What is time if not a concept of the mind? It is a concept that is used to solidify a false sense of identity based on the so-called past which operates in conjunction with projection into the so-called future. Our entire lives revolve around this concept of time - past, present and future. A life devoid of time is perceived as an impossibility, for we believe that there is no mind without the concept of time. As this concept of time has taken control over our lives, what we call reality is nothing but our own circumscribed deluded reality which only exists within our own mental prison. Since time is but a fleeting phenomenon, and this we can easily perceive, our idea of existence can only be shadowed by a sense of futility, a path that leads to nowhere other than the abyss of suffering that is our world.
Almost every single human mind abides by the laws of ignorance and sorrow; this is our history - the history of mankind. It is our reality - a reality to which we have become so accustomed that we remain insensitive to its futility. So here we are, maintaining a vicious cycle, residing in a place of stagnation, repeating the same story over and over again.
When inquiring about what is real or if the world is real, we cannot but come to the conclusion that our entire world view may need to change radically, that superficial modifications will not suffice; we must come to a place of complete transformation. This is where the question of dropping the mind altogether comes into play. If we come to a place of realization where the mind is seen just as a bundle of ideas, is it not enough to drop it altogether when inquiring about what is real? How can reality as a whole be circumscribed within the limitations of ideas? Any adherence to ideas can only be fruitless and deceptive.
When one comes to the realization that the mind cannot be trusted, is it not enough to drop it, just as if it were an old piece luggage that is carried around, but never used? To walk out of the prison of time is to transcend the mind, and when there is no mind, life assumes its true expression as infinite being. This is our true identity. This is where the totality of consciousness resides, for the only thing that is real is that which has not been created, that which exists beyond the mind, beyond all notions of time and space. This is the reality of the absolute. This is the nature of who we are in actuality; anything else is a dream.
Deluded consciousness exists
Deluded consciousness exists in the environment of time. What aspect of the mind is addicted to the concept of time and refuses to let it go?
It is not so much that there
It is not so much that there is a part that does not want to let go of time but it is of the nature of mind to function within the structure of time and space, without which there would not be any material for thinking, as there wouldn't be any possibility to establish any sense of identity whatsoever.
The mind defines itself by objects of perception which revolve around thinking and thinking cannot process anything without the presence of time. Without time there cannot be any thinking, and as the mind relies on thinking to develop its sense of existence, it can only abide by the rules of time and physicality.
Any object that appears within consciousness must have its roots in time for no object of perception may appear without time. Any sense of identification with an 'I-thought' has to be embedded within the framework of time, for without time, which is the apparent movement of past, present and future, there would be no material to consolidate any sense of identity; there would be no point of orientation. Without time, the mind would simply not exist and this is why the notion of time cannot be set aside by the mind itself for it is itself.
It is because we rely on the mind to understand who we are that we do not get to the very essence of who we are - since this very essence lies far beyond time and beyond all objects of perception. One has to understand what the mind is in order to transcend it. When the mind is seen for what it is - as an organism that can only function within time - one comes to the question as to whether time itself does exist independently from the mind. If time does not exist independently from the mind then how is the mind to assume that reality can only be defined through time? Time is but a reflection of the mind's limitations. The mind is certainly not the whole reality, for there has to be something existing prior to the mind which can only be one's true nature - the infinite. The mind and its essential inseparability from time can only come out of emptiness, for without emptiness nothing could have the space to appear.
When time is seen as an expression of the mind - one of the mind's innate aspects, just as the never-ending search for self-definition and expansion are innate aspects - one can only come to the realization that mind is not who one really is and that, therefore, reality cannot be circumscribed by the limits of the mind. This can only bring the mind to a place of silence. With this awareness, one no longer views oneself through the mind but from a place of silence which can only reveal that one's true nature has nothing to do with an individual; the true nature is nothing other than infinite being.
You say that the mind is
You say that the mind is time, that the mind operates within the structure of time, without which, there would be no thinking. You also say that time is the creation of mind, and that it cannot exist independent of the mind’s creation, and that the mind would have nothing to identify with if there were no time. Since time does not exist on its own, and since it is, after all, just another thought, could it not be a simple endeavor to dismantle this concept once and for all? For many of us it is a difficult task to truly realize the falsity of the ego identity. Would it not be simpler to fully realize the falsity of this one dominant thought structure, the structure of time?
There is no predominance of
There is no predominance of one thought over other thoughts for thought is but a thought and nothing else. The thought of time itself is intangible and can only lead to another thought. Even if you are to discard that particular thought from the mind, another thought is soon to take its place which leads to another thought.
If you try to remove one thought or another, no matter what that thought is, you will realize that thoughts are endless and thus, the attempt to remove a single thought from the mind is also without end. It is not the particular thought that is the problem but the mind that holds on to the thought, thus identifying itself with it. Remove the mind and you will find that no thought is of any problem whatsoever.
The thought of time or no time is but just a thought. You cannot think of no time as you cannot think of emptiness. You may have a thought about it, but the thought is not and cannot possibly be what no time or emptiness may be. You may strive to remove the thought of time, but you won't discard the influence of time over your mind for you will still be holding onto other thoughts which are but a construct of time. Therefore, it is not time that you remove from your thinking but merely the thought of time which is impossible anyway. For thinking is time. Even if you were to be born on an Island where the conventional idea of time does not signify anything, you would still be thinking about the things you did yesterday and the things you might be doing tomorrow. There is no way out with thinking. You can only remain silent and not identifying with any thinking whatsoever.
