THE TRIPOD OF TIME

We are human beings who fortunately are residing in an age which gives so many opportunities to us, to grow and prove ourselves. This age is highly technical, truly mobile but immensely competitive in nature. The machinery we need to handle this competition is actually inside us!!! It’s hard to believe but true. If we can handle our life well we can also control the situations related to it. 

All we need to do is to understand what I call The Tripod of Time…Time the stuff the life is made up of.

If we consider our life to be a tripod then we should understand that it actually stands on its three legs. All three are vital and indispensible. Loss of even one will result in a crash. The first leg is our PAST, the second one is the PRESENT and the third one is our FUTURE.  

Our life today or even after fifty years from now will be sum total of these entities of time. While listing them I started with past as it comes first. In the middle is our present and the distant one is our future.

Today we will talk about our past. It’s the mass of time which can be a very pleasing and an energizing factor but at the same time it can be so horrifying that it can paralyze you in the present and can cease all activities of yours. Let’s understand what past is and how to deal with it.

We are human beings and we live a life which is full of mistakes, resentments, wrong decisions, flaming impulses and stupidities. We may also witness lot of successes, glamour, grandeur and pleasing events. However as the life marches on these happening become a happening of the past. It “was” a reality THEN but NOW the picture is something else. The event either good or bad which occurred in our lives has passed and is no more now. Our problem is that we treat this Mr. Past with a manner as though he is still living. But whether our past was good or bad is actually dead!!! It’s gone and gone for once and for all.

Our mistake is that we carry the load of the past in the present and make hell out of our life. If we have cheated our loved ones, if we have committed some crime, if we were convicted, if we were infidel to our spouses or partners, if we were ever badly insulted, if we were wronged or even if we have miserably failed in achieving our cherished dreams then also lets accept the hard reality that these events have already occurred and gone!!! No amount of rebellion, guilt and frustration can ever correct the past. It’s dead. Let not a dead thing exercise control over us and stop us from creating our new worlds whose foundation can be laid only in the present.

You might say-“Anurag, some people know my past and that disturbs my peace of mind” then I would also like to tell you that no one remembers your past as everyone is more bothered about his/her slight headache than your or mine death. People simply think about themselves every moment, every second. They don’t care what your past was!!! They don’t want to!!! So why are you carrying this ghost of past on your shoulders??? Get rid of it.

I don’t say that past has no meaning. We should simply learn from our past victories and failures whatever it can teach us and should get on with life. Past is useful as a steward but is destructive as a master.

Our problem is that we keep on looking back at the past. We should stop doing this!!! It hardly matters whether we were failures or star performers in the past. Because the reality is that today we are somebody else. Today we might be better or worse. However if we want to achieve a better life we have to throw the past coffins off our shoulders. Free yourself from the dark shadows of the past!!! Hoist the flag of your independence today itself. 

Once you understand this eternal truth what Krishna in Geeta said that “Don’t lament on the past and just focus on the present” you will live very happily and successfully. Christ taught the same lesson in Bible. Confucius said-“Study the past if you would divine the future” Buddha asked not to dwell on past as it’s useless to do so. I believe that Krishna, Christ, Confucius and Buddha were much enlightened than you and me. Lets follow their advise for own happiness and good.

So my warriors, in order to live a happy and a successful life I urge you to learn from your past and forget it for and once and for all. Free your souls from the clutches of the past to achieve eternal happiness.

Let me know in your responses and comments that what steps however small you took to free yourself. Comment with your email id. I have a surprise gift for the best contributor.

Awaiting your responses eagerly.

With love

Anurag