Dear Jody; Living in the Here and the Now is one of the core teachings in all Zen traditions. Craving and ambition are considered causes os suffering. But saying this is not enough and you'll need to experience that by yourself. No teaching can be learnt unless there is an insight understanding about it. The only way to do this is by practicing, working on it.
When we talk about anchoring the mind in the present moment it means that the body and mind are together and not separated. Have you noticed that quite often we are with our body in one place and the mind somewhere else?. With the help of conscious breathing we bring the mind to the body. This is the first and key step of living the present momnent. TNH kept repeating himself through the years; "The Buddha taught that the past is already gone and the future has notyet come; THAT WE FIND LIFE IN WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW. To dwell in the present is truly TO RETURN TO LIFE". I'd like to tell you that the practice of the present moment is not an easy one. If I pay attention to myself I can see that I have an indisciplened mind, wandering from one place to another, never finding satisfation with anything....Of course a mind like this gets very tired and irritated. When tireness is at its high peak, I'm lucky enough having found the key that open the gate of MIND RESTORATION. I stop everything I'm doing. I sit down and breathe in awareness. In this way I bring my mind to present moment. The mind gets rebelious when I do this and keep complaining and complaining. I listen to all its complains, sorrows, despair...A sensation of compassion starts to invade me. I smile to my mind and take good care of it. I observe everything that is going on in the mind and in the body...After a while my breath goes deep and slow. Then calm...It's a really incredible miracolous founding this practice of the Present Moment. The practice of the present moment is a very deep practice that grows its insight and energy with time. The present moment is me and you, and Bill, Edgar, Mike, Chris, Anthony, Margie...The present moment is our ship. We are the captains of our own ship. We let oneselves go in the flow beyond space and time. Good luck with your practice Mayka --- In [email protected], "Jody W. Ianuzzi" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > "The Blesses Buddha responded: > They do not trouble over the past, > Nor do they crave for any future, > They live just with what is present, > Therefore are their looks so serene!" > > I understand this and I understand how important it is to practice. > By letting go of the past it is possible to let go of so much that > bothers us. > > My question is: if you don't crave for a future then how do you have > goals and aspirations? > > JODY > ------------------------------------ Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
