This chapter is the English translation of Gujarati Book Title - Sadhak and Sathi Author - Shri Atmanandji (Dr. Soneji) CHAPTER - 6 GOOD USE OF TIME (Samayano Sad-upayoga) It is a fact known to us all that with every minute of our life that passes, we are all moving nearer and nearer to death. Despite this, only a few persons think over this fact and make good use of this best opportune time with a view to truly achieving truth and divine bliss. TIME DEVOURS ALL: Time moves on continuously. Nobody has the ability in this universe to stop it. There are now deep oceans where there were high mountains. There were empires of rulers whose cry made the earth shudder, today the dilapidated remains of their kingdoms are no longer regarded. The rich become penniless, the healthy turn diseased, youth is quickly overcome with old age. Physical charms and health come to an abrupt end and are often replaced by weakness and lusterless pallor. Thus, every existing object in this universe is suffering from the fright of the destructive dance (Tandavanrutya) of the horrifying demon that is time. Is there any remedy for this? The answer is affirmative. There is a method to conquer this vast ocean of time. This can be achieved by a cautious and well planned use of every moment of our life. With every drop of water, the tank gets filled; with every pebble, a well gets erected; with every brick a huge mansion is constructed. In a similar manner, the wise man who properly utilizes his time for higher purposes can accomplish advancement and prosperity in this life and the life hereafter. CONSTANT ALERTNESS ABOUT THE OBSERVANCE OF TIME : In our life, the desired goals are attained by good use of time. The student who works hard on his daily lessons, gets good grades; the housewife who gives up laziness and looks after the house, keeps her house neat and clean; the farmer who is constantly watchful of the crop sown, reaps a bumper crop. Thus, generally speaking, one can acquire wealth and high position by good use of time in day-to-day life. In the path of salvation however, it is indispensable for a Sadhaka to be constantly alert and awake with regard to the good use of time. For this reason the saints have advised to remember God every moment. If one were to get merged in Sadhana only for the time when one practices it, how can one attain higher pursuits? No doubt, one must be completely merged in Sadhana with all concentration during the time of the practice of Sadhana, but at other times also, the aim of self-betterment and self-purity are not to be lost sight of. "I must be alert and awake to see whether or not I pass my time in proper pursuits even when I am busy with other work in the morning or noon; evening or night; in the house or outside the house; in a temple or holy place or in a place of self-study". Thus ponders the vigilant aspirant. If the aspirant wants to form the excellent habit of utilizing his time well, he should in all stages of his development, keep a diary of spiritual pursuits. This will mean keeping a clear record of how his time passes everyday. By doing this, he will remain informed of the actual utilization of time, so that he can well plan the better use of time and thus improve upon the shortcomings in his life. Let us closely observe and analyze the lives of great men who have attained to the highest status in this world. We will easily concede that the key to their astonishing success lay in the excellent use made of every moment of life which was at their disposal. If we respect time, time will respect us and help in higher achievement. GLORY OF GOOD USE OF TIME : 1. Every moment of human life is extremely precious. The moment that has passed away cannot be regained by any effort. Let a person therefore make his human life meaningful by the good use of every moment of life that God has presented to him. 2. "Time and tide wait for none". 3. Water placed in one's hands, slowly trickles out and is eventually lost. In just the same way, every moment of person's life passes and life comes to an end. If therefore, we do not pay attention to purification of the self, we would soon be in a state where all that we had has been lost. 4. One who knows the preciousness of every moment of life that he has acquired and makes himself engrossed in its excellent use, conquers all calamities, becomes the leader of all noble souls, acquires the capability to write great scriptures (Shastras), is enabled to submit ever-new arguments in discourses and in learned assemblies and is endowed with the strength to shatter the whole chain of powerful enemies namely "Karmas". 5. Our salutations to Time. Having fallen to its rule everything becomes eventually only a matter of antiquity (old times). 