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All the secrets of life are contained in the importance and sanctity of time. Time is an eternal current of continuous moments in which the boat of life is floating. No moment of time is ordinary; every moment is extra-ordinary and unique because it was a moment that gifted us life; it is a moment, which makes us feel pain or pleasure, or gives us success or failure. Every moment comes with a unique opportunity and makes the continuum of time an endless bestower of valuable gifts.
Conscious and alert persons utilize time judiciously and are, therefore, called wise and intelligent. But normally we remain asleep and keep losing. Nothing new is gained; even the existing possessions slip through the fingers. This non-conscious and lethargic state of mind prevents us from estimating the value of anything, and if we do somehow manage to sit up and take notice the exercise is rendered futile because it is too late.
Haphazard life-style and negative habits, too, are enemies of time. They either destroy the existing and possible means of success or make them very complex. As a result, what could otherwise have been an easy and smooth job gets tangled in a web of complications. A deep look into the hectic and hurried modern life-style bears out this truth. The renowned expert on time management, Robert Rosseck, says that time is moving at a constant speed of its own. Everybody gets twenty-four hours a day, neither a second less nor more. And they have to utilize this very duration as their resource material. According to Robert, there is a need to make the modern technology simple and easy and in keeping with the times. Along with this, one should also regulate one’s disorderly life-schedule and tune the mode of thinking to the nature of work. Only then there will be a proper and meaningful utilization of time.
According to the celebrated author of ‘Managing Stress’, Brian Luke Sivai, the hands of time move on the pivot of mind. So, only with a conscious mind can time be put to fruitful use. Neurophysicians hold that the left hemisphere of the brain is capable of judging, knowing and understanding time; the right hemisphere does not have this capacity. But the latest brain researches have found that the left part of the brain is equipped with analytical power, while the right part, with the faculty of imagination, which plays an important role in management of time. Thus, with cogitative functions of both parts of the brain, time can be utilized in an excellent way.
In this latest finding of neruopsychology, one can find glimpses of the Upanisadic wisdom, which proclaims that with strong will power, and firm inner determination the cycle of time can be altered at will. Although these pronouncements are contained in aphorisms whose meaning is very subtle and deep, yet this much is certain that by controlling the mental powers, time can be utilized very effectively. These days time seems to have gained even more importance because in the corporate and business world, and economy in general, the motto has become ‘greater productivity in lesser time’. This is indeed wisdom. Somewhat similar rules and principles operate in the spiritual sphere too. Indefatigable tapasvis through rigorous tapasya acquire within a short time immense powers and glories which may take ordinary mortals decades or several life times. The dhyana-yogi who mediates on Brahmanadi (the Brahma Channel) acquires in an instant the power equivalent to the age-long meditational effort of an ordinary yogi. This is the true management of time, which can be fruitfully employed by everybody in his/her respective field of endeavor.
Proper and purposeful utilization of time, in keeping with the circumstances and the situation, is called time-management. It includes fixation of priorities, time-schedule and individual responsibility and their execution. At any given time, there is no dearth of work to be done. Priority should be given to the work which is the most important and which is the greatest need of the time. Then a time frame should be chalked-out within which this particular work is to be accomplished. Finally, with full sense of personal responsibility, the work should be taken up. According to Sivia, adoption of this stage-wise methodology definitely leads to timely successful completion of the work.
Dru Scott, a researcher in this field, also explains in his work ‘How to put more time in your life?’ that time is fixed and certain for everyone. In the flow of time, whoever handles the oar of his mind like an expert boatman, determines his course and tides over the strong currents with Herculean endeavor, is able to reach the bank without any mishap.
A life-less corpse, too, floats in the current of time. The waves toss it around. It has neither a goal nor the ability to utilize every moment of the time with a view to reaching its goal. We will have to ask ourselves whether or not our position is similar to a corpse? This is a critical question, which requires serious contemplation.
To flow ceaselessly and continually is the absolute law of time (kala). We are a part of this eternal procession. Hence, the right thing to do is to learn how to put to use every day, month and year of our time. A work-plan should be formulated which allows for meaningful utilization of everyday and ever moment. No moment should go waste. The work-plan should not be lop-sided but multi-dimensional, in which all aspects of life ranging from our thoughts, character and conduct to family, society and occupation are integrated and expressed with proper time-coordination.
Only in the right use of time lies the meaningfulness of life. Only by recognizing the sanctity of time can we benefit from the opportune occasions in life, shape a radiant and attractive personality and learn the true art of living.
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