MONDAY MUSINGS SEASON 2 - EPISODE 373

6th July

Eternal Time

Of letters, I am the letter A, and among compound words, I am the dual compound (dwandva). I am also inexhaustible time, and of creators, I am Brahma. (Bhagavad Gits 10.33)

Time is limited or eternal?

We constantly hear that time is limited and hence precious like:

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary. — Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs said that ‘time is limited’ and Lord Krishna said in @BhagavadGita ‘Time is eternal’. Are they contradicting each other? Surely not. Both are correct.

‘Time is limited’ indicates that time is precious and hence we cannot afford to waste it. To say that "time is inexhaustible" means that it can never be used up, depleted, or come to an end. It implies a continuous, seemingly endless flow in which opportunities and moments regenerate, allowing us to constantly move forward, learn, and grow.

"Time is an endless sheet of paper on which we write our lives." – Unknown

Cyclical Time

According to Hindu and Buddhist philosophies, Time is a wheel, not a straight line. time moves in endless cycles of creation, destruction, and rebirth and thus is inexhaustible.

#Existentialism

Philosophers like Jean-Paul Sartre argued that the future is always wide open. The possibilities of what you can do next are inexhaustible. You are always free to choose a new path at any moment.

It is never too late. Choose your path, your new path as per your heart and intuition right now.

Kantian Idealism

Immanuel Kant argued that time is just the "lens" through which humans process experience. You cannot "run out" of time any more than you can run out of your own mind's ability to perceive things.

The Infinite Clock

"The clock does not empty the day,

it pours it. Each second a drop from an ocean unseen,

washing away what has been, leaving a canvas, forever clean.

We cry that we are running out, while time stands vast, above our doubt,

a river that drinks from its own deep well, with stories no finite tongue can tell."

-Anonymous

Most people look at a clock and feel anxious, thinking time is running out (emptying). The poem flips this idea. The clock is actually "pouring" new moments into existence. Don’t worry about the past; enjoy the present.

This poem introduces time as a healing and forgiving force. Time doesn't just push us forward; it actively clears away the past. Every single second is a blank canvas, a beautiful canvas, giving you a completely new opportunity to start over, change your life, and let go of regrets.

The poem highlights the conflict between human perception and reality. We constantly stress about "not having enough time." However, the poem points out that our stress is an illusion. Time itself is steady, massive, and entirely unaffected by our human panic.

A normal river eventually empties into the sea, but this "river of time" loops back into itself, drinking from its own well to stay full forever. The poem ends by reminding us that because we are "finite" (we have an end), our minds cannot fully grasp something that is infinite.

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#PositiveNewsPage

Marriage fixed in class 10; Three failed attempts; IFS Officer now

Anjali Sondhiya grew up in Chandrapura village in Madhya Pradesh, where early marriages for girls were not uncommon. Her parents worked as farmers and, like many families in the region, believed marriage should happen early.

Ironically, the same year Anjali emerged as the district topper in her Class 10 board examinations, her marriage was arranged. For many girls, such a decision would have marked the end of their educational journey. For Anjali, it became the beginning of a fight for her dreams.

UPSC Dreams

After completing Class 12, Anjali moved to Indore to pursue higher education and began preparing for the UPSC examination.

She had seen many girls around her discontinue their studies because of marriage. Determined not to let that happen to her, she remained focused on her goal despite constant pressure from her relatives.

Success did not come immediately

Anjali had planned her first UPSC attempt in 2020, but the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted those plans. When she finally appeared for the Civil Services Examination in 2021, she failed to clear the preliminary stage. The same result followed in 2022, then again in 2023.

Three consecutive failures brought disappointment and renewed pressure from those who believed it was time for her to abandon her ambitions and get married.

The year 2023 proved especially difficult. Not only did she fail the UPSC prelims for the third time, but she also suffered a devastating personal loss when her father passed away. Back home, her mother and brother were left to manage the family's farming responsibilities. Amid grief and uncertainty, the pressure to marry became stronger than ever.

Yet just when it seemed her dream might slip away, one person stepped in and changed everything.

As relatives questioned her choices and society pressured her to marry, her mother took a firm stand, supporting her daughter's aspirations. Her mother broke the engagement and assured her that she would not be forced into marriage. That decision became the turning point in Anjali's life.

The fourth attempt that changed everything

After three unsuccessful attempts, many aspirants would have moved on. Anjali chose to try once more. In her fourth attempt, she appeared for both the Civil Services Examination and the Indian Forest Service Examination.

This time, years of hard work, setbacks and perseverance finally paid off.

Anjali secured All India Rank 9 in the UPSC Indian Forest Service Examination 2024, achieving the dream she had fought for since her teenage years.

Time is eternal, and the possibilities continued for Anjali for 5 years. Today, Anjali Sondhiya's story stands as a powerful reminder that determination can overcome even the strongest social pressures — and that sometimes, all it takes is one person willing to stand by your side to change the course of a life.

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Conceived, compiled and posted as a weekly motivational newsletter #MondayMusings by Jaganathan T (www.authorjaganathan.com)

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PROMOTIONS