A Glimpse of Ete ity

Sometimes we can catch a fleeting glimpse of ete
ity in a wood, where the pungent odor of wet pine and a timeless stillness calms our troubled minds, for just a while. Or in a wondrous sunset, where we lose the burden of ourselves, for a precious moment. Or when something happens so suddenly and forcefully that our minds lose control, for only a second, and our conce
s vanish like a morning mist.

These three things; time, self and worry, are keys to bridging our imprisoned consciousness. Caught up in these three illusions, it is impossible to see beyond our everyday life, fraught as it is with worry and fear - a life subject to change and decay. Everything within existence changes, and it is this inalterable truth of change that perpetuates an insecurity that in turn causes our ever present worry.

Time is merely a concept. A clock is just a machine that whirrs away. The past and the present are only theories - it seems as if we have lived in the past, will live in the future, and that we are presently living in this moment, but did we, will we, are we? In our restricted consciousness, time seems to be sequential instead of spacial. It is as if we take one-step after the other as we live our lives, but do we really. Ask a person who, when death was imminent, had seen their entire life flash by in a moment, in every little detail, and they will tell you that time is but an illusion.

Self is an illusion as well; another thing that in our present consciousness we can't see through. We take on a form, then a name, and we believe it. We become that name and form, and identify completely with them, not understanding that they are but temporary constructions of reality that only provide consciousness to the great awareness of timeless, formless, fearless reality. No time, no self - where can we go from here with our present, restricted understanding? Nowhere.

Angst is a result of deluding ourselves about time and self. We know instinctively that neither exist in reality, but because we live in a constant state of denial, we live a life of uncertainty and fear as the self and time intimidate us endlessly.

When we are caught in existence, words like ete
ity, infinite, and timelessness are only concepts to our restricted minds - the idea of ete
al life incomprehensible to this lower state of consciousness. To actually become aware of ultimate reality involves a letting go of everything that keeps us from a direct awareness of reality, and the only way to let go is to lose control. This is not easy because we are under the false impression that what we are holding on to is somehow stable and lasting, that it gives us pleasure, and that someone or something stands behind our bodies and minds, which we mistakenly understand as a real self.

But the opposite is true; what we hold on to is unstable and changing and will always disappoint us when the change occurs. And nothing or no one stands behind our minds and bodies. The obvious is all that there is, as the illusion of linear time creates our angst when we project what will happen to our bodies and minds as they slowly decay.

In the realm of ultimate reality, nothing changes. Nothing is there to change, and time does not exist. The three characteristics of existence; time, self and angst are non-existent. Existence itself is the delusion, and only when a tremendous shift in consciousness occurs, brought about by a sudden awakening, are these fears and inconsistencies seen through.

This shift can never take place within time, meaning that we cannot work toward it. We can do certain exercises that invite this kind of shift to occur, but since the shift is ete
al, it is therefore what we are and have always been. It's simply a matter of awakening to the reality of our illusions, when the incredible clarity and freedom of ultimate reality manifests as a big surprise.

With the big surprise will come a temporary loss of footing within our existence. This is why unstable people should be careful with meditation. Everything that we have relied upon for our security will be dashed! We will become lost and drifting in a strange world of uncertainty where we have no power to do anything, other than to just be. Our name and form become only the dust stars are made of, and we can see that everything that we have believed in is only so much stardust as well.

Now life changes; changes not comprehensible to those still caught within the trap of existence. The changed one will appear to be alien, visionary, and one who has perhaps lost touch with sanity and the world. But they will no longer hold to strong views and opinions, as they tell the truth as they know it without conce
if anyone hears them or not, because nothing truly matters. But people are afraid because they don't understand the immense freedom that they are a part of, and therefore the visionary will attempt to ease their fears however he or she can even though his or her advice will be considered the mutterings of an insane person, and he or she will be feared, later laughed at, and then simply ignored.

There are no longer goals or ambitions; they no longer fear being right or wrong. It doesn't matter. And they will find some little non-descript nook or cranny of life where they can peacefully and quietly maintain this human existence - that is nothing less than a timeless, fearless, selfless reality.

And they will tell you that nothing other than this precious moment, which is directly in front of us right now, is our ete
ity. n