Memory of the Present
Hold on … memory of the present …. What does that mean? How can you have a memory of the present? Isn’t a memory something of the past?
The answer to that is, Yes and No.
Yes, because we have been taught for several years that a memory is your recollection of an event, incident, situation or circumstance that has occurred in the past.
No, because as human beings we are each unique in the way we perceive everything around us. Thus, the present for each one of us is different and unique. Our past, or more importantly our memory of the past prejudices our perception of the present. Expanding the same concept a little further; the present now becomes our own unique recollection of the present. The present ceases to be an absolute term. Instead, it becomes a very personal and subjective perception unique to you. Isn’t that interesting?
So, the past and present are both very subjective to our perception and memory.
Now, if your point of reference is a time in the past, then relative to that reference point the present becomes a future state. For example on Monday, June 9, 2008, Friday, June 13, 2008 is the future. After 4 days on Friday, June 13, 2008, Monday becomes the past and Friday becomes the present.
Applying this to our conclusion the past, present and future become our individual perception or memory of the past, present and future.
The past, present and future is our entire lifetime … correct? So now our entire lifetime becomes just a perception … like a dream.
And that is precisely what Indian Philosophy has said for thousands of years: The life of the mortal in the physical world is Maya (made-up, make-believe, and imaginary).
Now, isn’t that interesting?
The answer to that is, Yes and No.
Yes, because we have been taught for several years that a memory is your recollection of an event, incident, situation or circumstance that has occurred in the past.
No, because as human beings we are each unique in the way we perceive everything around us. Thus, the present for each one of us is different and unique. Our past, or more importantly our memory of the past prejudices our perception of the present. Expanding the same concept a little further; the present now becomes our own unique recollection of the present. The present ceases to be an absolute term. Instead, it becomes a very personal and subjective perception unique to you. Isn’t that interesting?
So, the past and present are both very subjective to our perception and memory.
Now, if your point of reference is a time in the past, then relative to that reference point the present becomes a future state. For example on Monday, June 9, 2008, Friday, June 13, 2008 is the future. After 4 days on Friday, June 13, 2008, Monday becomes the past and Friday becomes the present.
Applying this to our conclusion the past, present and future become our individual perception or memory of the past, present and future.
The past, present and future is our entire lifetime … correct? So now our entire lifetime becomes just a perception … like a dream.
And that is precisely what Indian Philosophy has said for thousands of years: The life of the mortal in the physical world is Maya (made-up, make-believe, and imaginary).
Now, isn’t that interesting?
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