Don't Waste Time

Time is the most valuable of all commodities. While other things that are lost can be regained, whatever time is lost can never be recovered. Therefore one should spend one's time most judiciously and never waste a single moment. Even if I lose one million dollars, I can also gain one million dollars. But if one second of time is wasted, it is gone forever. The proper utilization of time is to engage it in the service of Krishna. Any time invested in this way will yield unlimited dividends. Therefore I should always remember Krishna at every moment and never forget Him. And I should offer Him all of my words and deeds in all times, places, and circumstances. This is the perfect utilization of time.

Answers According to the Vedic Version

Question: How to Apply Isavasya, the God-Centered Conception?

i have been reading Sri Isopanisad, and would like to ask how would a person apply the theory of Isavasya, the God-centered conception, which is given in Mantra 1, in ISKCON and in the outside community. Please give some examples from day to day life and also from the scriptures.

Thank you. Hare Krishna.

Your servant,

S.D.

Answer: Engage Everything in Krishna's Service.

You have referred to this verse from the Sri Isopanisad:

īśāvāsyam idam sarvam
yat kiñca jagatyāṁjagat
tena tyaktena bhuñjīthā
mā gṛdhaḥ kasya svid dhanam

"Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only those things necessary for himself, which are set aside as his quota, and one should not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong." --Sri Isopanisad Mantra 1

This is a universal instruction that applies to everyone whether or not they belong to a spiritual organization. One is directed in this verse to see everything as the Lord's property and thus engage everything is the service of the Lord. Anyone who follows this instruction will become supremely happy. All they have to do to follow this instruction is to engage whatever they have in the service of the Lord and to only accept things which they can engage in the service of the Lord.

For example. if one has a talent as a singer, he can utilize this talent by singing in the Hare Krishna kirtan. The notable example from the scriptures of one who engaged his various senses in the service of the Lord is Ambarish Maharaja. He fixed his mind on the lotus feet of the Lord, he spoke only on the pastimes of the Lord, he smelled only the flowers and tulasi offered to the Lord, he walked only to the temple of the Lord, he engaged his hands in cleansing the temple, he engaged his tongue in tasting the foodstuff offered to the Lord, and he engaged his ears for hearing the great pastimes of the Lord. In this way all his senses were engaged.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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