The Present Moment

 by Smt. Mandira Lahiri

 

Prajnanpurush Sri Sri Babathakur often said that we tend to worship the past, neglect the present and anticipate the future. So aptly said… this is what we all do most of the time. If we all engage our minds in utilizing our present properly, then our present and future will automatically be good. Tomorrow when the present becomes the past, it has to be good because of right use yesterday. Otherwise, it is not fruitful to think about our past since it causes anguish if it is unpleasant and causes temporary pleasure if it is pleasant. But the mind knows that it is not true at all. We know that it is past----it is over and done with-----whether good or bad it cannot be undone. Thinking about our future is futile, meaningless and a waste of time since who has seen the future? It is so uncertain! So, it is only the ‘now’ which is real and relevant. Being in the present has to be cultivated. A habit has to be developed to dwell on ‘here’ and ‘now’. Our minds have to be nudged and schooled so that it does not drown itself in the past and future. Being in the present moment can be achieved by involving our minds in meaningful activities. Present should be spent constructively in thoughts, words and deeds.

Echart Tolle says-----

“It’s Always ‘Now’.

“On the surface it seems that the present moment is only one of many, many moments. Each day of your life appears to consist of thousands of moments where different things happen. Yet, if you look more deeply, is there not only one moment ever? Is life ever not ‘this moment’?”

Excerpts from ‘The Speaking Tree’ written by Marguerite Theophil dated 28/5/21.

“It is true that we near unconsciously attach narratives to people and events in a good /bad evaluation almost all the time. Mindfulness teaches us to side step this tendency, just being in the experience; admittedly easier said than done, but still, something we can train ourselves to do. In no way does the teaching ask us to blinker ourselves against the beauty around us.

“When we rush through our days, barely noticing the sights, sounds and smells around, we also become enmeshed in mind-chatter.

“A wonderful key to everyday mindfulness is savoring. When we savor something, we are fully present with it, and appreciative of the experience.

“Some tell us that these are two different things, mindfulness asks you to observe the present moment without judging it and let go of it, while with savoring, you observe a specific type of moment, a positive one, and then you try to stay with it, wrap it around yourself, not let it go. Yet savoring isn’t all that different to mindfulness, in as much as it is taking notice of a particular experience or sight and being present within it.

“For many others, it is just another aspect of mindful awareness, not a different process. As one wise teacher puts it, appreciating ordinary everyday beauty, can actually transport people into a mindful state because you have put yourself in a space of connection and presence.

“This simple yet powerful practice can lead to a sense of wellbeing, better mental health and improved relationships. Training ourselves to savor also helps bypass or ignore what would otherwise get your critical or “judgy” attention. In fact, intentionally savoring nudges you back into the present moment, and the beauty of life.

“It doesn’t have to be a unique and extraordinary event; it’s about appreciating life as it unfolds.

“You will most likely notice that when you are present with your experience, and savoring it, the negative chatter in your mind slows down or even stops, your self-absorbed focus moves outward again, reconnecting you with the moment you’re in, the beauty and joy around.”

Excerpts from Thich Nihat Hanh’s article in ‘The Speaking Tree ‘dated 25/5/21----

“We can prepare for the future without getting consumed by our plans. The present moment is where we need to operate. When you are truly anchored in the present moment, you can plan in a much better way. If you are grounded in the present moment, you can bring the future into the present to have a deep look without losing yourself in anxiety and uncertainty. You can learn from the past and plan for the future in the best way if you are grounded in the present moment.”

A fairy tale known as ‘Peter and the Magic Thread’ explains very well the importance of being in the present moment.

“Peter could never live in the moment. He had not learned to enjoy the process of life. When he was in school, he dreamed of being outside playing. When he was playing outside, he dreamed of his summer vacation. One morning, Peter was out walking in a forest near his home. Feeling tired, he dozed off on a patch of grass. After only a few minutes of deep sleep, he heard someone calling his name. ‘Peter! Peter! As he slowly opened his eyes, he was startled to see a striking woman, over a hundred years old standing above him. In this woman’s wrinkled hand was a magical little ball with a hole in the center and out of the hole dangled a long, golden thread.

“Peter,’ she said, ‘this is the thread of your life. If you pull the thread just a bit, an hour will pass in seconds. If you pull a little harder, whole days will pass in minutes. And if you pull with all your might, months---even years---will pass by in days. ‘I would like to have it if I may?’ he asked. The elderly woman quickly reached down and gave the ball with the magic thread to the young boy.

“The next day, Peter felt bored sitting in the classroom. Suddenly he remembered his new toy. As he pulled a little bit of the golden thread, he quickly found himself at home, playing in his garden. Peter soon grew tired of being a schoolboy and longed to be a teenager, with all the excitement that phase of life would bring. So again, he pulled out the ball and pulled hard on the thread.

“Suddenly he was a teenager with a very pretty girlfriend named Elise. But Peter wasn’t content. He dreamed of being an adult. So again, he pulled the thread and many years whizzed by in an instant. He found that he had been transformed into a middle-aged adult. Elise was now his wife and Peter was surrounded by a houseful of kids. Yet Peter could not live in the moment. So again, he pulled on the magic thread and waited for the changes to appear.

“Peter now found that he was a ninety-year-old man. His thick dark hair had turned white and Elise had passed away a few years earlier. His wonderful children had grown up and left home to lead lives on their own. For the first time in his entire life, Peter realized that he had not taken the time to embrace the wonders of living. He had hurried through life, never resting to see all that was good along the way.

“Peter became very sad at this discovery. He decided to go out to the forest where he used to walk as a boy to clear his head. He lay down on a small patch of grass and fell into deep slumber. After only a minute, he heard someone calling out to him. He looked up in astonishment to see that it was none other than the old woman who had given him the magic toy many years earlier.

“How have you enjoyed my special gift?” she asked

“At first it was fun but now I hate it. My whole life has passed before my eyes without giving me a chance to enjoy it. I feel empty inside. I have missed the gift of living.”

“You are very ungrateful,” said the old woman. “Still, I will give you one last wish.”

“Peter answered hastily, “I’d like to go back to being a schoolboy and live my life over again.” He then returned to deep sleep.

“Again, he heard someone calling his name and opened his eyes. He was delighted to see his mother standing over his bedside. Peter realized that the strange woman of the forest had indeed granted his wish and he had returned to his former life.

Peter dashed out of bed on this morning and began to live the way he had hoped. Peter went on to live a full life, one rich with many delights, joys and triumphs, but it all started when he stopped sacrificing the present for the future, and began to live in the moment.

Finally, I feel that though we all have a strong urge to be blissful and calm, yet it is easier said than done. The mind plays truant and does not let us be in the present moment. Therefore, there is endless suffering in this world. Prajnanpurush Sri Sri Babathakur in ‘Science of Oneness’ elucidates----

‘Our Divine Nature should be cultured at all cost, for the attainment of our perfection, liberation and divinization of life. For that culture, the present educational system is not effective. It should be thoroughly changed and be replaced by that of a man-making education. Such educational system would provide us with the scope of all sorts of scientific and technical training. TOGETHER with the full course for implementing the ‘Science of Oneness’ in life with the following four musts:

---control of senses both inner and outer

---practice of concentration and meditation

---spiritual discrimination and devotion

---self-analysis and self-enquiry

In and through Real love for Divine Self, the One (the Absolute).’

So, we see that if we are able to transform our human nature into Divine Nature, then we will attain Supreme Bliss and also be in the present moment.