PeerPower : Check drift and procrastination

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January 24, 2011

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Check drift and procrastination

Posted on January 24, 2011 | Author: K Vijayaraghavan | View 172

Truths that are only too obvious to common sense are not often given their due attention because this ‘common sense’ is not always that common! Simple issues stand out, as if calling for attention — attainment of good physical health and fitness too; being aware of conflicts within and thus commencing one’s journey to harmony; learning to be consistent and focused; pre-empting the fallouts of past bad karmathrough the power of present good karma; obtaining the habit of right speech and also divining when to be silent; realising that ‘minutae’ are vital and also that small things ‘add up’ to contribute finally to highly significant end results.

The above are the overall principles on which guidelines abound to guide one on, by application depending on each person’s individuality, even if the process be only gradual and in stages (shanaihi, shanaihi).

Nevertheless, true completion to one’s quest is obtained only when certain other specific and vital issues are also attended to. One such is that involving drift and procrastination.

Adi Shankara in his Bhaja Govindam laments such a state of drift into aimlessness. He points out how childhood is spent in play and youth in sensual longings. Middle age is spent in making a living and for accumulation. Old age, thus, has to be spent only in repentance!

Patanjali in his Yoga Sutra (1,30) lists pramada (procrastination) as one of the 10 obstacles to yoga. Modern management concepts too warn of this ‘thief of time’ (to use the phrase of Edward Young). Living in the dynamic present is the way to ensure that one takes lessons from the immortal lines of John Dryden in his poem, Aurangzeb, where he notes how the hope that “tomorrow will repay” finally proves to be illusory as this ‘tomorrow’ is often “falser than the former day”!

Supreme pieces of wisdom evolved through observation, analysis, inference and application are available for all those who are eager and open minded. These serve finally to reveal the state within, through awareness of the infirmities within and realisation of the inadequacy of the approach adopted thus far.

Acquiring this seeking and abiding self-honesty itself is more than half the battle won. True change management naturally follows and the obstacles, including drift and procrastination, cannot only be minimised but also reversed!

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