84. 97. Don't worry about the future.

A 27 year old man, with a peculiar desire, met me in a meditation camp at Chennai.

He asked, 'It seems you possess special super-natural powers?' I enquired as to why he wanted to know about that.

'Super natural work is a kind of play. Because of the lack of knowledge of its subtlety and its intricacies, they give surprises to people. It is not an expression of wisdom at all. It is an ordinary magic, a jugglery.' – After these basic truths were explained to him, I asked him, 'Now tell me, for what you wish to utilize these super-natural powers?'

He said, 'You teach me the art or mantra to subjugate the eighteen-handed goddess Kali Devi. I want to get some powers from Kali.'

I told him, 'Let subjugating the eighteen handed Kali be there on one side. First of all learn how to subjugate the two handed Kali that is your wife.'

• Your mind will make you live in the future only by telling some reason or the other. It will make you continuously lose those people and things before you. This action is one that should be brought to an end.
• Future
  • Present
  • Past.

Even though there are these three times, what is available in our hands, is the present time only.

• The past has gone out of our hands; the future has not yet come to our hands. Our worrying about these two, only make us unable to enjoy the present time, which is very much in our hands. Is it wise to lose the present time, which is always with us for the sake of the thoughts and worries about the past and future, which are never with us?

Think...

It was time for the sun to just peep out. In the flower garden, along with one hundred new monks, Buddha began to express the rules and regulations for the monks.

He was telling the rules one by one.

One among the rules was:

'The monks during their ascetic life should not go near women. They should avoid even seeing women. As soon as you see their feet, get out of their way. Don't even look up and see...'

As Buddha continued to mention the other rules one of the new monks, Nadaneetan, rose up and asked, 'In case that girl expresses her obeisance to me, what should I do?'

Buddha said, 'Without raising you head, you can pay your obeisance. No harm.'

Nadaneetan, 'Then, do you say that one can be talking to women without raising the head; Nothing wrong!'

**'**What! You are making the rule up side down. Pay your obeisance and immediately move away from there.'

'If that girl asks for some help from me, or asks me directions to get to a particular place or if she wants me to lift her basket and help her then can I help her? If such help is asked what should I do?'

'Mmm... In unavoidable circumstances, when there is no other person is available nearby, when the situation is such that only you have to help, then you can help. No harm in that.'

**'**If that girl asks me, 'it is night time now. When I think of robbers, I feel very much afraid. I believe you. Can you please come up to my house and drop me and go?' Can I go with that girl or not?'

'How can you ask this? Serving people is also one of the jobs of the monks. Under such critical situations, considering the welfare of the society, help can be rendered. No harm in that.

But having that as a pretext, you should not talk to that girl. Do not touch the girl.'

'Right. Considering the safety, while I am going with the girl, without speaking to her or touching her, up to her house, I can go.'

'In case that girl struggles and falls in a big ditch, what to do? Then, can I touch and lift her?'

'There is no other way. You have to save her. You must hold her hand and lift her up. During such accidents, you can touch. There is nothing wrong with that. After saving and leaving her in the house, you should return immediately. Under the pretext of saving her, you should not enter the house.'

'After I leave her in the house, in case, that girl says, 'My father has not returned home yet. My brother also is not there in the house. The rowdy who bothers me often on the river side, is roaming about in this street.

As we were coming, then itself I have noticed him. Please remain in the house till my father or brother returns.' If she humbly begs me like this, what should I do?'

All the monks seated around there, on seeing Nadaneetan going on asking the questions, began to get confused.

It is difficult for ordinary people to put an end to Nadaneetan's talk.

Enlightened Masters will stump them with their apt replies and actions.

Buddha said, 'Yes. Yes. That girl's father and brother may not come at all. Therefore that night, there may be a compulsion for you to stay there.

Next day morning, news may come that her father and brother had died in an accident. Pity! The girl, who would be standing as an orphan, may ask you for refuge. You also, out of pity, give life to that girl.

Then as husband and wife you both may perhaps come to me to get my blessings.' – This way he was talking swiftly.

Seeing the stunning turn in Buddha's reply, Nadaneetan started trembling inside.

