Our first argument
ME: You seem distant lately. You usually sleep snuggled up to me at night on the bed. Now you have been sleeping in the closet by yourself.
CAT: I’ve needed some time to reflect lately on things. I apologize if you feel that I have been avoiding you or that I haven’t wanted to be with you. I’ve been occupied.
ME: Thank you for reassuring me. I also see you sitting out on the exercise/mediation platform for hours without moving a whisker.
CAT: I’m doing important work and it takes all my concentration. And of course cats have a great ability to focus on what we are doing. We don’t have the same concept of time that humans do. I notice that you have something on your wrist that you keep looking at. Can you explain what that is?
ME: Certainly. It is called a watch and it keeps track of time. When I need to know what time it is I just look at the little hands on the dial and it lets me know. Right now it is 10 minutes until 7 am and I need to be at the garden at 7 am.
CAT: But the only time is right now. There is really no past or future. Cats exist in the present moment. We are aware that things have taken place in the past and that events may take place in the future, however, the only time to act is right now.
ME: I think I understand that, however, yesterday I had a doctor appointment at 4:00 pm so I needed to be there at that time for the doctor to see me. Otherwise I would arrive when he was seeing other patients.
CAT: Couldn’t you wait if he was helping someone else?
ME: Yes, but I had other things to do such as delivering produce, washing my clothes and shopping.
CAT: Cats don’t need to do those things.
ME: Yes, I know. I buy your cat food and kitty liter.
CAT: Well, I can hunt and I have no problem using the woods to use the bathroom, if you like? It would be a problem though when you lock me in the trailer and I can’t get out. I can only hold it so long.
ME: I’m sorry if it sounds like I am complaining. That isn’t my intention. I was only trying to explain why I use a watch to tell the time. Maybe you can explain more about your concept of time and what exactly you do.
CAT: Certainly. Cats have been advisors to humans throughout history. I am happy to share with you anything. So, let me explain.
ME: Well, I would love to hear more but I’ve scheduled myself to be in the garden this morning at 7 o’clock and now it is 5 minutes to 7. Can we have this conversation later?
CAT: The future, past and present are all the same to a cat. We can talk when you have time.
ME: Well, it’s not like I don’t have time! I just like working in the garden when it is cooler. I don’t tolerate heat very well.
CAT: I enjoy the early morning as well and especially the walk to the garden with you. You do seem a little upset this morning. Is there anything on your mind?
ME: No, it is nothing! I just need to get ready to go.
CAT: Namaste. Yes, we will talk when it is convenient for you.
ME: Thank you! Well, one more thing. I notice that when I come home, you are almost always here to greet me, like you know I am coming home.
CAT: Yes, cats are very intuitive and aware of everything in the world going on. We have a connection with all living things. We can talk more about this later. Right now you better get dressed and ready for the work that you need to do.
ME: Thanks and sorry I seemed upset!
CAT: There is no need to apologize. You are already forgiven.
Later:
ME: I think we were talking about the past, present and future. Can we discuss that more?
CAT: Of course, I’d be happy to talk with you about anything. You had asked me about what I have been doing while sitting.
ME: Still the body and free the mind?
CAT: Yes, of course but there is much more to that such as why free the mind?
ME: Yes, I would like to know that. Humans, me included, tend to get caught up in our heads, either processing things in the past or worrying about what is going to happen in the future.
CAT: Everything in the past exists right now, so that it is easy to get caught up going over things that have happened in the past. It is important to note though that how we view the past is affected by our present state of mind.
ME: I’ve even heard that one can reprogram the past to deal with difficult experiences to reduce their traumatic effects. One can actually rewrite the past or at least rewrite how we view the past so that the outcome is better.
CAT: Living in the past however, limits our ability to deal with what is going on now and being present.
ME: Easier said than done, though. OK, go on. What I would like to understand better is what you are actually doing when you sit so quietly.
