Why Learn About Self Today

There are two days in a year that one can do nothing, one is called yesterday and the other is called tomorrow. For those minds who remember ‘today’ as the tomorrow worrying yesterday, such minds need to ‘learn about self today’, as today’s 86400 seconds will never come back again.

Since birth we have devoted our time and attention to academic subjects or subjected ourselves to a detailed investigation and analysis of a subject or situation which we call as study. Studying worldly things the self acquires knowledge, smartens, enriches, empowers and feels glorified. Most Individuals feel they know it all but often there is some important learning’s missed out.

‘Today’ must include celebrating self by continuous learning and analyzing about one’s own mind, body and soul. A failure in doing so results in paying others to spell it for you, with their services. Unable to choose right food for self, one needs a dietician, unable to manage one’s physical dimensions; one needs a physical trainer, failing to understand the mind one needs a councilor/psychiatrist. One must first be faithful to learn that which exists within you and the constant learning of self-exploring ones inner self be the underlining and defining purpose in life.

No matter what kind of life style one has, communication with the divine knowing Him within self at ambrosial hours (amritvela) has no substitute. Initially I wondered besides religious practices how else to connect. A few days of introspection concluded with a pleasing thought to make 108 confessions a day holding the 108 stringed beads (mala) recalling all the life phases lived so far e.g. (birth, parents/family, childhood, friends, education, carrier/business, travel, comforts, financials and health.

Every bead you hold the mind flashes images of people, places, things and our actions. Every image qualifies the need to express gratitude/forgiveness, which one defaulted in expressing earlier. Expressions of forgiveness helps unknot the challenging past, making one calm, composed, humble.

Some images qualify to expressions of gratitude beginning with our human life, its achievements and fulfilments and importantly to every organ in our body for functioning well. In illness mindful communication to that organ makes it participate in playing its role for speedy recovery this along with prayer.

If one has failed yesterday, an unfinished task or wants a new desire, there is once again need to seek almighty’s Grace (Nadar). So every passing bead is worthy of a Jaap for “Forgiveness – Gratitude and Divine’s Grace” (Shamma, Shukrana, Nadar). The daily practice of 108 confessions brings soulful cleansings, better awareness and increases connectivity with divine. By seeking forgiveness for our wrongs we correct and penance our sins reducing our bad karmas. To get the opportunity to penance in the same life is actually a blessing.

Wonder why a bad today should make people feel like they are having a bad life. How you love yourself is how you teach others to love you. The Self-learning will make ‘today’ more productive. ‘Today’ will have more to appreciate, less to complain. The mind works wiser and harder making ‘today’ lovely. Practicing kindness, words will heal not wound thereby surely helping the soul wrap your ‘today’ with caring, sharing and encouraging others.

Wake up determined and go to bed satisfied and importantly note what has not started today is not found tomorrow. In Gurbani kabeer sayings in Ang1371; "kabeer kaal karantaa abeh kar ab kartaa su-ay taal". "Kabeer, that which you have to do tomorrow - do it today instead; and that which you have to do now - do it immediately!"