We have all
heard that we should be in the present, live in the moment, but it wasn’t until
I read Tolle that a piece of the puzzle fell a little more into place for me
regarding the fundamental relevance and importance of this.
Life arises and
exists only in the present moment.
The past and the future are conceptual, not actual, though we all have a
tendency to treat them as though they were a present reality. The past and the
future can exist as important sources of inspiration and hope, but if we try to
source life there, we will starve ourselves for lack of real nourishment.
The vitality and
passion of life exist only in the present moment along with all the chaos,
disappointment and pain. The chaos is why it is fairly common to seek shelter
in a fictionalized past or future.
Unfortunately, when we set ourselves in opposition to the present moment we reject life as a whole, as it is. Not only do we not lose life’s pain, suffering and challenges when we do this, but we lose its vitality and passion as well—a losing proposition all round. Thus, we need to embrace the whole package. How do we do this?
Unfortunately, when we set ourselves in opposition to the present moment we reject life as a whole, as it is. Not only do we not lose life’s pain, suffering and challenges when we do this, but we lose its vitality and passion as well—a losing proposition all round. Thus, we need to embrace the whole package. How do we do this?
We do this by
aligning ourselves with the present moment, making friends with it, regardless
of what is manifesting there.
We choose not to treat the present moment as an enemy that needs to be annihilated, for if we do take this offensive/defensive posture, life will become a self fulfilling prophecy of unrest, elevated stress and lack of peace.
When we befriend the present moment it likewise befriends us, it always mirrors our internal state of affairs back to us. In the end there is no real escape. Life is now, not before, not later…Now.
We choose not to treat the present moment as an enemy that needs to be annihilated, for if we do take this offensive/defensive posture, life will become a self fulfilling prophecy of unrest, elevated stress and lack of peace.
When we befriend the present moment it likewise befriends us, it always mirrors our internal state of affairs back to us. In the end there is no real escape. Life is now, not before, not later…Now.
Tolle suggests
we periodically ask ourselves this vital question: What is my relationship with
the present moment? It is a question that unveils the ego that thinks it knows better
what should be happening. Note that this never changes what is actually happening.
Immersion in the present allows us to take in all the information and details that are important for making informed choices and decisions, that will irrevocably impact and shape future present moments.
Decisions rooted in wishful thinking can only wreak more of the havoc we'd all rather avoid.
Immersion in the present allows us to take in all the information and details that are important for making informed choices and decisions, that will irrevocably impact and shape future present moments.
Decisions rooted in wishful thinking can only wreak more of the havoc we'd all rather avoid.
Our relationship
with life is the fundamental basis out of which our experiences arise.
Being present empowers us to make more informed choices, non-reactive choices, that don’t pointlessly argue with life as it is, facilitating the ability to move through all the ups and downs with a little less drama and a little more class.
Being present empowers us to make more informed choices, non-reactive choices, that don’t pointlessly argue with life as it is, facilitating the ability to move through all the ups and downs with a little less drama and a little more class.
