Time, a recurring theme in ancient Chinese mythology and history, has intrigued the human mind for generations.
For instance, the Monkey King from the Journey to the West spent only ten days in Heaven as a horse trainer. Yet, when he returned to his home on Mount Huaguo, he discovered that many years had passed on Earth. This is epitomized by the Chinese saying, "One day in heaven equals one year on earth."
In the Book of the Later Han, a woodcutter witnessed two men playing chess in the mountains on his way to work. He stopped to watch the game and, all of a sudden, he realised the grip of his axe had rotted off. When he returned home, he found that a hundred years had slipped by since he left.
I've always been fascinated by time, and sometimes it seems like it can speed up or slow down depending on what I'm doing. These Chinese stories have captivated me since I was a child, taking me to different worlds where time doesn't follow the usual rules. When I'm lost in books or video games, time seems to have a mind of its own, giving me the chance to learn and grow at my own pace.
This fascination with time isn't limited to my personal experiences. It has a rich history in literature and film as well. In 1733, Irish novelist Samuel Madden published Memoirs of the Twentieth Century, a pioneering work featuring a guardian angel who transported letters from 1997 and 1998 to the year 1728, laying the foundation for Western time travel literature.
In 1895, British novelist Herbert George Wells' science fiction novel, The Time Machine played a pivotal role in popularizing the concept of time travel. Then, in 1921, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court garnered huge public attention as the second film to explore time travel to the past, following The Ghost of Slumber Mountain.
Isaac Asimov's The End of Eternity published in 1955, is widely celebrated as a quintessential time travel classic of the 20th century among science fiction enthusiasts.
In the 1980s, James Cameron directed The Terminator, and Robert Zemeckis launched the Back to the Future series, together igniting the passion for time travel among the public.
Fast forward to recent years, Christopher Nolan's Tenet and Netflix show Dark" rekindled my interest in the concept of time. Although comprehending time remains a formidable challenge with my limited knowledge, I'm determined to explore this elusive yet significant concept across various media.
So, what is time? The answer remains elusive.
Einstein once said, the distinction between the past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion; Nietzsche believed that time is an eternal cycle where the past, present and future are interconnected to form an endless loop. In the present day, we often view time as a unit of measurement or a product of capitalism designed to enhance productivity.
In Buddhism, time is seen as something constantly changing, much like everything else in the world (Anicca). There's a big focus on the present moment, with the belief that it's the only time that truly exists. Buddhists think it's where you can find wisdom and understand life better.
Buddhism also talks about Kalpas, which are these incredibly long periods of time that represent the birth, existence, and end of the world. They show the idea of cycles and how everything goes through these cycles.
Buddhism places significant emphasis on the present moment (当下 or Dāngxià in Chinese). This is the immediate experience of now, the "here and now." The present moment is considered to be the only time that truly exists, and it's where one can find clarity, wisdom, and insight into the nature of existence and suffering.
Mindfulness is a central practice in Buddhism. It involves being fully aware of one's thoughts, feelings, sensations, and the environment in the present moment. By cultivating mindfulness, individuals can experience time more directly and authentically.
So, while Buddhism doesn't provide specific time measurements as we have in modern calendars and clocks, it offers a profound perspective on time that underscores impermanence and the significance of living in the present moment. This understanding of time is intimately linked with the broader Buddhist goal of reducing suffering and attaining enlightenment.
The past is merely a tapestry of memories woven by the human mind, its accuracy open to debate. The future, on the other hand, is shrouded in uncertainty, with death as our ultimate destination. Only the present moment, the one second we truly observe, is what we possess. Living in the present moment offers the most authentic experience of time.
Ted Chiang introduced the idea that "mastering a language allows you to see the world differently" in his sci-fi novella Story of Your Life. The protagonist's ability to understand an alien language enabled her to perceive her entire life. Ludwig Wittgenstein's renowned quote, "The limits of my language mean the limits of my world," conveys a similar sentiment.
So, what does TIME mean in your language? It's a question I can't help but ask.
Could speaking multiple languages allow people to perceive a different reality or gain a deeper understanding of time? Is there a connection between the German language and the abundance of great thinkers and philosophers from Germany? Or is there no cause-and-effect link, and it's merely my mind trying to find patterns in a presumptuous manner?
As I revisit my beloved German TV series Dark, it highlights the notion that our comprehension of the world is merely a drop in the expansive ocean of the unknown.
Perhaps the universe's greatest gift to humanity is its uncharted territories, enabling us to experience, explore, and lead fulfilling lives by our own measure.