Welcome to this guided exploration introduced by Fan Yili,
Focusing on the
sense of time.
This journey will invite you to directly engage with your present
moment awareness,
Allowing you to observe and question your direct experiences
without clinging or forming attachments.
Find a quiet place where you can be undisturbed and adopt a comfortable
posture,
Whether sitting,
Standing or walking,
If it helps you stay alert.
Now
let's explore the sense of time directly.
Do you feel the passage of time in this
moment?
Look closely.
How do you know time is passing?
Observe directly.
Do you know
what time it is now?
Observe where this knowledge originates.
Does it stem from a
guess in the form of a thought?
A memory of past events used for comparison?
For
instance,
Guessing the time because the last time you checked it was a certain
hour?
An image of a clock or something symbolic?
Or a sensation of a waiting or
impatience that may make it seem like time is passing slowly?
Closely observe any sense of impatience or anticipation for what comes next.
Where are these feelings located?
Are they being used as evidence of time's
passage?
Are they solid or are they also just forming and disappearing?
Do you know how long it has been since you started this inquiry?
Again,
Observe how the mind relies on memories and comparisons to give you an
estimation of time.
Can you see how time is a concept constructed by the mind?
Time's passage is a concept,
Not a direct experience.
Can you locate the
future or the past in your current experience?
The concepts of past and future are not present in the now.
Only thoughts about
them.
How does anticipation or memory of events affect your sense of now?
Notice
the nature of thoughts and how they project images of the future or past,
Yet
are happening in the present.
Is there a gap between your experiences and the
concept of time?
Directly observe.
You may find that time as a concept is overlaid on the seamless flow of
experiences.
What happens to your sense of self when focusing on the present
moment free from the concept of time?
Look closely.
The sense of a solid I or
me may start to dissolve when not anchored to past or future narratives.
Do
you notice a tendency to label or own the experience of the present moment?
Be
aware.
This is the mind's habit of trying to solidify experiences.
Can you
witness experiences arising and passing without clinging to them?
Check in your
direct experience.
This is the practice of observing without attachment.
In the
absence of clinging to time,
What remains?
Explore this space.
The flow of experience
continues,
Unbounded by our labels of time.
How does the body respond to this
exploration of time?
Notice any changes in tension,
Relaxation,
Or energy levels.
The body's response is also part of the transient flow of phenomena.
What is the
quality of your mind when it's free from the concept of time?
Is it more spacious,
Relaxed,
Or vivid?
Observe the natural state of your mind without time's
framework.
Can you identify any resistance or discomfort in letting go of time as a
concept?
Observe these sensations or thoughts without judgment.
They are also
passing phenomena.
What insights or understandings arise from this
exploration?
Allow any realizations to emerge naturally without grasping them.
How does the natural world around you reflect the impermanence and timelessness
you're exploring?
Nature itself operates without the human-made concept of time,
Continuously changing.
Can you carry this awareness of time's nature into your
daily activities?
Consider how this understanding might influence your
perception of routine tasks and interactions.
As we conclude this
exploration,
Remember that the sense of time is a concept overlaying the
continuous flow of present moment experiences.
Be cautious of the tendency
to label or own any insights,
As this forms a new identity or attachment.
Instead,
Rest in the direct experience,
Allowing pure awareness to lead to a
deeper understanding of freedom beyond concepts.
Thank you for joining this guided exploration.
May it bring you closer to
the true nature of your experiences,
Free from the confines of time.
