Time Exercise - There is a general assumption that there is linear time that started (if started at all) somewhere very far in the past and advances to the distant future. The present moment (now) is considered to be a very small fragment of time, or an event that is moving forward on a linear line, coming from the past and advancing to the future.
Okay, I am going to do this exercise. I am going to be honest and share exactly what is showing up, even when the mind/intellect says it knows the answer. Thoughts with content 'I need to answer this correctly.' 'I know this.' 'I've read this before.' 'I need to answer this correctly for Stacy'. My intention is to focus on direct experience, and what is known and be found, and share that, even if what is shared is not what mind/intellect knows/differs from.
But is there an experience of the ’now’ moving along the line of time?
Thoughts with content 'No, time does not exist in direct experience'. However, when I sink into direct experience and look, content shows up, content changes, content comes and goes, there is a small perceived understanding that content changed. There is a perceived understanding that something changed in awareness. There is no 'now', just a small perceived understanding that something changed.
Any experience of one ‘moment’ giving way to the next?
Yes, when I sink into direct experience and look, content shows up, content changes, content comes and goes, there is a small perceived change, when content changed.
Is there any actual or direct experience of one event following another?
The only thing noticed is a small perceived change that something changed in direct experience.
How fast is the ‘present moment’ actually moving?
There is no fast/speed in the 'present moment', but there is something that knows that something changed. Content just shows up with a small perceived change between events. However, sometimes the perceived/known changes occurs faster or slower, depending on how much is changing in awareness.
Just look at 'this moment', can you find a point where it began?
No. There is no beginning. Content just show up when looking. Thoughts with content 'A baby has no concept of time.' show up. Thoughts with content 'things just show up in awareness' show up.
How long does the ‘now’ last?
There is no 'now' to be found. Content just shows up in awareness, then changes.
Where does the ‘now’ start, and where does it end?
When you sink into direct experiece, there is no concept of 'now'/'end'. Content just shows up in awareness.
When does the ‘now’ exactly become the 'past'?
In direct/actual experience, 'past' cannot be found. The 'past' gets created in thought.
What is the ‘past’ in actual experience?
In direct/actual experience, 'past' cannot be found. Thoughts with content 'A thought' show up.
So is there actual experience of ‘time’ or thoughts about ‘time’?
Thoughts about 'time'. However, there is a small perceived change in awareness that things changed.
I find that the mind is attempting to take control and answers these questions intellectually. In each of these situations, I went to direct experience and tried to answer it from that standpoint. I shared what thoughts were showing up, to give context, so you know what is going on in actual/direct and false experience for me. However, I am trying to differentiate thoughts from direct experience.