Oakville Zen Meditation
Being in the “NOW: a Zen Dharma icon
Thich Nhat Hanh is calling “NOW” a miracle, E. Tolle the “Power of Being.”
Being in the moment or in the “Now” is critical as far as Zen philosophy and its practice are concerned.
Why that?First reason: to experience our “original self” through the current genuine reality rather than the mind-made fictional one. The core of Zen philosophy and daily practice is to experience our original, actual self, “True Self,” is revealed only by experiencing genuine non-fictional reality, which, by definition, exists only in the present moment.
>>>>>>>>>>YOU ARE EXISTING ONLY IN THIS CURRENT MOMENT.<<<<<<<<<<<
The past is dead, and its content via memory does exist, but this content is fictional. The future has not been born yet, and its content, such as planned events, does exist, but it remains fictional.
Past and future contents are like characters and events on a picture, and screens: they do exist, and yet, they are fictional because non-material.
So, by definition, you, I, our True Self, exist only in the present moment, and this is why “NOW” is the only spacetime when genuine reality can be experienced. No other way. The other spacetimes, such as past & future, are, again, mind-made, sort of “video games” which are the default mode of our thinking.
We are trapped by our mind-made dreams, escaping the present moment.
The second reason: controlling our wandering mind.
Again, our mind dislikes being in the present, except for a few exceptions as mentioned already.
Rather, it is wandering almost non-stop in the past and future because dreaming is more attractive, if not exciting, than just being in our mundane, dull, and routine daily activities.
Unfortunately, these mind-made dreaming states carry their negativities:
The past is a major source of negative feelings, such as regrets, guilt, sadness, hatred, and anger,
for which nothing can be done.
The future triggers anxiety, hope, fear, and delusions.
How to be in the moment or how to be you?
We are in the moment when we are focusing on something, such as work or during meditation, but most of the time, we are escaping the current moment because dreaming states are more exciting than our current reality. Here is what to do:
Bring our mind 1) where our body is, 2) what it is doing, 3) what it is experiencing using our 5 sensorial receptors, and finally: 4) where our mind is, and thinking about.
All of these can be challenging, especially while involved in routine, automatic activities.
Therefore, this Zen saying: “ when you eat, just eat, when to walk, just walk...etc “.
When our mind escapes and is wandering here and there, be mindful of it and get it back to the present moment, that is what you are doing.
Here are a few tips to stay in the moment:
Do one thing at a time. Do it slowly, completely, and in a mindful way. No multitasking.
Put space and time between doing things. Develop rituals at a specific time for certain things.
Do not procrastinate. Mindfully listen to others rather than having your mind being elsewhere.
Experience one of your 5 sensorial senses - sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste as often as possible.
Remember this:
The “past you, and the future you “are just mind-made avatars. They exist because thoughts exist, but avatars are virtual, fictional, and immaterial. You deserve more than being an avatar, even when the present moment, whatever you perceive it from, is exciting to dull, or stressful. THANKS
