On Time

I have been reading lately and reflecting about how time is so regimented in most people’s lives. In reality, human invented time is totally arbitrary. One day seems long, another short. The same day varies quite a bit from person to person and from moment to moment. It all depends on whether you are interested, bored, afraid, worried, etc. All these factors affect your memories and perceptions, which over time become distorted.

Here are some quotes and some art trying to capture different ideas about time.

Time present and time past

Are both perhaps present in time future,

And time future contained in time past.

~ T.S. Eliot, “Burnt Norton”

Profile of Time, Salvador Dalí, sculpture.

Persistence of Memory, Salvador Dalí, 1931.

Today becomes yesterday. Yesterday is today’s memory. It is a remembrance only. Tomorrow is today’s dream. It is a longing only. Live in the solid present alone. Wipe off yesterday and tomorrow. In God, there is neither past nor future. It is all eternity. It is all solid present alone. Present only is the solid reality. ~ Swami Sivananda