What we are seeking is right here. But we persist in looking south to find the north star. Any kind of speculating is just the discursive mind doing its habitual thing – creating scenarios in the mind that block us from discovering what is right in front of us. This moment is not some narrow, tiny point but is actually everything. Right now includes memories of the past, fantasies about the future, judgements about the present, emotions and sensations of all kinds. As soon as we say, “I’m living in the present,” we’ve made a significant cognitive error, and created another barrier for ourselves. Meditation practice ….. brings us into the direct intimate experience of this moment. There’s no room for speculating. We feel fully alive. There’s no place to go, and yet, we are continually moving through space and time. The path is never blocked if we can realize that we are always on it, going in the only direction we can go. We’re always heading for here, here, here, here.
Melissa Blacker, Trail Temporarily Closed
One of the functions of mindfulness is to give us options. We can see our reactions building early, and not just after we have already pressed “send” on that nasty, hostile email or closed a door we actually hope could remain open. We see what is happening within, without panic or getting lost in the reaction. We know we can follow it out or let it go. And because mindfulness helps us be in touch with a big range of feelings, thoughts, and reactions, we know from experience that we can take a strong, principled stand on something while not demonizing someone else for their views or even their actions. We learn that we can be fierce without hating.
