attitude and behaviour. Now you feel relieved for not having married him once.

2. You wanted your children to study hard and get great jobs in countries like the USA. None of your children studied well. They could not get any job you desired. One of them focused on the few acres of ancestral agricultural farm you have inherited. He earned huge profits and reputation doing farming quite differently and innovatively. All your children are happy now. They are with you. You are happier now.

3. There were a father and a lame son to him in a region. All ridiculed at the physical disability of his son. He felt disturbed and suffered. In a few years, all healthy youth in that region got recruited into army to face foreign invasion. All of them died in that war. This lame one could not join army because he was physically unfit for it. He is living now also for that reason only. His father realized it and felt blissful.

4. Shepherd Jacob bought 10 acres of arid farmland at a very high cost in 1930, selling all his assets in a city close to this place. All treated him like a buffoon then. Soon the government and private parties bought all accessible, fertile and even lands in that region for industrialization. By 1980, the land of this shepherd brought him millions of dollars. He built a palace in the city and lived happily thereafter.

5. Lona became a widow in 1948 when her husband died of cancer. She had a series of quite unfortunate events in her pathetic life even before this tragedy. She has a beautiful daughter. Lona brought her up carefully. She studied well and became intelligent in course of time. A prince fell in love with her. He married her grandly. Lona lived very happily like a queen for another 60 years. All got surprised.

6. Bigal struggled and suffered like anything throughout his life despite being very honest, ideal and hard-working. Jigas enjoyed and celebrated his life extraordinarily though he was very cruel, selfish and sinful. People wondered about these two folks those days. After death, angels took Bigal to heaven and Jigas to hell. They angels told Bigal, ‘You have lived all your bad Karma completely”. They explained Jigas, “You have spent the fruits of all your good Karma accumulated during many past lifetimes. You will suffer a lot in a series of lifetimes to come ahead”. A sage narrated this story to his disciples, with these concluding words, “Time answers many questions. Don’t judge anything with narrow-minded outlook”.

7. Mesohali has been a slum for years. All moved out of this place in a span of 20 years. Panhi continued to live there because she developed attachment with that place despite hardships. In another five years, the surrounding places became the abodes of billionaires in that country. One of them pitied her penury but liked her endurance. He has assets but nobody to care for. He bequeathed all his property to her.

8. Menly Debog was a poor man. He used to collect rags and live that way. One day he found a strange rock beside a road. It weighed about five kilograms. He liked and kept it in his hut for 10 years. One day a scientist came to his hut and bought that rock for two million dollars. They enquired and found that Debog had that valuable treasure of space. Time made him a millionaire even though he was innocent.

Time has many treasures and pleasures for us in store. To feel that celebration, we must live until death.

Time is like an artist. This world, from the perspective of humanity present in the earth planet, is its canvas. It draws various paintings on it in the course of its journey. Some last longer. Some fade faster.

1. Civilizations developed, declined and disappeared. Cultures got shaped, thrived and faded. Kingdoms formed, flourished and ruined. Various creatures were born, lived and got extinct. Wars broke out between and among nations and ruined assets and humans largely. Rise and fall have been the most predominant aspects of evolution of man on earth. Tragic end is the theme of this painting of time.

2. Once there was a kind king. Many lived happily in his rule. After his death, his sons got addicted to bad habits and quarrelled among themselves for the throne. Their enemy attacked and killed all of them. They ruled this kingdom for five decades. They tortured the people with various taxes, punishments and poor administration. It was called the dynasty of Virakrutha, an age of anarchy. Time draws touching stories.

3. The traces of gigantic creatures have been discovered by archaeologists and scientists in the region of Devinci Losapa in 1952. It was believed that they lived in deep rainforests feeding on other beasts. They died completely in a natural calamity. Some of them could escape it but could not survive inclement weather conditions in other parts of that region. No proofs showing what happened! It’s mystery of time.

4.  Bileegui Tissaka was a famous Hindu temple those days. There was a great saint called Bolanath. He always remained silent as part of his religious practices. If he looked at anybody, all his physical and mental ailments got cured immediately. If he had touched anybody, he would have become a golden statue. He was believed to have strange mystic powers to change anybody at will. Time shapes faiths.

5. The dead bodies of millions of creatures turned into crude oil in various regions due to heat and reactions in the lower crusts of earth for years. The trees that remained there for decades turned into coal in almost similar process. After hundreds of years, due to scientific advancements, man could trace and unearth crude oil and coal for his use after refinement at various stages. Time draws sources of resources.

6. A tribe migrated to the other parts of earth in search of food and cultivable land hundreds of years ago. They mixed with native people in other regions. Much genetic changes occurred in generations that followed. Racial discrimination started between those with black and white skins. No social reformer or scientist could educate those races and bring solidarity among them at all later. Time draws history.

