Time Is an Illusion

Is time an illusion? And if so, why can our knowledge of the past seem so real? And are our memories of the past not evidence that time exists?

Rupert says there are two things about your own experience that are undeniably true: One, you have no experience of time. We can think about the past, but thinking about the past is not evidence of the past. To find evidence we have to go there and experience it.

Two, your knowledge of time is correlated with thought and the presumption that time causes thought is a presumption that cannot be substantiated in experience. Experience shows that the arrow of causation actually goes the other way — thinking creates the appearance of time.

I'm not trying to convince you that time doesn't exist. I'm showing you two facts of experience that suggests that time is not what we think it is. Consider deeply your experience of time, the past and the future, with reference to these two facts and be open as you ponder it. See where this consideration takes you and don't draw conclusions to soon.

And don't be too quick to say memory is evidence of the past. There are other possible interpretations of memory.

*This video is taken from one of Rupert's in-person retreats at Garrison Institute — 10 to 17 October, 2021. To view and book for upcoming retreats (many of which can be attended online via livestream) go to:

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