In the beginning, there was no beginning…

While meditating on ‘infinity’ the following observations arose:

Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity describes the motion of particles moving at close to the speed of light. Einstein predicted that time does not flow at a fixed rate: moving clocks appear to tick more slowly relative to their stationary counterparts. But this effect only becomes really significant at very high velocities that approach the speed of light.

It has been said that Einstein did not say that time does not exist, rather that time is not the same for all observers. However, in my view, time is an illusion.

The great Greek philosopher Zeno studied the problem of motion (time-space) and in his postulate, known as Zeno’s Paradox stated:

“…in order to have motion—a thing must move from where it is, to where it is not. Since a thing clearly cannot be where it is not, motion is impossible.”

In struggling to understand Zeno’s paradox it is useful to consider how we use words to describe apparent reality. Zeno, without defining motion, leads us to the conclusion that motion is impossible. Our use of words precludes anything other than either a yes or no, motion or no motion, hot or cold, white or black, etc. Early physicists discuss motion as being intrinsically tied to time and space. Albert Einstein went further and said that there is no such thing as a separate time and a separate space; there is only time-space. Had Zeno been aware of Einstein’s postulate he might have rephrased his paradox to say, ‘In order to have absolute stability, or motionlessness, there must be no time-space. Since time-space pervades all, a lack of motion is impossible.’ A Buddhist, or don Juan might say that neither interpretation is quite right. Motion, is merely a non-binding modification in consciousness.”

All of our representations occur within a closed system of perceptions received and interpreted by the senses. Waves of bounced radiation from the world of external objects are received, analyzed and reconstructed by consciousness. After this process is repeated innumerable times, consciousness forgets that these reconstructed reflected waves are not the external objects themselves! In a relative sense we can perceive the external world; in the ultimate sense we cannot know exactly what the external world is. This is significant because we live in a word constructed world. Our pointers to ‘reality’ are merely relative, not ultimate, and thus representations are uniquely individual.

The Four Yogas Of Enlightenment ©,
Guide To Don Juan’s Nagualism & Esoteric Buddhism, Chapter 2
Edward Plotkin

The problem with Einstein’s theory is that if space is infinite, time must be infinite as well. That which is infinite can not be parsed. For example, you can take the middle section, so to speak, of an infinite ruler and create arbitrary divisions, but you can never take the entire ruler and divide it, because you can never reach the ruler’s ends. Thus a universe beyond dimension, is of necessity….. beyond time. Time being defined as the amount of something (minutes, seconds, etc.) occurring beyond this very moment. However, if the universe is infinite, then it stands to reason that this moment is infinite, and just as the ruler can only be mentally sliced, but not actually; this moment is the only moment that exists Now and for eternity. There is no moment beyond this moment, nor is there any other moment. Just the ever present eternal Now.

If Einstein had stated that space is finite, then at least theoretically time could be sliced into bits of minutes, seconds, etc. However, for space to be finite, there must be an end to the universe somewhere, and nothing beyond. How can that be? It would be like a piece of paper without a backside. For the universe to exist in any actual manner it must exist everywhere (both front, back, and forever). If the universe does not exist everywhere, then it cannot exist everywhen. If it does not exist everywhen, then it must not exist thiswhen. If it does not exist thiswhen, then who is writing this, and to whom? This is too much even for me. I’ve got to get out of here. But to where? And when?

From the meditator’s point of view….past and future are merely words describing events that occur in this only moment of the eternal Now. No one has ever observed the atom (matter particle), nor the past and future (time particles). They’re just words spoken in the eternal Now, utilized in an attempt to describe the ineffable. The meditator’s point of view is that consciousness precedes matter. In fact, the entire apparent material universe is arising in union with appearance and emptiness as an aspect of the One great consciousness. But, that is another matter (pun intended) to be discussed at some time in the future (pun intended).

Edward Plotkin
The Four Yogas Of Enlightenment
Guide to don Juan’s Nagualism & Esoteric Buddhism
http://www.FourYogas.com