“Like a child standing in a beautiful park with his eyes shut tight, there’s no need to imagine trees, flowers, deer, birds, and sky; we merely need to open our eyes and realize what is already here, who we already are – as soon as we stop pretending we’re small or unholy.”

Bo Lozoff

When we stop living in the present moment and start living in a dream, we begin to generate our own suffering. Sometimes it is difficult to be here now, but when we understand that each moment passes and the next is created by our action for good or bad, then we can remain steadfast in our desire to create the best moment we can in reality, not in a fantasy. 

We all have dreams and plans for the future. We say to each other, “Let’s take a vacation this summer.” Then we begin to plan our vacation: car or plane; stay with friends or relatives or hotel; which ones and for how long; what will we do; who will we see. We finish our planning and then we come back to reality. We plan for the future, but live in the now. No matter what we’re planning; no matter how much it may change our lives; we make a plan and then live in today. When we are in the present we can see the Kleshas as they arise and allow them to pass away without entertaining them, thereby avoiding the creation of negative karma and further suffering.

Meditation

One of the most challenging things we do in life is to live it just as it is, without what I think of as “add-ons.”  “Add-on” are the things we make up about our life, or the current situation, or circumstance. Again, bring awareness to your thoughts in meditation. See where you change reality to fit what would be more comfortable – see where you “add-on.” Just be aware.