Living in the Now
In
Opening the Hand of Thought (Massachusetts, 2004), Kosho Uchiyama says, “. . . All that there is, is now.” “The past, present and future are all contained within the present.” (pp. 12-13)
To live in the Now is common advice given in Zen instruction. Lately I have been thinking about whether living this way has materialized in my own life. Actually I think I have gotten the knack of living in the Now.
Being a zazen practitioner, I am familiar with the process of putting thinking aside. To me, living in the Now in daily life simply requires putting aside thoughts of the past and future. I can do this at any time, any day.
Advantages come to me when I put these thoughts aside. Colors become more vivid, outlines of objects more precise. It is as though a film has been removed from reality. When I put thoughts aside like this, a sense of the interconnection and unity of life comes to me. I feel I am living among things as they are, with no complaints, and love of life comes into my heart.