Experience NOW

The Buddha said: "Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment." This is probably one of the most effective teachings in history which applies from ancient times right to our modern days. 

In fact it is actually more appropriate and suitable for our today's busy lifestyle where most people would regret about their past while worry for their future. It is actually a very simple message which makes perfect sense but somehow we just don't get it. Despite the fact that most people know that this statement is true, they somehow fail to practice it on daily basis.

Just think about it logically if you are a sensible person, your past is gone and you could no longer do anything about it so why still keep thinking about it. Your future hasn't arrive and no matter how well you plan you could never be able to predict an accurate outcome for tomorrow simply because there are so many other things that could affect what happen to you the next second. Since we all have no control of the future, then why should we keep worrying about it?

To be mindful is to live in the present moment. If you are drinking wine right now, feel the chill of the wine glass while you are holding it, enjoy the scented taste while you are drinking it and experience the wonderful sensation as the liquid travels down into your body. You do this without thinking, just feel it instead. Let yourself get lost in the moment. Forget about how your colleague shouted at you this morning, forget about how your wife nagged as soon as you stepped into your house and definitely forget about the meeting tomorrow. Instead enjoy the beautiful music that is being played on radio or listening to the sweet melody produced by the cricket in your backyard.

Ajahn Brahm said that the future is a dream, the past is a memory, only now is the truth. Everything else is not real if you can't experience it right NOW. It is very important to wake up and know this right now as time does not wait for us. Our life clocks just keep ticking away and before we know it, it may be too late for us as most of our potential meaningful moments are wasted away when our minds indulge in regrets for our past and worry for our future.