Philosophy of Time

" Like the vastness of an oasis where the level of underground water rises up to join the surface; where nature and beauty flourishes with growth, so too is the place where our souls are replenished.

Like a mirage, time is an illusion; a reflection of the past, an experience of the present. A rarity on occasion a glimpse of our dreams of what may come. Seize the moment NOW as all good things must come to an end. For in time this too shall pass.” by Sage Williams

Time is one of those words that has always intrigued me. There are millions of ways to define time that is in terms of linguistically speaking, which I will explore throughout. But have you ever really, really, wondered about, the concept of time. Go ahead, try to explain it. What is time? I've pondered this questions many times in my life.

Dating back to the Stone Age, the Mayas were known to have acquired an exactness in measuring time. They were captivated and endlessly devoted to the calculation and passage of time. Many of us today are familiar with the Mayan Calendar and its mysterious predictions that follow in regards to December 21, 2012 which marks the end of a 5,126-year era.

There are many legends that speak about hummingbirds, who float free of time, carrying our hopes, dreams love and joy. The hummingbird is symbolically known as a messenger a stopper of time.

Moving on in time there were many hypotheses known as the ‘Theories of Time’ by famous scientists and philosophers, like Sir Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein.

Exploring further we get to view the world in relation to time. The world has what is known as Time Zones. There are time zones for different locations of the world. Universal Time (UT) is a timescale which is based on the rotation of the Earth a continuation of Greenwich Mean Time or (GMT). There is Standard Time, Pacific Time, Eastern Time etc.etc

It gets deeper and deeper and more complex as we get into what is known as s Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)^[1] an atomic time scale based on international Atomic Time. Far to complicated at this point in time for me.

I will gladly turn this over to Professor Brian Cox, (you tube video to the right), who does a really awesome exploration into the scientific aspects and philosophy of What is time?

To the right below is the Encarta Dictionary: English (North American)
Definition of time.

The Semantics of Time

Here today, gone tomorrow and this very moment in time, shall pass. Not only am I intrigued about the very concept of time. I am also fascinated with the million different ways this word can be used.

There are seasons of the year we refer to as springtime, summertime, and wintertime.

In many customs the New Year brings out father time; a representation of the previous year (usually an image of an old man"), who is depicted handing over the duties of time to the Baby New Year (or "the New Year").

There are countless words and phrases depicting time such as anytime, sometimes, most of the time, morning time, long time, short time, endless time, till next time, Time will tell, time heals all, take your time etc. The list goes on and on.

The business sectors of the world refer to time well managed as Time Management. We are all well aware of the great economic times also referred to as financial times.

Some have capitalized on the word, by using it in their business slogans, such as the famous Dunkin Doughnuts commercial, "Time to make the Doughnuts!

There are Famous magazines and newspapers such as; Time Magazine and the New York Times. Time is of the Essence, a legal phrase used in a contract.

As I’m writing this I have become mindfully aware of my voice beginning to have that same chant, the rhythm and beat of the well known cranky commentary, Andy Rooney from 60 Minutes. Having said that, I realize that I had better be careful as I just may be dating myself. Andy Rooney and 60 minutes have been with us for a long period of time.

There has been a myriad of quotes written about time. Here a few of my personal favorites

"Realize that now, in this moment of time, you are creating. You are creating your next moment. That is what's real." ~Sara Paddison

"Time is like the wind, it lifts the light and leaves the heavy."
~Doménico Cieri Estrada

"The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough.
~Rabindranath Tagore

"Let your life lightly dance on the edges of Time like dew on the tip of a leaf." ~Rabindranath Tagore

"Time is the most undefinable yet paradoxical of things; the past is gone, the future is not come, and the present becomes the past even while we attempt to define it, and, like the flash of lightning, at once exists and expires." ~Charles Caleb Colton

"What then is time? If no one asks me, I know what it is. If I wish to explain it to him who asks, I do not know." ~Saint Augustine

"Time, the cradle of hope.... Wisdom walks before it, opportunity with it, and repentance behind it: he that has made it his friend will have little to fear from his enemies, but he that has made it his enemy will have little to hope from his friends." ~Charles Caleb Colton

"There is one kind of robber whom the law does not strike at, and who steals what is most precious to men: time." ~Napoleon I, Maxims, 1815

Nobody sees a flower - really - it is so small it takes time - we haven't time - and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time." Georgia O'Keefe

"Time is an equal opportunity employer. Each human being has exactly the same number of hours and minutes every day. Rich people can't buy more hours. Scientists can't invent new minutes. And you can't save time to spend it on another day. Even so, time is amazingly fair and forgiving. No matter how much time you've wasted in the past, you still have an entire tomorrow." ~Denis Waitely

"Time you enjoyed wasting is not wasted time."
~T. S. Elliot

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace." ~Ecclesiastes (ch. III, v. 1-8)

My personal all time favorite is relishing in the moment. Carving out a particular segment of time to indulge in solitude; to listen with an open heart, to cultivate my awareness and to go deep, deep within to replenish my soul. There is no time like the present for reflection.

An inner sanctuary of harmony and bliss; a familiar time that may be experienced often but may never be replicated or experienced in the exact same way, for this too shall pass. It is however, recognizable as a familiar space in time and if this is the best that it can be, than let it be. For this is my personal relationship with Time.

To one and all, enjoy your 'Time'.

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