Calculation of Time, from the Atom
Maitreya Muni continued his detailed explanation of the material creation by describing the concept of time and how it operates at different levels of existence. The sage explained that time is one of the most powerful and unavoidable forces in material nature, constantly driving all changes and transformations in the material world. Nothing in the material realm can escape the influence of time - it causes birth, growth, decay, and death in all material bodies, from the smallest atom to the largest universe. However, time itself is not independent; it is an energy of the Supreme Lord, acting as His representative to enforce the laws of material nature. Understanding the nature of time and how it operates at different scales of existence helps one appreciate both the vastness of cosmic manifestation and the temporary nature of all material existence.
The sage began by describing time at the atomic level, explaining that the smallest measurable unit of time is the duration required for an atom to move from one position to another adjacent position. This infinitesimal duration serves as the fundamental building block from which all larger units of time are constructed. From these atomic moments, progressively larger units of time are calculated - seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, and years as experienced by human beings on earth. However, Maitreya emphasized that time is relative and operates differently for different categories of living beings. What seems like a moment to the demigods in the higher planetary systems may be experienced as years by human beings, and what humans experience as a day may be experienced as a lifetime by microorganisms. This relativity of time demonstrates that our ordinary perception of reality is limited and conditioned by our particular bodily situation.
Maitreya then described the cosmic scale of time, explaining the vast durations involved in the creation, maintenance, and destruction of the material universe. A day in the life of Brahma, the cosmic creator, equals 4.32 billion human years, and his night is of equal duration. During Brahma's day, fourteen Manus appear in succession, each presiding over a period called a manvantara. During Brahma's night, the universe is partially dissolved, with all living entities entering into a state of dormancy. Brahma's complete lifespan is 100 years by his calculation, which equals 311 trillion and 40 billion human years. At the end of Brahma's life, the entire material universe, along with all planetary systems and living entities within it, is completely dissolved and merged back into the unmanifest state within the body of Maha-Vishnu. This cycle of creation and dissolution continues eternally, with universes constantly being created and destroyed.
The sage explained that understanding these vast scales of time serves several important spiritual purposes. First, it helps one appreciate the insignificance of one's individual lifespan in the context of cosmic time. A human life of seventy or eighty years is but a momentary flash compared to the billions of years of cosmic time, and even those cosmic ages are temporary, eventually coming to an end. This understanding naturally produces detachment from temporary material pursuits and makes one question the value of dedicating one's life solely to material achievements that will be swept away by time. Second, it helps one understand that the material universe itself, despite its vast dimensions and enormous lifespan, is ultimately temporary and subject to destruction. Only the spiritual realm, which exists beyond the influence of material time, is eternal and unchanging.
Maitreya also explained the different planetary systems and how time operates differently in each. In the lower planetary systems, where living entities suffer due to their sinful karma, time moves slowly, making the suffering seem to last almost eternally. In the middle planetary systems where human beings live, time moves at a moderate pace, providing opportunities for both material activities and spiritual practices. In the higher planetary systems where the demigods reside, time moves very quickly from their perspective, with centuries passing in what seems like moments, allowing them to enjoy their celestial pleasures for extended periods. However, regardless of which planetary system one inhabits, no one is immune to the effects of time - eventually, all material situations come to an end, and one must move on to another birth according to one's karma and consciousness at the time of death.
The chapter concludes with the teaching that the ultimate goal of spiritual life is to transcend material time altogether and enter the eternal realm where time has no influence. In the spiritual world, there is no past, present, or future in the material sense - everything exists in an eternal present, unchanging and unlimited. The only way to escape the devastating influence of material time is through devotional service to Krishna, which gradually elevates one's consciousness from the temporal to the eternal. By regularly engaging in hearing about Krishna, chanting His names, and remembering His pastimes, one's consciousness becomes fixed on the eternal spiritual reality rather than on temporary material phenomena. When one achieves this transcendental consciousness fully, one becomes qualified to enter Krishna's eternal abode at the time of death, never to return to the material world where time continues its relentless march, destroying everything material but never touching anything spiritual.