Commentary – The most
important question of ‘to be or not to be’ or ‘to do or not to do’ and
‘spending time consciously’ is addressed in this chapter. This chapter starts
discussion on Rational thinkers renunciation type non action and Service minded
desireless action or work minded action.
From the time of birth to death every living being try to
fill the moments with some kind of actions. Every action leads to some kind of reaction
on oneself or elsewhere. Every living being when in contact (through senses or
through thoughts) with living being or nonliving matter results in action which
has some kind of reaction on oneself or elsewhere. Living being cannot shy away
from action even if one decides; there are some involuntary actions which keeps
on happening.
If we break up the matter to its elementary
particles and view all living and non-living beings in context, then there are chemical
reactions happening everywhere. Some chemical reactions are dormant and some
are active. Some are manifested and some are hidden. All chemical reactions are
referenced with time. For if there was no time dimension then there would not
have been any chemical reaction at all or all chemical reactions would have
folded at once in one moment. Since the world is perpetual in the realm of our
understanding, therefore it can be easily said that each chemical reaction takes
some moments to happen. The universe is full of different chemical reactions taking
place concurrently and sequentially.
In the midst of billions of chemical
reactions all over universe there are some chemical reactions which are different
and have something extra which all other chemical reactions don’t exhibit. That
is life. When such a reaction happens, we say that a living being is born and
when such chemical reaction ceases to exist, we say that living being ceases to
live – though the rest of the chemical reactions keep on happening.
In such successful special chemical reaction
starts (birth), it takes some time before the chemical reaction ends (death).
Start of chemical reaction event in our life is not in our hands and end of chemical
reaction more or less is also not in our hands. So, we are actually recipient
of a block of time till the end of the reaction. How we pass these moments
marking the beginning and end of chemical reaction decide whether we are happy
or not. Whether we enjoy bliss or not.
The time between two events cannot be
lessened and we have to live with it. It is we who decide how we pass this
time. So, some pass it by indulging themselves in hobbies, some by social work,
some indulge in religious rituals, some for earning money and luxuries, some don’t
do anything and wait for the time to pass, some indulge in activities which are
antisocial and against the nature. It is based on their mental makeup. Till one
starts treading own path, the method of passing the time largely depend upon upbringing,
mental makeup and circumstances. Thereafter methods and actions to pass the
time ideally should be channelized as per the mental makeup. If they are not channelized
as per the mental makeup, then passing the time becomes difficult, dangerous
and painful to self and others.
As per the mental make up the time can be
passed by either reasoning (if one is a rationalist) and seeking knowledge (not
information), if one is more service oriented then the time could be spent by
doing unattached social service or if one is work oriented, then get involved
in some kind of right action. If one is more towards ritualistic or religious
minded then for him indulging in social rituals, prayers and chanting become
primary way of passing the time. Our life is not
strictly compartmentalized and all three mental makeups coexist. What is needed
is to be aware of predominant mental makeup resident in self. Keep reading ................................!!!!!!!!
