Time

Sripathy Jayamaha

Time is a continuous measurement of ones existence. It gives us a past, a present and a future. Time is a common factor for all. Animate and inanimate, that repose on Mother Earth. The beginning and unavoidable end of ones existence is measured by Time. "Nothing is permanent" said our Lord Buddha. How true. But, as far as human-beings are concerned, the short time between birth and death comprises of joy, dukha, anger, lust, greed, jealousy, hatred and also repentance, compassion and faith. Also hope.

Our learned physicists have shown us the wonders of the Solar system and the universe. About their movements. Distances from our planet to these celestial bodies are measured by the time taken by light to reach earth, travelling at the speed of about 280,200 km/sec.

The rotation of the earth gives us our night and day. Time shows us when the sun rises and sets. It differs from country to country depending on its geographical location. The world decided to have a central point and, with this location as the place where the day begins, other countries related their time to this.

An accurate clock at Greenwich in the U.K with its pendulum timed clock constructed underground at longitude O o, Greenwich Mean Time or GMT, Midnight at Greenwich is 5.30 in the morning in our country. Yes, we see the sun 5 1/2 hours before GMT. GMT saves us from chaos. What would happen if the people of Kiribati, who first witnessed the birth of the 2nd millennium and the citizens of the USA or Chile used their own time at International Gatherings. Actually the start of time from the decimal point of a second to an hour, a day, year, generations and history has made man to learn and knowhow the world was, is and will be.

Time has been with us from the moment a person is born, until the final beat of the heart. This is called pulse, which is related to time in the form of minutes. The physical condition of a living being is, at times indicated by the pulse. Faster or slower than a minute. When the time comes to leave this world, the bereaved takes no time in arranging the 'Mala Batha', time of internment, and the staggered 7 days, 3 months, 1 year almsgivings, and continues as memories for generations to come. Time has many prefixes and suffixes. Sun rise today will be at 5.57 am. And sun set at 6.36 pm. Over time, time bomb, visiting times, timetable.

The Mahanuwara express was held up between Peradeniya junction and Kadugannawa. A passenger had asked the guard. 'Why have timetables if trains get late like this"? The guard had quipped "Sir, how would you know whether a train is early or late if there had been no timetables. All had appreciated his wit. Even the questioner.

Age is the passage of time. There is a saying 'time and tide waits for no man'. Also some beautiful films with time as the hero. Sridars gem 'Kaadalaki Nerum Illai'. To love, there is no specific time.' Also Twentieth Century's 'A Time to love and a time to die' - The former a musical comedy and the latter a war film, a fear jerker. In Greek mythology, a very brave warrior was before God Zeus, very proud. He was agast and humiliated when God Zeus asked him to fight with an old hag. The warrior obliged with a sarcastic smile. They fought and fought he lost. She could not be beaten. Then Zeus had told him,

"You fought with old age. You can never beat age."

Next the lovely proverbs. A stitch in time, saves nine "Procrastination is the thief of time". Two proverbs that are timeless.

Finally, whether one is in the sub zero climes of the Artic or the scorching sands of the Sahara, when the time comes, one has to leave this mortal world, leaving ones loved ones and wealth. Lord Jesus said "Death cometh as a thief in the night," and is no respter of persons.

In lifes journey, we make time jubilant when we are punctual in all what we do. At times we get late. Time is peeved. One day time overtakes you. It leaves you behind, makes you become the 'late'.

Let our time spent on this lovely planet make all those around the 'late' to say 'an untimely death'. Our friend always found the time to visit us'. "What wonderful times we used to have of school". He now is a person who now belongs to the ages. Age is measured in Time.