Guest guest Posted December 18, 2011 Report Share Posted December 18, 2011 Been thinking about this a bit, starting to realize the full truth of when they say " there is only the present moment " That we are literally always in the NOW, the past is a memory of a previous NOW, the future, an anticipated NOW, but both thought of in the NOW You cannot escape the NOW, only mentally identify with a thought about the past or the future Time (as a measurement) is not relevant to any other life form on earth My question is: Is time even linear (moving forward) like we view it as, like a continuos moment moving forward, between the past and the future, or is it just an illusion, albiet one that is quite helpful to productivity The later thought of this, seems to be causing my mind (which works in a linear fashion, past/future) some anxiety Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 18, 2011 Report Share Posted December 18, 2011 I seem to recall your expressing much the same thing before ... To: "ACT for the Public" <ACT_for_the_Public >Sent: Sunday, December 18, 2011 12:27:35 PMSubject: The Present Moment Been thinking about this a bit, starting to realize the full truth of when they say "there is only the present moment"That we are literally always in the NOW, the past is a memory of a previous NOW, the future, an anticipated NOW, but both thought of in the NOWYou cannot escape the NOW, only mentally identify with a thought about the past or the futureTime (as a measurement) is not relevant to any other life form on earthMy question is: Is time even linear (moving forward) like we view it as, like a continuos moment moving forward, between the past and the future, or is it just an illusion, albiet one that is quite helpful to productivityThe later thought of this, seems to be causing my mind (which works in a linear fashion, past/future) some anxiety Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 18, 2011 Report Share Posted December 18, 2011 Tricky stuff, time. Even trickier when you read some of what physicists say about it. Take Einsten's relativity theory for example. What's happening to me right now over here has already happened to someone else over there and is in their past. For yet another person, it hasn't happened yet and is in their future. My present is someone else's past or future. Their present is my past or future. Weird, or what? It gets weirder. At least one scientist, n Barbour, says that time doesn't exist and that it's an illusion. Other scientists say that we live in a four-dimensional spacetime continuum (height, width, depth, time) where past, present and future already exist and that we are moving through it, moment by tiny moment. Somewhere in the continuum a dinosaur is watching the giant asteroid that will wipe out his kind crash into the planet; Shakespeare is in a room in London writing the words 'To be or not to be' in his new play and thinking about the death of his son Hamnet; lin's kite is being struck by lightning; Obama is in the White House discussing Iraq; five astronauts are walking on Mars; our dying sun expanding into a big red ball and swallowing our planet. According to this view, all this is happening right now. All heady and, for me, very exciting stuff. It doesn't help me very much in my everyday life--ACT does that far, far better--but what it does do is fill me with joy and wonder. And gratitude that I was born at the right time and in the right place and with a halfway decent brain that is able to think about these deep, intoxicating questions. Not decent enough to come up with answers though, I'm (not very) sad to say! These competing ideas about the nature of time are, as the psychologist Pinker might say, " The Stuff of Thought. " They're fun to think about (for me anyway), but what matters more is what I choose to do right NOW and say right NOW, the kind of man I want to be right NOW, the things I can do to improve the wellbeing of myself and others right NOW. Cheers, Stan > > Been thinking about this a bit, starting to realize the full truth of when they say " there is only the present moment " > > That we are literally always in the NOW, the past is a memory of a previous NOW, the future, an anticipated NOW, but both thought of in the NOW > > You cannot escape the NOW, only mentally identify with a thought about the past or the future > > Time (as a measurement) is not relevant to any other life form on earth > > My question is: Is time even linear (moving forward) like we view it as, like a continuos moment moving forward, between the past and the future, or is it just an illusion, albiet one that is quite helpful to productivity > > The later thought of this, seems to be causing my mind (which works in a linear fashion, past/future) some anxiety > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 18, 2011 Report Share Posted December 18, 2011 yes, it is