Living in the here and now

MrsWigs

Hi all

Ok, so I've been reading The Miracle of Mindfulness. Great book about meditation and easy to read. It underlines in there the importance of living each moment. To be constantly mindful. Even when doing the dishes, walking the dog etc. To almost consider everything you're doing all of the time. My main thoughts and point of this post is to ask how literally I should take this. Sounds stupid but, whilst I'm quite aware of present awareness and mindfulness, and I do practice this several times daily, I also can't help but think about the future. I'm quite ambitious and am planning a career change. Not for anything like money or ego but for better job satisfaction. I'm 33, have a daughter, great job as a paramedic supervisor/trainer for ten years. But the job is wearing me down and I feel my calling is teaching. Hence the change.

I suppose my point is, if I'm planning my future and not happy with the "now" job, does this mean I'm somehow maybe not right to be studying/practicing Buddhism.
Does being a Buddhist mean I should just be happy with what I have and that's that?

(I'm sure I know the answer to this already but just had to ask!)

I hope that makes sense!

Thank you


B

compassionate_warrior

No. Living in the now is often misinterpreted, and it certainly doesn't mean resigning oneself to unacceptable situations, and being passive. Planning for the future is part of life. (We had a recent thread where someone gave a really good analysis of this, I'll see if I can find it.) Being in the now applies towards staying focussed on what you're doing at any given moment, rather than let the mind wander. So when you need to make plans for the future, you give that your full attention, too.

santhisouk

The more we learn, the clearer that fork in the road becomes. We just have to choose our path and let the road that we didn't take become our learning tool to reflect on the decisions we make in life.

aMatt

B,

I think I understand where you're coming from. I was a computer tech some odd years ago, and found it financially rewarding but spiritually unsatisfying. So, I decided to go back to school for something closer to my heart.

As I've continued to cultivate mindfulness through my practice, I have come to the understanding that I should trust my wholesome desires, but be content where I am.

To relate it to your question, it would mean use your mindful practices to stay aware right now, in the current job, AND work toward the other path. Ultimately, we bring the dissatisfaction with us when we go, but just because we become resilliant enough to endure hardship while happy, we do not need to make our life an endurance trial.

Said differently, just because being mindful will let us appreciate how beautiful a thorn bush is, doesn't mean we have to hug it as a career.

Also, our world needs more loving teachers.

With warmth,

Matt

vinlyn

I think you're getting some very good advice here.

May I suggest that you become very familiar with the Four Noble Truths, then the Noble Eightfold Path, then the first five precepts, then the Five Mindfulness Trainings (taken with a grain of salt -- I'm not so sure, for example, that we need to "protect the lives of...minerals."

Then you have a few decisions to make.
1. Do you see Buddhism as a philosophy or a religion. And think about why you think the difference matters?
2. Whether you take it as a religion or philosophy, do you think that you have to accept all or nothing that Buddhism contains?
3. Do you see the Precepts as commandments or guidelines for life?
4. As you then further explore Buddhism, I would suggest you remember what I read in the very first Thai (Theravada) Buddhist book I ever read (and no, unfortunately, in the last 24 years I've lost the reference) -- but paraphrased it said to read all of this book, contemplate on the different sections, decide what you can now accept and enfold into your life, and keep in mind that as time goes by, some of the things you currently may not be able to accept may begin to make more sense to you...so remain open-minded.

elenagreene

I'm relatively new to studying Buddhism (less than a year) but I agree with what others said. Live in the present but part of that can be planning for a different future.

I have a tendency to go through my day worrying about what I need to do next, or what problems loom in the future. When I read The Miracle of Mindfulness, I had the same questions as you. I decided to treat reflecting on the past and planning the future as tasks in their own right, to do as mindfully as everything else. So when I need to brainstorm a problem or make a plan, I try to set aside time and not do anything else but think about it in a focused, calm way. This may be my quirk, but I like to do it in writing. It helps me concentrate and clarify my thoughts and having it down on paper helps to tone down the everyday worry.

I'm still not anywhere near perfect at this, but I am getting better.

Hope this is helpful!

Elena

genkaku

MrsWigs -- My feeling is, ease off on the gas pedal. Why? Because in the first place it is impossible NOT to live in the present moment. Second, trying to arm-wrestle yourself into some state that differs from the state you are actually in is self-defeating. And third, the fact that you are aware of something called mindfulness and aware that its supporters make some pretty good sense is probably enough. Just keep an eye on things -- if you've got a child, you know what that's about -- and when you find your mind flying off in all directions, take a couple of deep breaths. Little by little mindfulness, so-called, will stop being a goal and begin being good common sense.

Best wishes.

Malachy12

I guess it depends on what you define mindfulness as. If you take it to mean "I have to live always in the present moment, because the past and the future are just concepts of the mind". Well, I hope you realize that even the "present moment" exists in the past. By the time your brain becomes aware of it's environment it's already in the past. There is a delay between the present and perception of the present lol.
That being said. I think living in the present means not dwelling on the past, and not thinking so much of the future that you neglect your daily life. Genkaku said it best when he mentioned having a child. Sometimes parents are so wrapped up thinking about what needs to get done, and worrying about things in the past, that they fail to notice their child tugging on their pant leg with a macaroni necklace. If you take little moments to just look at your present surroundings and admire them, you will be practicing mindfulness. But, it's ok to think about what to pack for tomorrow''s school lunch, or planning for fun on the weekend.

MrsWigs

Thank you all. Some fantastic replies and thoughts. I am familiar with the 4NT, 8FP and precepts. I see them as guides, not strict commandments or protocols.

I think my problem is tying to establish what should be taken literally to be a "good Buddhist". I suppose I see buddhism as a little religion but more philosophy. If asked if I was religious though my answer would prob be instinctively "no" as I've always associated religion with deity worship etc. But I would state my "religion" as Buddhist. Although I prefer to think of my self as a scholar

Thank you once again for the discussion

B x

genkaku

The Dalai Lama was quoted as saying, "My religion is kindness."