Buddha continued, 'Perhaps, when both of you come to me for getting my blessings I may even ask you, 'Oh! You, useless fool! Why asceticism for persons like you?' I am asking you this question now itself. When you have not even gone beyond ordinary imagination, why asceticism for you? Drop the

ochre robes down! Remain in a vow of silence along with the ascetic preparatory committee till I tell you again.' Having said this he sent him away.

In case...

Will it be so...

If it so happens...

To think in this manner about the possibility of some bad events happening, and taking preventive measures now is certainly a wise action only.

If I fail in the exams...

In case loss occurs in my business..

If that disease comes...

To think in this manner, and after thinking, in order to keep the future clear of such mishaps, using the present time to take preventive measures and fixing loop holes is a wise act.

Without any thought about the future and without knowing the greatness of the future, merely wasting away the present, is a job done by fools.

Perhaps... perhaps...

Thinking of the future constantly and imagining some mishaps in the future all the time and being afraid that all these bad events will happen all the time is the work of people who have lost control of their minds.

J.Krishnamurthy has said these wise words about the fear of the future:-

'Out of a hundred imaginations even one does not come true. Even if one or two come true, it is for our good only.'

Profession, relations, societal status, and position – We can apply these wise words to all our imaginary fears about the above mentioned areas.

Will it happen this way? Will it happen that way?

In this manner, out of our hundred imaginary fears about the future, the possibility of even one becoming true is very less. Even if one of it happens as we feared that is also for our growth only.

Life is a road filled with 'continuous riddles.'

Mostly it is waiting, keeping with it, riddles, which we cannot imagine. We cannot avoid that even.

Instead of saying, 'What if this happens or what if that happens', and giving importance to the future, let us be present in the present moment fully. If we begin to handle the present correctly, we need not worry about the future.

Because...

Today's present was yesterday's future.

Tomorrow's future, when it is actually met, will be the present at that time.

Hence it is enough, if one knows to face the present. No need to worry about the future.

Whether you worry or not, it is only wise to prepare yourself to face the future, which has to be faced.

Begin to face the 'present'! Begin to live in the 'present'!

The time and energy which are wasted due to worries and unnecessary anxieties will be saved. Action and thought will begin to be clear.

The more and more you live with the single thought of the present only, certainly life will become more prosperous.

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A meaningful incident.

Nitty's wife who was at the peak of the mountain, asked out of fear, 'Dear, in case I fall down from here...'

The tourist guide on hearing this replied, 'Madam, in case you fall down, don't fail to enjoy the beautiful scenery on your left side.'

• This is not a mere joke. It is a technique.
  • In case you are in the present, when you meet with an accident, in that minute, you will touch the source of energy which is the soul. (Energy of the Atman).

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Meditation chisels Chisel No.52.

If you do not win at this minute in which minute are you going to win?

A tiger will certainly be never born to a cat. Same way, for a man who constantly thinks he suffers bliss will not be born.

This is true till he is suffering. This cannot change. As long as the suffering is there, bliss cannot be born.

Even if a drop of rain thinks, it cannot by itself prevent it from touching the earth. Reason: Gravitational force.

When it has started to rain, it will rain and fall on to the earth only. If sorrow and grief start raining within you, you cannot block it. This is natural law of the mind.

From this minute the next minute is born. Future is delivered from the present moment!

Who is going to be born – Is it a tiger or a cat? This decision is made by nature.

Whether you are going to be blissful or not – is decided not by you, it is decided in the manner you spend your present moment. So the present moment is the mother of the future.

At this moment, how are you...? Examine yourself.

All the subsequent minutes are going to be like that.

That way only, life will be lived.

If this minute you are in bliss, all the subsequent minutes also you will be in bliss.

Even if you try to be otherwise, life in the future will be blissful and this cannot be prevented.

This only is the secret why mystics are always blissful.

Those who have tasted bliss once in their life cannot experience sorrow once again!

For you also, this is possible. During the time of meditation you will get it.

First of all, change the grieving mind. Be blissful in this minute. Be blissful! Blissful! You will continue to be blissful! This is a technique.

Impregnate bliss in the present moment. It is certainly possible by you. Win this minute and show.

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