mindful presence:“… In mindfulness one is not only restful and happy, but alert and awake. Meditation is not evasion; it is a serene encounter with reality …” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
In today’s ultra fast paced, highly internet driven life it is easy to not only … get lost in thought (hah! 🙂 ), feel overwhelmed, feel disconnected (despite 24X7 internet-based “connections”), feel despair … but also easy to … get caught up in “if onlys (past)” or “what ifs (future)” and simply forget to be present in the moment … resulting in missing That which matters …
Does that mean it’s a lost cause? … certainly not … especially given the multitude of luminaries offering their wisdom (at times via simple tips and reminders) to “get back on track” … to “remember” to be present (despite the inexplicable mystery that we can’t not be present) … to practice “mindful presence.”
What is mindful presence?
Mindful presence is simply being fully present in the moment, with a clear and nonjudgmental awareness of your thoughts, emotions, and surroundings. It’s about focusing your attention on what’s happening right now, without getting caught up in past regrets or future worries.
To illustrate the power of mindful presence, we offer a very brief excerpt from Thich Nhat Hanh’s The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation … in the form of three simple questions and the corresponding answers that Thay calls “wondrous” … presumably because they can easily be incorporated into the day by pausing for a few minutes … then remembering and reflecting … then acting accordingly.
The three {questions and} answers originally came from Tolstoy in the form of a story about an Emperor – whose name he did not know. In the story “… One day it occurred to a certain emperor that if he only knew the answers to three questions, he would never stray in any matter …”
never straying in any matter … is a powerful objective regardless of one’s beliefs or circumstances …
So … pause … read … reflect … and see what is revealed …
Mindful Presence: 3 Wondrous Questions & Answers …
What is the best time to do each thing?
Who are the most important people to work with?
What is the most important thing to do at all times?
And here are the wondrous answers …
Remember that there is only one important time and that is now. The present moment is the only time over which we have dominion.
The most important person is always the person you are with, who is right before you, for who knows if you will have dealings with any other person in the future?
The most important pursuit is making the person standing at your side happy, for that alone is the pursuit of life.”
~~ Thich Nhat Hanh
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May your daily rhythm be immersed with the … three wondrous answers … and …
May you remain safe and healthy.
All italicized text (including in the blockquotes) is from: The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh. Beacon Press. Kindle Edition.
Images: (edited and logo added): Featured and 1) Scenic Tuscany landscape with rolling hills and valleys in beautiful moonlight at dawn, Val d Orcia, Tuscany, Italy by jakobradlgruber. All purchased from depositphotos an/or 123rf and for use only on our website/social channels (these images are not permitted to be shared separate from this post).
Excellent