are we controlled by time.....

Because of the behaviors of your cat and rabbit that you have described, these are some of the reasons that I love working with animals in my jobs while I search for something greater in myself.

I often looked at my own cat while growing up and thinking "you've sure got the life"

As for your questions, do they care? do they know what time it is? do they know they are mortal? All of your questions can be answered as a yes and no. They do not "know" as we call it. They are however aware. Perhaps more aware then we are in some respects. They sense threat and they compensate by retaliation or flee. They are aware they may die. They do not know what time is but they feel it. My co-workers dog that she brings with her to work everyday at the emergency animal hospital, when six o clock rolls around this dog needs no verbal or visual cue but to realize that it's time to go and she proceeds to shake and be anxious while my co-worker wraps up her loose ends for work. Their very body's energy is synched with a form of time called pattern or loop or frequency. Best known as the bio-rhythm that of which we also possess.

Would we be better off without the knowledge of the system of time that we have created around the bio-rhythms of the world? Yes but we could never be as the animals are without losing the abilities that we posess as human beings. Creations like architecture and concept.

What it comes down to is would we be better off not losing our time factor as you put it but rather realizing that it is merely an open interpretation of bio rhythm and natural patterns and to not obsess over it. Not hold one another to the smallest measurement of that time which is relative and off balance anyways from person to person. This is asking a lot of ourselves. It asks us to be perfect. And we are not. So when we ask this of ourselves and deep down we realize that we are not then we set ourselves up for failure and despair.

Our system of time has its advantages but like all things can be contorted into something dangerous and negative. It's not what we do that matters it is how and why that makes the difference.

This post makes me think of the philosophies of Alan Watts that thanks to streaming video sites such as YouTube and FileCabi.net I have recently become aware of his writings and works. He reminds us that life is just a play and that we were supposed to dance and sing on the journey and that getting to that inevitable Fine was not the real point behind the music.

Here is a link to a recording of Alan Watts put to video that was produced by Trey Parker and Matt Stone the creators of South Park.

Hello all,

Interesting topic!

From a Christian Science perspective, we strive to think in the infinite and as in all other areas, refuse to accept the limitations of all material beliefs, including time!

What is infinity? Is it an endlessly long time? No, it is the absence of time.

This is a really thought-provoking interview on about our mortal concept of time, with Ruth Elizabeth Jenks, a deeply spiritual woman who has lived and proved her understanding of the Science of Being.

[url]Casting no shadow[/url]

She discusses these topics:

Myth: Time is a fact of life. We just have to live with it.
Myth: To see time as unreal isn’t practical.
Myth: There aren’t enough hours in the day.
Myth: Retirement involves too much time and too little purpose.
Myth: An illness is harder to heal the longer it’s been hanging around.
Myth: I don’t have enough time to pray.
Myth: Some people have untimely deaths.

Love and peace,

Judy

Interesting! My animals have a concept of time in that they expect to be fed at certain times of the day but they aren't aware that the clock changes at BST.

Do we transfer that concept of time to them? What would life be like if we didn't have clocks? Would we would be governed by something like day and night, the seasons?

What would life be like if we didn't have clocks? Would we would be governed by something like day and night, the seasons?

Well when I get a week off work I like to try and forget about clocks and just enjoy the week. And I do find myself going to bed later and later each night as my body doesn't run to a schedule of awake 16 hrs and sleep 8 hrs. It's more like maybe awake 18-20 hours then sleep for 9 (which would never work out with our present 24 hour clock). We are a slave to time unfortunately.

Here is a link to a recording of Alan Watts put to video that was produced by Trey Parker and Matt Stone the creators of South Park.

Very interesting, thank you. I will watch a few more of his videos one day. (Ironically I was going to add.....when i have more time!).

Hi all, this is an interesting topic.

I've certainly noticed about animals and time. Our cats actually seem to be very aware of time in respect of when they want food or even waking me up in the morning just a few seconds before the alarm clock goes off. So it's fair to say that they are perfectly in time with the routines that we have to endure in our day to day lives (they do like to wake me up at the same time at weekends too!).

However, on the other hand I'm sure they don't let time concern them. They clearly have little concept of any 'need' to get anything done; if they want to go to sleep then they will and if they want to be awake then they will (and stay out till the early hours before coming home to bed again). I feel they perhaps have no concept of the ultimate passing of their existence in this life so therefore have few fears. I do often wonder if they look up to us humans and consider that one day they will be like us, not understanding that we are different species and that they won't grow and change to be human (no matter how much they try and act it ;)).

