by Gabe

Created on: February 10, 2010

Contained in the present moment is the only true reality. All past, future and mental concepts are illusions. This concept is hard to understand, in fact it is impossible to understand. The power of the present moment can not be explained anymore than the feeling of joy or love can be explained. The present moment can only be experienced. It can only be felt here and now.

1. One conscious breath

The power of the present moment can begin to be felt when you start remembering to take a full conscious breath every now and then. The mind has no interest in paying attention to automatic processes such as breathing. What the mind will do is say, "Oh yes, I am breathing." Then it will move onto the next thing, getting lost in an avalanche of thoughts. Take a full conscious breath now, breathing down into the belly and holding in for just a little bit before letting it out. This is also known as Yogic breathing.

2. Bodily awareness

When you are lost in thought, you actually lose awareness of your body being here, now. It's actually like you forget that you are alive. One way to come out of this day-dreaming state is to start to become aware of how your body feels from the inside. One way to do this is to close your eyes and try to feel one of your hands. Just acknowledge the way that it feels from inside yourself, keeping your attention purely on the feeling there. You will begin to notice a mild form of pins-and-needles. Your body is always doing this, it is always alive and tingling with life.

3. What is now?

Yet another way to experience the power of present moment awareness is to ask yourself, "What is now?" The answer will be, something along the lines of. "Now I am walking down the street." or "Now I am wondering why I am doing this." The result will bring you into what is happening in the present moment instead of what will happen in the future or what has happened in the past.

4. Space and stillness

The power of present moment awareness is a kind of space and stillness. Become aware of the space between objects. Become aware of the silence in between words, even in between your own thoughts. The stillness and quiet of space is always around you, with everything arising within that stillness. Spending time walking in the quiet of nature or just agreeing to be still and silent for 10 minutes a day will do a lot to benefit your mental state.

The power of the present moment awareness is quiet different from any other power. Once you begin to practice and experience present moment awareness you will realize something strange: You are not who you think you are. When you realize that you can begin to be whoever you would like to be, here and now. I think that is true power. The ability to change.

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