समय के समक्ष
In the Presence of Time
~ Gurumayi Chidvilasananda
What does it mean to be loyal to time? Over the last few years, I have learned to recognize the different seasons of my sadhana, to accept and savor each as it comes, without trying to move faster or to be anywhere other than where I am at the moment. For me, respecting and accepting each step of my sadhana is my way to be loyal to time—loyal to my Guru’s time, to God’s time.
Quebec, Canada
When I looked up the word loyalty, I saw that it means a strong feeling of support or allegiance. After contemplating this definition, I realized that the way I can make time my ally is by respecting time and seeing it as a gift from God. This encourages me to make the best possible use of time, for my own sake and for the sake of others.
London, United Kingdom
“Loyalty to time”—for me, this means being fully present in each moment, offering my energy and focus completely. When I sat down to meditate, this teaching of “Loyalty to time” reminded me of my commitment to dedicate myself to that specific moment of practice and to be entirely present within it.
São Paulo, Brazil
The words “Loyalty to time” at first seemed so incongruous to me, since for me, loyalty is first and foremost to people and secondarily to ideas. But these words have a surprising resonance for me. I can see that “loyalty to time” means treating time like a friend, not an enemy. It means treating time with respect, with devotion, with careful discretion. I believe this insight will have a great transforming effect on me.
New York, United States