Enlightened-one Quote by Dada Bhagwan
““The present (time) is a very subtle thing. On one side there is the past and on the other side there is the future, and in the middle of this, in the subtle part, lies the present. It cannot be grasped by one who is ignorant of the Self (agnani), only a a Self-realized being (Gnani) can grasp it.””
About This Quote
Source Lecture: Teachings of Dada Bhagwan, 1990s
The present moment is the subtle space between past and future, perceivable only by those who know their true self.
In simple terms: Only self‑realized people can truly feel the now.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate self‑knowledge to live in the present.
Themes
mindfulness
self‑realization
time
Mood
calm
contemplative
Type
philosophical
spiritual
When to use this quote
- meditation practice
- stress management
- creative work
Key Concepts
philosophy
spirituality
consciousness
Questions to Reflect On
- How does self‑knowledge change your perception of time?
- Can you stay present without self‑realization?
A Different Perspective
Understanding the present may be hindered by mental distractions.
![“The worldly [spiritual] science is methodic (kramic) in nature; one progresses “step by step”; one has to ascent one step at a time. Whereas this here, is Akram Vignan, a path of step-less spiritual science; it is a science that has arisen after 10 Lac (a million) years. In this path, one travels…” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/78b/dada-bhagwan-31_akram-vignan_the-worldly-spiritual-science-is-methodi_1477.jpg)
![“In the worldly life, due to maadakta (intoxication of the ego of ‘I am Chandubhai’), one has completely lost awareness of everything about one’s self. Everything in the worldly life is nothing but intoxication. The food is intoxicating, the senses are intoxicating. [Therefore] Go to the one, who…” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2b3/dada-bhagwan-31_absolute_in-the-worldly-life-due-to-maadakta-into_3662.jpg)
![“Through the grace of a thief, one can become a thief and through the grace of a Gnani [the enlightened one], one can become a Gnani [the enlightened one].” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/102/dada-bhagwan-31_enlightened_through-the-grace-of-a-thief-one-can-bec_4725.jpg)
![“Where there are kashays (anger-pride-deceit-greed), there is worldly life. As long as anger-pride-deceit-greed exist; one is a sansaari [living a worldly life] regardless of whether one is an ascetic or a family man. And where anger-pride-deceit-greed are absent, one is regarded as being asansaari…” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7ec/dada-bhagwan-31_anger_where-there-are-kashays-anger-pride-dece_5756.jpg)
![“Skills (learning) or lack of skills is all egoistic knowledge (ego based knowledge). Ego-free Knowledge is called (true) Knowledge [Gnan].” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b36/dada-bhagwan-31_egoism_skills-learning-or-lack-of-skills-is-all_9081.jpg)
![“Dehadhyas (the belief that ‘I am the body’) does not leave without [the grace of] the Gnani Purush (the Self-realized One, who can help others realize the Self). The Gnani Purush is vitaraag (one who is free from all attachment). He constantly remains in Swa-parinati (the natural state of the…” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/612/dada-bhagwan-31_belief-that-i-am-the_dehadhyas-the-belief-that-i-am-the-body_76247.jpg)
![“We' [The Gnani Purush] do not fracture your ego, ‘we’ fracture your wrong belief.” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/078/dada-bhagwan-31_ego_we-the-gnani-purush-do-not-fracture-your_182024.jpg)
![“Liberation is not possible even after a million lifetimes. Your work [of liberation] is getting done only because you have met a living Gnani Purush. The absolute Gnani is One for whom nothing in this world remains to be known. He is constantly conversing with the absolute Self (Parmatma); such a…” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2bb/dada-bhagwan-31_enlightened-one_liberation-is-not-possible-even-after-a_528879.jpg)