Both kaal and akaal are inherent to creation
Creation is governed by certain laws, everything in creation is bound by these laws. ‘Kaal’ is one such law.
One may understand kaal as a river, in which one gets to row his/her boat as he/she takes birth. This river is constantly moving and changing, and culminates into the ocean, which is also the final destination of the boat. However not all the boats make it to the ocean. Some sink, some crash, some park themselves midway.
Only the boat, which follows the directions given by the entity authorised by the company who gave you the boat in the first place, can reach the ocean. This authority is termed as ‘guru’ in the Vedas.
The purpose of birth is not the journey, but the destination. It is foolish to expect the journey (or the river) to be one smooth and pleasant ride. The river is kaal and kaal is passing, taking you towards destruction, destruction of the body (or the boat). The sceneries you intercept on the way are in the passing, as are the fellow boats and boatmen. They may be with you all your life, but for life only.
The authority who is designated by the boat making company to guide you, will never advise you to stop and enjoy the scenery. The river will flow into the ocean, the boat can too… or it can sink or crash or park.
The distance traversed by your boat depends on the karma you have performed, in this lifetime and in lives before. The company has put only as much fuel in the boat, as the price you have paid (through your karma).
However, there is a catch in the system. Even if the fuel in your boat is exhausted but you are in sync with the authority (guru), his/her boat will pull you through the journey, take you beyond kaal, till it reaches the destination. And reach it will, if it is genuinely authorised. Purpose is to reach the ocean, not enjoy better sceneries or mingle with more boatmen.
The sceneries and friends are unreal, they will disappear the minute your boat parks or sinks or crashes. They will move ahead and not wait for you, no matter how close you were.
Every relationship, job or pleasure comes with an expiry date. You will be the fool, who left his/her journey mid-way. You may argue or not believe in the laws of creation, but they exist and apply to you, as long as you are part of creation.
Creation exists in opposites. Just like kaal is inherent to creation, so is akaal. A river has many tributaries and distributaries, some silent, some still, some vibrant. Akaal is when your boat turns into one of them. It was not supposed to happen, but it happens, just like that. It is bound to destruct the boat, lead to akaal mrityu (untimely death). In such times, Lord Hanuman is one potent energy that can bring you back into kaal, from akaal.
If one looks at history, when Naagpash struck Lakshman, he succumbed to akaal mrityu. At that time, Lord Hanuman revived him. Lakshman was an incarnation of Sheshnaag, if akaal struck him, it can strike anyone. When akaal dominates in one’s life, one may practice Hanuman Chalisa to bring him/herself back into kaal. This is the process, and guru initiates it.
When you are in journey, you are bound by certain vaasnas (inherent tendencies) which hamper your path. When you meet the guru (*authorised authority), then they change on their own. If they are not changing, you are yet to meet or walk the path of guru.
Kaal or river is in the ambit of the guru, he/she knows how to steer you through, to the final destination. Focus on the destination, akaal can never touch you.
The writer is the spiritual head of Dhyan Foundation. www.dhyanfoundation.com