Regardless of the fact if it’s actually a new year or not (as I often hear from some proponents of Hindu tradition), one can neither deny nor stop the movements of time cycle. One more year has passed from our life… never to come back. (Does this sound scary?)
What are we celebrating? New hopes and opportunities that year would offer! Greater growths that’s stored for us. Mindful reflections, newer creations and conscious intentions. As a spiritual being, ‘new’ is not a onetime phenomenon that takes place on 31st Dec midnight. In fact every moment is a ‘new’ moment. A gift for us.
What about happiness? We are wishing happiness to others. Interestingly, that’s the prayers of all exalted devotee like Prahlad Maharaja who prays to Lord Narsinghadev for the good fortune not for oneself, his relatives, his nation or world, but for the entire Universe.
In those age of no social media or google, he is wishing happiness to entire Universe.
Interestingly, what stops one from thinking of other’s welfare or happiness? It’s ENVY. If envy is cured from the heart, one will become liberal in his social dealings. Anyone who takes up the Krishna Consciousness and engages himself completely in the service of the Lord cleanses his mind of all envy. Then in truest of sense, not only would he wish happiness to others but can deliver too.
By contributing something of one’s energy for satisfying the Supreme, one is rewarded with something more satisfying than simple monetary considerations. In absence of such sacrifice for God or Krishna, life would be full of anxieties, worries, insecurities and false ideas.
Happy New Year then from one perspective means , offering one’s energy willingly in satisfying Krishna, or God and helping others do the same.
Wishing you Happy New Each Moment and Happy New Year.
Your Servant
Premanjana Das
ISKCON Punjabi Bagh