Why can't us humans live like that. Even when we snuggle up together we still have to be aware of time, things we have to do; the fact that we have stages to our lives that we have to complete (as though we were in a computer game that is getting closer to the end with every breath) e.g. education, finding a job, finding a partner, having kids, making the most of our time before we die.....

We can, if we choose to. Through having a determination to live in the present moment we can take ourselves away from the fears and considerations of the past and the future and awaken our awareness of what is truly around is her and NOW. It may not seem easy, but with practice, IMO, it is possible.

Love and Reiki Hugs

I feel they perhaps have no concept of the ultimate passing of their existence in this life so therefore have few fears. I do often wonder if they look up to us humans and consider that one day they will be like us, not understanding that we are different species and that they won't grow and change to be human (no matter how much they try and act it ;)).

yes that's an intersting thought...maybe they do think they're gonna grow up to be like us. I wonder if my cat and rabbit even realise that we are all different species, or do they think they are both the same as they both have fur. I think my cat desperately wants to be a rabbit (even tho he doesn't realise he's not one), he goes into her cage and tries to eat her hay then stops coz he doesn't like it, then tries again.... he doesn't seem to understand WHY he doesn't like it and she eats tons of the stuff.

We can, if we choose to. Through having a determination to live in the present moment we can take ourselves away from the fears and considerations of the past and the future and awaken our awareness of what is truly around is her and NOW. It may not seem easy, but with practice, IMO, it is possible.

If you find out how, let me know! 🙂

If you find out how, let me know! 🙂

Well, as you asked...

There are many teachings on living in the present moment from the well known teachings of Eckhart Tolle's "Power of Now" to the lesser known and perhaps confusingly titled Practical Philosophy offered by the [url]School of Economic Science[/url] who's teachings are based around many teachers of wisdom throughout time (Plato, Shakespear, Jesus etc.), having a focus on the teachings of the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita. Whilst it sounds like a theoretical philosophy (yawn! :D) type course, it is actually very practical, and gradually, over the weeks, helps you to live more in the present moment and have interesting discussions about who we truly are. After a few 'terms' of teaching, you're offered the opportunity to learn meditation (which is one similar to Transcendental Meditation).

I've also attended Buddhist meditation classes (New Kadampa Tradition) and found that the teachings of these are very similar to those in the Practical Philosophy classes, just slightly different terminology.

Whilst the teachings from each "school" (whether it be Buddhist, Practical Philosophy or other) don't all tend to fit in with my own beliefs, I find them very interesting and can take what I want from them. I certainly feel that I have benefitted from everything I have learnt.

Love and Reiki Hugs

Is the time your refer to circular or linear? Many traditions teach that there is a time for everything, no matter what here and now is a great place to be and we are all perfect for what we have to do now.

Love and Light

Keith

To me time is a man made concept, so man can make it circular or linear as one pleases for the context in which it is required. The present moment is the present moment and only ever exists now. Circular or Linear imply a measurement over a 'distance' of some sort. That isn't present moment as I see it.

Love and Reiki Hugs

hello jacki, long time have been around but if you look at the concept of making goals the joint aventure of the rabbit and cat is to bring about the balance of the creative expression of rolling around the time factor to the mission that were on you to have a time to lounge or be inrolled in the the process expanding your views of timeframes so looking at the ways of moving forward is not such a process...gypsee

when we snuggle up together we still have to be aware of time, things we have to do; the fact that we have stages to our lives that we have to complete (as though we were in a computer game that is getting closer to the end with every breath) e.g. education, finding a job, finding a partner, having kids, making the most of our time before we die.....

The concept of time, as I see it, was invented by people for the purpose of limiting themselves. If a person looks at a watch, it means he limits oneself in some way, for example, if a person has a job to complete, that person will limit their time spent on other activities to allow him/herself to complete the task at hand.

Do we transfer that concept of time to them? What would life be like if we didn't have clocks? Would we would be governed by something like day and night, the seasons?

Still, it is very difficult to people to understand that even if clocks did not exist, then the concept of time would still exist. People would just find other ways to limit themselves, by using a substitute, such as the seasons or something else (sunset/sunrise). However, every person is capable of living without the concept of time at any point. If they need to do something, they can start doing it and not worry about when to finish it.

Then there will not be such concepts, as having to be married at a certain age, or having to complete college in a certain timespan. A person could simply live by their own ideas and still continue to accomplish the same tasks without connecting them to any concept of time. Instead, they could just look at the tasks as being complete or not complete, without worrying as to how "long" it took them to complete these tasks.

Then its possible then no one will age, as age comes with time and if there is no concept of time, then there might be no such thing as aging.

