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Osho on What happens to our perception of time in different experiences?

What happens to our perception of time in different experiences?

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Time is a psychological illusion; in deep presence, it expands, while in routine, it compresses, revealing the true nature of our experiences.

— Osho
Synthesized from Source outcome
Core Insight:
According to Osho, time is psychological and elastic: in secure, routine “permanent” states it seems to crawl while you live it, yet in memory it feels as if it rushed by. In risky, moment-to-moment awareness, each instant feels intense and fast now, but later remembers as vast and long. Depth of presence stretches retrospective time; surface living compresses it.
Safe and same feels slow now but short later; vivid and uncertain feels fast now but long later.
Why this matters practically
- Cultivate moment-to-moment awareness to make life feel richer and more meaningful.
- When routine feels dull, deepen attention to the present to reduce boredom.
- Loosen the grip on false security; embracing uncertainty can free you from time anxiety.
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