In today’s world, our time is finite and precious, meaning therefore, we must make use of it resourcefully.
This is how we have been able to reach the jet age, internet and digital world, where speed is of prime importance. The purpose for all this was to provide us with better quality time to do other things. The paradox is however, it has left us with less time. This has resulted in competition, greed, fear of insecurities, etc. The rule we follow is, time is money. Essentially we are always in a hurry, and speed is required in everything we do, whether it is eating, praying, or fulfilling earthy desires.
Where is this leading us? Today young people over the age of 30, are getting diseases which are related to stress, like hypertension to cardiac arrests, anxiety to depression, etc. When life becomes too fast, complex or cluttered, we have to stop, whether under compulsion or through common sense, and ask, is this really worth it? What is it that we want from life and what is our purpose here? The answer lies in our ability to connect with every aspect of our lives.
When we are young, we are mainly connecting to everything possible in the outside world. We have high expectations and ambitions, through complex thought processes of our mind, driven by the ego presence in all of us. Only then do we reach somewhere in the rat race of our chaotic manmade world. Gradually, realization starts creeping in, where we start a slow journey of obtaining awareness of the divine presence, away from whining of me and mine, into the flow of nature, where oneness exists. This is what we refer to as connecting with our inner Self. Here our mind functions as close to nature as possible, where there is no technology or digitization. We have to learn how to relax, be observant in the present moment, breathe slowly, meditate and calm ourselves, away from the daily stress and anxieties.
Gandhiji once said, there is more to life than increasing its speed. Slow your speech, your thoughts, and the mad speed in which you are moving every day, and see the difference.
Further, spend more time in listening, rather than being in a hurry to interrupt and force others to accept your point of view. Enjoy the beauty of nature, the sky, the stars, mountains, the landscape etc. Relax in a busy street café or a bustling mall, and see how everyone is in a hurry. Read this article slowly, and you will discover that you absorb more than you otherwise would have.
Now many of us may be seeking a change. In most countries, resorts have opened up with different physical environments, to epitomize a slow, fulfilling holiday with spas and spiritual centers. There they offer either a peaceful farm-life, or the sea-side, or they are situated in the hills, amidst beautiful natural surroundings, to take you away from all the honking and chaos of the cities.
The answer, of course, is the right balance. There is no denying that there are many moments where speed is required. We also have to understand, that in order to live a better life, our journey should not necessarily be controlled within a time frame, or the achievement of strict goals. Life should always be treated as a journey, to flow with a natural presence, rather than goals, as these have limitations and are egocentric. It should be more towards a better quality of life, where both body and mind are under your control, where you are not governed by the clock, and have enough time for yourself, your family and relationships.
Gian Kumar was born in Burma, to a religious Hindu family. As a child, he spent his early years in a boarding school, where he had to follow strict Christian rituals. Going back home for his holidays, he had to once again, revert back to traditional Hindu customs. A further aggravation of this dichotomy of religious beliefs was caused by his curious, scientific mind. This may have turned him away from religion, but not from spirituality. As a deeply spiritual person, and avid reader, he started, in his later years, to ponder over questions of the Higher Self. Having the time, and inclination, to pursue this new path of knowledge. He has shared his findings and thoughts in his three books, based mostly on the subject of contemporary spiritualism..
Gian Kumar lives with his family in New Delhi, India.