Present, Present, and Present

The Buddha once said “Just as a monkey swinging through the trees grabs one branch and lets it go only to seize another, so too, that which is called thought, mind or consciousness arises and disappears continually both day and night.”

The mind is always thinking about what’s next. When driving to meet up with a friend, we’re thinking about being with the friend. When we’re finally with that friend, we’re thinking about what we’ll do when we get back home. When we’re back home, we’re thinking about what we’re doing tomorrow.

Or you’re studying at school and thinking about your exam. Then during your exam, you’re thinking about what you’ll do once the exam is over.

We have trained ourselves to always think of what’s next rather than what’s in front of us. Rather than thinking about the exam tomorrow, focus on learning the material in that moment. Rather than thinking about what you’ll do after you hang out with your friend, be present with your friend and engage with their presence. Once that moment is over, you can’t get it back.

Final Thoughts

If we’re stuck chasing what’s next, we can never fully embrace what is already here. The future is just a present moment that hasn’t happened yet. Embrace the present, and you will embrace life.