"Living in the Present Moment"

General discussion of issues related to Theravada Meditation, e.g. meditation postures, developing a regular sitting practice, skillfully relating to difficulties and hindrances, etc.
danieLion
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"Living in the Present Moment"

Post by danieLion »

Can the idea of "living in the present moment" (or "living in the moment", "being present", "living in moment-to-moment experience", "being in the moment", "taking it one moment at a time", etc...) be supported by the suttas?
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Ben
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Re: "Living in the Present Moment"

Post by Ben »

Hi Daniel
I think it might be one of the inferences in the repeated phrase in the Satipatthana: atapi sampajjano satima (ardently clearly and continuously aware and comprehending [the characteristic of anicca].
kind regards,

Ben
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
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Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

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Dan74
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Re: "Living in the Present Moment"

Post by Dan74 »

Advice to Bahiya?
_/|\_
Lombardi4
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Re: "Living in the Present Moment"

Post by Lombardi4 »

Let one not trace back the past
Or yearn for the future-yet-to-come.
That which is past is left behind
Unattained is the "yet-to-come."
But that which is present he discerns —
With insight as and when it comes.



Bhaddekaratta Sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .nana.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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bodom
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Re: "Living in the Present Moment"

Post by bodom »

[Devata:]
Those who abide in the forest, Peaceful, living the holy life; Those who eat but a single meal; — why is it their face is so calm?

[The Buddha:]
They do not grieve over the past, Nor do they yearn for the future; They live only in the present — That is why their face is so calm. It's from yearning for the future, And from grieving over the past; This is how fools become withered — Like a fresh reed that's been hacked down.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .olen.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

:anjali:
Liberation is the inevitable fruit of the path and is bound to blossom forth when there is steady and persistent practice. The only requirements for reaching the final goal are two: to start and to continue. If these requirements are met there is no doubt the goal will be attained. This is the Dhamma, the undeviating law.

- BB
vinasp
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Re: "Living in the Present Moment"

Post by vinasp »

Hi everyone,

Slightly off-topic, perhaps, because it is not about the present moment, but
this passage from SN 22.46 is most interesting:

"Bhikkhus, form is impermanent ... feeling is impermanent ... perception
is impermanent ... volitional formations are impermanent ... consciousness
is impermanent. What is impermanent is suffering. What is suffering is
nonself. What is nonself should be seen as it really is with correct
wisdom thus: 'This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self.'

"When one sees this thus as it really is with correct wisdom, one holds
no more views concerning the past. When one holds no more views concerning
the past, one holds no more views concerning the future. ............"

[Bhikkhu Bodhi, Connected Discourses, page 885 ]

Regards, Vincent.
danieLion
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Re: "Living in the Present Moment"

Post by danieLion »

thanks to all...completely answers my Q
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ground
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Re: "Living in the Present Moment"

Post by ground »

danieLion wrote:Can the idea of "living in the present moment" (or "living in the moment", "being present", "living in moment-to-moment experience", "being in the moment", "taking it one moment at a time", etc...) be supported by the suttas?
The Blessed One said, "What is the All? Simply the eye & forms, ear & sounds, nose & aromas, tongue & flavors, body & tactile sensations, intellect & ideas.

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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mikenz66
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Re: "Living in the Present Moment"

Post by mikenz66 »

In the elaborations of the meaning of the verse part of this suttas (and the following suttas):
Stefan wrote:
Let one not trace back the past
Or yearn for the future-yet-to-come.
That which is past is left behind
Unattained is the "yet-to-come."
But that which is present he discerns —
With insight as and when it comes.

Bhaddekaratta Sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .nana.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
the key problem is in seeing a self in past, future, or present:
"And how, monks, does one trace back the past? He thinks: 'I was of such form in the past' and brings delight to bear on it. ...
"And how, monks, does one yearn for the future? He thinks: 'I may have such form in the future' and brings delight to bear on it. ...
"And how is one drawn into present things? ... an uninstructed ordinary man... looks upon form as self, ...
Not all statements about the past or future should be labelled as speculative. There are many teachings about causality and consequences.

