The famous Indian mystic Osho had once said, “I live my life based on 2 principles. One, I live as if today was my last day on earth. Two, I live today as if I am going to live forever.”
On being asked, if one had to make a single New Year’s resolution what would he recommend, Osho said, “I resolve never to make any resolutions because all resolutions are restrictions for the future. All resolutions are imprisonments. You decide today for tomorrow? You have destroyed tomorrow. Allow the tomorrow to have its own being. Let it come in its own way! Let it bring its own gifts.”
He went on to say, “What is resolution? Resolution is struggle. Resolution is ego. Resolution is saying, “I cannot live spontaneously.” And if you cannot live spontaneously, you don’t live at all – you only pretend. So, let only one resolution be there: I will never make any resolutions. Drop all resolutions! Let life be a natural spontaneity. The only golden rule is that there are no golden rules.”
Our friends had very kindly invited us over to their home for dinner a few weeks ago. The lady of the house had recently returned after a 10-day meditation retreat and was enlightening the guests about the daily routine and her recent uplifting experience. On being asked what was the one single important meditative ritual the retreatants were required to learn, our hostess said, “Breathing. We sit in silence and concentrate on our breathing, “watching and experiencing” each intake and exhalation of our breath.” A guest known for his wit and starting to display signs that he had enjoyed our hosts’ wine selection unimpeded through the evening, remarked very seriously, “But that’s what I do all day – I breathe! I don’t have to go somewhere to retreat from the world to do this; it simply happens.” It was then that I remembered Osho’s statement about resolutions and ego, quoted above.
Perhaps all one needs to do is sit in silence anywhere and express gratitude for each intake of breath and while exhaling, send out a heartfelt, genuine feeling of compassion and love for all. Osho would have probably approved of the following New Year Resolution by an unknown shaayar (poet):
“… Ab ki baar mil ke yuuñ saal-e-nau manāeñge; ranjisheñ bhulā kar ham nafrateñ miTā.eñge”
[This time coming together, let us celebrate the New Year; (by) forgetting past rancor/grief (and), rooting out hatred]
We might also reflect on the famous Urdu shaayar Ibn E Insha’s couplet:
“… ik saal gayā ik saal nayā hai aane ko; par vaqt kā ab bhī hosh nahīñ dīvāne ko”
[… A year has gone by, a new one is about to arrive; however, the lunatic still remains oblivious to the sensibility/appreciation of time]
This “timeless” Sahir Ludhianvi composition, recited by Amitabh Bachhan and sung by Mukesh further reinforces our transience – “I am a poet for but a moment or two…”
May you have a healthy, peaceful time … Happy Now Here! (as suggested by Osho)
wealthisnotmoney 
Happy Now Here is a beautiful philosophy. But along with being in the here and now, as another wise man said, the idea of individuality is an illusion – you cannot exist without being in constant exchange with the rest of the cosmos. The two thoughts may appear divergent, but they each have the same kernel of truth. Much to think about, much to discuss!
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They say one’s whole life flashes before one’s eyes at the moment of death. Similarly, in the dying days of the year, awaiting the dawn of the new, the events of the past 12 months flash before one’s eyes. It is an opportunity to take stock, to balance the books, so to speak, of one’s actions and reactions. And a reminder that we are born anew every day.
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Hello Pankaj! Wishing you a healthy peaceful time as well!
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So beautiful…. I love it!!! No more “resolutions”. Just enjoy the “here” and the “now”. Wishing you a wonderful New Year and all the best for 2018
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Thank you Rocio, and the very best to you and yours for a healthy and peaceful year ahead.
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