What is the present moment? Can you grab it and celebrate it or is it so elusive that as soon as you envision it . . . you’re in the past? If I close my eyes and think . . . do I drift into the past or the future?
We know that during meditation we experience the stillness and silence that rests within . . . true present-moment awareness – a state of restful alertness that is like being your own silent witness. We also know that once we have developed a meditation practice, at various moments when we are not meditating, we have the ability to drift into higher states of consciousness such as unity consciousness and divine consciousness. It’s the present moment…seizing that moment, living it, and being aware of it – that’s more indescribable.
There are a few obvious “present moments” – when you are not thinking for one moment about the past nor for one moment about the future. PURE PRESENT-MOMENT AWARENESS. For the two seconds when you close your eyes, bend down, and smell a flower. Gaze into someone’s eyes and FEEL love coming back. Dance with glee until you are your body and it is you . . . and then you feel like you’re outside of it. Surrendering to a kiss – just for a second your lips turn into liquid sweetness. The moment of screaming at the top of your lungs on a roller coaster. Laughing so hard that your cheeks ache and your belly hurts. The moment of an orgasm where you are not thinking one micron about the past or future. Sipping a delicious wine or tasting an amazing soufflé. Savoring the moment.
These are examples of embracing the present moment.
As meditators, we may find ourselves in the present moment more often than we think. If we are aware of those moments, our lives will become richer and deeper as more present-moment awareness washes through us. Simply understanding what these moments and circumstances are will help to more gently to connect each of us to the present moment.
My most recent present moment “moment” was Friday’s sunset at the beach through clouds and mist . . . it lasted less than one minute but it was so powerful it rippled through me – freezing me in time – and indelibly painting the moment in my mind. Time stood still. I became the ocean – the sky became me – and for those few moments I was totally present. No past . . . no future. Just the moment.
Every day we have these fleeting connections to our unconditioned selves. What is your present-moment awareness MOMENT? Share it here.
peace~ davidji
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Reading your article on “What is you present-moment awareness moment?”, I realized that I am fortunate enough to to experience being in the moment several times a day thanks to all the wonderful animals I have. When I’m working with my horses and ponies I realize I never think of the future or the past. It’s just the present, what we are doing right now together. When visiting with my ducks it’s the same thing; it’s just the here and now as well as all my other animals. It’s not a wonder why I increasingly enjoy the company of my marvelous pets above all else. I feel truly blessed to have been taught, from my animals, how to be in and enjoy the moment.
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Monday, Nov. 30 I was walking through the grocery store and was wondering what gift can be given to someone today. It was soon realized I was talking to complete strangers and observing their disposition. It is so amazing to witness how people love to tell their story, what’s on their mind, in their heart…seeing their eyes light up! One man in particular had his toddler daughter in his arms and his baby boy in his carriage. As I smiled at his son, the man comments how his boy just loves his rubber “going to town” toy. I wish you could have witnessed this man’s heart just come through his eyes!! The gift given to these people was their ability and willingness to share themselves to someone, me, the silent observer. The gift of somehow knowing that the listener wasn’t going to judge nor ridicule them. How much space is there on here?aha….I want to share the world…
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During ‘living presently’ one is everywhere at all times…eternal. The present moment is eternity, the field of infinite possibilities whom we are in essence at the root, unity with the universe. In the present moment you drift into the deep abyss of the unknown(where all possibilities exist at once). The moment you realize you are ‘in the present moment’ you have a choice of what disposition to create within. According to the current principles of quantum mechanics, the science of the sub atomic world, all possibilities exist at once as waves. The moment the observer(you realizing you’re in the present moment) notices what’s ‘out there’, the observer is co-creating what is ‘out there’. So what do you chose, the past or the future? One day perhaps we’ll be able to ‘dimension hop’. According to theorists, there are 11 theoretical dimensions. We are currently aware of the first 4= height, depth, length and time(movement of the first three dimensions). Maybe we unknowingly access other dimensions of consciousness while in the present moment. But this isn’t a doctoral dissertation. When we are in the present, we co-create sunsets just as we co-attract our relationships…as thoughts become all things. wow, just now I realized I was typing this, living in the present, accessing all possible possibilities. Trying to define it only brings me out of the present and puts me in the past as I gather all the information my brain has accumulated up to this point(32 years worth) and putting it all into the perspective my mind is capable of computing at the stage and intellectual ‘know how’ my current level of understanding is. We alwaze access the past and try to predict what the future will be at our current level of understanding. For example, me typing, my mind is accessing the past to remember where the letters are on the keypad, subconsciously I’m predicting(expecting in this case because I’ve typed many words and know they will appear on the screen as long as my keypad is working) that the letters will make the words on the screen, hence seconds into the future. Pull the plug on this guy already.aha Right now is a gift, that’s why it’s called the present…there are no exchanges…shall we cherish…
As Herman’s Hermits so passionately express, “There’s a kind of hush all over the world tonite…” Thank you so much! -
There exists an infinite amount of parallel dimensions existing simultaneously. This must be true…how else does the universe manifest stars which blow up(super novas) to make other stars and has done so some 13 billion years? Where else does the universe get the fuel, heat and breath to manifest matter on such a large scale? Right now astronomers say the universe is made up of 4% matter(what we see), 60 or 70 something% “dark energy”(gravity) and 20 or 30 something% of “dark matter”(other dimensions?). I forget the ratios. And astronomers have known since the 1920′s, thanks to Edwin Hubble, that the other galaxies or not only moving away from us, but they are speeding up as they do so(called red shifting). “something” is holding the universe together…other dimensions? The grace of God? Quantum physicists now say there must be anti-matter in another dimension that manifests atoms in our dimension. String Theory mentions/suggests ‘membranes’ clash causing vibrations causing dimensions. Where’s Albert Einstein when you need him? Anyone know a theoretical physicist/mathematician? Living in the present moment must be accessing these infinite possible dimensions…how else do thoughts of consciousness manifest? An artist accesses these infinite possible dimensions when he/she creates. Maybe this is why a painter can’t explain why a certain color was used…it was subconsciously pulled from one of these other infinite possible dimensions. Ok, I’m shutting down my PC now…and going into stillness…rest assured! Graci Graci Graci!
