The Eternal Now and the Philosophy of Illusion

"The Essence of Time and Existence: Everything is an Illusion"

The past and the future are abstract concepts that do not exist as phenomena. The past represents events that no longer exist, while the future represents events that have not yet come into existence. These are subjective phenomena formed by individual memories and imagination, and objectively, they exist only within individual consciousnesses. Therefore, the only time we can experience is the "present."

However, the past and the future arise within the flow of time, and on a deeper level, it can be considered that everything exists within the "eternal now." The fact that light from distant stars, despite originating from the past, exists in the "present" for the observer supports this claim. Therefore, the past and the future are merely relative concepts of time, and all time is encompassed within the eternal "now."

These insights suggest that as the essence of time and space, the world is merely perceived within the framework of time and space. Thus, the appearance of this world can be said to be a part of an "illusion" that depends on the method of perception, rather than "reality" itself.

This perspective that "the world is an illusion" possesses both objectivity and logical consistency. Objectively, the relative nature of time and space is supported by modern physics. The flow of time dependent on the observer's motion and the possibility of the simultaneous existence of the past and the future are scientifically explainable. Logically, this idea is self-contained and coherent without contradiction.

Furthermore, this perspective is supported from a psychological viewpoint. The perceived world is largely constructed by individual cognitive processes, and time perception is easily influenced by an individual's state of consciousness. Memories of the past are also partially reconstructed based on individual interpretation. These facts support the view that the world is a kind of "illusion."

Interestingly, this idea is very much in line with the central Buddhist concept of "form is emptiness, emptiness is form." Insofar as time and existence do not possess absolute reality, they are fundamentally empty, and the way this world exists is made possible by emptiness. This is "emptiness is form." Conversely, the idea that the temporal beginning and end of this world simultaneously exist in the "present" suggests the impermanence and emptiness of the phenomenal world, aligning with the notion of "form is emptiness."

Thus, the idea that "the world is an illusion" is supported not only by philosophical contemplation but also by physics, psychology, and religious perspectives. It is an important perspective for understanding time and existence, and through it, we can understand the world more deeply and broadly.

However, this does not imply a despairing view that "everything is meaningless, and everything is nothingness." Rather, it points to the path to true freedom and peace, teaching us the importance of fully living in the "now." The recognition that time and existence do not possess absolute reality leads us to further freedom and clarity, without being bound by the ever-changing phenomenal world.

Therefore, the idea that "the essence of time and existence: everything is an illusion" provides profound insights into our lives. It enables us to understand our way of engaging with life and the world, which, while being an "illusion," is nonetheless invaluable to us, and to view our own lives and the world from a deeper and broader perspective.