What is Time?
Einstein taught us that we really can’t separate time from space. Time is a dimension interlinked with space. Time is a means to separate things, just like space. Without spacetime, all is one. Time is the dimension that prolongs spatial separation beyond an infinitesimally small instant and allows space to expand.
Time is basically the dimension that makes sure all the possible arrangements of space don’t happen all at once. Einstein pointed out that there is a limit to the speed through which something can travel through space, which is the speed of light. At the speed of light, time ceases. And as anything with mass approaches the speed of light, its mass approaches infinity until it rips a hole in spacetime.
Picture a DVD. The universe is a lot like a DVD. A DVD contains a set amount of information and options as to how to play the information. The DVD is timeless until someone watches it. By watching a DVD, it is given time and the viewer has options as to how much time she or he wants to spend on the DVD. DVDs often have deleted scenes and alternate ending that you can choose to watch or not watch. So the amount of time spent watching the DVD is variable based on the viewer’s choices.
Time doesn’t mean anything without a memory of past and an anticipation of the future. And the experience of time is quite subjective. Time flies when you are having fun (at peace with your current circumstances); time slows down when you are starving for action (in conflict with your current circumstances). Yet, strangely, it is when time slows way down that a person most notices that her or his life is quickly passing by.
Society keeps track of time by keeping track of how many times the earth travels around the sun. And as society keeps track of time, people keep track of their ages. Some people live longer due to their awareness and expectations of age, some people live shorter. Yet, even without society, naturally, seasons come and go and things wither and grow in order to show that time has past.
But what time is most of all is it is that which allows a sleeping mind to ease from its nightmarish dreaming. Thus, while time is an extension of slumber, time is also a gentle awakening. Time is but an artifact of a dream of separation. Use it to awaken, or be used by it to stay lost in nightmares.
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4 Responses to “What is Time?”
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a lot was said in this article in few words…a lot to think about…like the DVD idea…
Hello Alex,
I agree wholeheartedly with your article on time.
However, your last two articles seem rushed. After reading both I had a feeling that their was a lot more that could be said on both issues.
“But what time is most of all is it is that which allows a sleeping mind to ease from its nightmarish dreaming. Thus, while time is an extension of slumber, time is also a gentle awakening. Time is but an artifact of a dream of separation. Use it to awaken, or be used by it to stay lost in nightmares.”
Your main point was left for the end and I was wondering
if you could elaborate on it a bit more.
Tyson
Yes, the previous two articles were a bit rushed, but in my own head, I called it streamlined.
The next two articles that I’m still working on are time related, so they should cover any lose ends.
Sound good man,
Looking forward to reading them.