And if we once grasp the idea that past and future may be
actually existing, we can recognize that they may have a controlling
influence on all present action, and the two together may constitute the
'higher plane' or totality of things after which, as it seems to me, we
are impelled to seek, in connection with the directing of form or
determinism, and the action of living being consciously directed to a
definite and preconceived end."
Sir Oliver's illustration is somewhat akin to that of a person who sees a
moving-picture show for the first time, and does not know how it is
produced. To him it looks as if the events of the pictured story actually
were developing and happening in time, whereas, in reality the whole
picture is existing at one time. Its past, present and future is already
pictured, and may be seen by one who knows the secret and how to look for
the past or future scene; while, to the ordinary observer, the scene
progresses in sequence, the present being followed by something else which
is at this moment "in the future," and therefore, unknowable. To the
senses of the ordinary observer only the present is in existence; while,
in fact, the "future" is equally truly in existence at the same time,
although not evident to the senses of the observer.
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