--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Time is only an idea. There is only the…" description: "\"“Time is only an idea. There is only the Reality Whatever you think it is, it looks like that. If you call it time, it is time. If you call it existenc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1dd/ramana-maharshi-915_life_time-is-only-an-idea-there-is-only-the-r_525755.jpg" --- # Time is only an idea. There is only the Reality Whatever… ![“Time is only an idea. There is only the Reality Whatever you think it is, it looks like that. If you call it time, it is time. If you call it existence, it is existence, and so on. After calling it time, you divide it into days and nights, months, years, hours, minutes, etc. Time is immaterial for…” quote by Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1dd/ramana-maharshi-915_life_time-is-only-an-idea-there-is-only-the-r_525755.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1dd/ramana-maharshi-915_life_time-is-only-an-idea-there-is-only-the-r_525755.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1dd/ramana-maharshi-915_life_time-is-only-an-idea-there-is-only-the-r_525755.jpg) > ““Time is only an idea. There is only the Reality Whatever you think it is, it looks like that. If you call it time, it is time. If you call it existence, it is existence, and so on. After calling it time, you divide it into days and nights, months, years, hours, minutes, etc. Time is immaterial for the Path of Knowledge. But some of these rules and discipline are good for beginners.”” [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Time is a mental construct; reality is what we perceive, and labeling creates divisions that may aid beginners but are ultimately illusory. **In simple terms:** Time is an idea, reality is perception. Key Takeaway Question assumptions about time and existence. Themes philosophy spirituality perception Mood contemplative calm Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - meditation - study - daily planning - learning new skills Key Concepts metaphysics mindfulness discipline Questions to Reflect On - What would life feel like without time? - How do labels shape experience? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on labels can hinder deeper insight. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clock/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Existence Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence-existence-762837/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Time Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-existence-1592969/) [Time Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-idea-3924253/) [Time Immaterial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-immaterial-4427129/) ## Related quotes > [Time is only an idea. There is only the Reality. Whatever you think it is, it looks like that. If you call it time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/time-is-only-an-idea-there-is-only-the-reality-whatever-you-think-it-2/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [Time, among all concepts in the world of physics, puts up the greatest resistance to being dethroned from ideal continuum to the world of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-archibald-wheeler/time-among-all-concepts-in-the-world-of-physics-puts-up-the-greatest/) [John Archibald Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-archibald-wheeler/) > [Time is only an idea. There is only the Reality. Whatever you think it is, it looks like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/time-is-only-an-idea-there-is-only-the-reality-whatever-you-think-it-3/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [Since time is the one immaterial object which we cannot influence - neither speed up nor slow down, add to nor diminish - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/since-time-is-the-one-immaterial-object-which-we-cannot-influence-2/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [“Time is immaterial. It is immortal. Time never chose people to define their lives with it. That was humanity’s choice. That was when man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umair-naeem/time-is-immaterial-it-is-immortal-time-never-chose-people-to-define/) [Umair Naeem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umair-naeem/) > [That which is produced with intention has passed over from non-existence to existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/that-which-is-produced-with-intention-has-passed-over-from-non/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [Since time is the one immaterial object which we cannot influence neither speed up nor slow down add to nor diminish it is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/since-time-is-the-one-immaterial-object-which-we-cannot-influence/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [You must realize first of all that you are the proof of everything, including yourself. None can prove your existence, because his existence must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/you-must-realize-first-of-all-that-you-are-the-proof-of-everything/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [“Some scholars maintain that we cannot think of non-existence of space, even if we can leave out all objects in it; nor can we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/some-scholars-maintain-that-we-cannot-think-of-non-existence-of-space/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [God created the universe out of nothing in an act which also brought time into existence. Recent discoveries, such as observations supporting the Big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-margenau/god-created-the-universe-out-of-nothing-in-an-act-which-also-brought/) [Henry Margenau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-margenau/) > [“Oh, was not all suffering time, were not all forms of tormenting oneself and being afraid time, was not everything hard, everything hostile in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/oh-was-not-all-suffering-time-were-not-all-forms-of-tormenting/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Existence always cares about you. If you are authentic, if your search is true and you are not a pretender, time will help you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/existence-always-cares-about-you-if-you-are-authentic-if-your-search/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [It would be a sign of great simplicity to think that the world was created in six days, or indeed at all in time;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philo/it-would-be-a-sign-of-great-simplicity-to-think-that-the-world-was/) [Philo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philo/) > [Most of the time, when I get an idea that hinges on some science 'thing,' it will have been because of something I read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-reynolds/most-of-the-time-when-i-get-an-idea-that-hinges-on-some-science-thing/) [Alastair Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-reynolds/) > [You have to calendar time for yourself even if you have no idea what you're going to do with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susie-bright/you-have-to-calendar-time-for-yourself-even-if-you-have-no-idea-what/) [Susie Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susie-bright/) ## More by Ramana Maharshi > [Then all this earth shines like one house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/then-all-this-earth-shines-like-one-house/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [Silence is most powerful. Speech is always less powerful than silence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/silence-is-most-powerful-speech-is-always-less-powerful-than-silence/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [Meditation is sticking to one thought. That single thought keeps away other thoughts; distraction of mind is a sign of its weakness; by constant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/meditation-is-sticking-to-one-thought-that-single-thought-keeps-away/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [The more you prune a plant, the more it grows. So too the more you seek to annihilate