by Deepak Chopra: All the happiness and fulfillment that humans yearn for exists in the present moment.
In the now, time ceases to exist and we experience a presence that is all-absorbing, completely at peace, and totally satisfying. Nothing could be closer than the present, yet nothing slips away faster. In an instant, our mind can carry us far away into memories of the past or fantasies about the future. Or we may get caught up in a race against the clock, feeling like there’s never enough time. We say things like “Time is flying,” “Time is running out,” or “There are never enough hours in the day.”
We somehow forget that we can choose whether to make time an enemy or an ally. We can shift from time-bound awareness into timeless awareness . . . to the ecstasy that can only be found in the present moment. If you want to have all the time in the world, you can train yourself through the following simple practices:
Dive into the source of awareness. The most effective way to live in the flow of the timeless is meditation. As you meditate, over time your consciousness becomes awake within itself. The silent witness within saturates and illuminates the mind so that it does not look to the past or the future for fulfillment. It experiences peace and freedom within itself in every moment.
Try this: In a quiet place, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and go inward. Place your attention on your heart, in the center of your chest. Sit quietly and easily let your attention remain there. If it is pulled away by random thoughts, sensations in your body, or noises in your environment, re-center yourself as soon as you notice what has happened. After a few minutes, open your eyes. For the next half hour or so, observe yourself to see if you remain centered. Don’t instantly throw yourself into external demands.
Practice paying attention. Throughout your day, when you notice that your thoughts have drifted away, come back to where you are. You’ll instantly see why you drifted away, whether because you were bored, anxious, dwelling on the past, or anticipating the future. Don’t judge yourself; simply return your attention to what’s in front of you right now.
Feel the sensations in your body. While the mind lives in the past and the future, the body lives in the now. Connecting to the feelings in your body brings you back into present-moment awareness.
Do one thing at a time. Multitasking divides your attention and leads to confusion and weakened focus. When you focus on just one thing at a time, without rushing or procrastinating, you cultivate a sense of timeless awareness that creates feelings of calm and well-being.
Our thoughts are always pulling us into the future or the past, away from the present. But it is in the present moment that we find Spirit, our essential being and the force that animates all life. By connecting with the present we turn our attention inward, away from all the chaos and activity, and experience our eternal, unbounded nature.
