Every day I transcribe the daily quality attributed to time that Gurumayi gives us. Today, I accidentally picked up a lilac-colored pen with an oblique tip, and when I copied the words “the beauty of time,” my writing took on an unexpected calligraphic beauty.

I asked myself, “If I were a pen, what qualities in me could generate beautiful gestures, thoughts, and actions?” I remembered Gurumayi’s many teachings about cultivating virtues, and this was my answer.

I realize that my life is beautiful if I look for new angles from which to see it and if my perspective is one of warmth, kindness, and empathy.

Santa Fe de la Vera Cruz, Argentina

When I read Gurumayi’s teaching “The beauty of time,” I immediately had a smile on my face. The teaching mirrored my inner state of calmness and serenity. I said to myself, “Yes, it’s a beautiful time.”

I reflected on how I had created this feeling and saw that it was due to my regular discipline of meditating, reciting Shri Guru Gita, and offering seva throughout the day. These practices appease me and increase my faithfulness so I can experience the inner and outer world as beautiful, despite challenges I may encounter.

Nottingham, United Kingdom

The first thing that came to mind when I read “The beauty of time” was the changing seasons—how time curates nature into a kaleidoscope of colors and forms, season after season: snow melting, flowers blooming, summer’s radiance, autumn’s red and gold senescence.

After contemplating Gurumayi’s teaching, I walked to work in a slower, more observant way than I usually do, and I felt a deeper connection to the Self, to nature, and to the world around me. I smiled at a beautiful infant sitting on her mother’s lap; the infant looked up at her mother, and they smiled together. What joy!

Paris, France

As soon as I read Gurumayi’s teaching “The beauty of time,” I thought of nature, and of flowers in particular. This brought me back to 1992, when I visited Shree Muktananda Ashram for the very first time. During that visit, I offered seva in the flower department.

I spent that summer surrounded by the beauty of the colors of the flowers. I will never forget those moments full of grace and joy. I keep them in my heart and every time I return to them, I experience all “the beauty of time” that I enjoyed in those moments.

San Giorgio a Cremano, Italy

To me “the beauty of time” is the revelation of a person’s essence over time. When younger, I focused more on people’s outer appearance. Now, as an octogenarian, I can more clearly experience the beauty that shines from a person who is aligned with the Truth. This is clearest when I contemplate the gift of the presence of Bade Baba, Baba, and Gurumayi in my life. More and more I feel their continuous presence within me and everywhere, and I am filled with awe and gratitude for the unfolding of “the beauty of time.” What could be more beautiful than, over time, moving toward becoming the living Truth!

California, United States

“The beauty of time” reminds me of one spring when all the rose bushes I had planted seemed to blossom in a single day. On that occasion, I came home from a trip and saw my entire planting in full bloom, showcasing a beauteous range of colorful roses.

 This teaching also reminds me of the time when I was first introduced to Gurumayi when I was middle-aged. Contemplating “the beauty of time” has brought back memories of the wonderful talks I heard Gurumayi give. They were so full of knowledge and wisdom, which I am now able to understand more and more. “The beauty of time” for me is that it is filled with the Guru’s grace, which never stops giving and flowing.

California, United States

As I sat quietly with this teaching, what came up for me was that “the beauty of time” can be seen and experienced in all of nature. I can perceive it in the chirping of the birds, in the beauty of the flowers, in the majesty of the trees, and in the blades of grass. This beauty exists as well in many things past and present, such as in glorious monuments and precious relics.

It is also deep in the center of my being. It is in everyone and everything around me. So I shall go through my day attempting to see “the beauty of time” all around me.

Bangalore, India