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I have been doing your gratitude meditation each morning before dawn. That is one of my present moments. Walking on the river, another. Saying thank you for my life.
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It sounds like you are saying when you are “feeling” you are in the moment and when you are “thinking” it is of the past or the future.
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Every now and then I feel someone passing a breeze holding a whisper or that wonderful bristling feeling of my skin lighting up with excitment. I feel the fabric of my pillow case, the armth of a blanket and the world is simple and seeable. I lve when I can look inotthe eyes of people and see them and the love of God inside them. Viewing the love of a mother holding a baby or a senior couple touching each others hands. It is just amazing to be to be able to feel. I believethis is my present as there is nothing more I desire than to be able to have the privaledge of this gift.
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Today, I was outside my home, putting some Christmas Lights on my front stoop. Like most of the people in my little town, we always like to show others our Christmas “Spirit”. So, as I was taking a string of green lights to place on top of my evergreen shrub, I suddenly “observed” that evergreen and just stood there, in the present moment, smelling the pine, looking at the winter green color of the shrub, and thinking how the Universe, (Nature/God/Spirit) takes care of that shrub at every moment in time. It is just planted in the ground — and JUST IS!! It lives with nourishment from God! It brings enjoyment to mankind with no effort whatsoever. And as my mind continued to “observe” this marvelous and strong gift of the Universe, the words of one of my favorite Christmas Carols came flowing through my mind:
Oh Christmas Tree, Oh, Christmas Tree,
How lovely are your branches,
“You tell us ALL to faithful be”,
And trust in God/Universe/Spirit,
unchangingly,
Oh Christmas Tree, Oh, Christmas Tree
How lovely are your branches.Yes, the Christmas Tree and the evergreen shrub are examples of “living in the present moment”. So for my life, I thank God, for letting me live in the present moment. And I especially thank Deepak Chopra, who inspired me to learn to live in the present moment, to speak my own truth and to be authentic. To become aware of and to accept ALL POSSIBILITIES! And to live my life in Universal Love and Life!!
May each person at the Chopra Center, as well as all peoples around the world celebrate the Christmas season in peace and joy! CHRISTMAS IS LOVE!
Blessings and Peace, elanalee
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Just standing still and feeling my feet takes me directly to now. Something about the tingly sensation of feet pressed to the ground fills me with only this moment. I try to do this whenever I feel ungrounded at work.
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i am a tattoo artist, so a lot of the time when i am tattooing on a client, i am in the present moment without even realizing it! however, i do practice present moment awareness as much as i can. i had a VERY significant dream recently, though, that has made an impact on my general psyche…. i love to scuba dive, and i feel very commected to nature in general, and that includes the cosmos. i was dreaming i was diving in shallow water, but i had this overwhelming sense of connectedness and complete awe in this dream. it was very lucid! i FELT the beauty of my surroundings, and was filled with peace. then, i was in a forest, and i was explaining to some young kids how sacred birds are, etc. anyways… i have never had such a dream. was it a parrallel reality perhaps? Dr. Chopra, thank you for sparking my awareness a long, long time ago!! Thank you davidji, and david simon as well…NAMASTE
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Although I admit that living in the moment is the only way to achieve true peace, I struggle with letting go of the past for one main reason….My 19 year old daughter was killed 3 years ago and I feel that letting go of the past means letting go of her. However, even with that huge hole in my heart, I am still able to connect with her (and my living loved ones and the Universe) by being in nature and feeling the wind, the rain, the sun….Seeing the moon and stars at night….She communicates with me through wind chimes. It’s a miracle within a tragedy.
