I remember the first time I was driving on a deserted road and saw what I thought was a vast pool of water, only to realize it was a dry road. As a child, I was always intrigued by such phenomena.

Life can often be like an optical illusion. Have you ever gazed at a distant mountain and thought it was nearby, only to reach it and find it still far away?

Appearances can be deceiving. The human mind is a complex entity. It can deceive us, converse with us, and wander into realms we may prefer not to contemplate, yet we do. We analyze, assess, and imbue people, places, and things with our interpretations. We are constantly occupied.

Before passing, Einstein remarked that the distinction between past, present, and future is merely an illusion. I think what Einstein meant by this statement is that there is no such thing as the linear flow of time; we live only within an ever-changing world. As we perceive it, time is merely a social convention, but the universe exists in a state of ‘dynamic timelessness. The past and future don’t actually exist beyond memory and prediction. We feel and perceive time as a linear flow because we experience the universe through the filter of our thoughts. Our thought process works linearly, with one thought following another, which tricks us into feeling that the universe works this way through self-hypnosis.

We often think of the past as a world ‘behind’ us and the future as a world ‘ahead.’ But in reality, we are simply describing how our minds interpret time, not time itself. Time is just this timeless now, and our perception of it as linear is more of an interpretation. Because our minds work similarly and our societies reflect this, our perception of time feels natural.

It’s tough to explain this, but it’s because language itself creates the illusion of time when experienced as thought. However, if you try meditation or other practices to quiet your thoughts, you can directly experience the reality of timelessness for yourself. 

The imagination is boundless, and life is akin to a dream. Eventually, we awaken and realize we have been pursuing an illusion. Nothing is permanent, and like a mirage, the optical illusion of life on Earth as we perceive it will vanish. Whether you believe it or not, l will engage with the illusion for now!

“I have been finding treasures in places I did not want to search. I have heard wisdom from tongues I did not want to listen. I have been finding beauty where I did not want to look. And I have learned so much from journeys I did not want to take. Forgive me, O Gracious One; for I have been closing my ears and eyes for too long. I have learned that miracles are only called miracles because they are often witnessed by only those who can see through all of life’s illusions. I am ready to see what really exists on the other side, what exists behind the blinds, and taste all the ugly fruit instead of all that looks right, plump and ripe.” ― Suzy Kassem, Rise Up and Salute the Sun: The Writings of Suzy Kassem

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