Being in the now has become a popular philosophy. In my view, like any philosophical idea, it has its merits and its draw backs and only really becomes beneficial when the user has the wisdom to discern when to apply it and when not to.
Ive practised tai chi and other meditative practises that bring focus fully into the present moment and they bring about a valuable perspective.
But Ive also practised introspection, this and working with energy have given an equally valuable perspective that now is everything that ever was and ever could be. The peesent without the construction of time is all that affects and effects us from all our experiences to our imaginations.
Putting perspectives together, it seems that time is the intellectual construction to enable people to understand the physical. The physical world only exists in the present moment. There is a wonderful peace to be only in the physical moment. Without time then the experience 20 years ago is as present now as the dream of a future is.
To use an analogy... If you imagine being in a messy room... you cant find anything and bang your toe on things you dont even need. To be in the now is the moment that the room is cleared to its bare walls and floor. Seeing where you are clearly is the benefit of being in the now as it is commonly understood (ie free from yesterday and tomorrow).
However, without the balance of introspection, all the clutter has really just been pushed out the door. So all remains peaceful and clear as long as you remain in that one room that has come to be known as present. As soon as you move somewheee different in life, you start banging your toes on all that junk you came to believe no longer existed.
Balancing being in the now with introspection is like standing in that clear space of now and then taking one object at a time and deciding if you want it in your space or if it can be put on the fire. It might be that decide to bring the armchair back into the space... with introspection you can see it for what it is. Youre aware that you could live without the chair, youre aware that it isnt really you, youre aware that you want to keep it because it brings comfort. In time, the things that are left in your space have been chosen with awareness of their use. When you move and the space you occupy changes, then it might be that the arm chair needs to go on the fire... maybe a sofa for others to find comfort with you would work better.
Those are my views on it anyway... philosophy all comes down to how you use it.
Ive practised tai chi and other meditative practises that bring focus fully into the present moment and they bring about a valuable perspective.
But Ive also practised introspection, this and working with energy have given an equally valuable perspective that now is everything that ever was and ever could be. The peesent without the construction of time is all that affects and effects us from all our experiences to our imaginations.
Putting perspectives together, it seems that time is the intellectual construction to enable people to understand the physical. The physical world only exists in the present moment. There is a wonderful peace to be only in the physical moment. Without time then the experience 20 years ago is as present now as the dream of a future is.
To use an analogy... If you imagine being in a messy room... you cant find anything and bang your toe on things you dont even need. To be in the now is the moment that the room is cleared to its bare walls and floor. Seeing where you are clearly is the benefit of being in the now as it is commonly understood (ie free from yesterday and tomorrow).
However, without the balance of introspection, all the clutter has really just been pushed out the door. So all remains peaceful and clear as long as you remain in that one room that has come to be known as present. As soon as you move somewheee different in life, you start banging your toes on all that junk you came to believe no longer existed.
Balancing being in the now with introspection is like standing in that clear space of now and then taking one object at a time and deciding if you want it in your space or if it can be put on the fire. It might be that decide to bring the armchair back into the space... with introspection you can see it for what it is. Youre aware that you could live without the chair, youre aware that it isnt really you, youre aware that you want to keep it because it brings comfort. In time, the things that are left in your space have been chosen with awareness of their use. When you move and the space you occupy changes, then it might be that the arm chair needs to go on the fire... maybe a sofa for others to find comfort with you would work better.
Those are my views on it anyway... philosophy all comes down to how you use it.
