1. The Scientific Nature of Time
From a physical standpoint, time is one of the fundamental dimensions of the universe. In classical Newtonian mechanics, time was considered absolute — a constant background against which motion occurred. Newton envisioned a universal clock ticking independently of the events unfolding in space.
However, this conception was radically transformed by Einstein’s theory of relativity, which revealed that time is relative, dependent on the observer’s velocity and gravitational context. In the Einsteinian model, time and space form a four-dimensional fabric known as spacetime. Events occur at specific points in this fabric, and the “flow” of time is experienced differently depending on the observer's frame of reference.
In General Relativity, strong gravitational fields cause time dilation, meaning time slows down near massive objects. Similarly, the faster one moves through space, the slower time passes relative to a stationary observer. Thus, time is not universal — it stretches and compresses, bends and curves, making it an elastic and dynamic property of the universe.
In quantum physics, however, time is an anomaly. The fundamental equations of quantum mechanics are time-symmetric; they do not distinguish between past and future. This raises a puzzle: why does time appear to flow only in one direction (the arrow of time) if the laws of nature don't demand it?
2. The Origin of Time
The dominant scientific theory of cosmic origins — the Big Bang — implies that time itself began around 13.8 billion years ago. Prior to the Big Bang, there was no space and, as such, no time. Time is not something that exists outside the universe; rather, it is inherent to the fabric of the universe. Asking what happened “before” time began is considered meaningless in standard cosmology because time did not exist prior to the singularity.
However, some quantum cosmological models propose that the universe underwent a phase transition — from a timeless quantum vacuum to a temporal classical universe. These models suggest that time could be an emergent property, not fundamental but arising from entanglement and statistical order. In such frameworks, the passage of time becomes a macroscopic illusion — a feature of entropy increase rather than a fundamental reality.
Philosophically, thinkers like Immanuel Kant have argued that time is not a thing in itself but a form of human intuition — a mental structure that organizes experiences. In this view, time does not exist independently; it is a condition for consciousness.
3. The Subjective Feeling of Time
Though science measures time with clocks, humans experience time emotionally and neurologically. A minute of pain feels longer than an hour of joy. This subjective time is shaped by attention, memory, novelty, and neurochemical states.
Neuroscience shows that time perception is governed by brain systems involving the prefrontal cortex, basal ganglia, and cerebellum. These structures help in forming an internal clock, influenced by dopamine levels and cognitive load. For example, fear, boredom, or anticipation can stretch time subjectively, while flow states or high concentration can compress it.
The illusion of continuity in consciousness creates the sense of time’s passage. But deeper inspection reveals that our experience is a succession of discrete mental moments. Mystics, meditators, and those under the influence of psychedelics often report a breakdown of linear time — a state where past, present, and future merge into a timeless now.
Culturally, time is also perceived differently. The Western linear model of time (past → present → future) contrasts with cyclical models seen in ancient Hindu, Mayan, or Daoist cosmologies, where time is seen as repetitive, rhythmic, and recursive.
4. The Arrow of Time and Entropy
Why does time appear to move only forward? The most accepted explanation comes from thermodynamics — specifically, the second law, which states that entropy (disorder) tends to increase in closed systems.
This irreversible increase in entropy gives rise to the thermodynamic arrow of time. Ice melts but never spontaneously reforms; eggs break but never unbreak. Thus, the "flow" of time emerges from the unidirectional increase in entropy, despite the time-symmetric laws of physics.
Some physicists argue that the initial conditions of the universe were extremely ordered (low entropy), which set in motion the irreversible unfolding of time. But why the universe began in such a highly ordered state remains one of the greatest unanswered questions in cosmology.
5. Timelessness: Beyond the Temporal Framework
The idea of a timeless state is not just mysticism but also a valid concept in theoretical physics. In some formulations of quantum gravity, time disappears entirely from the equations describing the fundamental structure of reality. The Wheeler-DeWitt equation, for instance, has no time variable, suggesting that at the deepest level, the universe is frozen — a block universe where all events coexist timelessly.
Philosophically, the “eternal now” or “timeless being” is a recurring idea. In Vedantic thought, Brahman — the ultimate reality — is beyond time and change. In Christian mysticism, God exists outside time. In Buddhist philosophy, nirvana is described as a cessation of conditioned phenomena — implying the transcendence of time-bound suffering.
In deep meditative states, individuals report entering realms where time ceases — not in the sense that it slows down, but that it disappears entirely. These are often described as states of pure presence, non-dual awareness, or eternal being.
6. Time as an Illusion of Consciousness from the Origin of Creation
At the deepest metaphysical level, time can be seen not as a byproduct of matter but as an illusion created by the conjunction of consciousness and energy. In the primordial moment of creation — whether viewed as the Big Bang or the unfolding of Brahman into Maya — what truly emerged was the dance between pure awareness (consciousness) and vibration (energy). This union gave rise to the concept of change, movement, and sequence — which is time itself.
In this view, time is not a separate entity but a coordinate system created by awareness to navigate energy fluctuations. Without a conscious observer to register change, there is no passage of time. This is echoed in both quantum mechanics — where observation collapses potential into reality — and in Eastern mysticism, which posits that the manifest world (including time) arises only in duality.
At every level — atomic, biological, astronomical, or spiritual — time manifests uniquely, shaped by the interaction between awareness and context. For subatomic particles, time appears in quantum phases. For living organisms, time appears in growth and decay. For galaxies, it unfolds across cosmic epochs. But in every case, it is the perception of change that gives rise to time — and perception requires consciousness.
Thus, time is always present — but not as an objective quantity. It manifests differently at each level of existence, shaped by perception and the rhythms of change. Time is not an independent entity, but the shadow cast by motion and transformation upon the mirror of awareness. To say time began with the Big Bang is technically accurate in the physical realm, where spacetime emerged from energy and expansion. Yet in a deeper sense, time has no true beginning or end — it arises as an illusion of sequence within the eternal now, born from the dynamic interplay of consciousness and energy.