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A moment ago, when you talked about the eternal present
andtheunrealityofpastandfuture,Ifoundmyselflookingat
that tree outside the window.I had looked at it afewtimes
before,butthistimeitwasdifferent.Theexternalperception
had not changed much, except that the colors seemed
brighter and more vibrant. But there was now an added
dimensiontoit.Thisishardtoexplain.Idon'tknowhow,but
IwasawareofsomethinginvisiblethatIfeltwastheessence
of that tree, itsinner spirit, if you like.And somehowI was
part of that. I realize now that I hadn't truly seen the tree
before, just aflat anddead image of it. When I look at the
tree now, some of that awareness is still present, but I can
feel it slipping away. You see, the experience is already
recedingintothepast.Cansomethinglikethiseverbemore
thanaffectingglimpse?
You were free of time for a moment. You moved into the
Nowand therefore perceived the tree without the screen of
mind. The awareness of Being became part of your
perception. With the timeless dimension comes a different
kindof knowing,onethatdoesnot"kill"thespiritthatlives
withineverycreatureandevery thing.A knowingthat does
notdestroythesacrednessandmysteryoflifebutcontainsa
deeploveandreverence for all that is.Aknowingofwhich
themindknowsnothing.
Themindcannotknowthe tree.It canonlyknowfacts
or information about the tree. My mind cannot know you,
onlylabels,judgments,facts,andopinionsabout you.Being
aloneknowsdirectly.
There is aplacefor mindandmind knowledge.It is in
the practical realm of day-to-day living. However, when it
takes over all aspects of your life, including your
relationships with other human beings and with nature, it
becomesamonstrousparasitethat,unchecked,maywellend