Time is something we all live with. We check the clock, set alarms, follow calendars, plan our days, and remember moments from the past. From the moment we wake up to the moment we fall asleep, time seems to guide everything. It feels like a river that carries us forward, always moving, never stopping. But what if that’s not how time works? What if, instead of a flowing line, time is more like a staircase, one step at a time, one solid moment after another? That’s the bold and intriguing idea presented in the section on Time and Ultimate TRUTH in the book. 

In the book, the author brings up a surprising way to see time: not as something smooth, but as something that moves in jumps, or steps. This idea comes from looking closely at how energy works in the universe. Using the known formula E = hf, which shows that energy is related to frequency, the author suggests that if energy behaves in steps if it comes in little packets, then time does too. Energy and time are deeply connected, after all. If one moves in stages, it makes sense to think the other might too. The steps are exceedingly small, which is why we don’t notice them normally. 

Thinking of time like a staircase changes a lot. Instead of seeing life as a constant stream, we start to see it as a series of distinct moments. Each moment is like a stair, firm and real. We live on one step for a while and then move to the next. There’s no sliding in between. It’s not a blur. Every moment stands on its own, fully formed, like a snapshot in a photo album. This picture of time is not just an abstract idea. It helps us understand something that many people, scientists, philosophers, and spiritual teachers have tried to explain for years: that the present moment is the only thing that truly exists. 

In the book, this is called the “eternal now.” It means that what we call the past is gone, and what we call the future hasn’t happened yet. All we have is the present. This idea isn’t new. Ancient spiritual teachings have said it for centuries. In Buddhism, for example, there is a strong focus on mindfulness, the practice of being fully present. Christianity speaks of eternity, not as endless time, but as the presence of God that is always now. Even modern writers and thinkers often remind us to “live in the moment.” But seeing time as a staircase gives us a fresh, simple way to imagine it. It makes it easier to understand how time might work and how we move through it. 

This way of thinking has many effects on how we live. If each moment is its step, we can see each moment as a new chance. A fresh start. What happened before is a different step; it’s done. What comes next is not here yet. We can stop carrying old mistakes with us. We can stop worrying about what’s ahead. All that matters is the step we’re on. This doesn’t mean we stop planning or thinking. It just means we learn to live more fully in the present, without being dragged backward or pushed forward by our thoughts. Each moment is a chance to choose again. 

This stair-step view also helps us understand why life doesn’t always feel smooth. Sometimes things seem to change all at once. We have sudden insights, emotions, or decisions. We grow in bursts. We move forward, not in a straight line, but in jumps. Like stepping from one stair to the next, change often comes in moments, not slow slides. That can be comforting, especially when life feels stuck. Maybe the next step is just around the corner. 

Even in science, this way of seeing time isn’t so far-fetched. In quantum physics, for example, particles move in sudden shifts. They don’t smoothly roll from one place to another. They jump. This is called a quantum leap. It’s one of the most mind-bending parts of physics, but it supports the idea that reality at its smallest level is not continuous. It’s made up of tiny steps. So maybe time, too, follows that pattern. It moves in jumps, like the clock ticking that only sounds once each moment is fully ready. 

The book ties this all together by showing that this stepping view of time brings us closer to something even more profound: the Ultimate Truth. If truth is something that never changes or is beyond time, then the only way we can touch it is by being present, fully present, not stuck in memories or worries, but standing on the current step. When we do that, we are not just passing time. We are in touch with something real. 

In today’s world, where everything moves fast and attention is constantly being pulled in different directions, this way of seeing time offers relief. It reminds us that we don’t have to live life all at once, hold on to every regret, or predict every future outcome. We just need to take it step by step. And each step, each moment, has its own beauty and power. That’s not just comforting; it’s powerful. 

Seeing time as a staircase can also help us slow down and appreciate what’s in front of us. We often rush through life, always chasing the next thing. But when we stop and notice the step we’re on, we often find that it’s enough. There’s peace in the present. There’s clarity. There’s space to breathe. And there’s a sense of connection to ourselves, others, and maybe even the truth that sits beyond time. 

So much of our stress comes from not being in the moment. We worry about tomorrow’s problems or replay yesterday’s mistakes. But none of those things are part of the step we’re on now. They exist only in our minds. The present moment, the one we’re living in right now, is real. And it’s all we truly have. 

The book doesn’t claim to have all the answers, but it gives us a way of thinking that feels both fresh and ancient. Time as a staircase is more than just a theory. It’s a way to live, to see life more clearly, and to move, step by step, toward a deeper understanding of reality. 

In the end, Ultimate Truth and Time is about how we live. It’s about taking something as ordinary as a moment and seeing it as sacred. By choosing to be fully present and treating each step of time with care and attention, we start living with more purpose, feel more grounded, and come closer to something timeless. 

So maybe time isn’t a river after all. Perhaps it’s a staircase. And maybe, just maybe, all we must do is take one step at a time.