FINDING RELEVANCE IN TIMES OF IRRELEVANCE

"The world will value us as long as we are valid. As soon as we become invalid, the world stops valuing us."

In the epic of Mahabharata, one of the most important and powerful leaders was Bhismadev. As long as he was active, fit and fine, everyone came to him for consultation and dependent on his performance, skill and valour but as soon as he became incapacitated and incapable of performing and delivering results being fatally wounded by the arrows of Arjuna, he sort of became irrelevant. No one depended on him, no one came to him for consultation. One who was visited by everyone and was the center of attraction, now hardly got visitors and became sidelined. The most crucial war of Kurukshetra continued on without Bhismadev, the most critical person. Life is such that everyone has to become outdated and irrelevant at some point or the other. No one, however powerful he or she may be can be in the limelight forever. History ultimately shows that how every powerful person becomes history himself. Powerful time is powerful over every powerful person. This is the harsh reality of this world.

To stay composed at these these inevitable and difficult phases of our life, we need spiritual training. Only those who have developed some higher connection and absorption can stay put in times when they become irrelevant in life. Therefore, it is wise to invest time in making that spiritual connection when our body is still valid and fit. Bhismadev was perfectly composed and equipoised when he was lying in the bed of arrows completely cut off from the active world in which he was an active part of because, he prioritised making that spiritual connection with The Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna while he was still hale and hearty. Let us all try to live our lives with our priority right keeping in mind the reality of life.

- Achyut Gopal Das

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