Multi-perspectival awareness

Here is an interesting dynamic:

I am aware of multiple perspectives…

A) Historical methodology/scholarship which trains our objective focus on the past [characterized as a foreign country] w/goal of understanding

B) ‘Be Here Now’ [imbued w/peace, bliss, or tranquility/equanimity in the present]

and

C) A view toward the future, [e.g., achievements I’m diligently working toward (temporal, or time-bound pursuit of happiness) w/an elevated perspective]

For the last several years, I’ve been heavily steeped in the spiritual notion of absolute presence in the now moment, with the corollary that ‘now’ is the only real moment. Examples include Ram Dass’ Be Here Now, Eckhart Tolle’s Power of Now, The Bhagavad Gita, Nahko and Medicine for the People, & various mindfulness meditation practices.

Here is a very good summary, by Lao Tzu:

One observation regarding why I’ve pursued these notions of eternal presence in the now is a personal tendency toward rumination around past struggles/suffering, or, anxieties regarding the future, as the Tzu quote astutely refers to.

The conception of total presence in the now creates some tension b/c of the temporal pursuits within the postmodern “real world.” Tolle has an idea about this that says we have three options, in the now [considering a context of unbearable situation(s)]: “Remove yourself from the situation, change it, or accept it totally,” (Power of Now, 95-6). This is very simple, yet, quite profound because one may realize peace through this sort of mindfulness.

Fundamentally, I am an optimist/glass half-full kind of person and enjoy the opportunity to craft a life of resilience and growth. However, the tension b/w past, present, & future is palpable because I am a skeptic rationalist who has a lot of experience studying history, the NOW, and the future through various methods. How can we remain in an alleged eternal present when there is a historical record of the past; And when we can, usefully, visualize the future? I am beginning to accept the complexity of conscious awareness and the fact that we must sometimes look to the past & future…the trick is to realize that this practice is always done in the NOW moment :-). This non-dualistic realization speaks to me on some deep level, hence the current blog post [on which I’ve pondered and worked, intermittently, the entire Autumn 2018 semester (approx the last 4 months)].

The fact is that time is an organizing feature/measure/function of society that cannot be ignored; however, the closer I remain in total absorption within the NOW, the more time seems to FLOW quickly and I seem to lose a sense of self/inner critic which is almost always chattering away incessantly. Indeed, “flow follows focus,” according to Steven Kotler of the Flow Genome Project; therefore, activities that engender presence have the capacity to trigger a state of flow-consciousness. Time also shifts during flow and this is one of the most interesting aspects b/c we can see that it is malleable rather than absolute. Flow, by the way, is a state of optimal consciousness in which we feel and perform our best. Super amazing stuff and I nerd out on this all the time. Tangentially related…currently, I’m learning a lot from Robert Greene’s Laws of Human Nature, including a method for striving toward a high ideal of rationality, how to elevate my perspective toward the long-term, and how to determine the strength of people’s character. Check out the book for more, it’s fantastic!

With all that said, it is great to be able to look toward a bright future just around the corner when my working wage will increase as a result of, finally, earning a bachelor’s degree. Candidly, I began this pursuit in 2008, immediately after high school graduation; however, had to take some time off to handle family issues and my late grandparents’ estate. Graduation date for B.A. degree = May 10th, 2019. The turn-up is about to be real! I’ve learned to take action-steps w/presence in the Now [AKA: singularity] and to think less of the future, except as an abstract concept. The study of history has fascinated me since early childhood and I am very excited to pursue a graduate-level education to continue a fulfilling career within this field.

Also, here is a great video on whether time exists. Lastly, here are a few interesting stats regarding insight triggers and daydreaming/mind-wandering:

“Our minds also wander to some fascinating places by themselves. One study found our mind wanders to think about the past 12% of the time, the present 28% of the time, and the future 48% of the time. Connecting all three of these mental destinations helps us piece together ideas and solutions to problems we’re incubating.”