The mysterious nature of time

[zenmaster]

I think I understand where you are coming from, zen. And Jiddu's insistence on removing external teachers for the internal one resonates with the following from Ra, I think (from 17.2) --

We cannot offer shortcuts to enlightenment. Enlightenment is, of the moment, an opening to intelligent infinity. It can only be accomplished by the self, for the self. Another self cannot teach/learn enlightenment, but only teach/learn information, inspiration, or a sharing of love, of mystery, of the unknown that makes the other-self reach out and begin the seeking process that ends in a moment, but who can know when an entity will open the gate to the present?

I find the phrase 'gate to the present' very queer. In many instances, Ra highlights the importance of the present moment, or in other words, the present time (there it comes again).

Everything (our perceptions and experience) arises from the present moment. But it's not the present as in 'there is comes again' - it's the one present. There is only one present or 'now'. The series of presents is an illusion created by thought. The whole concept of time as separate from thought, is an illusion. It's a compelling illusion because we 'are' our thoughts. But we can also witness ourselves engaged in thought.

If we are our thoughts, yet we also witness ourselves engaged in thought, who is doing the witnessing? It's like there are two consciousnesses. For some reason, we like to call that seemingly separate consciousness, that is engaged in thought, 'the ego'. But that itself is confusion.

We still have to think in order to survive. It's a limiting, mechanical role here - part of the veiling (3D space/time), and something that provides us with catalyst to correct imbalances.

I wonder what it is to live in the present. May be living in the present is to act without taking thought, on the lines of what Jiddu suggests. What do you think about the potentials of the present moment for enlightenment, zen?

We glimpse the present moment more and more, our awareness starts to center itself in the one present moment, we see our thoughts arising with less identification, and we live life more and more as it is - less confused, more able to accept, happier, and more free from mental patterning and related pathologies. This freedom has been called 'enlightenment'. But of course there is always more freedom available, and therefore always more 'enlightenment'.