Friday, November 03, 2006
DEEPENING CONSCIOUSNESS: TIME
We touched upon consciousness in the last blog. We stumbled upon two relationships quite naturally, Consciousness and Time and Consciousness & Space.
Both these aspects, the space and time, mean different things to different people. All our experiencing occurs within the realm of space and time, and because of the variations in the understanding of the concepts of space and time the understanding of consciousness gets partially or completely eclipsed. Since we make no progress with consciousness due to an inadequate perspective of space and time we tend to give up on this most wonderful field, the consciousness. In the process we miss out on life altogether, instead we satisfy ourselves with just plain living.
Time
Einstein climbed to the top of Mt Sinai to get close enough to God. Looking up he asked the Lord ……, ‘God, what does a million years mean to you?’ The Lord replied, ‘A minute.’ Einstein then asked, ‘And what does a million dollar mean to you?’ The Lord replied, ‘A penny.’ Einstein asked, ‘Can I have a penny?’ The Lord replied, ‘In a minute!’ From Internet Humor
Time in itself is the scale to measure change. We are not talking about lesser dimensions of time like chronological time, or a slightly larger canvas of past-present-future, but will attempt to unravel time on the largest possible canvas, the cosmic time.
Time has no beginning or end. To visualize anything without a beginning or an end is difficult if it is considered on a linear scale. Shifting imagination from a linear model to a circular model helps; the understanding is instantly transformed - a circle has no beginning or end.
Time should be more appropriately viewed as a circular flow instead of a linear flow, because everything in the cosmos is occurring in a cyclic pattern. There is a water cycle, a tree-seed cycle and everything is occurring in a particular cycle. The reasons for time appearing to be linear is the fact that time as a circle has a rather large curvature. If we view a small arc of a very large circle it will obviously appear to be a straight line. It is for this reason that the earth was considered flat by the western mind till sea faring became a possibility in the 15th century. You may recall the ridicule and persecution thrust upon Galileo by the Church when he propounded his theory that earth was not flat but was circular.
Time, being cyclic in nature, throws up the dimension of eternity, having no beginning and no end. It rolls on, on and on, forever at its own pace. The pace of time itself is not a constant; as Einstein atop Mt Sinai learnt from the Lord Himself! What you call a day and night here might be just a second on another planet. The earth goes around the sun in one year, but the sun itself is going around the galactic system, which takes around 200 million years!
The peculiarity of all cyclic existence is alternation of two aspects – manifestation and dissolution. Water, for example, exists as water and then dissolves back into the atmosphere and continues to exist as vapours. It continues to exist as vapour till many conditions again cause it to manifest as water. You would also have noticed that there is no randomness in Nature. There is a regularity of occurrence in any cycle, a kind of a harmony or laya.
This brings us to the extraordinary vision of time as given in our scriptures [also see Gita Chapter VIII, verse 16 to 20].
Just like we have day and night, manifestation of sunlight and its apparent disappearance, the circle of Absolute Time has two sides, one half of the circle as manifestation of creation and the other half of the circle as dissolution of the same. The Manifestation Phase, or the Day of Brahma, is the endurance of our solar system, which is equal to 4320x106 earth years [read 'ten raised to the power of six' here and every other place of occurrence]. The Night of Brahma is of an equal duration. This one cycle, a day and night of Brahma, i.e. 8640x106 earth years, is called a KALPA. At the commencement of each day of Brahma the three worlds [Bhu, Bhuvr, Sva, as in Gayatri Mantra] come into existence and at the end of the day dissolve back into their primal cause. The two moments, of appearance of manifestation and commencement of dissolution, are termed as Utapatti and Pralaya respectively, and the intervening period is called Sthiti. Each of these dimensions are presided by the deities Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh respectively.
Brahmas’ life, like human life, is also described to be 100 years. These 100 years are comprised of 365 days, but each cycle of day & night is 8640x106 earth years!! One life span of Brahma is termed as the Kaal.
What happens at the end of Brahma’s life span (of 31536x1010, [read 'ten raised to the power of ten'] terrestrial years)? At the end of Brahma’s life is a moment described as Mahapralay, when Brahma himself dissolves, and this state continues for another 100 Brahma years, after which a new Brahma appears. The cycle of time goes on.
