[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next]
[Main Index][Thread Index]

# Re: Time

#### Message 02437 of 3835

- To: BardonPraxis@yahoogroups.com
- Subject: Re: Time
- From: "Martin" <martin@...>
- Date: Tue, 13 Apr 2004 12:20:01 -0000
- In-reply-to: <006001c420d3$e0833520$8aa17fd8@ownerbqacdlzy6>
- User-agent: eGroups-EW/0.82

    Dear Rawn,

    Thank you for your reply. It has given me food for thought.

    >>This is a very valid thought. However, very few folks are capable
    of taking what they need from the Now and must un-learn the habits
    that prevent them from this. This is what takes time. :) Change
    also takes time, or rather, it requires a sequential series of small
    changes, lest the organism be changed so radically that it disrupts
    continuity and immediately ceases to exist.<<

    When you write about 'un-learning the habits', I assume this
    ultimately boils down to the interference of the ego/egoic mind; the
    small self-made sense of self which the vast majority of humans
    (myself included!) continually associate with and place the whole of
    their identity into.

    On a personal level, I feel I am becoming evermore conscious of the
    divide between my egoic self and 'my' higher consciousness. I sense
    this as a tremendous internal battle which I am currently finding
    difficult to resolve. I can almost tangibly feel my ego fighting and
    resisting any changed which I may try to implement. I even stop to
    think about my use of the words 'I' and 'me' - although at this
    stage if I paused for too long to dwell on that point, I might be in
    danger of losing my sanity :) I am finding it difficult to sustain a
    regular spiritual practice because of this internal(?) conflict.
    However, since my obsessive thoughts are telling me that it would
    just be easier to give up and retain the status quo, and I recognize
    this as a tactice for self-preservation, a part of me is not willing
    to simply let things lie as they are, and I know that this
    increasing sense of panic by the egoic self must mean that it feels
    threatened and if it feels threatened, it must be by something
    bigger (and more True?). Hmmm... I think I just got lost in my own
    train of thought, so goodness knows what you will make of it all. I
    am hoping that there will be something that someone else recognizes
    here... or am I just losing my mind? ;-)

    >>Simply connecting with the infinite Now is an impractical way of
    creating permanent change within a modern individual, because
    functioning in our world demands that we also function at the level
    of awareness that experiences the *sequence* of time.<<

    I see what you mean. Tolle recommends that we also retain a
    percentage of our awareness within the inner body as we go about our
    business so that we rarely lose touch with what he calls 'Space
    Consciousness'. He talks/writes about creating a space
    around 'things' (including thoughts) so that we are not always 100%
    drawn into 'object consciousness'. Noticing the underlying field of
    silence/stillness in any moment creates a space and allows us to
    step back and observe a life situation without being totally
    immersed in the pull of 'things' in our life which all demand
    attention.

    >> Actually, following Bardon's sequential system makes perfect
    sense for two reasons. Number one it honors the fact that this is
    how those of us who live in the world of clocks must learn and must
    change ourselves. And number two, because it inevitably leads to the
    awareness of the infinite Now and the ability to integrate the
    infinite amount of information contained therein.<<

    This does make sense to me, but isn't time a man-made concept? Do we
    not have the power to *choose* to step out of it when we wish? Now
    assuming this is true (which it may not be, it's just an idea), I
    can see that we could require *time* to undo our misperception, but
    wouldn't that be paradoxical assuming that time is illusory? Would
    it not be like a dog chasing its own tail?

    I have been reading sections of 'A Course in Miracles' which is
    distinctly Christian in its language. Personally, I hold no specific
    *religious* beliefs and have recently been reading books based on
    various teachings inclusing the Kabbalah and Zen Buddhism. Possibly
    due to my upbringing, I have never had much interest in Christian
    teachings - and although this book is by no means 'traditional', I
    thought I would try to redress the balance in my understanding of
    different approaches to spirituality. Anyway, here is a passage
    which I think fits in with this discussion of time:

    "You have elected to be in time rather than eternity, and therefore
    believe you *are* in time. Yet your election is both free and
    alterable. You do not belong in time. Your place is only in
    eternity, where God Himself placed you forever."

    >>Or perhaps he is thinking in terms of a complete shift to
    awareness of the Now. If so, then, as has always been the case, the
    only remedy for the present state of affairs if for *all* of
    humanity (or at the very least 1-2 *billion* individuals) to make
    this shift simultaneously. If the shift is not made globally, then
    the situation will not change on the global scale that is presently
    necessary. To my mind, this is where the sequential systems of
    spiritual advancement are essential as they lead to, or prepare
    individuals for, that global shift.<<

    Wow... OK, whereas before I had a feeling I was out of my depth; now
    I know I am :) However, ever the fool, I have a couple of questions:

    How will the shift be made simultaneously? What will instigate the
    shift? Will number of people who have become individually
    enlightened automatically lead to a shift in global consciousness?

    >>On a slightly different note but related to the same topic of time
    verses personal development, Peter has experimented (successfully)
    with TMO in this regard. He used a variation of "setting the tone
    of the temporal moment" to connect with his future-self at a point
    in time-space where certain abilities have been fully developed. :)
    <<

    Now I feel like Martin in Wonderland ;-). This idea of time travel
    blows my mind. I've so many broad questions on that, I wouldn't know
    where to begin. So I'll start with a more limited, concrete question
    (and possibly one which had a very obvious answer): what benefit
    does Peter derive from connecting to a future self? Is he able to
    act *as* that future self or merely observe? Or does he converse
    with the future self? I am trying to figure out the logic of it for
    myself. To my mind two selves could not exist simultaneouly, because
    we exist in our own "pocket of Nowness", so to connect to one's
    future-self would be to *be* that future self for that span
    of 'time'. Am I right? I have a headache now.

    >> No, I haven't. Can you provide us with a weblink or titles of
    books, etc.?<<

    Oh! I can answer this bit!

    Eckhart Tolle's book is called 'The Power of Now' and is published
    by Hodder & Stoughton. The ISBN number is: 0 340 73350 0

    His website is: www.eckharttolle.com

    To listen to fairly long extracts from his audio material (or to
    download the full CDs), go to:

    http://www.audible.com and search for 'Eckhart Tolle', then click on
    the title and you will hve the option of listening to a sample.

    Martin

- Follow-Ups:
  - Re: Re: Time
    - From: "Rawn Clark" <rawnclark@...>

- References:
  - Re: Time
    - From: "Rawn Clark" <rawnclark@...>

- Prev by Date: Re: Closed Eye Visualisations
- Next by Date: Re: Digest Number 420
- Previous by thread: Re:Time /Tolle
- Next by thread: Re: Re: Time
- Indexes:
  - Main
  - Thread

Main Index | Thread Index