THE PAST IS GONE, THE PRESENT
IS NON-EXISTENT;
SO, WE WORK FOR THE FUTURE ONLY!
Dr. I. Achyuta Rao
Introduction
In this
article the author introduces a controversial/revolutionary concept that “THE
PRESENT” practically does not exist and we should seriously consider only “THE
PAST” and “THE FUTURE” for our well being. The philosophy of working
for the future is not new, but age-old. It is universal, applicable to all
living beings. The whole EVOLUTION is based on that.
A wise-woman said
THE PAST
is infinitely long
and absolutely
incorrectible,
THE PRESENT is infinitesimally short
and mostly
negligible,
THE FUTURE is again infinitely long
yet slightly controllable;
We should, therefore, work for
the good of ALL
in future.
‘ALL’ means all living beings in the Bio-sphere.
Based on his
systematic analysis of the preachings of all religions, the author has found
their essence to be
HELPALL
HARMNONE (in SPACE DOMAIN)
On his
serious discussion with his elder brother, he was told that Sri Sathya Saibaba
also preaches the same, as
HELP EVER
HURT NEVER (in TIME
DOMAIN)
Let us now
study the details of the concept.
The Past
Scientifically
or logically speaking, “THE PAST” is very well defined-as, whatever that
had happened prior to the present “MOMENT”. It may be a few days or
months back. It may be a few years back! It could be even a few hundred or
thousand years ago. If you stretch further, it could be a few million or
billion years ago!
The Future
In the same
way, “THE FUTURE” is very clearly defined as, whatever that would happen
later to the present “MOMENT”. It may be a few days or months hence. It
may be a few years later! It could be even a few hundred or thousand years
later. If you stretch further, it could be a few million or billion years
later!
The Present
No one has
categorically defined what is meant by “THE PRESENT”! Is it the present
“MOMENT”? If so, it is literally “momentary” and has no width in time
domain. So “THE PRESENT” has no existence at all!
Does it have
a finite width, a few seconds, or minutes on either side of the present “MOMENT”?
Even if so, practically it has no existence in the domain of time. It is subjective
and purely imaginary! Even if the duration is as few months or years the
situation remains the same in practice, compared to the huge time-domain!
Contrary to
this, all philosophers, ancient or modern, give full importance to “THE
PRESENT” only. In Hindu religion, especially in GITA, it is said “we
do not know what (and where) we were before our birth. We do not know what (and
where) we would be after our death”. Similar expressions are found in some
other religions also.
Does it mean
that “THE PRESENT” is the human life-span? If so, whose? Is it too
long?! No! the saints say, and we also believe, that our life is too short like
that of a water bubble! Animals, birds, fish etc. have a much shorter life
span. Insects and worms have still shorter life span! In that case what is “the
present” for them?
Quite
justifiably “THE PAST” is ignored by materialists as it had already gone
for good. “THE FUTURE” is also ignored on the pretext of its being
unknown and uncertain. That leaves only “THE PRESENT” to be dealt with
and dwelt upon!! Much is said and written about “THE PRESENT”. All
stress is given, even by philosophers, on “THE PRESENT” only, because IT
ONLY IS VISIBLE.
All of us
know the spread of Electromagnetic radiation (Spectrum). In that huge spread,
the part visible to the human eye is practically negligible! The visible region
for different animals, birds and other creatures is slightly different in the
limits. But essentially, the visible region is practically negligible compared
to the whole spread of radiation. A lot of instrumentation and a great deal of
investigations are required to understand and make use of the huge non-visible
part. Similar is the case with “THE PAST” and “THE FUTURE”.
Author’s View Point
If you
analyse scientifically, “THE PRESENT” is transient, so unimportant. It
is like a flash. The moment you say something or take some action, you are
going into “THE PAST”! Our actions, are guided by our “PAST
EXPERIENCE” with a view to improving our “FUTURE EXISTENCE”. This
philosophy is applicable not only to human beings but also to all other living
beings.
“THE PAST”
and “THE FUTURE” are infinitely long but well connected by CAUSE AND
EFFECT relationship. Cause (or action) takes some finite time. The effect
also would take sometime. It could be a long time also before the effect is
felt or noticed. The effect may last long until it is disturbed by another
cause. The transition from “THE PAST” to “THE FUTURE” is through
“THE PRESENT” which is infinitesimally short.
A poet said,
“In this dynamic world, we have to run fast to remain where we are”. It is like
stepping on a conveyor belt or escalator, REAL ELEVATOR! That is the
philosophy we have to follow for our well-being in future. We have to work for
our future! not the present!! When we drive a car we always have a forward look
rather than at the present position.
Typical examples in nature
Working for Future
i) Ants and honeybees
store food for future
ii) Birds build their ness before laying eggs
iii) Fish reach the shores for laying eggs
iv) Wild animals reach caves and tree-shelters well before
reproduction
v) All living beings prepare defence mechanisms well before
their enemy attacks.
vi) Animals and birds migrate to distant places for food and
comfort, much in advance of adverse conditions.
vii) Our own and our ancestors, “Past experience”
helps us in working for a better future.
viii) The adverse effects of Stratospheric Ozone layer
depletion would be felt 80 to 100 years after the cause. Viz. Release of
fluorocarbons etc. Advance actions should be taken for avoiding future
catastrophes.
ix) Melting of Arctic Snow would affect the
world after several decades. Corrections are required in advance.
x) Typical human
examples are innumerable.
b) Transmission of Information.
Though
animals, birds and fish cannot read, write or speak like human beings, they
pass on their knowledge and experience to their off springs/next generations by
some means or other.
All of them
work for their near future and their successors’ future. The process of
evolution is the most challenging topic for detailed investigations.
Philosophy behind Evolution
How are tiny
insects and pests developing immunity against insecticides and pesticides? How
are bacteria and viruses developing immunity to anti-biotics and sulfa drugs?
Their life span is so short that it is impossible for them to adapt to the
hostile environment during their life time. They, perhaps, pass on the vital
information to the succeeding generations through genetic code or pulses.
We have to
study Genetics for our appreciation of Nature. Inspite of Prey-Predator
dynamics, in a healthy eco-system/environment, maximum number of species
co-exist in a dynamic equilibrium. Abnormal growth or dominance of one species
disturbs the stability, and the SYSTEM collapses soon!
The secret of
evolution, in the author’s view, is leaning from the “PAST EXPERIENCE”
and passing on that information/knowledge to the succeeding generations for
their more comfortable “FUTURE EXISTENCE”. In this process, “THE
PRESENT” stage is passed through as “transient”.
Conclusion
All living
beings work for their own near future and for the far future of the entire
living community. For this purpose they make use of their past experience. In
this process, “the present” becomes transient since it is visible to our senses
briefly like a flash.
The author’s
controversial concept does not come in clash with religious preachings. It
reinforces the convictions of all religions, adding a sense of urgency to our
actions.