Our life in historical or chronological time, measuring and minding, cautious and comparing, forms the horizontal arm of the cross. Our experience of the unqualified, of inner, immeasurable time {or timelessness}, is the cross's vertical pole. We live in two kinds of time or perspective simultaneously. The horizontal and the vertical are at once quite distinct and entirely overlapping, and to experience their incongruity and confluence is what it means to be human.
Huston Smith explores the dual nature of human time perception, distinguishing between chronological time, which individuals measure and analyze, and a more profound sense of timelessness found within. He likens these aspects of time to the arms of a cross: the horizontal arm represents our structured, cautious approach to life, while the vertical arm signifies the deeper, unmeasured experience of existence.
This interplay between the two forms of time highlights what it means to be human. Smith suggests that navigating the tension between the distinct yet overlapping dimensions of time is a unique human experience. Embracing both perspectives enables individuals to understand and appreciate the richness of life fully.