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Each morning as I move along the highway towards work I see a a crane standing in a pond by its self. I imagine that it is me and I am connected to this life. My self – standing still in the present moment. Now that winter is almost upon us, it has flown south from Canada. However, there are still many ducks calling this pond home. I look forward to the spring when the crane returns. Twice each day my life stands still.
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I find the early morning a good time to practice present moment awareness. It is being in the quiet of the morning, the freshness of the air and a whole new energy of the day. I also find it when I walk the doggies at night looking at the stars, moon, feeling the wind, rain, snow etc. I almost always find it outdoors no matter how brief the time I spend there.
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Present-moment awareness sinks in me when I watch moving waves of river ganges whenever I visit Rishikesh. While coming to office in cycle rickshaw, beauty of sparkling flowers takes my attention admist busy crowd. Present moment awareness is watching breath. Spending time with family in total commune is being in present moment awarenss for me .Listening music ,gazing nature bring me closer to present moment.
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Thank you for your article. Also, thank you for your abundance mediation.
As an aspiring millionaire, my life is filled with constantly pursuing goals.
After doing your abundance mediation, I realized that I have everything in the world right here and right now. This article reinforced that.
Thank you so much.
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As I stop for a moment and gaze into the night sky I focus on one star. To my amazement this star could be an entire galaxy. The light of this galaxy is no larger then the tip of a ballpoint pen to the naked eye. As I wonder and wander in and about this conscious universe, how does the light of my self appear to this galaxy looking back?
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I’m standing in the back of the room a couple weeks ago as you, davidji, are preparing the almost 400 guests of the Seduction of Spirit for meditation, and all of a sudden David puts dance music on and Amanda, Janis, Brett, Trista and others are running towards the stage saying, “Let’s go!” Then I hear, “Get Del up here!” And then, “Put Del up front!” There I am dancing in adoration, mid stage, overlooking hundreds of souls exchanging an “AWE-FULL” (thank you Dr. Simon for the word) present moment awareness. Feeling the love of that present moment with all those loving souls will always give me goose bumps and tears of awe. Namaste to all my Chopra Center friends and especially to all the Seduction of Spirit guests who shared that splendid present moment awareness!
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Gray Dawn
This morning dressed in silver./ There was no gold or blue./The fog hung on the hilltops./ Ghosts filled the forest too.
The ponds were gray gunmetal./ Droplets glistened on the trees./ The only sound that I could hear/ Was their dripping on the leaves.
Silence suspended time./ The world and everything in it/ Stopped all its’ foolish business/ For one long lovely minute. -
This was a beautiful gift. I was aware of nothing but the silence and the beauty.
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It’s amazing how conditioned our mind really is and just how elusive the ‘present moment’ can be. But with practice and effort, we can transform the greatness within. Last week, I did my favorite hike in the SF Bay area – Muir Woods down to Stinson Beach. A few times I stopped to admire the beauty around me. As I stood there, I took it all in – the mighty and majestic redwoods enveloped by the morning fog was certainly a sight to see. It is in these moments, that I feel one with nature and a profound sense of gratitude, peace, acceptance, and yes, presence, seems to radiate outward from my deepest and most hidden self. I would not have been able to say this with such conviction, even a year ago!
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Hi every one at the Chopra center – and everyone reading this.
I want to thank you all for a travel of my life – june 09 – and inspiration for life! Right now the snow is landing on the ground in Denmark I feel the blessings – greatfulness when I feel and watch the snow. A wonderful moment of life. Lene -
Aloha davidji,
I love escaping into the present moment with your oh so divine meditations, thankyou for your gift . My daughter and I find your resonating voice very healing.Well I remember when I first became conscious of the present moment, …. I was at University and about 18 years old, I had a full load of classes 21 credits, sounds daunting and everyone was so impressed I was taking on so much but….. they had no idea how beautiful each of my days were, with being filled with 5plus hours of Art and Dance classes, I had only one religion class and one geology class. It was hardly overwhelming at all, and in fact I never felt so aligned and connected.
I distincly remember the day I was in Art a drawing with pencil class, I was pencilling in every cell of the white paper with the dark lead except for the three pinecones that were lightly lined and shaded.
Class was over and I reamained a little longer. After a while I became aware it was time to move on to my next commitment, and it had been 3 hours. Wow, I marvelled how did that happen? I was so filled with joy and peace , I had been in the zone, not really thinking much of anything, and time seemed suspended and I seemed full . I wondered where had I been , this felt like a meditation to me, Ahhh…. I realized I had been truely visiting the present moment. So grateful that day that taught me doing what I love fills my soul with a river of stillness and joy. My teacher would often comment that I was a very patient artist because of all the details I would shade and place in my drawings, I would just smile …. It was the joy of escaping into now…
Namaste
Michele
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