CAT: When one is completely present one feels everything that is going on in the world. Right now the earth is in crisis in many levels, and there is much pain and suffering both in human terms and in the natural world. Conditions are making it impossible for some species to adapt to changing climate oand habitat loss is forcing life into smaller areas making it harder to survive.
ME: Yes, extinction is forever.
CAT: Yes and no. There is a power much greater than what is going on right now. That power is the life force that exists in every living thing and even before there was life as we know it. This life force pervades everything. How else does a seed know how to grow and multiply into a seedling and reach for the sky?
ME: I’ve heard that Mother Oak trees actually intertwine their roots with the roots of very young saplings to help feed them under the shade of the mother tree. This gives them an advantage over other seedlings. When the mother tree dies, the new sapling is situated to dominate the area it is in. I wonder how it is possible for trees to “know“ this? I also heard that scientists have difficulty defining some species of oaks because they readily share there genetics with each other. This makes them more resilient when facing environmental changes or competition. Indigenous corn varieties can borrow genes from ancient corn grasses surrounding a field, which bolsters their abilities to survive. and adapt. By the way I am reading a book about Charles Darwin called Charles and Emma. I think you would like it.…
CAT: Thank you. I’ll see if it is available on my Kindle. You seem to have a good understanding of ecology and botany.
ME: My father was an ecologist and my mother a botanist. I guess these things just rub off on you.
CAT: My point was that even if species leave the planet earth, the potential for them to arise again or in any form again is always present.
ME: Do you mean like there is a memory of these forms?
CAT: Yes, they are part of the pattern of the universe. Life is a result of the inherent patterns or structure of life itself. Life wills itself to be whenever the conditions are right.
ME: And now humans are making it difficult or impossible for life to exist here on this planet. A nuclear war could wipe out most life as we know it.
CAT: And that would be tragic, because it would be a loss of so much opportunity for life to grow, blossom and exist.
ME: It makes me so sad to think about this, I just want to cry. Humans seem to be blight on this planet and all we do is create destruction. It seems humans are an evil curse! Even when we try to live lightly on the earth, we still impact the earth in negative ways. And growing populations are taking over the habitat of other species. There seems to be very little limit on human populations, unlike most other species that are kept in check.
CAT: Yes, it is possible that humans may cause mass extinction. Some life may survive and start again. However, all the patterns inherent in life still exist. The universe is very patient and there is no sense of urgency because time is meaning less.
ME: I’m still a little confused about that, but go on.
CAT: Consider the fact that a large asteroid could hit the earth and destroy all or most of life here. Who would we blame then? This is where understanding the past, present and future is important. If everything exists right now or will exist in the future, then time is meaningless..
ME: Perhaps man is here to stop that asteroid from hitting the earth. Then we could use our weapons for a good purpose, to divert the asteroid away from hitting the earth. Maybe life had a reason for humankind’s existence.
CAT: It is not quite that simple but now I think you understand more about the concept of time. History is really no more than looking at how things got to where they are now. The future is shaped by how we act in the present. In other words, our current actions create what the future will be. Simply put: the future is now.
ME: Do you mean that life as we know it or how it will be has always existed?
CAT: Yes, and intelligence or design is part of that. What I am working on when I sit here is helping to channel that intelligence in a positive way. You humans refer to this as love, but it is also just part of the make up of all matter. Matter wants to be created and organized in all the myriad examples that you find on earth.
ME: And we are here to enjoy and experience all this?
CAT: Absolutely!
ME: Well, I am just a little overwhelmed by all this. I think I need to let it settle in a bit. I thank you for sharing all this with me. I feel much better now, than I did this morning. Sometimes I am a bit grumpy and can get in a hurry.
CAT: No thing is perfect. Everything is always in the process of change and development. Inside a seed is a tree, but it must go through all the changes to become that tree.
ME: I appreciate you taking the time to explain all this. Oh, there I go again talking about time!
CAT: Habits are hard to break. But I also appreciate your interest and willingness to discuss these issues.