UN-MASKED FACE OF THE UNIVERSE : 7
Time is a concept only By vedant-ic realisation it is kaal , Maha kaal (local , cosmic, etc ) and by Moden Science-Space-time of Einstein or `Imaginary Time (Stephen Hawking). Perceptions are relative value of the same time. and measured by individual experiences.
Mind is the connection-link-between objective-world and consciousness.
So long mind thinks and desires , we are in action(working or sitting idle, -matters not).
Witness-attitude can transcend physical mind.
Life passes through millions of births in evolutionary process from plant to microbe to insect to animal to man. Even then man has to evolve from his base state unto divinity.
Thoughts and inherited habits are held up in mental field like clouds floating on monsoon sky. When they clear off, the vast blue sky reveals itself.
When greed , anger, base passions are overcome,. `Peace` ,naturally ,settles within
Sorrow and happiness are states of ignorant mind and deeply related to our material desire/attachments and to our failure to fulfil them. If desire is high and we fail to achieve, -grief follows
For spiritual ascents , you ,neither need ` idol` nor rituals. Atheists can be spiritual too.