Hare Krsna,
SB 3.29.37-45
The time factor, who causes the transformation of the various material manifestations, is another feature of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Anyone who does not know that time is the same Supreme Personality is afraid of the time factor.
Out of fear of the Supreme Personality of Godhead the wind blows, out of fear of Him the sun shines, out of fear of Him the rain pours forth showers, and out of fear of Him the host of heavenly bodies shed their luster. Out of fear of the Supreme Personality of Godhead the trees, creepers, herbs and seasonal plants and flowers blossom and fructify, each in its own season. Out of fear of the Supreme Personality of Godhead the rivers flow, and the ocean never overflows. Out of fear of Him only does fire burn and does the earth, with its mountains, not sink in the water of the universe.
The eternal time factor has no beginning and no end. It is the representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the maker of the criminal world. It brings about the end of the phenomenal world, it carries on the work of creation by bringing one individual into existence from another, and likewise it dissolves the universe by destroying even the lord of death, Yamarāja.
I have been meditating on the lotus feet of Lord Krsna while chanting my japa. One of the symbols on Sri Krsna’s lotus feet is a disc. It is said that the disc on Krsna’s foot represents the time factor. One who always meditates on Krsna’s lotus feet will never be destroyed by time; he will live eternally in the blissful world of Vraja Gokula. (Radha-Govinda Meditation Techniques – Mahanidhi Swami)
Therefore, for a devotee who always meditates on Krsna’s name, form, qualities, pastimes, abode, paraphernalia, associates, etc., there is nothing to fear from the influence of time factor which is another representation or manifestation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the material world. I am saying ‘in the material world’ because there is no time factor in the spiritual world. We do not realize how time devours us every moment. It is such an irony that popular culture is to celebrate one’s birthday. The bitter truth is that we are actually celebrating our state of being closer to death. I say, “I am 30 years old.” In essence, what I am saying is that 30 years of my present lifetime has died. But such is the inscrutable working of time that we do not realize its deathly influence upon us. The time factor is as illusory as maya. Therefore, it is important for us to take shelter of Krsna and be protected from the cruel time factor.
Another realization I had on the time factor is how each culture respects time. The modern Western civilization is generally considered to be lacking in God consciousness, whereas the Indian civilization is still predominantly God consciousness. If we treat time as a representative of the Supreme Lord, it means that we should respect time in the same manner as we treat the Lord. Ironically, Indians are considered to be less punctual whereas the Western culture is known for its punctuality. What a paradox and contradiction! I wonder whether the Western culture’s respect for time originated from the knowledge that time is a manifestation of the Lord.
As for me, I am very conscious of being respectful of other’s time. I am hardly ever late to appointments. Even at work, I do not schedule meetings for more than 30 minutes while the convention is to schedule 45-60 minutes meetings. My idea is that if we cannot communicate something within 30 minutes, it is less likely that we would be able to do so in an hour. A popular proverb says that ‘Brevity is a great charm of eloquence.’
The key takeaway for me from this lesson is these statements from Srila Prabhupada, “Therefore a devotee does not desire anything in this material world. A devotee desires only to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This servitude exists eternally; the Lord exists eternally, His servitor exists eternally, and the service exists eternally.” (SB 3.29.45 Purport). How uplifting and hope-giving!!
The Supreme Lord is eternal. As spirit souls parts and parcels of the Supreme Lord, we are eternal too. When both these eternal entities meet with love and devotion, the result is bound to be eternal. Two positives always make a positive. Therefore, bhakti is eternal. The servitude exists eternally; it is never vanquished by the time factor. Just as a typewriter will type whether it is used in the material or spiritual world, the servitude will continue to be transcendental whether the servitor and served are in the material or spiritual world. A pure devotee does not desire anything except to serve the Supreme Lord eternally. Eternity factor and influence of time factor cannot go together. The only way to overcome the fearful time factor is to always engage in devotional service to the Supreme Lord.
“It is therefore said, hariṁ vinā na mṛtiṁ taranti: no one can be saved from the repetition of birth and death without the help of the Supreme Lord. It is therefore the duty of all living entities to take shelter of the lotus feet of Viṣṇu and thus save themselves from the cycle of birth and death.” (SB 3.29.39 Purport)
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Krsna Katha 