something my mind obsesses about sometimes, because the mental construct that it makes is one of no past nor future, which to my conceptual self probably seems like death...obviously the mind cannot experience the NOW > > I seem to recall your expressing much the same thing before ... > > The Present Moment > > Â > > > > > Been thinking about this a bit, starting to realize the full truth of when they say " there is only the present moment " > > That we are literally always in the NOW, the past is a memory of a previous NOW, the future, an anticipated NOW, but both thought of in the NOW > > You cannot escape the NOW, only mentally identify with a thought about the past or the future > > Time (as a measurement) is not relevant to any other life form on earth > > My question is: Is time even linear (moving forward) like we view it as, like a continuos moment moving forward, between the past and the future, or is it just an illusion, albiet one that is quite helpful to productivity > > The later thought of this, seems to be causing my mind (which works in a linear fashion, past/future) some anxiety > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 19, 2011 Report Share Posted December 19, 2011 " We " view it individually, each to his own concept, so let your mind know it's concept is no less valid than anyone else's.... If Linear feels comfortable, feel free to explore 'linear', then.,... D Time (as a measurement) is not relevant to any other life form on earth My question is: Is time even linear (moving forward) like we view it as, like a continuos moment moving forward, between the past and the future, or is it just an illusion, albiet one that is quite helpful to productivity The later thought of this, seems to be causing my mind (which works in a linear fashion, past/future) some anxiety Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 19, 2011 Report Share Posted December 19, 2011 Blimey, you lot! There must be a strong correlation between deep thinking and the chance of being depressed. I've often thought that the immense intelligence and command of the English language by people on this forum (myself excepted, as demanded by rules of modesty) is a gift and a curse in equal measure. x To: ACT_for_the_Public Sent: Monday, 19 December 2011, 11:46 Subject: Re: The Present Moment "We" view it individually, each to his own concept, so let your mind know it's concept is no less valid than anyone else's.... If Linear feels comfortable, feel free to explore 'linear', then.,... D Time (as a measurement) is not relevant to any other life form on earth My question is: Is time even linear (moving forward) like we view it as, like a continuos moment moving forward, between the past and the future, or is it just an illusion, albiet one that is quite helpful to productivity The later thought of this, seems to be causing my mind (which works in a linear fashion, past/future) some anxiety Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 19, 2011 Report Share Posted December 19, 2011 , your words bring to mind these words from Socrates: It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied. Yes, higher intelligence has its price to pay - but I can think of no one who would barter it for higher satisfaction! In the immortal words of the brilliant Rolling Stones: I can't get no satisfaction I can't get no satisfaction 'Cause I try and I try and I try and I try I can't get no, I can't get no When I'm drivin' in my car And that man comes on the radio He's tellin' me more and more About some useless information Supposed to fire my imagination I can't get no, oh no no no Hey hey hey, that's what I say I can't get no satisfaction I can't get no satisfaction 'Cause I try and I try and I try and I try I can't get no, I can't get no When I'm watchin' my TV And that man comes on to tell me How white my shirts can be But he can't be a man 'cause he doesn't smoke The same cigarrettes as me I can't get no, oh no no no Hey hey hey, that's what I say I can't get no satisfaction I can't get no girl reaction 'Cause I try and I try and I try and I try I can't get no, I can't get no When I'm ridin' round the world And I'm doin' this and I'm signing that And I'm tryin' to make some girl Who tells me baby better come back later next week 'Cause you see I'm on a losing streak I can't get no, oh no no no Hey hey hey, that's what I say I can't get no, I can't get no I can't get no satisfaction No satisfaction, no satisfaction, no satisfaction Helena - who can't get nuttin' these days and is OK with that : ) To: "ACT for the Public" <ACT_for_the_Public >Sent: Monday, December 19, 2011 7:28:56 AMSubject: Re: The Present Moment Blimey, you lot! There must be a strong correlation between deep thinking and the chance of being depressed. I've often thought that the immense intelligence and command of the English language by people on this forum (myself