:anjali:
Mike
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Alex123
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Re: "Living in the Present Moment"

Post by Alex123 »

mikenz66 wrote: the key problem is in seeing a self in past, future, or present:
Right. Another problem is clinging to past, future or present.
  • Setting at Savatthi. “Bhikkhus, form is suffering, both of the past and future, not to speak of the present. Seeing thus, bhikkhus, the instructed noble disciple is indifferent towards form of the past; he does not seek delight in form of the future; and he is practising for disenchantment with form of the present, for its fading away and cessation. - SN22.(10) Suffering in the Three Times BB Trans

The problem, it seems, is not simply thoughts about past or future - but clinging, delight, and wrong views.
Sarva
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Re: "Living in the Present Moment"

Post by Sarva »

Alex123 wrote:
mikenz66 wrote: the key problem is in seeing a self in past, future, or present:
Right. Another problem is clinging to past, future or present.
  • Setting at Savatthi. “Bhikkhus, form is suffering, both of the past and future, not to speak of the present. Seeing thus, bhikkhus, the instructed noble disciple is indifferent towards form of the past; he does not seek delight in form of the future; and he is practising for disenchantment with form of the present, for its fading away and cessation. - SN22.(10) Suffering in the Three Times BB Trans

The problem, it seems, is not simply thoughts about past or future - but clinging, delight, and wrong views.
Hi Alex
Wouldn't this mean that we should not express remorse or regret for our past action as by doing so we are clinging to the past? If so then how should we see karma?

Metta
“Both formerly & now, it is only stress that I describe, and the cessation of stress.” — SN 22:86
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Alex123
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Re: "Living in the Present Moment"

Post by Alex123 »

Sarva wrote: Hi Alex
Wouldn't this mean that we should not express remorse or regret for our past action as by doing so we are clinging to the past? If so then how should we see karma?
Metta
My understanding is that: Learn the lesson from your mistake, forgive, forget, and move on. No need to add additional remorse and regret over things that you cannot alter any more.
daverupa
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Re: "Living in the Present Moment"

Post by daverupa »

Alex123 wrote:
Sarva wrote: Hi Alex
Wouldn't this mean that we should not express remorse or regret for our past action as by doing so we are clinging to the past? If so then how should we see karma?
Metta
My understanding is that: Learn the lesson from your mistake, forgive, forget, and move on. No need to add additional remorse and regret over things that you cannot alter any more.
:thumbsup:
SN 42.8 wrote:"There is the case, headman, where a Tathagata appears in the world, worthy and rightly self-awakened, consummate in clear knowing & conduct, well-gone, a knower of the cosmos, unexcelled trainer of those to be tamed, teacher of human & divine beings, awakened, blessed. He, in various ways, criticizes & censures the taking of life, and says, 'Abstain from taking life.' He criticizes & censures stealing, and says, 'Abstain from stealing.' He criticizes & censures indulging in illicit sex, and says, 'Abstain from indulging in illicit sex.' He criticizes & censures the telling of lies, and says, 'Abstain from the telling of lies.'

"A disciple has faith in that teacher and reflects: 'The Blessed One in a variety of ways criticizes & censures the taking of life, and says, "Abstain from taking life." There are living beings that I have killed, to a greater or lesser extent. That was not right. That was not good. But if I become remorseful for that reason, that evil deed of mine will not be undone.' So, reflecting thus, he abandons right then the taking of life, and in the future refrains from taking life. This is how there comes to be the abandoning of that evil deed. This is how there comes to be the transcending of that evil deed.
  • "And how is it, bhikkhus, that by protecting oneself one protects others? By the pursuit, development, and cultivation of the four establishments of mindfulness. It is in such a way that by protecting oneself one protects others.

    "And how is it, bhikkhus, that by protecting others one protects oneself? By patience, harmlessness, goodwill, and sympathy. It is in such a way that by protecting others one protects oneself.

- Sedaka Sutta [SN 47.19]
Buckwheat
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Re: "Living in the Present Moment"

Post by Buckwheat »

Alex123 wrote:
Sarva wrote: Hi Alex
Wouldn't this mean that we should not express remorse or regret for our past action as by doing so we are clinging to the past? If so then how should we see karma?
Metta
My understanding is that: Learn the lesson from your mistake, forgive, forget, and move on. No need to add additional remorse and regret over things that you cannot alter any more.
I am only starting to discern this, but there is a difference between the shame that encourages one to avoid shameful actions in the future, and the pointless guilt of just beating oneself up for something that's already done is done. The difference between skillful and unskillful is often subtle and difficult to discern for those of us with lots of dust in our eyes.
Sotthī hontu nirantaraṃ - May you forever be well.
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ground
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Re: "Living in the Present Moment"

Post by ground »

There may be a lot of aversions against memories of a past and hopes or fears regarding a future.

Kind regards
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