How can time and timelessness co-exist? Are they separate realities, or is there no separation between the two? Philosophers have asked these questions since the beginning of “time.” Many dimensions, galaxies and universes rest within the realm we call timelessness.
Linear time reminds me of the time-clock I punch as I enter and exit the workplace. While at work and in the world of medicine, strict times are logged as to the moment when critical events occur such as a birth, a death, a surgery or a test. The subject of time is often a discussion in psychic and metaphysical circles. The final analysis can be summed up: Time does not exist. Pearl the dog knows this. I learn more about time from watching her reaction, as she fully lives within the sphere of timelessness. Linear time bears no meaning for her. Thus, I explore the subject of time and no time, with the eyes of my dog guiding me. Every now and then, I start thinking about "time" – finite “time.” I think about how now-a-days people talk about how fast time goes by. Even younger people talk about this. We are all experiencing it, no matter what age we are. It feels like a celestial speed-up. In the blink of an eye, life as we know it transforms into something else.
Watching the clock seems to have an effect of slowing down time. Often we watch the clock because we are in a situation we wish would end. This is virtually an exercise in wishing our lives away. Sometimes we love something or someone so much we don't want the experience to end. But the nature of the Universe is “change.” Finite experiences do not and will not last forever. Our loved ones die, yet we either know we will reunite with them or we doubt that this will ever happen.
Paradoxically, we can get lost in a project and hours go by, yet it feels like a single minute. Dishes go unwashed, or the list for the day gets tossed into the trash. A good example is when I’m writing this blog. If I think about writing 1000 or more blog posts, I feel as if the years are speeding by, and I no longer want to write them. When I concentrate on writing each word, like the flow of the “in” and “out” breath, I feel like I am touching a place called the “Eternal Now.” The experience of each word comes with its own synchronicity. Suddenly a thought is reflected by someone who is reading it, or by a TV program, or an internet site that happens to come my way. Then it's on to the next word – and I reflect, listen and pause in order to translate incoming data of what I am destined to write that day. Words written in this way are effortless. There is no "time," only a feeling that this could go on forever.
The mind perceives both time and timelessness, and it is the mind that embraces both the greatness and the smallness of who we are. Most of us are neither rich nor famous. We do not live in the excitement of Academy Award celebrations or Olympic Gold Medal ceremonies. Our experiences happen in the ordinary, everyday flow of rhythm and routine. When we awaken to the extraordinary, the common flow doesn't change. We wake up every morning, drink our coffee or tea, go to work, or not. We eat, drink and talk together throughout the day. Hopefully we exercise our bodies, as well as rest and meditate in solitude. We sit with our dog as she sleeps. When we place a hand upon her body and listen to her breathing, we slow down.
When we awaken to the extraordinary, we see that life is exquisitely beautiful. If we see it as it really is, we can learn to laugh again, feel safe and rest serenely in the palm of Goddess’ hand. This eternal, timeless moment can be recollected at any time, for this is where we come from and where we eventually will go – and where we are now with each pause between the “in” and “out” breath.
The mind stands in the way of us experiencing the timeless, ever present now. It is the mind that thinks too much and sees life as ordinary, bland or boring. This capacity to ignore the absolute splendor which is all around us is truly ignorant – and ignorance is not bliss.
Noticing the world around us, seeing the flock of grackles blacken the blue sky, listening to the geese fly above in the Autumn sky, allows the questioning mind to fade into obscurity.
It is only possible to live happily ever after in the here and now.