Literally, this quote suggests that by interacting with a moving river, you simultaneously feel the water that has just flowed by and the water that is about to arrive. It’s a sensory experience of continuity.

In the Sufi tradition, particularly as articulated by masters like Rumi, this imagery points to the nature of *wahdat al-wujud* (unity of being). The stream represents the Divine Essence, the *Haqq*, which is both eternal and ever-manifesting. The 'last of what has passed' is the echo of Divine Will in creation, the remnants of past manifestations. The 'first of what is to come' is the anticipation of future unfoldment, the continuous outpouring of Divine Grace. To 'put your hand in the stream' is to engage with the present moment, the *hal*, which is the only point of contact with this eternal reality. It is in the *hal* that the seeker can transcend the illusion of linear time and experience the timelessness of God's presence, a state akin to *fana* (annihilation of the self in God). The individual ego, bound by past regrets and future anxieties, dissolves in the immediate experience of the Divine flow.

In your life: Recognize that each present moment is a gateway to the eternal; practice mindfulness to feel the connection between your past experiences and future possibilities within the now.