How do you live in the present?

[ch3]

Tolle's reference to Christianity sound a bit far fetched to me at times and his way of writing is rather annoying He's got a few good points though.

He also seems to condemn our civilisation, culture, achievements - as these are creations of our ego that made us lose our ability to live in the present. As an artist and a person generally quite amazed by our (human) inventions, this is indeed hard for me to swallow (might be just my ego speaking)

I'm more to think that art can be a powerful tool to create health and well-being - even the art that was created as an effect of struggle and suffering. Art, music, can act as a trigger that may lead to enlightenment (or whatever we'll call it)

Art go's where words often can't.

[noam]

Art go's where words often can't.

art goes everywhere

poetry is one of the oldest 'artforms'

words dont limit us anymore than a paintbrush or an instrument

words themselves, as aesthetic objects are artforms

people who can write, and really write at that, don't struggle with their medium, to convey the desired idea's

in terms of interpretation, we are only limited by our imagination in tapping into the meaning of words and what lies behind them - some people struggle with visuals and excel with literary idea's and vice versa

[d-T-r]

Art go's where words often can't.

art goes everywhere

poetry is one of the oldest 'artforms'

words dont limit us anymore than a paintbrush or an instrument

words themselves, as aesthetic objects are artforms

people who can write, and really write at that, don't struggle with their medium, to convey the desired idea's

in terms of interpretation, we are only limited by our imagination in tapping into the meaning of words and what lies behind them - some people struggle with visuals and excel with literary idea's and vice versa

yeah i realized after writing it it wasn't really a well thought out sentence and i had left out words being included as art themselves. and i agree with the rest of what you've said and especially with the last part.

saying that, there is some added instantaneous advantage visual stimuli has over organized symbols (words) read over a duration of time .again a slight cop out to draw for the phrase but 'a picture paints a thousand words ' comes to mind.

some things are said in one glance or gesture and some in a 100 books. both essentially of the same sum total value though i guess, just utilizing different hemispheres to arrive there.

where were we anyway... oh yeah, the present

[parson]

meditate while on psychedelic drugs.

[d-T-r]

That's definitely one way (one i agree with too, but not one i think is needed by everyone straight away) Cultivating/accepting presence has to be an on going thing. psychedelics help with dissolving illusions and barriers as a lot of people can atest to, but most of us can't always be tripping and meditating all the time.

presence is accessible to everyone at every moment(now), psychedelics or not. its easy being present when tripping the realms but the real test is when you have shit to do and interactions and thoughts trying to knock you off guard. that's when we find out if we're present, or in our minds....or both. or neither.

[wubstep]

Just watched this film. Brilliant scene, very relevant to this thread at points.

One of the best British films I've ever seen.

[parson]

That's definitely one way (one i agree with too, but not one i think is needed by everyone straight away) Cultivating/accepting presence has to be an on going thing. psychedelics help with dissolving illusions and barriers as a lot of people can atest to, but most of us can't always be tripping and meditating all the time.

presence is accessible to everyone at every moment(now), psychedelics or not. its easy being present when tripping the realms but the real test is when you have shit to do and interactions and thoughts trying to knock you off guard. that's when we find out if we're present, or in our minds....or both. or neither.

the reason i endorse doing it with drugs is people think you're kinda bullshitting till they see what there is to bullshit about and psychedelics can get ya there way faster than 12 years in an ashram.

[BonerJams04]

Punch bitche$ in the throat.

[karmacazee]

I think there's a lot to be said for forward planning.

[JTMMusicuk]

There is nothing wrong with forward planning but obviously it only relates to your current circumstances; as we all know things get turned on their head alot.
I think this thread will only relate to certain people imo, there is alot of proffesions and living conditions that effectively stop you from living day by day although that is not to say that certain points can help the majority of us.
I do believe though; that you create your own reallity, thinking a certain way will change the path you take. Embracing positive thoughts and ambitions affects the choices you make in the present in a positive way to get you closer to the targets and goals you are setting yourself.

[fassyman]

I think there's a lot to be said for forward planning.

i don't. Its like my parents are allways saying, "when you gonna sort yourself out? make plans for the future, set a foundation for yourself?" blah blah blah...
But the best foundation you can set for the future is to stick to your ethics, day in, day out and practice what you know to be right. Because the world will reflect that back upon you regardless of what you do with you time.

