Manly P. Hall — Lecture 311

“Making the Best Possible Use of Available Time” (12/12/1982)

Detailed Summary

🌅 I. Opening Perspective: Time as the Primary Human Asset

Hall begins by framing time as the one universal resource distributed equally to all beings—rich or poor, educated or uneducated, fortunate or unfortunate. Unlike wealth, talent, or opportunity, time is the only truly democratic commodity. The tragedy, he argues, is not that people lack time, but that they misuse it through distraction, confusion, and unexamined living.

He stresses that the philosophical life begins with the recognition that time is the substance of destiny: how we use it determines the quality of our character, our relationships, and our spiritual growth.

🧭 II. The Problem of “Wasted Time” in Modern Living

Hall identifies several forces that drain time without offering meaning:

1. Mental Dissipation

• Constant internal chatter
• Emotional turbulence
• Worry, resentment, and replaying old injuries

These consume enormous psychic energy and leave the individual exhausted without producing anything constructive.

2. Cultural Distraction

He critiques the “entertainment‑driven” society—television, gossip, trivial news, and social noise—which encourages passive consumption rather than active participation in life.

3. Misplaced Priorities

People often:

• Work excessively for material gain
• Pursue status or approval
• Fill schedules with obligations that do not nourish the soul

Hall argues that time is lost not by accident but by misalignment.

🔍 III. The Philosophical View of Time

Hall shifts to a metaphysical lens:

1. Time as Opportunity for Soul Growth

Each day is a “lesson plan” arranged by life itself. The events we encounter are not random but curricular experiences designed to refine character.

2. Time as a Moral Substance

How we use time reflects our ethical maturity.

• The selfish waste time.
• The wise invest it.
• The enlightened consecrate it.

3. Time as Rhythm

He emphasizes the natural cycles—daily, seasonal, and life‑stage rhythms. Working with these rhythms rather than against them leads to harmony and efficiency.

🧘 IV. Practical Methods for Making Better Use of Time

Hall offers a series of practical, almost monastic disciplines:

1. Clarify Purpose

A person who knows what they are trying to become will naturally organize their time around that aim.

2. Reduce Mental Clutter

He recommends:

• Quiet reflection
• Periodic withdrawal from noise
• Simplicity in possessions and commitments

This creates “inner space” where time can be used consciously.

3. Establish Daily Rituals

Small, consistent habits—reading, meditation, study, service—accumulate into profound transformation.

4. Avoid “Time Thieves”

These include:

• Idle conversation
• Unnecessary errands
• Emotional entanglements
• Overcommitment

Hall is not advocating ascetic withdrawal but intentional living.

5. Practice Mindfulness in Action

Every task, even mundane ones, can become meaningful when performed with attention and goodwill.

🧱 V. The Role of Discipline and Self‑Regulation

Hall emphasizes that discipline is the architecture of time well spent.

1. Self‑Control as a Time‑Saver

Impulsiveness scatters energy. Discipline gathers it.

2. Emotional Maturity

By refusing to be ruled by irritation, jealousy, or fear, we reclaim hours otherwise lost to emotional turbulence.

3. Intellectual Discipline

He encourages:

• Reading with purpose
• Studying subjects that uplift
• Avoiding “junk ideas” (a theme he develops in other lectures)

The mind becomes a tool rather than a tyrant.

🌱 VI. Time and the Growth of Character

Hall argues that character is the true product of time well used.

1. The Slow Accumulation of Virtue

Patience, kindness, integrity, and wisdom are built through thousands of small decisions.

2. The Importance of Service

Time spent helping others is never wasted; it aligns the individual with universal law.

3. The Legacy of Time

He reminds listeners that the only enduring monument is the quality of one’s life—not possessions, but the influence one leaves on others.

🌄 VII. The Spiritual Dimension of Time

Hall closes with a metaphysical reflection:

1. Time as a Bridge Between Worlds

The physical world is the arena where the soul expresses its potential. Time is the medium through which spiritual intention becomes lived reality.

2. The Eternal Within the Temporal

By using time wisely, we touch eternity. By wasting time, we drift further from our own purpose.

3. The Final Accounting

At the end of life, individuals do not regret what they lacked, but what they failed to do with the time they had.

⭐ VIII. Closing Message

Hall ends with a gentle but firm exhortation:

• Live simply.
• Think clearly.
• Act kindly.
• Use each day as a stepping‑stone toward inner excellence.

Time, he says, is not an enemy but a sacred companion—a silent teacher urging us toward the best within ourselves.