UJI Part Seven | Uji Beyond Conditioning
“Do not look upon time as ‘something that just flies away’: do not teach yourself that ‘flying away’ is simply how time functions. Were we to endow time with the property of ‘flying away’, there would undoubtedly be a gap left by the time that has flown. Should anyone have not yet heard teaching upon the principle expressed by the phrase ‘just for the time being’, he may still think of time only as ‘something which has gone away’. “
Perceiving time as something that just flies away creates a sense of loss and separation. When we fall into the conceptualized time gap, we lose connection. We are not experiencing the actuality of uji. We may often sense that something is missing. Living uji actualizes this moment and reveals that there was never a gap. When we are conditioned to believe that time is something that goes past or flies away, we don't experience uji and are asleep to wisdom. Realizing and examining the karmic momentum of our habitual consciousness awakens us to the exalted dharma of our lived experience. Uji, fully expressed at this moment, the entire dharmakaya, is speaking right now.
Living uji is a transformative experience. It liberates us from the confines of intellectual understanding and opens us up to the profound intimacy of direct experience. When we embody this understanding, our intimacy becomes so complete that the distinction between 'I' and the myriad 'things,' 'memories,' and 'labels' that arise to meet us dissolves. This is an alchemical crucible where 'past' wounds surface for healing and are transformed.
Living uji means recognizing that every moment is complete in itself. No past has simply flown away, and no future stands apart somewhere ahead. All is this present moment, vibrant and alive, with nothing excluded. This realization helps us stay grounded, fully aware, and engaged with life as it unfolds. We see that there is no gap between our existence and the flow of time. Each moment is a unique expression of uji, embodying the totality of our being-time.
