by Haven Logan PH.D

 

The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for
the past, nor to worry about the future, but to live the present
moment wisely and earnestly.  ---   Buddha, born 563 B.C.

        

I have a copy of this quote pasted next to my bathroom mirror. I look at it each morning, hoping that I will remember its wisdom as I go about my day. Will I remember to look at the mist rising from the green Mendocino mountains as I drive to work or will I be preoccupied with the tasks that await me there? Such a simple and profound idea, yet so difficult to follow. Though it’s been over 2500 years since Buddha’s birth, we are still struggling to follow his advice to live in the present moment.

As one year ends and another begins, many of us have been thinking about the past and wondering about the future. Television commentators have reviewed the ten most noteworthy events, people, disasters of the past year. Newspaper and internet columnists are giving advice for making resolutions for the new year. Will this year be better or worse than last year they ask?

In thinking about this quote from Buddha I wonder, is not our survival, both individually and collectively, based on learning lessons from the past?  As a psychotherapist, much of my work involves helping people talk about their losses and hurts. After my graduate education which focused primarily on unraveling emotional problems through examining the past, I entered the Gestalt Institute of Los Angeles. A key concept in Gestalt Therapy is to focus on “the here and now.” We don’t need to examine and “work through” every pain and loss but only those that are presently limiting us. If we don’t they will fester inside us, leading to depression and often physical illness. Physical and mental health require eventually letting go and moving on so that we can enjoy the present.

Not worrying about the future presents other challenges. Anxiety is an early-warning system that alerts us to potential dangers. In humans, however, anxiety often gets out of hand. We worry so much that we become paralyzed—unable to take the very action which might protect us from the feared danger. We worry so much about something happening to someone we love that we fail to enjoy them in the present. Yet without some anxiety, might we never take action? 

I first tried to base my life on living in the present when I read the book Remember Be Here Now by Ram Dass, an ex-Harvard professor who became a spiritual teacher after joining Timothy Leary in the early LSD experiments. I was living by myself in the Mendocino mountains with no telephone or electricity. I went to town once a week and spent the rest of my time alone with my thoughts. It wasn’t the peaceful existence you might imagine. My mind was filled with ruminations about arguments I had two weeks ago or fears about what I would do if one of the rattlesnakes I frequently saw bit me. I read passages from Remember Be Here Now daily as I worked on appreciating the beauty of  my surroundings and the challenges of building a cabin by myself.

As motivating as this book was to me in my twenties living in the mountains, seeing Ram Dass a few years ago at the Methodist Church in Ukiah had an even deeper impact. This gray-haired hero of my youth was now in a wheel chair, having suffered a stroke. As he was leading a meditation, to his surprise the church’s hourly bells began to chime unexpectedly. Rather than be annoyed by the interruption, he smiled in delight and made it part of his meditation. His ability to be completely present with what was happening and to be open about the lessons he was learning through his physical challenges was inspirational.

Ideas for Daily Living
Here are some ideas for translating this concept into your daily life.

1. Practice deep breathing. Breathe slowly in through your nose, hold and then out through your mouth. Focusing on your breath is something you can do anywhere, any time. It will immediately bring you into the present and is a wonderful way to relieve stress.
2. Come up with a word, sound or phrase that draws your attention to the present and quiets your mind. For example: “Now,” “OM,” “I’m enjoying this moment.”
3. Take 5 or 10 minutes each day practicing being in the present. Make a list of ideas for what you will do with full attention. It can be anything you choose. Watch a small child explore the world. Take 10 minutes to completely enjoy eating a single potato chip. Notice a spider spinning its web. Listen to a family member without preparing your response.

The idea that it is important to be in the present moment is found in many of the world’s spiritual traditions, psychological theories and philosophies. It is not something just for the pleasures of life. It is especially important during difficult times.  We’ll never be perfect at it. For most of us, the challenge of being in the present will always be a work in progress. The mind naturally wanders to the past and to the future.  Memories are part of the rich tapestry that makes up who we are. They are to be treasured. And of course, we need to think about the future so that we can plan and be prepared. Yet in the midst of looking backward and forward, don’t forget to look at where you are standing right now in all its abundance. While there is much in life you cannot choose, you do have the ability to choose to be present. As this new decade begins, see if this attention to what is happening in the present can make your life and your relationships more fulfilling.