I have just ended five weeks of wandering in the South Island. You can read a brief log and view some photos off the menu above. In the middle of this time I ended my 72nd year. Some of those days ended with a cup of tea, some ended with a spectacular sunset; some with both. But each and every one ended. The cup of tea (sadly) ended, as did the sunset. And I incline here to a wee musing on time and place, when and where, birth and death and... the 'who.' Not the '70s band, or the doctor but the 'you who' - that exists in space and time, sitting (here, now) reading this. Or are you?
First a few speculative considerations. Does time, and or 'stuff', actually exist? The present moment is singular and it is our mind that concatenates perception (interpretation) and memory (storage) to form a sense of continuity; joining the dots to form a line. Is this presentism, or idealism - or is it solipsism? Compare it with eternalism. There is observable change anicca? but do things exist outside of my mind? If you haven't seen the Matrix movie? you should. The block universe model (google it) has four-dimensional space-time with every event having its own coordinates in space-time and all moments equally real and existing simultaneously. And we have Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, Schrodinger's cat, the multiverse theory, etc. A UCal cosmologist said: "The essence of relativity is that there is no absolute time, no absolute space. Everything is relative. When you try to discuss time in the context of the universe, you need the simple idea that you isolate part of the universe and call it your clock". The Buddha said [Anguttara 3.47]: "for the conditioned an arising is seen, cessation is seen, and its alteration while it persists is seen." This is experiential, referring to what I experience. Whether it exists independently or not doesn't really matter; when I feel too hot... I do. It may be a delusion but it is unpleasant either way. That's what I know.
I reference the above speculations as I find it useful to muse on existence, reality possibilities, outside of my current belief system; to open to alternatives. I have a model of the world, about me, you, here, there and everywhere that is me, that is mine; and some of it is silly. Here is a silly theory on the [Brontosauruses by Anne Elk (Miss)] and it is silly but... can we allow that (some of) our theories have a similar silliness, a delusional quality? We are missing something? My theory is a bit stuck, ossified, in need of change, updating. I need to change my mind. Satire can help :) Quite some time ago I started exploring a new theory: Buddhism.
The Buddha deflected speculative cosmological, metaphysical theories saying "There is suffering, the cause of, the end of and the path to the end." [Majjhima Nikaya 63: Cula-Malunkya Sutta] This is the four noble truths. Interesting. Along with the emphasis to muse on the impermanent nature of all conditions - but why make such a big deal out of the patently obvious? And the teaching on non-self, impersonality? And, the second truth, the cause = the attachment, the binding to 'stuff.' And I can see that this includes (addiction to) all my theories - of me and mine - as well as to objects, substances, things. The end of suffering = cessation, letting go, non-attachment, non-possession = freedom. The end.
Another story, the Rohitassa Sutta [Anguttara 4.45] which concludes with: "...an intelligent person, understanding the world, has completed the spiritual journey... gone to the end of the world." And the key word is 'understanding'. Knowledge, learning, education, wisdom, discernment, insight. To be able to unpack our theories, lay them out in full view (of a clear and bright mind) such that the overall picture becomes clear, comes into focus. I once had a theory about, a belief in Santa Claus. There was no doubt about it. It was true. Subsequent information has me understanding otherwise. Are there are other lingering delusions? Imagine so.
How to be free - of that, and all causes of suffering? Also in the Rohitassa sutta the Buddha says: "...it is in this fathom-long body with its perception and mind that I describe the world..." The mind, as an umbrella term, defies precise definition but it can be directly experienced. I know - what do I know? - what I know. Endlessly circular but knowing, awareness, mindfulness is a key to freedom. To have a clear, discerning perspective on what I know (hear, think, smell...) - as opposed to just believing it... because mother told me it was true - or whatever the foundational seed of my perception/memory was. Satire helps... to hold 'it' (life) lightly, to be able to laugh at ourselves, to open to the absurdity, the vast potentials for joy, the questionable truth of...? But all mediums of reflection and inquiry require an honesty, a clear and bright mind as a mind that is fogged by inflexible, fundamental beliefs can not see beyond itself. [consider the difference between belief and knowledge]
Meditation is a simple means of thinning the fog, clearing enough space in the mind for comparative evaluation - for effective musing. And once underway the process of meditation has an amplifying, expansive effect; like the rising sun with increasing warmth dispelling the morning fog. The mind becomes more clear and calm - and this becomes the spring board for greater clarity and calm, for peace. More on this - and the end (of ignorance) - at a latter time. The End.