Beyond Kaal ???
You may recall that Shiva is also referred to as Mahakaal and Chid.
Beyond Kaal is that aspect of Shiva that is called Mahakaal. The state of dissolution of Brahma is the time- consciousness receding into itself and existing as a more fundamental state of consciousness beyond time, a state of greater purity, as it were. When manifestation dissolves at the moment of Pralay and Mahapralaya, everything is resolved back to its primal condition, which we shall discuss subsequently.
Lower Dimensions of a Kalpa
A day of Brahma, i.e. 4320x106 earth years, is divided into 14 Manvantras, each presided by a Manu (teacher). At the end of each Manvantra a new Manu is born. The Manu for the current Manvantra, the seventh of the fourteen, is Vaivasvata [also refer Gita Chapter X, Verse 6].
Another scheme divides the day of Brahma in 1000 yuga-cycles, each of Satyug [1,728,000 years], Treta Yug [1,296,000 years], Dwapar Yug [864,000years] and Kali Yug [432,000 years], together adding up to 4320x106 earth years.
Such is the expansive view of time on a cosmic time scale.
How Does It Help You?
Look at the misery caused for those caught up in the time dimension. If a sensation persists longer than it should, it progressively becomes a ‘feeling’, an ‘emotion’, ‘temperament’ and finally an ‘emotional disorder’. If you were caught up in the yet narrower perspective of time, the past and the future rest assured that the hurts of the past and the anxiety of the future will ruin your present. But if you could live like a child, just consciousness, present in the Now, life becomes full of masti.
It is only when you permit your consciousness to emerge from its eclipsed state can you come to realize its higher dimensions that exist beyond time – the dimensions of space, energy and causation.
Shiva will then become a distinct possibility for you.
You will be able to realize Aham Brahmasmi or Shivo Hum.
May the joy of Shiva be yours!. May the Shiva bless your consciousness to attune to His consciousness!!.
Chidananda roopah, Shivoham, Shivoham
Note: If you would like a little help with the time dimension you may view the powerpoint presentation titled “TIME’ posted today i.e. 03 Nov @ our shared email ID abhayblog@gmail.com whose password is abhayji
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Both these aspects, the space and time, mean different things to different people. All our experiencing occurs within the realm of space and time, and because of the variations in the understanding of the concepts of space and time the understanding of consciousness gets partially or completely eclipsed. Since we make no progress with consciousness due to an inadequate perspective of space and time we tend to give up on this most wonderful field, the consciousness. In the process we miss out on life altogether, instead we satisfy ourselves with just plain living.
Time
Einstein climbed to the top of Mt Sinai to get close enough to God. Looking up he asked the Lord ……, ‘God, what does a million years mean to you?’ The Lord replied, ‘A minute.’ Einstein then asked, ‘And what does a million dollar mean to you?’ The Lord replied, ‘A penny.’ Einstein asked, ‘Can I have a penny?’ The Lord replied, ‘In a minute!’ From Internet Humor
Time in itself is the scale to measure change. We are not talking about lesser dimensions of time like chronological time, or a slightly larger canvas of past-present-future, but will attempt to unravel time on the largest possible canvas, the cosmic time.
Time has no beginning or end. To visualize anything without a beginning or an end is difficult if it is considered on a linear scale. Shifting imagination from a linear model to a circular model helps; the understanding is instantly transformed - a circle has no beginning or end.
Time should be more appropriately viewed as a circular flow instead of a linear flow, because everything in the cosmos is occurring in a cyclic pattern. There is a water cycle, a tree-seed cycle and everything is occurring in a particular cycle. The reasons for time appearing to be linear is the fact that time as a circle has a rather large curvature. If we view a small arc of a very large circle it will obviously appear to be a straight line. It is for this reason that the earth was considered flat by the western mind till sea faring became a possibility in the 15th century. You may recall the ridicule and persecution thrust upon Galileo by the Church when he propounded his theory that earth was not flat but was circular.
Time, being cyclic in nature, throws up the dimension of eternity, having no beginning and no end. It rolls on, on and on, forever at its own pace. The pace of time itself is not a constant; as Einstein atop Mt Sinai learnt from the Lord Himself! What you call a day and night here might be just a second on another planet. The earth goes around the sun in one year, but the sun itself is going around the galactic system, which takes around 200 million years!
