early times report
Jammu, Dec 24: The New Year is about to begin. If I am asked what message I would like to give on this occasion, this is what I would say—
A true New Year in life comes only on the day when the old self, which is still stuck in the body, dies. Until that happens, nothing truly new can enter your life—remember this. Celebrating the New Year in the outer world is fine, because this world is Maya (illusion), and within Maya this way of thinking continues, leading again and again into the cycle of birth and death at the end of life.
But if you want to make your life meaningful, you must understand when your real New Year—your true rebirth—will happen.
One year has passed—what did I gain and what did I lose? This is not about outer, material things. In Maya, gaining and losing keeps happening. Even if someone becomes the owner of thousands of crores, everything is left behind in the end.
So the real question is: what did I lose and what did I gain? What I gained was the understanding of the essence of life—who I truly am. I am a traveler living inside this lifeless body. The day you realize this, you awaken, and you gain what Mirabai described:
“I have found the priceless jewel of the Divine Name.”
This is eternal wealth, which goes with you.
The day you realize that nothing truly belongs to you—“Body, mind, and wealth, I offer all to You; what is really mine?”—that day your worship becomes true. On that day, you attain what life was meant for—you attain the Divine.
Therefore, awaken. A true New Year will come into your life on the day when the inner light, the soul, reveals itself and the body moves to second place. On that day, every moment of life becomes joyful.
December 31 is actually a day of self-assessment—a day to look at what you gained and what you lost in one year. Reflect honestly. Know the truth of life and hold it within.
You may have heard of the three steps—Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi. Those who attained spiritual knowledge spoke of these. Dharana means firm determination—to make this human life meaningful.
Dhyana is not simply sitting with closed eyes, because the mind runs like a bullet. True meditation is attention to the words of the Guru. Whether it is the Bhagavad Gita, Guru Granth Sahib, the Bible, the Quran, the Dhammapada, or the Upanishads—all speak of knowledge.
Lord Krishna gave Arjuna knowledge; He did not say only to meditate. Guru Nanak Dev Ji also gave knowledge to Angad, not just instructions to meditate. When firm determination arises, Samadhi happens naturally. Life finds its solution. Then it becomes clear what life truly is—I have come into this body to play a role, like an actor.
Samadhi means returning home—returning to God. So today, make a firm inner resolve to reach your destination. When you know the truth of life, life naturally becomes joyful, because joy is your birthright.
Do not waste your life. I am not saying do not work, do not love your children, do not travel, eat, or enjoy. Nothing needs to be given up. Only let go of attachment to Maya from within. Enjoy everything outwardly, because everything is meant for you. But do not cling inwardly. Hold on to truth, not illusion.
Then fulfillment will keep coming into your life, your birth will become meaningful, and you will live in joy. And then, sometimes, you will be able to say to the world with a smile—
“Happy New Year.”
MAAsterG’s priceless wisdom is available free on his YouTube channel “MAAsterG.” He guarantees that by listening to just 3–30 lectures, you will see a transformation in your life.
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