A beginner at awareness and presence is faced with a dilemma – How does one get to a state of complete presence throughout the day? Isn’t that a daunting task?
It certainly is – when seen from the perspective of a person who is anticipating the future. This is one of the favorite tricks of the mind – keeping the focus on the future, not on the present. It is the very same recipe for unhappiness that every spiritual teacher who ever lived has spoken or written about.
So the first step towards continuous presence is the awareness that there is no way to be fully present and aware throughout the day, simply because “throughout the day” is the illusion. There is only one moment that actually needs any attention – the present moment – right now.
Once you realize that, then the task is very simple indeed. All you need to do is to be aware during this very moment. As you read the words on this page. Right Now.
As you work through being present and aware for whichever moments are possible, you’ll find that not all moments are the same. Some sections of the day are much easier, while others seem to have a powerful magnetic attraction to forgetfulness and lack of awareness. For me, these are bathing, eating, driving, ironing my clothes, working on the laptop, or looking at any screen.
And I’ve found that working on intense awareness during these very periods paves the way to continuous awareness – and bliss – through the day. Put all your energy into being aware of each moment during these periods, if no other.
Simply focus on being totally present during these periods first and you’ll find that your “awareness muscles” get very strong and you make rapid progress towards continuous presence throughout the day.
So go, gain mastery over the most “difficult” periods of the day. Your reward will be more beautiful, serene, peaceful, and blissful moments during the rest of the day. Do this for a week and your life will be transformed.
Its easy.
I’m rooting for you 🙂
[mc4wp_form id=”120″]
