What will your life be like in three years?

The piece reflects on living in the now rather than predicting the future, emphasizing that one’s actions (karma) shape outcomes. Despite facing health challenges, the importance of diligent planning, hard work, and learning from failures is highlighted. Faith in resilience and the teachings of the Gita offer hope for future success.

Though not a hypochondriac, he usually lives a healthy life. Except for some occasional minor ailments, sneezing or headache, usually he does not feel low. Suddenly, still, he felt shivering and feverish. After a while, he was down with a viral fever that continued for two to three days. Even after regaining normalcy, he did not feel upbeat. With a spoiled taste and a fatigued body, he pulled on till the festivities ended.

The use of narrating about his health issue is quite clear. It relates to the question of how one can predict their future effectively. The incident described above underscores the fact that humans are oblivious about the next moment. How can they prognosticate incidents three or four years before they may happen? No one knows about their next moment. Well, instead of trying to forecast, the need is to focus on the current. This will automatically have an effect on the future.

Gita Says

While preaching to Arjuna, Lord Krishna says in the Gita that deeds decide the future, not anything else. Our “Karma” is the only thing that is in our hands. Daydreaming would pay nothing, and a soothsayer can’t predict anyone’s future.

Astrologers’ Prediction

People try to get advice from an astrologer who claims to know about the future. He “calculates” the positions of various stars and constellations. Apparently finds “Shani” (Saturn) in “Neech Bhav” (in an unfavourable position) and predicts about the future bad times. He suggests an illogical means to overcome the situation. Does it work? They try to terrorise gullible people and capitalise on the condition.

A fictional story will narrate it further. This is especially true for those who stubbornly argue in favour of astrology, claiming it is “scientific” and pure. The story goes as follows.

The Story

There used to be a king who wanted to know about the knowledge of astrologers in his kingdom. He organised a competition among them, but only the two most sapient ones participated. Both foresaw the same occurrence. The first one predicted a heavy downpour. He also foresaw a fish falling at the palace gate. The other said verbatim but with a slight change. He said that everything will happen as his senior told. Yet, the fish would not be found on the palace gate. It will be a few feet away from the palace gates. They had a difference of opinion. Their disagreement was about the distance and direction. It concerned the fish that was going to fall from the sky. The second one predicted the fish to fall a short distance from the palace gate.

Moments thereafter, a heavy downpour occurred, and fish was fallen but not on the gate. It was found on the spot predicted by the second astrologer. The second one applied his reasoning and practicality before prediction and his prediction was a success. This short story gives a glimpse of the future predictions which are congruent with what Lord Krishna says in Geeta.

Hard Work Pays

Nothing can beat hard work. We know now that hard work amalgamated with planning and focus on strategy gives wonderful results. Sometimes planning fails even after meticulous planning. To counter it and guarantee a foolproof result, several plans are drawn. A student works hard and prepares his course material well. But, he does not get the desired result. Meanwhile, another comparatively smart one gets through it. It depends on the planning and guesswork.

Planning and Strategy

Coming back to our question. It is difficult to predict the future, especially about events three years from now. Still, careful planning and diligent work can lead us to reasonable conclusions about future occurrences. Here is another, more practical example. Suppose I have a task. If I wish to have a house in the next three years, I will have to start working on it from today. I need to acquire a plot of land, have the map approved by the authorities, secure funding, and commence the construction work. The essential spadework is important, for the lack of it, my efforts would be futile. More often than not, people get disappointed by the failure or not getting expected even after doing rigorous labour. It requires serious contemplation and persistent efforts to find potential loopholes and deal with them suitably.

Failures are Intrinsic

Failures are intrinsic. Only a learner can understand the importance of failures. Our world-famous space programs met several failures and frustrations. Our scientists faced harsh realities, but they didn’t give up. With the evolving circumstances and a shift in approach, we successfully landed in one of the moon’s most challenging areas. Our “Chandrayaan-II” not only landed on the moon’s surface, but it also performed experiments and took pictures with its rover “Pragyan” for fifteen days. This is the result of persistent arduous work that is bound to yield.

Assurance of Gita

This is what Gita teaches us as well. Lord says, leaving everything aside, come to me and I shall relieve you from every suffering. This is a great assurance. The Supreme Soul is assuring, reaffirming and kindling a flame of hope and optimism. These are the things which act as healers that relieve the pain. We fail, so what? Do we need to be disheartened? Certainly not. What appears an end opens a new portal. The life goes on, the voyage goes on. We have to travel miles before we rest.

Battle of Longewala and Victory

The answer to the question of what my life will be like in three years lies in the question itself. We are shaped by many things including the situation we are in. It adds to our treasure house of experience. It looks as if we have lost the battle, but it does not. Our determination and fighting spirit are the torch to show the path in the pitch darkness. What else can a situation be best explained than the 1971 War of Longewala Post in the Jaisalmer Sector of Rajasthan, where our 175 valiant warriors fought gallantly with a full enemy Brigade armed with tanks and modern warfare? I salute the intrepid heroes who faced all odds but registered a thumping victory. Our gallant Airforce warriors destroyed the enemy tanks which make spaghetti in the desert of the war zone.

Last but not least

We will reap what we sow. Our honest, hard work will pay off sooner or later. Though we will not get what we wish for, that does not end up. We can get something more rewarding and joyous, who knows? I would eagerly wait for your response as to what you think about it. Please comment in the box below.

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