---

If I hide out at Cold Mountain
Living off mountain plants and berries -
All my lifetime, why worry?
One follows his karma through.
Days and months slip by like water,
Time is like sparks knocked off flint.
Go ahead and let the world change -
I'm happy to sit among these cliffs

Han Shan, get to know

[kay]

Forward plan by all means, but remember to re-assess what the plan means in relation to the present as it happens. Present events can change how the future unfolds, and sticking steadfastly to an old plan may lead one to paths best not taken or unpleasantness that can be avoided.

[JTMMusicuk]

Forward plan by all means, but remember to re-assess what the plan means in relation to the present as it happens. Present events can change how the future unfolds, and sticking steadfastly to an old plan may lead one to paths best not taken or unpleasantness that can be avoided.

[dreamizm]

Focus on the unmanifested.

[noam]

I think there's a lot to be said for forward planning.

i don't. Its like my parents are allways saying, "when you gonna sort yourself out? make plans for the future, set a foundation for yourself?" blah blah blah...
But the best foundation you can set for the future is to stick to your ethics, day in, day out and practice what you know to be right. Because the world will reflect that back upon you regardless of what you do with you time.

---

If I hide out at Cold Mountain
Living off mountain plants and berries -
All my lifetime, why worry?
One follows his karma through.
Days and months slip by like water,
Time is like sparks knocked off flint.
Go ahead and let the world change -
I'm happy to sit among these cliffs

Han Shan, get to know

sticking by your ethics isn't a 'plan for the future' its how you live day to day - taking 'living in the present' and believing 'the present' actually is a specific 'time' just shows you've misunderstood both concepts

making plans for the future is as essential to humanity as recognising the importance of memories - learning buddhist teachings and applying them to your life RELIES on this very particular idea

which shows that whilst the idea is encompassed in 'living in the present', it is also accompanied by many other idea's such that 'the present' is an entirely different concept to that of the temporal 'now'

living in the present is a personal thing for each of us to find in our own way. We all find happiness in different things and with harmony, there is happiness and peace and the present is a temporal metaphor for this harmony, its the Buddhist God, not a deity but an idea, ultimately unachievable like the concept of 'perfection'.

how you achieve living in the present?? well its certainly not by rejecting the past and neglecting the future thats for sure...

[JTMMusicuk]

Being happy in the present can directly relate to future plans

[fassyman]

I think there's a lot to be said for forward planning.

i don't. Its like my parents are allways saying, "when you gonna sort yourself out? make plans for the future, set a foundation for yourself?" blah blah blah...
But the best foundation you can set for the future is to stick to your ethics, day in, day out and practice what you know to be right. Because the world will reflect that back upon you regardless of what you do with you time.

---

If I hide out at Cold Mountain
Living off mountain plants and berries -
All my lifetime, why worry?
One follows his karma through.
Days and months slip by like water,
Time is like sparks knocked off flint.
Go ahead and let the world change -
I'm happy to sit among these cliffs

Han Shan, get to know

sticking by your ethics isn't a 'plan for the future' its how you live day to day

This is the only part of your post i disagree with.

The way you conduct yourself in the here and now has a direct effect on the way the rest of your life pans out.

i thoroughly believe this, its the only point i was trying to make in my first post.

[magma]

I can get the wrapping over myself, but I can't do the selotape and fucked if I'm putting a bow on it.

Is this what that spy was trying to do in the bath?

[Reamz]

I agree with noam (at least I think I do Living in the present does not equal 'I don't care what happened in the past and I don't give a shit about future'. It's more about not letting them overcome your present being, e.g. one can't be happy because they are holding a grudge and won't let go of things or because they worry too much about what's gonna happen. It's about finding that balance where you learn from your past without holding onto it, and when you plan the future but don't let your present revolve solely around it - it's a trap easy to fall into.

Difficult, but trying my best!

This +1

[apmje]

I can get the wrapping over myself, but I can't do the selotape and fucked if I'm putting a bow on it.

Is this what that spy was trying to do in the bath?

No. I think I was masturbating in a bag.