Living in this world of matter, we focus much of our efforts on amassing material wealth, seeking name and fame and working hard towards financial independence, all of which we believe will bring us happiness. Little do we realise that none of these material possessions will accompany us when we leave this world. There is something much more precious than any material gains we can accrue, and that is time itself — a commodity that can neither be bought nor stopped.
We have each been given a finite amount of time on earth, a limited lifespan, which cannot be extended. With each passing second, we inch closer to our time of departing this world. Thus, it behooves us to make the best use of our time here to fulfil the purpose for which we were sent here – to realise ourselves as soul and to unite our soul with God.
Many among us understand the value of time and believe that we are putting it to good use when we focus it on our worldly activities. Of the 24 hours each of us is given in a day, a certain number is allotted to meet the needs of the body. After we have slept the hours we need and nourished our bodies, we still have a number of hours remaining. How we utilise this time is important.
The saints exhort us to introspect and reflect on how we use our time daily. If we spend it all in matters of the world, we do not gain in the most important arena – the spiritual arena. We need to prioritise our spiritual goals. We need to put in time and effort to sit in meditation daily, so that we can connect with the divine Light and Sound of God, which nourishes our soul. It is when we do so that we can tap into the real treasures that lie within.
Each of us has the same destination. We are all here to know God. It is simply a question of where we focus our attention and how we use our time. Just as with any other endeavour in life, progress on the spiritual path comes with sincere effort and hard work. When we put in the time and effort in our daily meditation practice and experience God within, we can be sure to reach our goal. We have to prioritise meditation for our spiritual growth.
Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj