Delving into the Eternality of Meditation
Sophia University’s Associate Professor Akiko Frischhut in Japan has illuminated our understanding of the timeless nature often encountered during profound meditation. Her recent publication in The Philosophical Quarterly explores the intriguing notion that meditation can seem both utterly atemporal and endlessly in progress.
By analyzing personal narratives from various cultures and time periods, Frischhut has investigated descriptions of deep meditation as the “pure consciousness experience.” Such states offer a heightened sense of alertness yet are devoid of any content, save for the consciousness of being itself. These accounts bring into question whether one’s awareness of time persists during deep meditative immersion.
Unveiling the Paradox of the Eternal
At the heart of Frischhut’s research is the quest to determine the possibility of a truly atemporal experience, one completely devoid of any temporal characteristics – a concept that disputes the conventional belief that consciousness entails a temporal dimension.
Frischhut presents the “Extended Now Interpretation (ENI)” to reconcile the apparent contradictions in meditative temporal awareness. By delineating the phrase ‘timeless,’ the ENI posits that meditation could be experienced as an uninterrupted present, devoid of change or temporal sequencing, thereby giving the illusion of timelessness.
The paper argues that the sensation of alertness during meditation engenders a felt duration, despite the absence of the typical sequential time awareness found in non-meditative states. The ongoing state of alertness, according to Frischhut, innately suggests a temporal element to the practitioner, independent of any active moment-to-moment tracking.
Furthermore, Frischhut posits that the very continuity of the alert consciousness, even without reference to memory, indicates a temporal span. Each moment of alert awareness is seamlessly connected, akin to the relation between successive knocks at a door.
The author advocates for more in-depth exploration into these extraordinary states of awareness, noting a scarcity of scrutiny in existing studies. Frischhut contends that a better understanding of temporal perception in such states might yield significant discoveries about the human psyche.
The outcomes of Frischhut’s research provoke continued conversation about how consciousness, meditation, and time perception interrelate, potentially shedding new light on these profound aspects of the human experience.
