WELCOME NEW YEAR
“The curfew tolls the knell of the parting day” wrote Thomas Gray in his Elegy! “ The old order changes yielding place to new” wrote Alfred Lord Tennyson! “ Dina yaminyau sayam prataha sisira vasantau punarayataha” commented Sri Adi Sankara in his classic “ Bhaja Govinda Stotra” “Time and tide wait for no man” is a well known proverb. Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga,and DwaparaYuga have disappeared long back and we are now in KaliYuga! A part of Kali is over already and the cycle goes on for ever! Time is remorseless and generations and civilizations have been swallowed up by Time! “Kalo jagad bhakshakaha” -- Time eats away the entire universe! God is described as the embodiment of Time-- “ Kala Purusha. He is also beyond time-Kalatita, transcends time! This is to stress on the significance of time and it's utilization. Are we using our time fruitfully and wisely? That is the question every individual has to ask himself.
What is our life? If we live for a hundred years, which is remote, half of it is spent in sleep! In the balance, ten years are of childhood and youth! The rest is mixed up with disease, hunger, suffering and old age and senility! The Azwar thus questions the very existence and does not want birth at all!! Is there any change in Man even after the passage of so many Yugas and years? Has he learnt any lessons from the experience of his previous generations? He has not changed basically. On the other hand his thirst for materialistic life has increased by leaps and bounds! He does not understand that life is brittle and thinks that he can live for ever! More time is spent on family and other silly and impermanent pleasures because of the effect of Maya or illusion! He is more attached to mundane things than the spiritual. He thinks he is the body, not the spirit or the atma! He has become the slave of the inner enemies,desire, anger,miserliness,. lust, arrogance, and hatred! Until he detaches himself from these transient attachments, he will not be really happy!
It is customary for people to make new resolutions for the new year. But how many stick to them? These resolutions are observed more in the breach than in observance! Habits die very hard. For a few days or months you may try but eventually you come back to your original regimen! I solemnly resolved to go for a walk for an hour daily! To get up early in the morning was itself a problem! However I managed it for a week. The chillness and the climate told upon my health and I had to give up my pious resolution! I salute those souls who in spite of hurdles carry out their new year resolutions! Good plans like going out on picnic, or religious tours and pilgrimages, visiting relatives, plans to turn spiritual, attending the gym for physical fitness and yoga, giving up drinking and kicking the butt should never be neglected and given up!
We do not know the future. Many good and bad predictions are made by astrologers and the almanecs! But we are not sure how far they are correct! People have been predicting the end of the world since a long time! A third world war is in the offing says an astrologer! Another says there would be a war between China and India! A third man says that Indian economy would be worst hit in the new year! The Government says it will be very healthy. Demonetization is good for the country says the PM! It shall ruin the country says the opposition! Which viewpoint is correct? Time alone can reveal!
Let us hope that this new year will bring us peace and cheer! The world is badly in need of peace! It is now torn by differences and tormented by terrorism! There is no tolerance and proper understanding between people! Fear of war looms large! People should realize the importance of brotherhood. Despite the explosion of science and technology it is spirituality and faith in the Providence that can save mankind! Farewell 2016 and welcome to 2017!!!
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