I agree Seaway, in that man(kind) created time in order to try and understand the universe/world. You can envisage, in ancient times, man noticing that the seasons were cyclical and, in order to plan how they could live and survive the differing conditions, they sought an answer to whether there was any pattern to these changes. They soon found that the seasons were regular and so too were other things such as the amount of daylight available in those seasons. Time was a natural measurement which came from these observations and eventually became formalised with the introduction of numeric/counting systems.

Whether limiting oneself with time is a bad thing it's hard to say. I go to work for a particular time and work until a certain time. If time were not a concern then I could end up continuing my work until I reached a point where I was happy with what I'd done, but I don't think my other half would be happy with me coming home at random times 😉 Likewise my work wouldn't be too happy if I only stayed a couple of hours and then went off and did my own thing. What I am paid is based on the amount of hours I work. So time is important in some respects.

Then its possible then no one will age, as age comes with time and if there is no concept of time, then there might be no such thing as aging.

Conceptually, yes, there would be no such thing as ageing, but this would not (as far as I can fathom) prevent the physical body from going through changes, becoming weak and feable and eventually dying. There are many things which happen naturally based on time.

Man(kind) created the measurement of time, but time has always existed and always will.

Love and Reiki Hugs

I'd prefer a more exciting life. I think that we as humans have a bit more "soul" than animals. :p

I am facinated by (metaphorical) time travel - the way we live our lives based on the past and so the past comes to stand for what life means to you - i started reading Proust and now i am training myself to live now, appreciate the moment and let go of the past, but not forget it, just leave it in the past. . . or try to anyway!

Whether we like it or not we are governed by cycles of time - the astrological zodiac has been a measure of time for thousands of years using both the sun and moon. Greater cycles in time are measured by the ages i.e. Aquarian Age which nobody seems to be clear about when it starts.

I like the idea of not being governed by time and I do like to loose track of time, forget which day it is - but we do use the daily movement of the sun to indicate day and night and divide the year into months (Moons.) I like most people get up and go about my work during the day, and tend to rest at night. Biochemically, hormones are secreted in the pineal gland that are affected by light, melatonin, a person's circadian rhythm is an internal biological clock that regulates a variety of biological processes according to an approximate 24-hour period.

In the greater scheme of things I don't think time matters as I believe in a continuum outside of one life time.

Luv Binah
x

I must admit, I'm a time addict and slave. But have been looking into spirituality over the last year and have been touched by two philosophies; 'the future is just an illusion in our minds' and 'tomorrow is promised to no one'.

Those two have made me slow down and recognise the world as a day to day experience.

Hell, even watching 'Kung Fu Panda' over Christmas touched me with the line '..the present is a gift, that's why it's called 'present'..'

Hello all,

Interesting topic!

From a Christian Science perspective, we strive to think in the infinite and as in all other areas, refuse to accept the limitations of all material beliefs, including time!

What is infinity? Is it an endlessly long time? No, it is the absence of time.

This is a really thought-provoking interview on about our mortal concept of time, with Ruth Elizabeth Jenks, a deeply spiritual woman who has lived and proved her understanding of the Science of Being.

[url]Casting no shadow[/url]

She discusses these topics:

Myth: Time is a fact of life. We just have to live with it.
Myth: To see time as unreal isn’t practical.
Myth: There aren’t enough hours in the day.
Myth: Retirement involves too much time and too little purpose.
Myth: An illness is harder to heal the longer it’s been hanging around.
Myth: I don’t have enough time to pray.
Myth: Some people have untimely deaths.

Love and peace,

Judy

I do agree with the retirement bit. I am retired and often think what an utter waste of time.
SHO

I do agree with the retirement bit. I am retired and often think what an utter waste of time.
SHO

Hee hee SHO, you obviously didn't read the article then! :rolleyes:

Compact Oxford English Dictionary

myth

• 2 a widely held but false belief.

This is from the beginning of what the writer says about retirement:

Myth: Retirement involves too much time and too little purpose.

The retirement years may present us with the time-honored suggestion that the body begins to slow down or even to deteriorate—and that our mental faculties are subject to this decline, as well. Hardly a happy outlook.

Such an expectation stultifies active thinking and leaves us with self-pity, daydreaming, procrastination, boredom ... all feeding us with fear and doubt. We even begin to feel it’s time to give in. Why? All because of mortal opinion. I love the definition of opinion in the Oxford English Dictionary. It reads, in part, “a belief strong enough to be an impression but not strong enough to be the truth.”

The impression might be strong, but it will only gain fulfillment if we consent.
[url]Casting no shadow[/url]

Judy

I didn't actually! lol My body hasn't slowed down one little bit. Reckon I could still go and do a days work!(just thought I would put my small bit in.)
SHO