One of our greatest fears is the fear of being forgotten. Why is this such a great fear? Because it plays into another deeper fear: that our existence doesn’t count. When people remember us, we feel that their remembrance gives our existence value, at least in the social sense.  

Wanting to increase our existence’s value, we often crave fame. But like everything else in this world, fame is temporary – and so is the remembrance it brings. No matter how famous we become, we will soon be forgotten, largely because others don’t value us intrinsically, based on who we are; they value us extrinsically, based on what we have. Why do they value us extrinsically? Possibly because they suffer from the same existential anxiety as us: they too fear insignificance. As long as they gain a sense of significance by their connection with us, they value and remember us– when we lose our claim to fame, we lose significance for them; and they forget us.

Are we, then, doomed to be forgotten? Not if we redirect our efforts from craving fame to cultivating devotion — that is, we focus on connecting with the One who always remembers us: the all-loving divinity, Krishna. And He remembers us for who we are intrinsically: spiritual beings who are his precious eternal parts (15.07); and he is our greatest well-wisher (05.29). Not only does he never forget us; he also never abandons us — he is always with us as our indwelling divine companion (18.61). When we strive to remember him by practicing bhakti-yoga, we steadily and increasingly start feeling his presence and his love. As we focus on our connection with him, we realize how our relationship with him means that our existence has enduring significance. And the more we act in awareness of our relationship with him, the more even our present actions become infused with increasing significance, thus addressing the root reason for our fear of being forgotten.

 One-sentence summary:

Don’t struggle to be remembered by those who will soon forget you; strive to remember the One who never forgets you.

Think it over:

  • Why do we seek fame?
  • Why do people soon forget us?
  • How can we address the fear of being forgotten at its root?

***

08.07: Therefore, Arjuna, you should always think of Me in the form of Kṛṣṇa and at the same time carry out your prescribed duty of fighting. With your activities dedicated to Me and your mind and intelligence fixed on Me, you will attain Me without doubt.

Who do we seek to be remembered by?

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