the ego, the more it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/the-more-you-prune-a-plant-the-more-it-grows-so-too-the-more-you-seek/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [Think of God; attachments will gradually drop away. If you wait till all desires disappear before starting your devotion and prayer, you will have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/think-of-god-attachments-will-gradually-drop-away-if-you-wait-till/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [That which rises and sinks is made up of what it rises from. The finality of the universe is the God Arunachala. Meditating on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/that-which-rises-and-sinks-is-made-up-of-what-it-rises-from-the/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [Food affects the mind. For the practice of any kind of yoga, vegetarianism is absolutely necessary since it makes the mind more pure and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/food-affects-the-mind-for-the-practice-of-any-kind-of-yoga/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [The mind of one meditating on a single object becomes one-pointed. And one-pointedness of mind leads to abidance in the self. Real attainment is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/the-mind-of-one-meditating-on-a-single-object-becomes-one-pointed-and/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [Eating, bathing, going to the toilet, talking, thinking, and many other activities related to the body are all work. How is it that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/eating-bathing-going-to-the-toilet-talking-thinking-and-many-other/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [Knowing the Self, God is known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/knowing-the-self-god-is-known/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [Every moment there is creation, every moment destruction. There is no absolute creation, no absolute destruction. Both are movement, and that is eternal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/every-moment-there-is-creation-every-moment-destruction-there-is-no/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [The entire Universe is condensed in the body, and the entire body in the Heart. Thus the Heart is the nucleus of the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/the-entire-universe-is-condensed-in-the-body-and-the-entire-body-in/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [The state of self-realization, as we call it, is not attaining something new or reaching some goal which is far away, but simply being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/the-state-of-self-realization-as-we-call-it-is-not-attaining/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [God illumines the mind and shines within it. One cannot know God by means of the mind. One can but turn the mind inwards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/god-illumines-the-mind-and-shines-within-it-one-cannot-know-god-by/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [We are so engrossed with the objects, or appearances revealed by the light, that we pay no attention to the light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/we-are-so-engrossed-with-the-objects-or-appearances-revealed-by-the/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) [Explore all 329 Ramana Maharshi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) ## More Clock quotes > [Even Einstein had to rely for his time on his clock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/even-einstein-had-to-rely-for-his-time-on-his-clock/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [“Time was never neutral and often felt dangerous. We either think we have all the time in the world or time moves too fast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-reay/time-was-never-neutral-and-often-felt-dangerous-we-either-think-we/) [Katherine Reay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-reay/) > [Before a clock was in the tower, Or e'er a watch was worn; I knew of night the passing hour, And prophesied the morn;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/before-a-clock-was-in-the-tower-or-e-er-a-watch-was-worn-i-knew-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A clock struck out the hour of twelve, and the bird in the hedgerow was still singing as we marched out to the roadway,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-macgill/a-clock-struck-out-the-hour-of-twelve-and-the-bird-in-the-hedgerow/) [Patrick MacGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-macgill/) > [“Time is, to put it in its most impressive and some might say poncy-sounding form, my domain. I can see things that once happened,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-rayner/time-is-to-put-it-in-its-most-impressive-and-some-might-say-poncy/) [Jacqueline Rayner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-rayner/) > [Time travel offends our sense of cause and effect - but maybe the universe doesn't insist on cause and effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-m-lerner/time-travel-offends-our-sense-of-cause-and-effect-but-maybe-the/) [Edward M. Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-m-lerner/) > [My only aim is to clock a time that everyone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/my-only-aim-is-to-clock-a-time-that-everyone-remembers/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [Time.The greatest creator, and the worst destroyer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/levi-keely/time-the-greatest-creator-and-the-worst-destroyer/) [Levi Keely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/levi-keely/) > [Steven Spielberg seems to have wanted to be a director from 13. He put his dog in a certain position and made him eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-brooks/steven-spielberg-seems-to-have-wanted-to-be-a-director-from-13-he-put/) [Albert Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-brooks/) > [No life goes past so swiftly as an eventless one, no clock spins like a clock whose days are all alike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/no-life-goes-past-so-swiftly-as-an-eventless-one-no-clock-spins-like/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [Those who stop marketing to save money are like those who stop a clock to save time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/those-who-stop-marketing-to-save-money-are-like-those-who-stop-a/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [Time is the nervous system of narration, whether factual or fictive. If it gets confused some of the minutiae of human nature are certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenway-wescott/time-is-the-nervous-system-of-narration-whether-factual-or-fictive-if/) [Glenway Wescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenway-wescott/) > [I don't know if it's just me or everyone, but the whole vibe with skiing is not so much thriving on competition against others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/picabo-street/i-don-t-know-if-it-s-just-me-or-everyone-but-the-whole-vibe-with/) [Picabo Street](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/picabo-street/) > [Time goes on, even when yer not looking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/time-goes-on-even-when-yer-not-looking/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [CLOCK, n. A machine of great moral value to man, allaying his concern for the future by reminding him what a lot of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/clock-n-a-machine-of-great-moral-value-to-man-allaying-his-concern/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) [Browse all 2,738 Clock quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clock/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Time is only an idea. There is only the Reality Whatever you think it is, it looks like that. If you call it time, it is time. If you call it existence, it is existence, and so on. After calling it time, you divide it into days and nights, months, years, hours, minutes, etc. Time is immaterial for the Path of Knowledge. 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