Understanding spiritual time perception

We all have a sense that time expands and contracts, seeming to drag one moment and race the next, but what is our constant, our absolute? I believe it is “me,” our core sense of self.

To borrow from Einstein’s example, if two men are sitting with the same beautiful girl, the time might drag for one, because the girl is his sister, while it flies for the other if he is in love with her. This means that each of us has personal control over our sense of time.

Consider all the subjective qualities we attach to time. We say things like: “I don’t have time for that.” “Time’s up.” “Your time’s running out.” “How time flies.” “Time hangs heavy.” “I love you so much, time stands still.”

These statements don’t say anything about time measured by the clock. The clock doesn’t lie about how much linear time has elapsed “out there.” But subjective time, the kind that exists only “in here,” is a different matter.

All the above statements reflect a state of self. If you’re bored, time hangs heavy; if you’re desperate, time’s running out; if you’re exhilarated, time flies; when you’re in love, time stands still. In other words, whenever you take an attitude toward time, you are really saying something about yourself. Time, in the subjective sense, is a mirror.

Linear time is moving inexorably forward, and to overcome that, we must find a place where a different kind of time, or no time, can be experienced and internalized.

Adapted from Ageless Body, Timeless Mind, by Deepak Chopra (Three Rivers Press, 1998).

Read more: Deepak Chopra's Tips, Spirit, consciousness, perception, time

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Wild T.

12:47PM PST on Dec 16, 2010

I really don't have time for this, you are wasting my time, and time is money so basically I'm broke.. I just wish I weren't a time being but for the time being that is all I can be..
But it works best if you are sitting at a times table...

send a green star

Gabrielle B.

9:28AM PST on Dec 8, 2010

thank you for the article!!!

Max O.

5:42PM PST on Dec 6, 2010

Time is more like a pendulum than an arrow. I'm on an ageing swing at the moment but that won't last.

Evelina Z.

9:30AM PST on Dec 6, 2010

I don't know for you, but I experience something interesting depening not on age or activity. Actually, on something related to nature. when I'm working (in the office, in front of the computer) time seems to be going soooo fast that I don't know how the day seems to come to an end. It's an awful feeling, it's like life slips through my fingers and I can't stop it. BUT, when I go to some quiet place, like to my grandmother's house, that is nearby Danube river, it's quiet there, it's a place without work, anything... people are old there, and seem to just enjoy the last days of their life. Time there seems to be going soooo slowly. It's a place among the nature. So what I've felt so far is taht when I'm among the nature I am attuned to the speed of time that is related to nature (translation: the vibrations of nature and all living things is higher, and I seem to attune to those vibrations. When in the office, my own personal vibration seems to slow down and I experience nature's vibrations as too fast , cause I'm not attune to them at that moment). I hope this explanation is helpful to you :)

Jane H.

11:53AM PST on Dec 5, 2010

I agree with Kirsty--time goes by so much faster the older I get., But I have to go at my own pace which is slower than it used to be and if someone doesn't like that, then that's their own business.

Robert S.

6:48AM PST on Dec 5, 2010

Thanks for the post.

amber c.

12:55AM PST on Dec 5, 2010

Thankyou - good point emmajade, a thought to ponder on

Susan S.

11:35PM PST on Dec 4, 2010

Maybe our task is to live in the moment and go with the flow.

Elle E.

10:35PM PST on Dec 4, 2010

I'm with Maryann C. I really don't want to think too deeply on this one but thanks Deepak for making me. When my son goes on a road trip somewhere, I worry forever---it seems a weekend is forever when you are concerned for a loved one being safe.

Then I find myself sitting down to my Sunday night movie and say to myself, "gee it seems like I just did this, where has the week gone?"

Elena S.

10:08PM PST on Dec 4, 2010

Thanks for interesting post.