# Frammenti di un tempo sconosciuto | Luca Bollero | TEDxAgliè

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycJDrPwfv_M
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/ycJDrPwfv_M
Generated: 2025-11-11T18:34:49.198+00:00

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## Quick Overview

Luca Bollero recounts his personal journey of overcoming the fear of time, using the example of the ancient Indian text 'Yoga Vasistha' and its concept of time as a creation of the mind, which he found challenging to grasp initially but which ultimately guided him toward a more profound sense of presence and self-awareness, contrasting the linear, Western perception of time with an Eastern, circular view.

**Key Points:**
- Luca Bollero found an image in a book about Indian thought, specifically the Yoga Vasistha, describing time as a stylized black dragon, which deeply impressed him.
- The ancient text describes time as an entity that moves backward and forward, an instantaneous flame that envelops everything, yet only lasts for an instant.
- Bollero relates this ancient concept to his own life, noting that he struggled with the idea of time being constructed by the mind, contrasting it with the linear time model prevalent in Western culture.
- He references the work of Russian director Yevgeny Grotovsky, who, despite his fame in the 1970s, left theater to work on the 'self' (body, mind, emotions) and the search for a 'Yo-Yo' time perception.
- Bollero concludes that true awareness comes from realizing that time, as we perceive it, is largely a mental construct, and that recognizing this allows one to escape the fear of its passage.
- He emphasizes that the ancient Indian philosophical view of time as circular and tied to consciousness is a powerful tool for understanding existence beyond mere linear progression.

![Screenshot at 00:08: Bollero introduces the core concept by describing an impactful image he saw in a book about Indian thought: time visualized as a stylized black dragon.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/ycJDrPwfv_M/00-00-08.png)

**Context:** Luca Bollero, introduced as an actor, director, professor, and school administrator, shares a personal reflection stemming from reading an ancient text, the 'Yoga Vasistha,' which profoundly impacted his perception of time. This talk, delivered at a TEDx event, contrasts the conventional, linear understanding of time with a more circular, consciousness-based concept rooted in Eastern philosophy, exemplified by the image of a dragon representing time's dual nature of instantaneous yet eternal movement.

## Detailed Analysis

Luca Bollero begins by recounting an image from a book on Indian thought, the 'Yoga Vasistha,' which depicted time as a black, stylized dragon—an image that struck him as both ancient and profound. He explains that this text presents time as an instantaneous flame that engulfs everything but is itself fleeting. This concept stood in stark contrast to the linear time inherent in Western thinking, which he had internalized. Bollero then connects this philosophical idea to his personal experience, mentioning his early encounter with the work of Russian director Yevgeny Grotovsky, who abandoned a successful career in the 1970s to explore the nature of human experience (body, mind, emotions) and a concept he termed 'Yo-Yo' time. Bollero confesses that he initially struggled with the idea of time being a mental construct, feeling fear when confronting the possibility that time might not be an objective reality moving linearly from past to future. He states that Grotovsky's work, which he later studied more deeply, focused on the self's relationship with time, suggesting that true liberation comes from understanding that time is structured by consciousness. He cites Grotovsky's search for an 'I' that is 'real' and not bound by the linear progression of time, a concept rooted in ancient traditions that is still relevant today. Bollero concludes that understanding time as a mental construct, rather than an external force, frees one from the fear of its passage and allows for a deeper, more present existence.

### Introduction to Time Perception

- Luca Bollero recalls being struck by an image of time as a black dragon from the Yoga Vasistha 35 years prior
- The image described time as an instantaneous, yet all-encompassing flame
- This contrasted with his Western linear perception of time.

### Influence of Grotovsky

- Bollero mentions Russian director Yevgeny Grotovsky, who left his career in the 70s to explore the self (body, mind, emotion) and 'Yo-Yo' time
- Bollero found Grotovsky's text profoundly impactful, causing him significant fear initially.

### The Nature of Time

- Bollero argues that time is constructed by the mind, not an objective reality
- He contrasts the linear Western view with the circular, ancient Eastern view
- He emphasizes that realizing this is key to escaping the fear of time's passage.

![Screenshot at 00:02: TEDxAgliè event branding and a slide listing partners, setting the formal presentation context.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/ycJDrPwfv_M/00-00-02.png)
![Screenshot at 00:04: Luca Bollero on stage being introduced, with his name displayed prominently on the projection screen.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/ycJDrPwfv_M/00-00-04.png)
![Screenshot at 00:16: Close-up of Bollero gesturing while describing the ancient image of time as a dragon.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/ycJDrPwfv_M/00-00-16.png)
![Screenshot at 00:29: Detailed close-up of Bollero speaking, emphasizing his engaged delivery.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/ycJDrPwfv_M/00-00-29.png)
![Screenshot at 00:45: Wide shot showing Bollero on stage addressing the seated audience in the formal venue.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/ycJDrPwfv_M/00-00-45.png)
![Screenshot at 01:28: Bollero using hand gestures while emphasizing the philosophical nature of time and existence.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/ycJDrPwfv_M/00-01-28.png)
![Screenshot at 01:55: Bollero questioning the audience about the true model of time, contrasting linear vs. circular concepts.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/ycJDrPwfv_M/00-01-55.png)
![Screenshot at 03:00: Bollero referencing the ancient text's description of time as being created by the mind.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/ycJDrPwfv_M/00-03-00.png)
![Screenshot at 04:04: Bollero pausing to reflect on the colors of time being 'more vivid' when one is awake.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/ycJDrPwfv_M/00-04-04.png)
![Screenshot at 05:52: Bollero contrasting the 'action' time \(linear progress\) with the 'meditation' time \(circular/present moment\).](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/ycJDrPwfv_M/00-05-52.png)