RACE AGAINST TIME

Time and tide wait for none.

Time is one of the most powerful feature of this world. In fact, Lord Krishna introduces Himself as time in the eleventh chapter of the Bhagavad-Gita. However powerful a personality one may be, at the end everyone has to bow down in front of time and surrender to it. History is the proof of the power of time. Big, big people reduced to dust by time.

Time is so imperceptible in it's working that we don't even realize how days, weeks, months and years pass away - until it's too late. Our life can be compared to a video game with a timer on. Only, the one who wins the game before the time runs out is declared the winner. The only difference between the video game and and the game of life is that in the video game, you know how much time is left but in the game of life, you don't know how much time is left.

If while playing a simple game we have to be fully focused and conscious not to waste time to win it, how much more, we have to be focused and conscious of time in real life, when we don't even know how much time is left at our disposal.

What does winning the game of life mean? Who is defined as the winner? Everyone could have their own definition of it. For some, winning the game of life could mean achieving huge success, becoming a celebrity or in simple words -  "a worldly success". But if we consider soberly, we will come to the conclusion that true success, a true winner is one who has achieved inner peace and satisfaction by realizing who he is and his innate connection with God. Discovering this hidden treasure sealed within our hearts, experiencing it and sharing it with others is the actual aim of life. Such a person is awarded the trophy for winning the game of life.

It is not minimising the importance of being successful in worldly life, but to understand that merely becoming a success in this world without inner victory is not touching to the heart - it's only superficial. As Jesus Christ says - "What profited a man who gains the whole world at the cost of his own soul." In fact, we attract "worldly success" more easily once we achieve "inner success". The Bible hints of this phenomenon by mentioning - "Seek first, the kingdom of God and all else will be added unto you."

Just like the purpose of school is to graduate out of school by passing the final exams and not to stay permanently put up there, similarly, the purpose of life is to purify our hearts and graduate from this material world by passing the final exam in the form of death and not stay permanently stuck here. We have to learn to be good students in the school of life, who don't lose focus to his goal.

The most graphic example that comes to mind, when thinking of "race against time" is the episode of killing of Jayadratha by Arjuna. When, Arjuna heard that Jayadratha was the key player in the killing of his dear son - Abhimanyu, Arjuna took a terrible vow that next day by sunset if he doesn't kill Jayadratha, he will himself enter fire and end his life. Next day, Dronacharya, the commander of the Kaurava army, arranged his army in such a way that it would be impossible for Arjuna to reach Jayadratha by sunset. For Arjuna this was not only a fight against Dronacharya, Kauravas and Jayadratha but it was a "race against time itself". He had to finish his task before the sun finished it's for the day. Dronacharya placed so many powerful opponents to kill Arjuna's time and distract him. If it was not for Arjuna's sense of focus and Lord Krishna's timely advice, it would have been impossible for Arjuna to kill Jayadratha and win the "race against time".

Just like Arjuna we too have our race against time, we too have to destroy the misgivings of our heart before the final moment strikes. For this impossible task to become possible we need to be focused like Arjuna by not getting distracted by small little things and like Arjuna, we need to have Lord Krishna as the driver and advisor of our life. When God is with us, overcoming God's powerful energy - time will be possible. There is no other way.

Sukadev Goswami inspires King Pariksit, who is cursed to die in a few days, to perfect his life and win the race against time by telling him this beautiful verse which is mentioned in the pages of Srimad Bhagvatam.

āyur harati vai puḿsām,

udyann astaḿ ca yann asau,

tasyarte yat-kṣaṇo nīta,

uttama-śloka-vārtayā.

"Both by rising and by setting, the sun decreases the duration of life of everyone, except one who utilizes the time by discussing topics of the all-good Personality of Godhead."

So let us intelligently follow this secret revealed by Sukadev Goswami and perfect our lives by exchanging the impermanent for the permanent and win this race against time by utilising our time to glorify the Master of time - Lord Krishna to reach the spiritual world - a place beyond time.

- Achyut Gopal Das