On the "Law of Attraction" thread, we got into questions about being present....

Light the path said:

"I read a quote by i think bhudda saying not to dwell in the past and do not dream of the future, but focus on the present. what does that mean?

and Melody said:

"My head is always either stuck in what has happened or what I am thinking of going to do. Are there any way that could help me be to be present? I tried really hard today and noticed that I couldn't stop thinking!!!

The key with being present is to first become the observer of oneself. What does this mean? Well we begin to watch ourselves in everything that we do - or at least as much as possible.

In other words we watch our thoughts and feelings etc BUT WITHOUT at first trying to change them. In doing so, we begin to disassociate ourselves from our thoughts and emotions - in other words we don't identify with them.

So for example, someone drives into the back of your car, do you immediately leap out and start ranting and raving? Or are you lost it the consequences of what that might mean? Or instead, can you watch what arises for you without being lost in it?

That doesn't mean to change what is going on, simply to watch it.

If we keep doing this, a time will come when we suddenly wake up to the fact that there is a "someone" inside that is not the sum total of thoughts, programmed behaviours and emotions.

The next step is to then connect more with what we are feeling about the moment.

So for example, you're walking through the countryside and encounter a horse. When most people do this, they only connect with memories and ideas about what the horse is.

Instead can you actually connect with how you feel about it? What about the amazing beauty? Perhaps its awesome power? Try getting close and actually smelling its scent. Its a wonderful earthy smell.

Likewise, as you walk through the countryside are you just lost in thought or are you connecting with the intensity of colours, the sound of the birds, the breeze on your face, the feeling of your movement across the ground, the scent of flowers.

Approaching life in this way helps us to be much more present in the moment. This is positively good because its the ONLY moment we have - you cannot change the past so why worry about it? and the future unfolds out of what we do in the present so why think about it either?

When we are truly present, we experience much more of life than we otherwise would. It enables us eventually to find the absolute truth of the moment - not the false reality generated by our hopes, desires or fears.

The present moment is the only place to be!

Chris

Thank you!

I enjoyed your explanation of what it means to be present Chris. It is a fascinating subject, although when I contemplate the very nature of 'being present' it seems to evade all words.

Presense to me is the remembering of the innate state of unity and wholeness that flows through us all on one level or another. It is the state of experience before thought comes into being.

There is an experience when nothing matters at all other than being in the flow of divine consciousness. When we are in the flow then everything that we need to know, do, say becomes clear to us. If we are 'meant' (as in truly meant to) to be somewhere, say something, carry out a particular action then we are attuned to the flow and will be guided into that action moment by moment.

Pure presense is an awesome experience whereby each step we take is unfolded before us as endless possibilities. There is (in my experience) one way to go however, and that is on a path inspired by the authenticity of the soul.

In pure presence everything becomes abundantly clear as we take ourselves beyond the veil of illusion.

Dwelling in thoughts of the past and future serve to keep us bound to an illusionary reality of everything other than that which is real.

Love
Trin
x

Here is an excellent link relevant to this thread and being present.

Click here to goto "Formless Form"

It details a process called Openhand's "Formless Form" which is a powerful process for following divine guidance leading to greater self realisation. When fully understood and applied to every day life, it releases us from limiting beliefs and transforms conditioned behaviour patterns which no longer serve us. ...