Being Present
We have all been blessed in so many ways. Sometimes we go through our days in an unconscious way. It may be Friday and we say what happened to Monday through Thursday? It is easy to do. Here is something that Ram Dass said: “much more of the time, when I am ‘here,’ this is it, I am here, and when I’m not here, I’m not here. It’s interesting how when you give another human being, your family, or your business, the fullness of your being at any moment, a little is enough; while when you give them half of it, because you’re time binding with your mind, there’s never enough. You begin to hear the secret, that being fully in the present moment is the greatest gift you can give to each situation.”
I remember a talk given at Income Builders International many years ago. The presenter was Barry Spilchuk. He was having some challenges with his presentations and he asked Jack Canfield for some advice. Jack told him ” When you’re in the room, be in the room!” It was the first time Barry had ever heard this concept and he was so funny trying to figure it out. At that point in his life, he couldn’t wrap his mind around the notion of Jack’s advice. As far as Barry understood if he was in the room he had to be in the room. It was hilarious at the time! The advice simply means be fully present to life!
Life is such a gift and it seems to go by in a blink of an eye. When we take the time to be present, life becomes immortal in that moment. There are no clocks ticking, no schedules to be kept, no check list to do. That is why one of the Buddhist admonitions is to chop wood and carry water. When we do this, there is nothing lacking, nothing else we need. Meditation and practices like it, help us to focus so intently, that we can slow down life and be present. I encourage everyone to ease up, take a deep breath and be present. Please give yourself this gift as often as possible. From my present heart to yours, Thomas