7. Golaba and Boranda were the richest kingdoms those days. Their rulers had no enmity with others. These two kingdoms flourished from 200 AD to 600 AD. Gold, diamonds and pearls were sold like biscuits and chocolates in a retail store now. There was no evidence of natural calamity in that region. By 610 AD, historians state, that no trace of those races remained on earth. Time draws confusion strongly.

8. Considering the high levels of pollution now, the earth planet is getting affected immensely due to global warming. Temperatures are increasing. Glaciers are melting. Sea levels are increasing. Penury and crime are destabilizing the peace of the nations. Water scarcity increases in near future. People fight with others for natural resources and authority. Destruction occurs. We suffer much. Time helps visualize future.

Evolution is a child of time. All changes are part of time. We are mere witnesses of evolution. We cannot alter the process and progress of evolution. Our existence in comparison to the huge age of time is minuscule. Still we weave a multitude of dreams, stories, anecdotes, estimates and imaginations around it. We believe in the shadows and illusions drawn by time. We enjoy or suffer while seeing those paintings.

Time is like a kind or ruthless teacher. It teaches lessons to all of us softly or cruelly depending on the number of opportunities we misused or disused despite its generous offer to us. We must listen to it.

1.  Mr. Godan had been a reckless and insensitive bloke for years. He did not care anybody. He tortured many through his abusive language and insulting behavior. Everybody started keeping him away. In course of time, he realized that he was alone though he had many relatives and friends. He regretted it. He could not build up those lost relations again. He earned a lot but died sadly. Nobody attended his funeral.

2. Ms. Kidosa was a hedonist. She believed that the purpose and goal of human life is happiness only. One can do anything to achieve and retain it. She did not believe in the system of marriage. She thought that bearing and brining up children is a headache. She did a lot to seek joy from whatever she did. When she was 40, doctors told her that she got cancer because of her bad lifestyle. She suffered for 20 years.

3.  Mr. Jeromy never attended a school or college. He was born and brought up in a tribal family in the remote hamlet called Sakara. Seeing plants grow, he realized that growth is the essence of all living organisms. Seeing carcasses, he understood that all material life has a prefixed end. He hated his material life and turned into an ascetic. He died very happily. Time taught him lessons through benevolent nature.

4.  Ms. Lekini became a noted film actress within a short time without much struggle. She thought that it was all her greatness that brought her such stardom. She discarded all her family members and well-wishers. She led frivolous life with many partners and admirers. Her beauty got reduced. Chances in films also got affected. She turned a recluse in a few months. She suffered, cried and died pathetically.

5. Mr. Boron enjoyed his childhood like anything while his friends were studying hard. He believed that life meant liberty and one should always do what one likes personally. His friends started businesses and got jobs after their courses. Boron became helpless by the time he turned 25. All treated him like a worthless guy because he did not gain any useful knowledge or skills. Time taught him a lesson.

6. Mrs. Romela Sonera could build a business empire with her shrewdness and vision. She recruited all her relatives and friends to key positions in the organization. She believed that people run businesses but not standards and values behind them. After her death, all those in key positions murdered her innocent children with a plan. They ruined the organization soon. Employees turned helpless. It’s a nightmare.

7. Scientists warned King Jolapa to build high and strong walls around his kingdom as there were many rivers around. They said floods would engulf their kingdom if they did not take protective measures. The king believed that God would save his kingdom from any peril. Floods occurred soon. His entire kingdom got ousted in that water. The king survived holding the branch of a tree. He remembered the scientists.

8. Nebu Kousa was passionate about fast biking. He toured many parts of the world on his bike. Many of his friends warned him that fast biking may lead to fatal accidents and so to avoid it. He did not pay heed to their kind advice. One day he fell of a hilly terrain. His backbone got fractured. Doctors told him that he would not be able to walk any more. He struggled and suffered for years and died desperately.

God always chooses the soft medium of instruction to educate His subjects. He educates them in many ways. If they neglect his lessons, he decides to reform them through hard measures. It may be an accident, death, a disaster or a natural calamity. It is an ultimate command of time. There are no options to choose from but just obey the ruthless lessons of God. Blessed are those who obey the soft lessons of time.

Time has transformed and influenced me considerably during the last 30 years. It changed me physically and mentally. Circumstances are shades of time. I give you some examples to let you know how time affected me.

1. I had been away from my parents for 10 years for my education. Then I suffered from the feelings of loneliness. I found fault with my parents because they did not come to see me often. Now my son is studying in a school a few steps away from my rented abode. I did not go to his school much till now, leave alone spending enough time with him. My parents could not come to see me due to circumstances but not because they did not like me.

