What is Space? What is Time?

Buddhitakso

Some people may say that time is an illusion and does not exist after all. So, what actually is time? Frankly speaking, time is something that is created; not born (a non-natural existence). Time is an indicator for event; whereas length, width & height are indicators for size and volume. All these indicators belong to a category named as dimension. In other words, dimension is created for the task of measurement per se and therefore, not something that arises out naturally.

Also, time is a scalar factor. A scalar refers to a quantity or phenomenon that exhibits magnitude only, with no specific direction. Example of scalars include speed, mass, electrical resistance, and hard-drive storage capacity. Any interval of time is also scalar - it has magnitude only.

On the other hand, space is a natural element in the realm of existence; just like energy and matter elements as well. Space is merely a plane for all activities of existence i.e. the orientation of energy or matter elements under balance and imbalance conditional phenomena. Presently, scientists have discovered that space has three spatial dimensions (length, width & height) and one temporal dimension; that is time. In cosmology, the concept of spacetime combines space and time to a single abstract universe. In fact, there is another X-factor dimension exists to accommodate for non-discerning circumstances.

As a summary, we could mention that the three spatial dimensions were created for expressing all existence under static phenomena and the combination of 3 + 1 + X-factor dimensions were created for expressing all existence under dynamic phenomena.

What actually happens to an object under accelerating motion?

When an object is set under accelerating motion, the becoming process of the object would be stretched as compared with a relative object that is set under constant or decelerating motion. In other words, the becoming process of the object has been slowed down comparatively; not the time has been dilated or slowed down. Time would only assume the expression that the becoming process has slowed down and not the other way round.

The principle in effect: -

Time is an expression that becoming process exists;

Becoming process is not an expression that time exists.

Length, width & height are expressions that size & volume exist;

Size & volume are not expressions that length, width & height exist.

Shadow is an expression that object & light exist;

Object & light are not expressions that shadow exists.

Effect A is an expression that Cause A exists;

Cause A is not an expression that Effect A exists;

Cause A is an expression that Effect pre-A exists.

In other words,

When no cause arises, no effect would arise;

When no object & light arise, no shadow would arise;

When no becoming process arises, no time would arise.

Similarly, the word of time has been used frequently for expressing different scenario of becoming processes, such as follows: -

NO TIME = an expression of no opportunity for a new becoming process to begin.

TIME TO TIME = an expression of moving from past to present becoming process; present to future becoming process.

TIME PASSED SLOWLY = an expression of hoping for a faster becoming process.

TIME DILATION = an expression that becoming process slows down.

Once again, time is a dimension because it is a scale of measurement created for gauging event of changes. Therefore, time could not be self-sustainable and has no entity. For one to reflect time as an entity is a point of view based on delusion, just like the misconception of self entity in beings. When there is no becoming process, there is no time.  So, time does not exist in Nibbana.