A Lifetime of 'Later'
Do not procrastinate in your devotional service to God. You may delay worldly activities, but never your devotion. Remember this principle. Unfortunately, we tend to do the opposite, placing great importance on worldly affairs. A businessman spends 50 lakhs on his daughter’s wedding, believing it will earn him praise in society - but where will this recognition lead him? However, he donates only 100 rupees to the Jagannath temple. We have been making this mistake for eternity. It is time to become vigilant. Do not postpone using your body, mind, and wealth in service to God. If you must delay something, let it be worldly matters.
Ravan advised Lakshman - "Do good deeds immediately and procrastinate bad deeds." Ravan had planned to build a staircase to heaven, but postponed it, while he hastily kidnapped Sita, leading to his downfall. Therefore, do devotional deeds immediately. Who knows - your own intellect may deceive you in the next moment, whispering, “Let it be, who does charity anyway?” The sins of countless lifetimes have corrupted our minds and intellect to the extent that we are naturally inclined toward worldly pursuits. We are willing to spend at least a thousand rupees on a piece of cloth for this body, which is ultimately perishable, all for the sake of maintaining a certain “status.” But what status can a soul burdened by infinite sins truly hold?
We received this human body by God’s grace, which will also end soon. When you wander through the 8.4 million species of life once again, you will remember that thousand-rupee cloth. We spend extravagantly on useless things, just as we waste time. As soon as we come out of Kirtan, we immediately start engaging in unnecessary conversations rather than reflecting on God. We have spent countless lifetimes immersed in worldly discussions. When we squander both money and time in this manner, our minds inevitably become polluted.
It is only by great divine grace that we have obtained this human body. We must remember that there is no guarantee that we will be alive even in the next moment. Every day, people suffer sudden heart attacks. We witness this with our own eyes, yet we don't think about it for ourselves. Therefore, we should be cautious and not procrastinate tasks related to God for tomorrow.
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