473. Worries belong to either past or future, nothing to present!

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/mysticism/worries-belong-to-either-past-or-future-nothing-to-present

There was a small hamlet where the people had agriculture as their main occupation. As years went by due to severe drought people started going to the near by city to work. Everyone felt that times where going well some two decades ago when there was plenty of rain and they could grow paddy in abundance. Now the whole village was not as happy as they were at that time.   

Once every year the villagers organized annual Car festival (Rathotsava) as a mark of gratitude to the main deity of the village. It was a nice gathering of devotees in the temple for the festival and in the evening they had a discourse from an enlightened soul. Before starting the discourse the village headman requested Swamiji to perform some Homa or Havan so that the villagers are joyful always.

Swamiji said, “Joy is the inner matter there is no necessity for homa or havan. Homa is done only as gratitude to the Lord, just as you have done the car festival.”

Village headman said, “Swamiji, as the head of the village I humble request for you to get rid of worries from our lives. You are enlightened person we don’t think this is impossible to you.”

“Yes, it is very simple to get rid of worries. I am trained in it. To begin with, I need to categorize people according to the kind of worries they have. Some are worried due to some incident that happened in the past while some are worried about future and some of the present situation. Those who are worried of the past come to my right and those who are worried about future stay to my left and those who are worried about present stand in the middle.”

The whole gathering divided into three groups and amazingly the strength of all the three was equal. Looking at the people on his right Swamiji replied to them, “You are all worried about something that happened in the past and now it is only in your memory. By worrying about it can you change it for better? Worrying about past is due to ignorance you can eliminate it by simply not remembering it again and again. A wounded monkey scratches the wound often and makes it big so are you people worrying about a past event which serves no purpose.”

Now turning to his left he spoke to the group, “Worried about future which is not sure if it happens in reality you have the worry only in your mind. So, be positive and face the future without giving importance to the thoughts which make you worry about the future. No astrologer can change the future, that which is inevitable has to be endured and for that patience is the best shield.”

“Those who are in front of me need to show me the present only then I will be able to find a solution. Present is an insignificant interval squeezed between the tail of the past and the head of the future. At present you are all standing in front of me a few minutes before some where to my right and some were to my left when I said all those who worry of the present came and stand in front of me you gathered here. Now that is past and even this moment will pass on very quickly and become past. Why should you worry about that which has such a small span of life?”

Further Swamiji addressing everybody said, “Living a peaceful life does not depend on the situations of past present or future. Accepting life as it comes and having a will to let go without getting attached to anything is the key for a peaceful living. Do your duty and be contented with what you have. This is real joy. Enjoy what you have instead of worrying about what you do not have.”

Every body who gathered there were thrilled as there is nothing to worry about past, future or even present.