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What is Time? ]
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A Little Light: Quotations
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Ancient
Wisdom Taught in a Modern Way!
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What is Time?
When thinking about time, most of us have been taught to think in terms of past, present
and future. The present seems to be where we are now, and is perceived to be constantly
moving forward into the future. The model of time shown in the diagram above is so deeply
ingrained in our minds that we generally don't even give it a second thought. However, this
common perception or model of time is completely incorrect. In fact, the notion of time itself
is entirely a function of memory (storage and retrieval), which creates the illusion that we're
on a timeline, always moving from the past into the future. In reality, time does not exist
at all, except as a single, timeless NOW, which is the true nature of what we are. The
so-called "space-time continuum" is entirely a function of memory, and if the scientist
would turn his "telescope" upon himself and his own consciousness, he might well discover
this.
"We divide time into determined periods that we call past, present and future, but
when we think of the present it is already part of the past. The only present that really
exists is presence. The notion of time comes into existence as thoughts succeed one
another. (...) We know time only as a succession of thoughts, based on memory. When we
clearly recognize memory as being only a thought, the illusion of time leaves us."
...Jean Klein
The above diagram is a much more accurate representation of what is happening (or rather,
not happening). Note that in this diagram, there's nothing shown to the right of "Now."
That's correct - the idea of "future" is entirely imaginary, and does not exist at all.
It's not simply that "the future never gets here," but that there simply is no such thing!
Likewise, our perception of the past is based on memory, and doesn't exist either. Time is
identical to memory, which is a function of thought. J. Krishnamurti, one of the great
20th century sage-philosophers, often spoke of our misperceptions regarding time. He often
equated time to thought, but it seems truer that both time and thought are functions of
memory (of course, memory can be looked at as a type of thought).
To understand the above diagram, first note that the broken horizontal line represents
memory, extending "back" into some unknown "past," presumably forever (or at least as far
back as memory extends, often to early childhood). In actuality, memory is itself contained
in the NOW, but there is no way to accurately represent this on a two-dimensional diagram.
Our perception of time "moving" comes from memory storage and retrieval, labeled above
as point "A." Memory is retrieved and brought into consciousness, manipulated by thought
(or better stated, *results in* thought), and again re-stored as new memory. This endless
"process" creates the illusion of movement through time, when in actuality nothing is
happening. The NOW is static and eternal, and actually doesn't represent a point in time
at all. If there is no past and no future, there is no "reference point" on which to base
a present, and so the NOW is truly eternal, and timeless. It is the "presence" of which
Jean Klein speaks.
If the memory storage-retrieval process (point "A" above) is somehow broken, or is gotten
under conscious control rather than remaining a neverending cycle, memory loses importance
and is mostly disregarded. If point "A" is removed or interrupted, even "for a moment,"
only the NOW remains, and the illusion of movement through time ceases. This is referred
to by some as "The Eternal Now" and is the natural state, undeceived by memory. Remember,
even a "momentary" break in the "A" cycle may bring the experience of timelessness, which
is our true nature. The NOW is what we truly are.
There is great bliss in not bearing the burden of the idea of a "future." If you can
yourself experience the fact that there is no future, a tremendous burden is lifted. If the
"future-idea" is seen for the fallacy it is, the rest will become clear immediately.
How to see it? Rest in the now, remaining what you are, aware of your own awareness.
Go deeply into your personal notion of time. Have you ever encountered a "future" that
actually arrived? Have you ever said "OK, now the future is here." And perhaps more
importantly... has the "future" often turned out to be exactly what you expected?
Remember, the "future" is actually a projection of the past (which is the totality of
memory, or the totality of the known). You can only think about the future -- and
always in terms of something learned or encountered in the past. Go into this, and
you will see.
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Emerson
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