Everyday Mindfulness

Time, timelessness and eternity are often portrayed as mysterious and ambiguous concepts, experientially unattainable or even illusory. This post is my attempt to remove this mystique and provide a very matter of fact account of time and the experience of timelessness, an often sought after goal of the meditator.

I was once confused but simultaneously fascinated about time and desperately wanted to experience what I thought was the ultimate freedom of timelessness, although I had no idea really, what that was. Now, however, I view time as being no more mysterious than distance. Time can be measured as clearly and as objectively as distance. Time can be measured in seconds and hours; distance can be measured in centimetres and metres. Distance is a measurement of the gap between objects; time is a measurement of the gap between events. Distance is a measurement of space; time is a measurement of change.

So far, so simple, yet this for me was the beginning of a critical realisation: change is fundamental and undeniable; time is nothing more than a way to measure change. We experience change and we can choose to measure change by setting up a regular changing mechanism to compare it by, and this measurement is time. The confusion and mystery over time largely comes, I believe, from using the word time when we really mean change. So this definition of time, as nothing more than a way to measure change, means we can move forward with greater clarity.

It can be said that although change is always happening, we create or define time when we choose to measure change. Space is always there but distance is created or defined when we choose to measure space. One simple definition of timelessness could then simply be choosing not to measure change.

But this is just one aspect of time and space, the so called objective aspect. What of the subjective experience of time? Again we can simplify things here with the analogy of distance. We can guess a distance just as we can guess a period of time and these guesses will vary from person to person and from context to context. Our subjective experience of a distance travelled can vary hugely, so too that for time. Walking an unknown path can seem so much further than a familiar route; time flies when we are having fun and drags when we are bored. No mystery here either, so let’s move on.

So finally the experience of timelessness or eternity. Eternity has been defined as being, not a very very long time, but as being no time. So what does this mean? In this context it is clearer to refer to change not time. The experience of timelessness or eternity is the experience or no change; this is a much more profound concept than not experiencing time, the measurement of change.

Is it possible to experience changelessness? And if so, how do we do it? The method that I have found most productive is to become the observer of change. It seems that the best way to go beyond something is to become completely and totally aware of it. The same principle works with sounds: when I become totally aware of all the sounds that I can here I simultaneously begin to experience a deep quietness and pervasive silence that encompasses all sounds. Similarly when I become completely attentive to the body and all physical sensations, I can begin to feel like I am detached from the body and I experience a deep stillness.

So by simply being aware of change, the passing of time and events, with great attention, I begin to feel a changelessness or timelessness, a touch of eternity.

So in summary, time is no more mysterious than a ruler and eternity no less attainable than the experience of stillness and quietness.

How would one go about observing change? Aware of sounds and attention to the body I understand but how do you observe change ? Sorry, a silly question maybe. Maybe I should ask how and when you observe change ? Do you formally practice ? Informal? If formal do you become aware of change at this moment and the inevitable change in the future, change from past ?

Apologies if I've missed the point !

Thanks. Dave.

Good question. 'Observing change' does really need a bit more explaining. It means something to me and encapsulates what I do when I sit and practise but that of course doesn't necessarily mean it makes sense to anyone else. I'll try and say it in other words.

Really it is no different to any mindfulness practise in that the changes I can be observing are sounds, physical sensations and thoughts. So the only difference is the attitude or approach I have whilst doing this.

My intention is to be aware of any or all of these things as examples of things changing and so because I am contextualising all the sounds and sensations etc as changes then my experience is of letting these changes pass by and then in my mind the mindful experience becomes one I describe to myself as changelessness or timelessness.

I think what we experience in mindfulness is in essence basically the same but can be described in a multitude of ways according to our vocabulary, expectations and previous experiences. Finding the right intention for a practise and the right description for an experience can really help in becoming absorbed more easily.

So simply be aware of any or all of the things that are happening in each moment and notice how, as the moments pass, all these things are changing and see if an experience of being beyond change creeps up on you.

Thanks for clarifying Stephen and I will give it a try to see how things arise for me.
Another question though is that change is inevitable, is trying to achieve changelessness maybe kidding ourselves a little bit? I can see why we would want to try and mindfully live through changes because they are after all reality - we get older, we lose jobs, relationships etc. Would you be able to explain how for you personally this practice applies to the reality of change? Or maybe I am reading too much into it and that this kind of practice for you isn't meant to apply to changes over a lifetime?

Thanks. Dave.

Yes change in the world is inevitable and the experience of changelessness isn't an attempt to stop that. In fact it is the opposite: it is the practise of being totally aware of the process of change and completely accepting it. The experience of changelessness is an experience of consciousness. So whilst change continues all around me in the world, my consciousness can become quiet and still and unchanging, the still point in the eye of the storm.

But what about personal development: shouldn't we be seeking to change internally, to be ever growing our consciousness? Yes that is the goal, but the method to optimally develop the consciousness is not to strive to become, to change; the most effective way is the radical and transformative power of stillness and being. The experience of changelessness is not an end point but the beginning of a different way of being: we continue to respond, act and grow but we do so with a different quality of awareness.

Thanks, I understand. Due to some recent circumstances, change has been something that caused some anxiety for me so your post is of great interest to me. I'm going to add this element to some of my existing practices and see how I get on.

Thanks. Dave.

Great, good luck.