The peculiarity of all cyclic existence is alternation of two aspects – manifestation and dissolution. Water, for example, exists as water and then dissolves back into the atmosphere and continues to exist as vapours. It continues to exist as vapour till many conditions again cause it to manifest as water. You would also have noticed that there is no randomness in Nature. There is a regularity of occurrence in any cycle, a kind of a harmony or laya.
This brings us to the extraordinary vision of time as given in our scriptures [also see Gita Chapter VIII, verse 16 to 20].
Just like we have day and night, manifestation of sunlight and its apparent disappearance, the circle of Absolute Time has two sides, one half of the circle as manifestation of creation and the other half of the circle as dissolution of the same. The Manifestation Phase, or the Day of Brahma, is the endurance of our solar system, which is equal to 4320x106 earth years [read 'ten raised to the power of six' here and every other place of occurrence]. The Night of Brahma is of an equal duration. This one cycle, a day and night of Brahma, i.e. 8640x106 earth years, is called a KALPA. At the commencement of each day of Brahma the three worlds [Bhu, Bhuvr, Sva, as in Gayatri Mantra] come into existence and at the end of the day dissolve back into their primal cause. The two moments, of appearance of manifestation and commencement of dissolution, are termed as Utapatti and Pralaya respectively, and the intervening period is called Sthiti. Each of these dimensions are presided by the deities Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh respectively.
Brahmas’ life, like human life, is also described to be 100 years. These 100 years are comprised of 365 days, but each cycle of day & night is 8640x106 earth years!! One life span of Brahma is termed as the Kaal.
What happens at the end of Brahma’s life span (of 31536x1010, [read 'ten raised to the power of ten'] terrestrial years)? At the end of Brahma’s life is a moment described as Mahapralay, when Brahma himself dissolves, and this state continues for another 100 Brahma years, after which a new Brahma appears. The cycle of time goes on.
Beyond Kaal ???
You may recall that Shiva is also referred to as Mahakaal and Chid.
Beyond Kaal is that aspect of Shiva that is called Mahakaal. The state of dissolution of Brahma is the time- consciousness receding into itself and existing as a more fundamental state of consciousness beyond time, a state of greater purity, as it were. When manifestation dissolves at the moment of Pralay and Mahapralaya, everything is resolved back to its primal condition, which we shall discuss subsequently.
Lower Dimensions of a Kalpa
A day of Brahma, i.e. 4320x106 earth years, is divided into 14 Manvantras, each presided by a Manu (teacher). At the end of each Manvantra a new Manu is born. The Manu for the current Manvantra, the seventh of the fourteen, is Vaivasvata [also refer Gita Chapter X, Verse 6].
Another scheme divides the day of Brahma in 1000 yuga-cycles, each of Satyug [1,728,000 years], Treta Yug [1,296,000 years], Dwapar Yug [864,000years] and Kali Yug [432,000 years], together adding up to 4320x106 earth years.
Such is the expansive view of time on a cosmic time scale.
How Does It Help You?
Look at the misery caused for those caught up in the time dimension. If a sensation persists longer than it should, it progressively becomes a ‘feeling’, an ‘emotion’, ‘temperament’ and finally an ‘emotional disorder’. If you were caught up in the yet narrower perspective of time, the past and the future rest assured that the hurts of the past and the anxiety of the future will ruin your present. But if you could live like a child, just consciousness, present in the Now, life becomes full of masti.
It is only when you permit your consciousness to emerge from its eclipsed state can you come to realize its higher dimensions that exist beyond time – the dimensions of space, energy and causation.
Shiva will then become a distinct possibility for you.
You will be able to realize Aham Brahmasmi or Shivo Hum.
May the joy of Shiva be yours!. May the Shiva bless your consciousness to attune to His consciousness!!.
Chidananda roopah, Shivoham, Shivoham
Note: If you would like a little help with the time dimension you may view the powerpoint presentation titled “TIME’ posted today i.e. 03 Nov @ our shared email ID abhayblog@gmail.com whose password is abhayji
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