Past is an integral part of our life. Whatever we do in our present would become our past in the due course. What is now history was once our present; but it is now our past. Yet, we have to face whatever we have done in the past. All our previous thoughts and actions would come before us in some form or the other. One may think that his previous actions would have no connection with him as the life beyond is totally new. However, he should know that the deeds of our past are like the foundation, on which rests the mansion of the present.
If a person has done noble deeds in the past, it means that he has laid a firm foundation. Now it is easy for him to construct a strong and beautiful building. However, if he has done wicked and evil deeds, he has built a weak foundation, on which no durable and worthwhile structure could be built up. Here, the structure symbolizes one’s happy and harmonious life.
If we have done wrong in the past, it means our foundation is shaky, decrepit and stinky. So, in the present, we need to demonstrate benevolence to ward off the ill-effects of our malefic acts. Further, noble deeds should be done to build a new foundation in the void created. Our present is the only platform, where we could repent for our past mistakes.
This is the only way of improving on the past. What has happened could not be changed, but noble deeds could be done in the present to truly repent for the past mistakes.
People often forget their past. But, their past does not leave them even for a moment and keeps on clinging to them always. In fact, it is our past which decides our present and even our future. If one is worried about his future, then the best thing to do is to improve his present. This is because, in due course, his present would become his past and play a crucial role in shaping his future.
Our past is not confined only to our present lives, but even extends to our previous births. No two people share a common past and hence no two people are the same. Scriptures say that one’s past deeds not only cause one to take birth, but also play a vital role in determining the course of one’s life and showing the way forward. Thus one’s own deeds are responsible for the so-called impact of planets on him/her. Based on this, they take various benefic and malefic placements in one’s horoscope. This can cause good or bad periods in one’s life. If it is possible to know in advance such predictions, one can take precautions to overcome the malefic effects of planetary configurations and reap the benefit of benefic ones.
We can only see the present, while the past remains concealed. It is like the iceberg which though remains hidden, could break down and sink even mighty ships. It is too strong and hard to be broken. Similarly, our past, though invisible, has a substantial impact on our life. It is the cause behind various events and coincidences taking place in our life. Our past is like that film which has already been created and thus, cannot be changed.
If one wants to change his past and repent for the sins he committed, then the only way to do it is by improving his present. If someone’s past is very glorious, then definitely he would get fame, success, happiness and good fortune in the present. But, if it is not so, it means that there have been flaws in his past.
Some of our present actions show their impact immediately, but the result of some of them is associated with our past actions. There is a story which explains how firmly the consequence of our past deeds remains associated with us and shows its effect when the time comes. A person used to suffer from severe stomach-ache. He vomited out everything he used to eat. He underwent many treatments and took many medicines. But, there was no improvement. One day he shared his problem with a renowned saint.
The saint used his divine powers to explore his past. On doing so, he found that the person had killed many birds in his previous life. In fact, it was his hobby to shoot the flying birds. It is due to the ill-effects of this hobby that he had severe stomach-aches in his present life. So, the saint told him that the sole remedy to get rid of his pain was to nurture birds. He should feed them and look after them, only then the merit of these actions would reduce the malefic impact of his misdeeds and thus, his health would improve. There is no other way out.
Similarly, if we would not fill up the hole we have dug in the past, surely, we will fall in it in future. Therefore, it is essential for all of us to do noble deeds and practice spirituality and repentance for the misdeeds we ignorantly did in the past. Only then can we ensure a bright future.
In the Mahabharat war, between Pandavas and Kauravas, all the kings aligned themselves on one side or the other. The king of Udupi however chose to remain neutral. He spoke to Krishna and said, ‘Those who fight battles have to eat. I will be the caterer for this battle.’
The battle lasted 18 days, and every day, thousands of soldiers died. So the Udupi king had to cook that much less food, otherwise it would go waste. The amazing thing was that every day, the food was exactly enough for all the soldiers and no food was wasted.
After a few days, someone asked the king of Udupi, ‘How do you manage this?’ the king replied, ‘Every night I go to Krishna’s tent. Krishna likes to eat boiled groundnuts in the night so I peel them and keep them in a bowl. After he is done I count how many nuts has he eaten. If it’s 10 peanuts, I know tomorrow 10,000 people will be dead. So the next day when I cook dinner, I cook for 10,000 people less.
Akhand Jyoti Magazine 2016 May-Jun