Running from our past doesn’t take us to a better future; it just makes our future a rerun of our past.
We all carry scars and wounds from our past—some have faced far tougher experiences than others. Sometimes, we may feel that our past is so dark and dreadful that we want to disconnect from it completely. We may avoid any reference to it and, though we may never admit it openly, we might essentially be running away from our past, hoping that forgetting it will lead to a better future.
While letting go of a dead past can be a valid approach at times, it becomes counterproductive if our attitude towards our past is defined by fear, resentment, or anger. These negative emotions, when triggered, can escalate to pathological levels, as Bhagavad-gita 18.35 warns against this chronic fearfulness, calling it an unhealthy obstinacy or perverse determination.
If we don’t address the inner issues that may have contributed to the outer issues affecting us in the past, those inner issues are likely to resurface, troubling us again in the future. For example, if we have had unhealthy encounters with exploitative authority figures, suppressing memories of the past may not prevent us from repeating patterns that lead us to similar figures in the future. Alternatively, it could lead us to an extreme aversion to all authority figures, even those who are genuinely encouraging and well-meaning.
Only by calmly confronting our past—taking an honest look at it to learn hard-earned lessons—can we make a decisive break from it. This isn’t about battling or suppressing the past but about understanding it so that we can release it and move forward more gracefully.
The Bhagavad-gita offers a worldview that eases the process of learning from and letting go of our past. It assures us that a divine plan is guiding our lives, and beyond the pain and pointlessness we may have experienced, there are lessons to learn and opportunities for growth. Through a devotional disposition, we can find wisdom in our past, even if we initially see it as a dark place.
By approaching our past with devotion, we can stop running away and instead draw out the lessons that will equip us to pave the way to a brighter future.
Summary:
- Even if we have had a painful past and desire a future free from its influence, unresolved inner issues may keep recurring, making our future a rerun of our past.
- By calmly confronting our past—seeking to objectively understand what happened to us and why—we can learn lessons for making better choices in the future, thereby letting go of the past.
- With a devotional disposition, we can gain confidence that a divine hand guided us through even the darkest parts of our past, helping us learn without excessive agitation and move forward gracefully into a brighter future.
Think it over:
- Have you noticed any past issues recurring in your life? If yes, analyze what remains unresolved and unreleased from your past.
- What does it mean to confront our past?
- How can devotion help make our encounter with our past more fruitful?
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18.35 And that determination which cannot go beyond dreaming, fearfulness, lamentation, moroseness and illusion – such unintelligent determination, O son of Pṛthā, is in the mode of darkness.
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