Time is an objective manifestation of Krishna in this world. Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita – kālo ‘smi.

Many a times, we fall short of time. And many a times, when we look back at the end of the day, we are frustrated to find that we could not accomplish anything tangible. And like this, months and years may go by.

Yet, the same time cannot affect us negatively when we remain absorbed in activities of Krishna consciousness. The nature of material time and spiritual time needs to be completely understood.

Material Time

In the material world, time brings about the destruction of things. Time gifts our karma. Time brings about many new surprises, some of which may be pleasant as well. But because the material time has an inherent nature of deterioration, anyone who is subject to birth in this world is bound to die as well.

Spritualizing our Time

HH Radhanatha Maharaja was mentioning in a recent lecture that the most optimistic statement ever spoken by anyone in history is in Srimad Bhagavatam. And it talks about time – How when one practices Krishna consciousness, with the passage of time, one moves closer to eternity. In other words, death takes a Krishna conscious person to eternal life.

āyur harati vai puṁsām
udyann astaṁ ca yann asau
tasyarte yat-kṣaṇo nīta
uttama-śloka-vārtayā
Both by rising and by setting, the sun decreases the duration of life of everyone, except one who utilizes the time by discussing topics of the all-good Personality of Godhead. SB 2.3.17

Maharaja Pariksit was about to die in seven days, and Saunaka Rsi made the most optimistic statement ever. He was not going to die, rather he was going closer to eternity!

When we are not knowing when we are going to die, it may be seven days as well. If we take the same time factor to cultivate Krishna consciousness, not only will we reach eternity at the end of our lives, but while practicing also, the material aspect of time won’t affect us.

A devotee always lives in eternity. Some devotees had made a beautiful video of Mayapur, and they entitled it – Entrance into Eternity. Even when we absorb ourselves in the dham, we are in eternity. We may not always be able to physically reside in a dham. Dham is not a physical geographical location, rather it is a state of consciousness. Dham is not affected by the destruction that time brings about. It remains forever.

How can the dham not be destroyed when the entire universe is being annihilated?

The answer is that it is not in the realm of material time and material geography. Rather, it is spiritual. Similarly, a devotee, by his or her absorption in Krishna consciousness, transcends material time.

Even while practicing, if we wish to manage our time well, rather than making material adjustments for having more time, we must try to give more time to Krishna. And because Krishna is time, He will surely award us more time to do more things.

Prabhupada could open 108 temples in a mere span of 12 years. He would go for morning walks daily, would have conversations, would have his oil massage and bath, would give time to his disciples, wrote so many books and did so many things. How could he do it all?

He served Krishna 24 hours a day, and Krishna expanded the days and months for him.

In the night of rasa dance, if Krishna could fit an entire night of Brahma, why cannot He expand time slightly for us if we are eager to serve Him?