When you simply witness the flow of the thought process, you come to that primary thought which is the origin of all thoughts. It is the thought of the "I", which is the mind. You must go to the very source of thought in order to control all thoughts; this is to remain in a place where no thought can hinder the silence of your true nature, which is independent from the process of thought.
If you strive to remove one single thought, who is the "I" that tries to do that if not another thought - the thought of removing another thought. The thought of time cannot be removed from the thought of no time. Thoughts cannot lead but to other thoughts. There is no end in that process. One can only step out of the thought process altogether. The attempt to remove a single thought is to give a reality to another thought that you are unconscious off.
If you give your whole attention to a single thought, you come to the realization that thought is intangible, and therefore it does not need to be removed from consciousness since it is of a transitory nature. If you give importance to a particular thought, you are inclined to give it a reality that it does not have. You end up identifying with a thought while going around in a circle. You must retrieve the root of that particular thought, which is the I-thought, in order to free yourself from that particular thought. But at that point, you are simply no longer identifying with the "I-thought", which is the mind. Not only are you free from that particular thought of time but from all thoughts; this is to reside in the stillness and peace of your true nature, which is infinite and independent. This is the end of time.
The present moment
How does time relate to the realization of the true self, since we are all moving towards self-realization, on whatever level. Which implies that time has its effect somehow, otherwise we would not pursue any inquiry. Therefore, what is the present moment doing in it all?
First, we must understand
First, we must understand that time, as we conceive it in terms of past, present and future, is but a mere interpretation imposed on the totality of existence, an artificial concept determined by the limitations and the ignorance of the mind. We can call it a linear representation of existence, but there are other possible representations that could indicate something multidimensional, for there are, indeed, within our so-called linear reality of human existence, other parallel realities, imperceptible realities that govern the course and activities of all humankind.
Time may mean many things but for now we will deal with the conventional representation of it, so that we may understand that this is actually a hindrance to the realization of true being. However, the same concept of time that has become ingrained in all of our activities may also be used for self-knowledge, for time can be conceived as energy as well. We like to say that time is money but what we really mean is that we wish that energy may be used to make money, and with time, this energy may become fruitful. In fact, the very same concept may be applied to self-knowledge. The more energy you invest in self-awareness, the more fruitful your life will become. This is a truth that will be confirmed as detached awareness is incorporated in all activities. Therefore, time and space may be of service for you. For time will give an occasion, again and again, to deepen this state of awareness, till awareness alone directs your very existence and thus governs the entire flow of time and space.
It is important to mention that awareness itself does not function in the context of so-called linear time, in fact, it dispels the illusion of time and space, as it encompasses the totality of the present moment, which is the essential reality. But to say that time is a non-existence is as misleading as saying that only the now is all there is, for the present moment is everything that time may represent and it is also the void of the so-called present moment. It is beyond all time and space... something that cannot be understood and certainly not something that may be conceived as a mere gap in between the past and the future, for the present moment is multidimensional. For instance, it is no great feat for the mind to go back and forth into the past and the future which is contained within the totality of existence. A mere vision of the possible consequence of your action may allow you to foresee the future so as to alter it, and thus, at the same moment, alter the past. It can all be achieved through awareness within the present moment. By altering your perception of the present moment, not only are you altering the past but also the future.
After all, past, present and future are but a mere play within the vastness and purity of true being. The day realization takes over, everything about yourself and the universe at large will be transformed; it will appear as if nothing ever existed and yet, at the very same moment, everything is being re-created.
Ending time
There is something almost comical about this interest we are seeing in the so-called present moment. Obviously, if now is all there is, there can be no notion of now, as there is nothing to compare it to. We can only speak of darkness as a concept relative to light, softness in relation to hardness, etc. So if time is nonexistent, if past and future are nonexistent, now has no meaning. However, people who take up the practice of nowology usually get stuck in the established notions of time, and still perceive this elusive now as the piece of meat in the sandwich of time. They see it as that which lies between past and future, in a linear framework, and this is a big problem. Now, considering the fact that ego cannot exist in the present moment, that it lives within the environment of time, and that to eliminate time is to eliminate ego, the process of self-realization may be streamlined by one simple maneuver: the elimination of time from consciousness. Any suggestions on deleting time from the hard drive?
What is the so-called NOW?
What is the so-called NOW? Is it just an interval existing between the past and the future? If so, one has certainly not gone past the illusory structure of time, but has assigned a slightly different emphasis to the concept. This concept of time remains entombed in a relative framework, since the present cannot be conceived without the idea of a past and a future. If neither past nor future were in our minds, the idea of a present would be meaningless. There would be no idea of a NOW, therefore no idea of either a past nor a future. The idea of living in the NOW may bring about a destabilization of ingrained patterns of dwelling on the past and living in a fantasy future, but as long as this NOW remains an idea, the mind is maintaining illusion. Ultimately, the entire realm of ideas must be transcended.
When the whole concept of time collapses, the NOW is no longer perceived in the context of this linear pattern of mind. In the real NOW, past and future are not just held in abeyance, they are banished, thereby revealing that which is the only reality, the reality which cannot be named nor framed into any conceptualization. Beyond any notion of time, there can only be what is, which is nameless and formless, infinite and permanent - that which cannot be contained within the mind. One can only abide in formlessness in order to transcend all notions of time and space. When there is no longer any direction whatsoever, the mind can only come to an end and this is a transformation of consciousness and not merely a deconstruction. It is the radical shift in the mind's orientation in which the real is recognized as that which remains independent of all mind activity or inactivity.