Are you present in the moment?

Monthly Newsletter October 2018

A zen story: 

Someone once asked a wise man, who was very experienced in meditation,

how it was possible that he remained so calm despite his many activities.

The man replied: “If I stand, then I stand. When I walk, I walk. When I eat, I eat. When I speak, I speak.”

The questioner interrupted him and said,

“I do that too, but what else do you do?”

The wise man replied again:

“If I stand, then I stand. When I walk, I walk. When I eat, I eat. When I speak, I speak.”

Again the questioner said:

“But I do that too!” 

“No,” said the wise man.

“If you are sitting, you are already standing.

If you are standing, you are already walking.

If you are walking, you are already where you want to be.”

We can understand what the wise man is telling us: In our fully-packed, automated and digital lives today, it is difficult to be in the present moment. Simply to do one thing at a time is a challenge. If we are meditating, we get an app from a friend; if we are eating we are often also on our computer or mobile; if we are walking then maybe we are also talking on that mobile.

October is a good time to unplug a bit from the digital madness. If you can find the time, why not take a 24-hour (or even 12-hour) Day Without (digital) Words: No newspapers, books, mobile, laptop, telephone calls or apps, or even music with words….who are you when you are only in the present moment?