Reality and the illusion of past and future
“We always only live in the present moment. But we let him pass as if he were meaningless because we long for something that still comes, or mourns something that has passed.” – thích nhất hạnh
The Mindfulness Teaches us that the only reality we can ever experience is the current moment. The past and future only exist as constructs of our mind, as terms that we use to organize our experiences. But what does that really mean? How does this understanding change our relationship to reality? And what do philosophers say about the illusion of time?
Past and future – terms without substance?
“The present is the only time really.” – Arthur Schopenhauer
The past and future are not real entities, but mental concepts. The past is just a accumulation of memories that appear in our consciousness, while the future is nothing more than a projection of our expectations. We cannot touch the past, not return. Nor can we travel to the future, because when it occurs, it always happens in the now.
The French philosopher Henri Bergson argued that time does not exist as a linear sequence of moments, but as an uninterrupted duration (La Durée), which is only divided into individual “pasts” and “future” by our awareness.
This knowledge has profound consequences: if the past and future are only constructs, then our only field of activity is the present. Our suffering often arises from the fact that we concentrate on what is already over or on what has not yet occurred. The paradox is that we miss the current moment – the only experienced reality – through this mental leap.
How mindfulness changes the understanding of reality
“Don’t think of the past, don’t worry about the future. Focus on the current moment.” – Buddha
Mindfulness is a practice that aims to focus fully on the here and now. Instead of being caught in memories or expectations, we will witness what develops at this moment. Reality is no longer filtered by a concept of “later” or “earlier”, but is immediately experienced.
When we breathe, eat or go consciously, we can see that life takes place in these actions itself – not in a hypothetical morning or in a past yesterday. This type of being creates clarity, serenity and a deeper connection to the world.
What does that mean for our understanding of reality?
“Time is what prevents everything from happening at once.” – John Wheeler
If we accept that the present is the only real dimension, the question arises what that means for our world view. Is time an illusion? And if so, how do we define reality?
The physicist Carlo Rovelli describes in his book The order of timethat time is not an objective part of the universe, but a relation between events. In a world, in the past and future, only perspectives of our consciousness are, the reality is not something that exists in a linear sequence, but a network of interconnected moments.
There is no absolute time in quantum physics, only probabilities and overlays. This fits remarkably well with what the mindfulness practice teaches: reality is not a rigid construct, but a flowing movement that always manifests itself in now.
Practical mindfulness: How we can live at the moment
“Consciousness is life itself.” – Søren Kierkegaard
Understanding the present as the only reality has not only philosophical, but also very practical consequences. Here are some ways of integrating this knowledge into our daily life:
- Make -minded perception – always remember to consciously experience the present moment, be it eating, walking or listening.
- Let go of worries – Understand that concerns about the future or regret about the past are only constructs of thought and not the reality itself.
- Meditation – A daily meditation practice helps to train the mind and always attribute it to the present.
- Consciously breathe – A simple focus on the breath can help to anchor yourself right now.
- Concentrate on the essentials – If only the moment exists, then we should fill it with things that have meaning.
Conclusion: life is now happening
The idea that there is no past and the future may seem unusual at first, but it opens the door to a deeper understanding of reality. Instead of remaining in the bonds of memories and expectations, we can choose the full experience of the present. Mindfulness teaches us that life does not take place elsewhere, does not start tomorrow and was not lost yesterday – it is only here, now, in this one, unique moment.
“I’m not interested in the future. I want to live.” – Albert Camus