A Meditation on Embracing Here and Now
The question of what excites us about the future is an old, boring one.
It speaks to many people’s inherent yearning, their desire to transcend the limitations of the present and glimpse a brighter tomorrow.
Yet, for me, the answer is a really simple one: nothing.
This isn’t a nihilistic declaration, but rather a conscious choice to find fulfillment in the impermanence of the present moment. This philosophy resonates deeply with Buddhist teachings and certain strands of existentialism.
THE DUALITY OF TIME: A BUDDHIST LENS
In Buddhism, the concept of time is not linear. The past is a collection of memories, ever-shifting and unreliable. The future is an illusion, a mirage shimmering in the desert of our desires. Clinging to either, the past with regret or the future with longing, is the root of suffering.
The Buddha, in the Bhaddekarattasutta, reminds us: “The past is long gone. The future is not yet to be. What is there is the present. This present moment”.
Here, the present isn’t a fleeting point, but a dynamic space where the past and future converge. It’s the fertile ground where mindfulness blossoms, allowing us to cultivate peace and liberation.