6. Time does not wait to consider whether or not a person has completed the mission of his life. It just finishes those who come under its sway; regardless of whether he is an emperor or a beggar, a fool or a scholar, or anyone else. 7. Time should be conquered by continuous efforts, while learning should be acquired through the practice of humility. 8. The continuous ticking of a clock constantly suggests to a person that his life is being cut short with the passage of every moment. Let a person therefore, quickly accomplish all the noble deeds he wishes to do. 9. One who postpones the work of the morning till the evening, and the work of the evening to the next day, is adjudged a lazy, procrastinating fool. Such a person achieves no success in life and is lost. 10. Lord Mahavira preached to make good use of time to his disciple, the great man Gautama Swami. Let this fact make us alert about what we should do. 11. One who is vigilant of one's own spiritual progress, should be absolutely regular in studying the scriptures, praising to holy people, devotion to God, practice of meditation, and in one's devotion to his preceptor. 12. One who wastes time, will himself be wasted away by time. LIVING EXAMPLES OF THE GOOD USE OF TIME : (1) Shrimad Rajchandra (1867 - 1901) was a great spiritual leader of the last century. He attained the knowledge of his previous births at the age of seven. He had a remarkable memory and could attend one hundred different incidences at a time! He had super-sensuous knowledge and he was a self-realized soul. He is considered as a spiritual guide by Mahatma Gandhi. As a great scholar and spiritual prophet, he wrote very valuable and subtle spiritual literature which is useful to all seekers of truth, irrespective of caste, creed, or religion. He has followers and institutions in his name in many parts of western and southern India. He practiced meditation and scriptural studies in lonely places in many parts of Gujarat State of India. Monk Chaturlalji and Monk Mohanlalji were two of the seven ascetic disciples of Shrimad Rajchandra. This event relates to Shrimad Rajchandra's life. Once Shrimad asked Monk Chaturlalji, "What have you acquired up to today from the day you became a recluse (monk)?" Monk Chaturlalji submitted his experience and observation in these words, "In the morning we take tea brought as alms. Then, at the proper time (Jain religion term "Vohorvun") we beg food and eat it. We go to sleep after recapitulating our sins (Jain religion term "Pratikramana"). Shrimad Rajchandra said, "Getting tea and food as alms, taking these and sleeping, is this the right faith, knowledge, and character of the religion?" He then addressed the head monk Shri Lalluji Maharaj, that the other monks pass their time in self-study and meditation and not waste any time in ordinary things. He also asked him to see that all monks take food only once. He also expected the monks not to bring tea and snuff without reason. He insisted that they study Sanskrit and pass their time in Sadhana. Monk Mohanlalji pleaded, "Maharaj Shri Lalluji Swami and Devkaranaji are of elderly age. How would it be possible for them to study? Shrimad replied, "Queen Victoria is old and yet she studies the languages of other countries. One should make use of his time in good things like study, understanding scriptures and meditation with a firm determination and discarding laziness." (2) Shri Dayananda Saraswati is famed as a great upholder of Aryan Civilization in the last century. His native place was Tankara near Morbi in Gujarat State, India. He travelled around the whole country and established a new Hindu sect known as Arya-Samaj. Once he was in the city Shahjahanpur in the state of Uttar-Pradesh. He noticed that the employees of one big organization were leaving their duties half an hour earlier. On seeing this, Swamiji said to the employees, "We have forgotten the great importance of time. If a doctor were to say, that the patient would have been saved if I had been called five minutes earlier, but now, the patient cannot be saved. It is here precisely that we realize the value and importance of time." (3) Let us note two more examples of how great men are alert about time. 1. During war, Napoleon personally gave orders to his commanders, on all fronts and he also slept on horse-back making good use of the time. 2. Haider-Ali was the Sultan (King) of Mysore in southern India in the eighteenth century. He was highly intelligent, a great warrior, and an able administrator. His grasping power was so acute that he used to hear the complaints of ministers of different departments all at a time, during his morning duties. He took immediate decisions and issued necessary orders. Thus, he completed much of his work as a Sultan, just in the early morning.