excepted, as demanded by rules of modesty) is a gift and a curse in equal measure. x To: ACT_for_the_Public Sent: Monday, 19 December 2011, 11:46Subject: Re: The Present Moment "We" view it individually, each to his own concept, so let your mind know it's concept is no less valid than anyone else's.... If Linear feels comfortable, feel free to explore 'linear', then.,...D Time (as a measurement) is not relevant to any other life form on earthMy question is: Is time even linear (moving forward) like we view it as, like a continuos moment moving forward, between the past and the future, or is it just an illusion, albiet one that is quite helpful to productivityThe later thought of this, seems to be causing my mind (which works in a linear fashion, past/future) some anxiety Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 19, 2011 Report Share Posted December 19, 2011 I love this recent Steve post; You are here. It is possible to start from *here ... * it is impossible to start from *there*. and that that pulls toward the future but the process is in the present. The values are now. The game is now. The fun is now. The future we need (hope, purpose, progress, development, raising a kid) is not in the future ... its just " about " the future. It is in the present. Been thinking about this a bit, starting to realize the full truth of when they say " there is only the present moment " That we are literally always in the NOW, the past is a memory of a previous NOW, the future, an anticipated NOW, but both thought of in the NOW You cannot escape the NOW, only mentally identify with a thought about the past or the future Time (as a measurement) is not relevant to any other life form on earth My question is: Is time even linear (moving forward) like we view it as, like a continuos moment moving forward, between the past and the future, or is it just an illusion, albiet one that is quite helpful to productivity The later thought of this, seems to be causing my mind (which works in a linear fashion, past/future) some anxiety Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 19, 2011 Report Share Posted December 19, 2011 Think it more had to do with anxiety than the specific thoughts it was about I'm usually able to diffuse from anxiety rather easily when it does come up, but sometimes (probably due to a recent string of drinking ove the holidays), my mind gets the better of me, and needs something to attach to...which when it does, tends to be unanswered metaphysical questions like " who am I " , or the one I posed, that have caused me anxiety because of being overly identified with the conceptual self... Hope that makes sense Today I felt much better > > Time (as a measurement) is not relevant to any other life form on earth > > My question is: Is time even linear (moving forward) like we view it as, > like a continuos moment moving forward, between the past and the future, or > is it just an illusion, albiet one that is quite helpful to productivity > > The later thought of this, seems to be causing my mind (which works in a > linear fashion, past/future) some anxiety > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 21, 2011 Report Share Posted December 21, 2011 Is anyone else not receiving posts? I haven’t gotten anything since Monday. (Testing, testing). Rose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 21, 2011 Report Share Posted December 21, 2011 No I am not receiving any posts either, maybe list is quiet due to people getting ready for Christmas ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 22, 2011 Report Share Posted December 22, 2011 Got it Re: The Present Moment Is anyone else not receiving posts? I haven’t gotten anything since Monday. (Testing, testing). Rose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 22, 2011 Report Share Posted December 22, 2011 Yea no posts Sent from Yahoo!7 Mail on Android From: Bill C ; To: <ACT_for_the_Public >; Subject: Re: The Present Moment Sent: Thu, Dec 22, 2011 9:12:02 AM Got it Re: The Present Moment Is anyone else not receiving posts? I haven’t gotten anything since Monday. (Testing, testing). Rose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 22, 2011 Report Share Posted December 22, 2011 Always seems to slow down around holidays! To: "ACT for the Public" <ACT_for_the_Public >, wcamero@...Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2011 5:51:43 AMSubject: Re: The Present Moment Yea no posts Sent from Yahoo!7 Mail on Android ; To: <ACT_for_the_Public >; Subject: Re: The Present Moment Sent: Thu, Dec 22, 2011 9:12:02 AM Got it-----Original Message-----From: RoseSent: 22 Dec 2011 08:05:55 GMTTo: ACT_for_the_Public Subject: Re: The Present Moment Is anyone else not receiving posts? I haven’t gotten anything since Monday. (Testing, testing). Rose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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