Time
Some thoughts on time:
When Krishnamurti and many other spiritual teachers speak about being fully in the present moment, they are pointing towards a state of consciousness where one's attention is fully immersed in the “now”, free from the constant stream of thoughts, judgments, and narratives that often occupy our minds. This state of consciousness can provide a sense of profound peace, clarity, and connection with life as it is.
This state of presence doesn't negate the existence of the past or the future, but rather changes our relationship to them. In a state of presence, one isn't driven by past fears or future desires. Instead, one meets each moment as it arises, free from the conditioning of the past and the anticipation of the future. In this state, action can arise from a place of clarity, insight, and understanding that may not be available when our minds are consumed by thoughts of the past and future.
As for your point about the present moment “containing” all past and future moments, there is a sense in which this is true. The present moment is the culmination of all past moments, and the seed of all future moments. But this doesn't mean that we have access to all past and future information in the present moment. Instead, it means that the present moment is the only place where we can truly act and interact with life.
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When we say that the present moment is the culmination of all past moments, we are acknowledging that everything that is happening right now is the result of an innumerable sequence of causes and effects that have unfolded over time. For instance, the fact that you're reading this message right now is the result of a vast and complex series of events. You were born, you learned to read, you obtained a device capable of accessing the internet, you came across this conversation, and so on. Similarly, the earth is in its current position because of its path around the sun, which is shaped by the gravitational forces of our solar system, which is in turn shaped by the physics of our universe. In this sense, everything in the present moment is the product of what has come before.
As for the present moment being the seed of all future moments, this is an acknowledgment that the actions we take and the decisions we make now are what shape the future. For example, if you decide to learn a new skill today, that will open up new possibilities for you in the future. The actions you take in this moment are like seeds planted in the ground, which will grow into the future reality based on the conditions they encounter.
However, it's important to understand that this isn't a deterministic view of time. While the past influences the present, and the present shapes the future, there's always room for creativity, novelty, and unexpected events. The future is not a fixed destination but a range of possibilities that are shaped by the actions we take in the present.
As such, when we fully immerse ourselves in the present moment, we are at the nexus of this flow of time. We engage with the world as it is, influenced by the past, and as it could be, shaping the future. Being present allows us to respond to life more consciously and effectively, rather than reacting based on our conditioned patterns of thought and behavior.
This way of understanding time and presence is quite different from our usual mode of being, where we often dwell on the past or worry about the future. But with practice, we can cultivate this quality of presence and bring it into our everyday lives.