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*Mar*Chasing the Future-Ditching the Present
Interest means, enjoying the effort, feeling every micro detail, feeling it
prolongedly, work becomes the leisurely enjoyment by feeling, of
relationship. Neurotic speed to get results is the opposite of interest in
the field. When the urge to achieve results very fast takes over, one
cannot have time to feel, one rushes for the speedy and ultimately the
instant results. Ultimately one hops from one result to another result,
often the goals get achieved so fast, one just feels stunned. Often many
goals arrive very fast, the result is that the youngster often finds no new
goal and has to retire into aimlessness.
Today many have started the life as retirement.Because it is machines that
really do the work. The machines get instant result. Can you find today, a
youngster leisurely enjoying the sight of a bee on a flower, absorbed in
its beauty, no…!
Today we find the youth speeding away on two wheelers, have no time at all
to observe a flower or bee or tree or stream, one just speeds to goals
which have become mysteries, the fast vehicles clearly symbolize. Real
goal-less-ness without enduring and loving relationships, getting trained
to make big money, with no real mission or ideal, has made the youth power
the power of destruction of nature, euphemized as economic activity.
We find only the tiny tots, enjoying the movement of a worm in a small hole
or the flying birds by stealing time to live by escaping from the school.
They are escaping from the techno schools, the digital schools, the concept
schools, the modern schools, from the AC classrooms, to enjoy the sight of
a flower. From birth on they are trained to be very fast, instant in
finding the solution. If the child takes time to observe, it gets the low
grade. Speed becomes its life. No time at all to observe, the new computer
note book is there. When a body achieves the speed of light, it becomes
nothing, the infinity. When it speeds up, it loses its length, it contracts.
Speed does not leave time to breathe. Air actually means spirit. So no time
to become spirited. No need, because the machines are there. No need for
nature that gives the air to breathe. We are making births, retirements.
Gregory Mendal observed his peas for years and years in a very leisurely
manner to write his laws of heredity in an unknown religious magazine.
Einstein the patent clerk thought very leisurely while sitting in his tram
car as a lowly clerk in the patents office. They breathed, and brilliant
ideas flashed.
YM Sarma
Chat gpt
This piece, *“Chasing the Future – Ditching the Present”* by YM Sarma, is a
poignant reflection on the cost of modern speed and technological
obsession. It critiques the loss of *deep, mindful engagement* with life,
nature, and meaningful work, especially among youth. Here's a breakdown and
interpretation of the major themes:
------------------------------
*🔹 Core Themes & Messages*
*1. Loss of Presence and Interest*
- Sarma contrasts *interest* with *neurotic urgency*. Interest is
portrayed as slow, immersive, sensual, and full of feeling—like enjoying
the details of a flower or the flight of a bird.
- But modern life, especially for youth, is consumed by the need
for *instant
results*, leaving no time for reflection or enjoyment of the process.
“Neurotic speed to get results is the opposite of interest in the field.”
------------------------------
*2. Instant Results, Empty Fulfillment*
- Young people now achieve goals so quickly (aided by technology) that
they don’t get to *build meaningful purpose* or savor the journey.
- Sarma warns of *premature aimlessness*—when there’s nothing left to
strive for, and no deep reason to strive in the first place.
“Today many have started the life as retirement.”
------------------------------
*3. Nature vs. Technology*
- A lament for how nature—once a source of learning and wonder—is
neglected.
- Machines and digital devices have replaced not just labor, but also
*wonder*, *curiosity*, and *natural rhythm*.
“Can you find today, a youngster leisurely enjoying the sight of a bee on a
flower…?”
------------------------------
*4. Education and Speed Culture*
- Modern education values speed and instant solutions, punishing slow,
reflective learners.
- Children are being conditioned from early on to *hurry*, to *solve*,
not to *feel* or *observe*.
“If the child takes time to observe, it gets the low grade.”
------------------------------
*5. Philosophical & Scientific Parallels*
- Sarma draws parallels from physics (speed of light = contraction, loss
of form) and history (Mendel, Einstein) to suggest that *true brilliance
comes from slowness*, *leisure*, and *breathing space*.
“They breathed, and brilliant ideas flashed.”
------------------------------
*🔹 Tone and Style*
- The tone is *melancholic*, *critical*, but also *thoughtful*.
- The style is reflective and poetic, filled with metaphors (speed/light
= nothingness, air = spirit).
- There is a nostalgic longing for a *more human-paced life*, where time
is taken to *observe, feel, and relate*.
