Meditation for Thursday 25 September 2025
David Mowaljarlai was a senior traditional lawman of the Ngarinyin people in the West Kimberley. A long-time activist for his people’s rights Bungal David Mowaljarlai was an artist, philosopher, lecturer and collaborated with authors, filmmakers, and broadcasters.
In Stan Grant’s recent book, “Murriyang -Song of Time”* he writes how Mowaljarlai told him that “once I was past and future, not timeless, but Alpha and Omega; the beginning and the end.” Stan Grant writes of an imaginary dialogue between Mowaljarlai and the great 5th century theologian and saint, Augustine.
Mowaljarlai says:-
“Everything is represented in the ground and in the sky. You can’t get away from it because all is one, and we’re in it.As you see the Milky Way it ties right across the land, like a belt.”
Augustine replies:-
“Therefore, it is now clear and plain that neither the past nor the future exists.”
“There are three times: a present time of things past, a present time of things present, and a present time of things future.”
Repeatedly we see examples from indigenous spirituality that help us appreciate the concept of living in the present moment, the central objective of our meditation practice. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples spirituality is not just about the past, but a living worldview that connects the past, present, and future through the Dreaming, a concept of ‘time outside of time.’ The Dreaming allows Aboriginal peoples to understand their place in traditional society and nature and connects their spiritual world of the past with the present and future.
Today we meditate in the moment, in the now, in the present.
Meditation
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- “Murriyang – Song of Time.” Auth: Stan Grant. Pub: Bundyi (Simon & Schuster),
Sydney 2024.
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