These words of wisdom express the theory of relativity according to the Dalai Lama. He is actually talking about what people get wrong about the present moment, but it cannot exist without the past and the future.
He says,
“This moment.. relatively speaking, we can call it present. But if we look at the watch, then our minute consists of seconds. Seconds also can be divided to 60 time pieces. Then within one millisecond there is also past and future. So half is past, half is future. No present! We cannot find the present. Without present, there is no basis for past and future. So, if we don’t investigate in such a way, then generally we can say ‘present’.
Present minute means one minute period. Present hour means sixty minutes period. Today, present day, is 24 hours. Present month is 30 days, isn’t it? Present eon is billions of years.
Everything is relative. Now we will go.”
“Waking up this morning, I smile. Twenty-four brand new hours are before me. I vow to live fully in each moment and to look at all beings with eyes of compassion.”
To Thich Nhat Hanh, the theory of relativity according to the Dalai Lama is not relevant, as long as he can wake up and smile. This little gatha is repeated thousands of times everyday as his followers wake up and smile. When we practice this, we experience true presence and the wonders of life. Thay says that life is available only in the present moment.
The Buddha said, “Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” This is essentially what Thich Nhat Hanh is talking about.
What is your experience of the present moment? Do you find yourself in a state of flow when you are totally present? Please share your experience.
Books by Dalai Lama
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How to Practice: The Way to a Meaningful Lifeby As human beings, we all share the desire for happiness and meaning in our lives. According to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the ability to find true fulfillment lies within each of us. In this very special book, the spiritual and temporal leader of Tibet, Nobel Prize winner, and bestselling author he… [Read More…] |
