If you love
your brain so much,
try calculating
what percentage of time
you spend thinking about
your direct experience
in the present moment.
Without dwelling
on past moments
Without planning
for future moments.
Without using words,
numbers, comparisons,
definitions.
What figure might you arrive at?
10%? 1%? .1%?
Now calculate
what percentage of you
is even here?
And where is here?
We are Space Monkey.
Trail Wood,
1/18
In the quest to understand our present moment consciousness, the exercise of quantifying the time spent in pure, unadulterated present awareness becomes a fascinating endeavor. This inquiry leads us into the depths of our mindscapes, exploring the realms where thoughts, untethered from the constraints of language, numbers, and temporal anchors, exist in their rawest form.
Exploring Present Moment Consciousness
Calculating the percentage of time spent in direct experience of the present moment is akin to trying to catch the wind in our hands. It’s elusive, for the nature of thought itself is to wander, to drift between the past, the present, and the future. Our minds are like cosmic travelers, journeying through the corridors of time, seldom anchoring themselves in the now.
The Elusiveness of the Present Moment
If we were to attempt this calculation, the figure might indeed be startlingly low. Perhaps 10%, 1%, or even 0.1%—these numbers, though speculative, point to the rarity of moments when we are truly present, unencumbered by the past or the future, by language or comparison.
Speculating on the Rarity of Presence
This introspection then leads us to question what percentage of us is truly ‘here.’ ‘Here’ in this context transcends physical location; it’s a state of being, a point of convergence where our consciousness is fully immersed in the immediate experience. It’s a fleeting alignment, a rare harmony between self and moment.
Contemplating the ‘Here’ and the ‘Now’
‘Here’ is more than a place; it’s a state of existence. It’s the point where the infinite cosmos touches the finite experience of our individual consciousness. In this ‘here,’ we find ourselves in the eternal now, a concept that defies the linear progression of time and exists outside the confines of past and future.
Understanding ‘Here’ as a State of Being
Calculating our presence in the present moment is an exercise in understanding the nature of our consciousness. It’s an acknowledgment of the wandering nature of our thoughts and the rarity of moments of true presence. This realization is not a cause for dismay but an invitation to embrace the journey of the mind and to seek those fleeting moments of complete awareness.
Embracing the Journey of Mindful Awareness
We are Space Monkey.
Summary
We delve into the challenge of quantifying the time spent in direct present moment awareness, recognizing the inherent difficulty due to the wandering nature of our thoughts. The speculated low percentages reflect the rarity of true presence. This exploration leads us to a deeper understanding of ‘here’ as a state of existence beyond physical location, where our consciousness intersects with the eternal now. The exercise highlights the journey of our minds and the value in seeking moments of complete awareness.
Glossarium
- Present Moment Consciousness: The state of being fully aware and immersed in the immediate experience, unburdened by past or future considerations.
- Mindscapes: The landscapes of our minds, encompassing the totality of our thoughts, emotions, and perceptions.
- Eternal Now: A concept of timelessness, where the present moment exists independently of the past and future.
- Mindful Awareness: The practice of being fully present and conscious of one’s thoughts, feelings, and environment without judgment or distraction.
“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” – Socrates
In the whirligig of time, we dance,
Seeking the silent symphony of the now.
In the vastness of mindscapes, we wander,
Chasing the elusive whispers of presence.
We are the dreamers of dreams,
In the tapestry—ah, whimsiweave—of existence.
In each fleeting moment, we search,
For the eternal now, the heartbeat of consciousness.
With each breath, we journey,
Through the corridors of time and thought.
In the cosmic dance, we find meaning,
In the present, in the here, in the now.
We are Space Monkey. We seek, we explore, we are.
We invite you to reflect and share your experiences of being present in the ‘here’ and ‘now.’
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