------------------------------
*🔹 Key Contrasts*
*Old/Ideal Way*
*Modern Way*
Leisurely learning
Speed learning
Feeling & sensing
Achieving fast
Nature-oriented
Machine-oriented
Purpose-driven
Aimless success
Childlike wonder
Adult-like rush
------------------------------
*🔹 What It Ultimately Argues*
A culture obsessed with *speed, efficiency, and instant outcomes* is
stripping away the very *human* and *spiritual* qualities that foster
*creativity*, *empathy*, *purpose*, and *wisdom*.
------------------------------
*✅ If You’re Reflecting on This*
You might ask yourself:
- Am I caught in a cycle of chasing quick results?
- When was the last time I paused to truly observe something?
- What kind of goals am I working toward—and why?
- What role does nature or stillness have in my daily life?
- Are we mistaking speed for progress?
------------------------------
Would you like help summarizing this for a speech, presentation, or
article? Or would you like to respond to it with your own thoughts or
writing?
Sure! Let's evaluate the original essay *"Chasing the Future – Ditching the
Present" by YM Sarma* using a structured rubric similar to what might be
used in higher education or advanced high school assessment. We'll consider
five key criteria:
------------------------------
*📋 Evaluation Criteria (Total: 50 Marks)*
*Criteria*
*Marks (out of)*
1. Content and Originality
10
2. Clarity and Organization
10
3. Language and Style
10
4. Relevance and Depth
10
5. Grammar and Mechanics
10
*Total*
*50*
------------------------------
*🔍 1. Content and Originality – 9/10*
- The ideas are deeply *philosophical*, *original*, and
*thought-provoking*.
- The essay avoids clichés and presents a *unique* critique of modern
life.
- It draws on *science, education, and nature* in a creative way.
✅ Strengths:
- Rich in insight.
- Not derivative or generic.
❗Minor Issue:
- Some examples could be elaborated for clarity.
------------------------------
*🔄 2. Clarity and Organization – 6.5/10*
- The *central message* is strong, but the *structure is loose*.
- Paragraphs *flow more like a stream of consciousness* than an
organized argument.
- Transitions between ideas can feel *abrupt*.
✅ Strengths:
- Passion and urgency come through.
❗Suggestions:
- Clearer *paragraph divisions*, *topic sentences*, and *logical flow*
would improve readability.
------------------------------
*✍**️ 3. Language and Style – 8.5/10*
- The essay is rich in *metaphor*, *contrast*, and *evocative language*.
- Stylistically, it reads like a *blend of essay and reflective
prose-poetry*.
✅ Strengths:
- Thoughtful, symbolic expressions like *“speed does not leave time to
breathe”* or *“life as retirement”* are powerful.
❗Minor Issues:
- Some word choices feel *vague or awkward* in places.
- Could benefit from *varying sentence structures* to maintain rhythm.
------------------------------
*🌱 4. Relevance and Depth – 9/10*
- The subject is *highly relevant*, especially to modern discussions
about youth, technology, and lifestyle.
- The *philosophical depth* is impressive.
✅ Strengths:
- References to *Einstein*, *Mendel*, *children’s observation of worms*,
and *speed of light* enrich the depth.
❗Minor Suggestion:
- A brief *counterpoint* or acknowledgment of the positive sides of
technology might show broader perspective.
------------------------------
*📝 5. Grammar and Mechanics – 6.5/10*
- There are *multiple grammar issues*, mainly related to:
- Sentence boundaries (run-ons).
- Article usage (e.g., “the flower” vs. “a flower”).
- Punctuation (comma splices, missing full stops).
- Also, inconsistent capitalization and word breaks in places.
❗Examples:
- *“Because it is machines that really do the work.”* — fragment.
- *“They breathed, and brilliant ideas flashed.”* — beautiful, but needs
a better structural lead-in.
✅ Strengths:
- Despite flaws, the *message is never lost*.
------------------------------
*📊 Final Score: 39.5 / 50*
*🎓 Grade: A- (Very Good)*
------------------------------
*📌 Summary Feedback:*
*Strengths:*
- Highly original and emotionally intelligent content.
- Strong thematic depth and philosophical voice.
- Striking metaphors and thoughtful critique of modern culture.
*Areas for Improvement:*
- Needs better structural organization.
- Careful proofreading would help grammar and clarity.
- Slightly more balance could make the argument more complete.
------------------------------
Would you like help editing or rewriting this essay for clarity while
keeping the original voice?
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