2. Since there was a void in my life when I was a child because of my being away from the care and affection of my parents for long, I started searching for love in others, in the creatures of opposite gender in particular. They did not respond towards me in a way that I expected from them. Now I understand that all cannot reciprocate love to their beloved for various reasons. It’s helplessness, not carelessness.

3. When I was a child, I could enjoy if my father or others gave me a little amount of money. I bought jaggery or sweets from a familiar retail store. I did not worry about earning money. Now I have money earned by me. I am not buying much for me now but for others. Then money was a medium for me to buy something. Now it is a tool for me to bring happiness in the lives of others. My perception about money and its utility changed.

4. My maternal grandparents, my paternal grandfather, my spiritual master, some of my relatives and friends and artistes whom I admired, died in course of time. When they were alive and accessible to me, I did not find them as unique and extraordinary entities. Now I am feeling so. I want to go back to those days and live those memorable moments again but not possible. Time snatched treasures from my life.

5. When I was a child, studying at the abode of my maternal grandparents, I used to read scriptures to improve my religious and spiritual knowledge. I would do headstand quite often. I avoided meat. I led serene and disciplined life. Slowly I stopped going to temples. I think that God is not there outside in temples but in my body, a temple built and sustained by God. Unlearning is happening gradually in me.

6. Soon after my education for 17 years, I dreamt of going abroad to earn money fast. I tried some ways but failed. I started doing jobs in India with meagre salaries and moderate lifestyle. India is my mother. I have been accustomed to it since my birth. I am lucky as long as I am in my motherland. Not being able to go abroad has never been my fault. I should self-tune myself to derive the best from what I can.

7. Up to I reached my tenth standard, I found it odd and avoidable to wear a pair of trousers. After I started wearing them, I never stopped wearing them. I habituated myself to do the insert of shirt. Now I am completely comfortable with trousers and the insert. I feel uneasy and uncomfortable in formal attire if I go out without ironing, insert and full sleeves. My idea of dressing up changed in course of time.

8. When I was in my days of innocence, charm and prime of youth, there was nobody to capture the vibrancy and beauty of my age. White strands of hair started developing on my head and in my moustache. I colour them now. I have a digital camera now. I cannot shoot myself. I am not as attractive as once now. What is use of others taking my photos even by my force? Time affected my body.

Time ruthlessly taught me lessons whenever I deserved it. It consoled me considerably as and when required. It balanced my psyche as per the changes around. I long for my beautiful past but I cannot regain it. I want to know what is in store for me in my future but can’t predict it. Time seems to be the ultimate commander of my life. I don’t know how it shaped me once or what it is going to do in future.

Insights

1.  Time is one of the facilitators to God to execute His longest game with many players and roles.

2. What we plan strongly might not happen mostly because our Karma is stronger than our wishes.

3. The lifespans of various creatures in this world are negligible compared to the age and power of time.

4. We cannot feel the differences in time unless there are day and night and atmospheric changes.   

5. Our life is interesting and memorable because past cannot be regained and future cannot be predicted.

6. Knowledge and skills cannot save us from death but shape the quality of our life that precedes it.

7. Past mostly provides us with tragedy and pain because we want to get that which is impossible.

8. The most intriguing and soothing knowledge in this world is the one about afterlife.

9. We should do anything in tune to the speed and nature of time but it does not change as per our wishes.

10. Time makes a lot of changes in our lives. If we accept them, we enjoy it. If we reject them, we suffer.

11. Anything can happen in course of time. So, never believe that you can control your future.

12. Time can educate, entertain or punish you at will. Be good to deserve kind treatment from it.

13. Laugh when situation excites. Cry when the plight demands. Feelings are the shades of your life.

14. Many grow physically and financially. Those who grow psychologically have only really grown up.

15. You may not do your works in time in life but time does its work quite in time every time.

16. The economies, cultures and plans of humanity get lost if time is not accurate in all ages.

17. Time is a period of our opportunity. What and how we benefit or lose from it is up to us.

18. Time has no pity or anger towards any creature in this world. It is like a long journey train.

19. Audio and video files help us go back into the past. Capture the beauty of present for future.

20. Time is not a creature but a phenomenon of process and progress. Moving forward is its duty.

21.  Our bodies and attitudes change in course of time. Time is the best teacher and artist in this world.

22. Man is next to God in intelligence. He can partly assess and celebrate the beauty and mystery of time.

23. Time insults and warns us constantly proving that we are nothing. We act as if we did not hear it.

24. Thinking, doing and living ideally is the best tribute we can pay to time in every age we come across.