I have two questions for you. First, should life be taken seriously or playfully? 

The second question is how many of you felt during the past year that you don't want to waste time? 

Life is short and running very fast. You don't want to waste time or miss out. How many times have you felt that? Many times? That means you're growing. You're fortunate.

Opening up your vision

First, if you resolve again and again not to waste time, that means you're more aware. On the other hand, it also means that you're not taking life seriously. You waste time because you don't take life seriously. 

So, shouldn't you take life a little more seriously? If not, then you'll be wasting time! 

You're caught now. So you say both. You shouldn't take life seriously. But if you don't take life seriously, then you're wasting time. You feel you don't want to waste time on all these trivial things. That's good.

River of time

Just imagine you're sitting on the bank of a river, and time is like a river. You have your feet in the water and you're watching the river flow. Like that, the time is moving. 

Everything has flown. Sometimes you've jumped in the water. Sometimes water was above your nose, and somehow you came up again. You swim during tough and pleasant times, and you've come to the shore. As long as you don't forget the shore, it's okay to play around in the water.

But if it's a flood, current, or fury, you need to swim onto the shore. The same thing in life; sometimes you have to play. There's no point in just watching life all the time, sitting on the bank in the heat while the water is very cool and pleasant. You're sweating. You're feeling so hot, and there's beautiful cold water in front of you. You want to jump in and feel it! 

In life also, sometimes you have to be with the time 100 percent. Other times, you have to sit on the bank and watch. To see the difference comes from your intelligence and discrimination.

When to be serious or playful 

When you're taking worldly matters too seriously, then you get drowned. You get so sad and upset. Then you should see life as a game. When you feel you've failed, you have to take life as a game. 

When you feel you've succeeded or achieved something, see it as a small, serious thing. No need to waste time. 

So when you fail, don't take it seriously. When you succeed, take it seriously. 

You have achieved something. So what? Don't waste time on what you've achieved. Your potential is so big. You've achieved some little thing and you keep beating the drum. There, you have to take life seriously.

And when you've failed, don't take it seriously. It's a game, another play. Done, move on. 

So, the first thing is, acknowledge that you're wasting too much of your time. So many people waste time without knowing they are wasting it. At least you've taken that very first step. 

The next step is to know where to take it easily. Singing, dancing, and being blissful are not a waste of time, because you're playful. You bend with the flow. Now, life takes you to another plane. 

You have to be serious and playful also. Being only playful is too flakey. If you're too playful all the time, you'll be wasting your time. Unless there's some seriousness in life, playfulness has no meaning. 

Acquiring and using wisdom

You cannot only use wisdom without acquiring it. That's why we start every celebration with some silence. Celebration has been part of all silence programs.

One who never thought that they ever wasted any time in life is in deep slumber, or they're enlightened. Only two conditions are possible. If you're enlightened or ignorant (in deep slumber) then you haven't wasted any time. 

Otherwise, recognizing that you're wasting a lot of time is a prize you give to yourself. The more often you feel that way, the bigger prize you get.

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Editor’s note:

To learn more about our pillar program, SKY Breath Meditation, check out our free breath and meditation online session with a live instructor. SKY has helped millions of people around the world improve all aspects of their lives. Learn how you too can benefit from SKY.

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