Eternity Passes into Time Through the Portal I Am

Summary

The script delves into the philosophical exploration of time and space as experienced by human consciousness. It posits that prior to the emergence of thought and perception, there is no awareness of time, using deep sleep as an illustration. The concept of 'I am' is introduced as the transitional portal between the eternal nature of awareness and the temporal existence of the individual. The speaker challenges the conventional understanding of time and space, suggesting they are constructs of the mind rather than absolute realities, and encourages questioning the fundamental nature of our experiences.

Takeaways

• 🧠 Awareness has no knowledge of time before the mind arises, as time is a construct created by thought and perception.
• 💤 In deep sleep, where there is no mind, there is no experience of time.
• 🌀 Awareness, when localized as the mind, seems to create the experience of time.
• 🌐 The concept of 'I am' acts as a portal through which awareness transitions from its pure state to a finite self and back.
• 🚪 The 'I am' is like a door: as consciousness enters it, it loses its infinite nature, but exiting through it regains freedom.
• 📚 The phrase 'the first and last freedom' highlights how consciousness and the finite self experience the same portal differently.
• ⏳ Time only seems to exist when awareness assumes a finite form, but in reality, time itself is not an absolute entity.
• 🌍 Space, like time, is a construct of the mind and is never experienced as absolute or independent from awareness.
• 🔍 Nobody has ever truly experienced the past or future outside of the now, suggesting that time is an illusory belief.
• 🌀 The mind acts as a prism that refracts the infinite and eternal nature of awareness into the constructs of time and space.

Q & A

What is the relationship between awareness and time according to the script?

Awareness does not experience time prior to the arising of the mind, which includes thought and perception. Time seems to exist only when the mind arises, suggesting that awareness appears as time when it assumes the form of the mind.

How does the script describe the concept of 'I am'?

The script describes 'I am' as a portal through which the separate self passes on its way back to its true nature. It is the last experience the separate self has before merging with its true nature and the first experience consciousness has as it leaves its true nature to become a finite mind.

What is the significance of the 'I am' portal in terms of freedom and bondage?

The 'I am' portal is likened to a prison door, symbolizing the transition between freedom and bondage. Entering through it as a finite mind signifies bondage, while passing through it in the opposite direction signifies freedom, aligning with the concepts of the first and last freedom.

How does the script differentiate between eternity and time?

Eternity is described as the state of pure being without time, whereas time arises when being assumes a form of existence. Time and space are seen as dimensions that emerge from the eternal state when filtered through the mind.

What is the role of the mind in the perception of time and space?

The mind acts as a prism that refracts the eternal, infinite nature of awareness into the dimensions of time and space, making them appear as linear and spatial experiences.

Why does the script challenge the belief in the absolute existence of time and space?

The script challenges this belief by suggesting that time and space are not directly experienced but are constructs of the mind, and that true reality is the eternal 'now' and the placeless 'here' where consciousness exists.

What does the script imply about the nature of the 'now'?

The 'now' is not a moment in time but is eternity itself. It is ever-present and not confined to any specific duration. The perception of 'now' as a moment is a misconception; it is actually the state where all experiences occur.

How does the script define 'here' in relation to space?

In the script, 'here' is not a physical place in space but the placeless place where consciousness resides. It suggests that the experience of space is a construct of the mind, and the actual experience of 'here' is not of a place but of presence.

What is the script's perspective on the experience of the past and future?

The script posits that no one has ever truly experienced the past or future as places because they do not exist in the same way the present does. The past and future are constructs of thought and not actual experiences.

What is the homework suggested by the script?

The script suggests contemplating the nature of 'here' and realizing that all experiences occur in the placeless 'here,' which is the location of consciousness, rather than in a physical space.

Why does the script consider the belief in time and space as extraordinary and abstract?

The script views the belief in time and space as extraordinary and abstract because it contrasts with the direct experience of consciousness, which is unbounded by time and space, and because these constructs are mental interpretations rather than fundamental truths.