Nothing to come after

[Guest guest]

Disciple: Master, can you tell me what I should practice until

tomorrow?

 

Master: There is nothing to come after this moment.

 

D: But there will be a tomorrow, this is not the end of my life!

 

M: Tomorrow is just thoughts and feelings.

 

D: But the thoughts are real, there *will* be a tomorrow.

 

M: Your thoughts are real, but tomorrow is not real.

 

D: If my thoughts about tomorrow are real, then tomorrow is also real.

 

M: You will not experience tomorrow.

 

D: If I live until tomorrow, then I will experience tomorrow.

 

M: Can you experience tomorrow now?

 

D: No, but I *will* experience tomorrow tomorrow.

 

M: Only in your thinking and feeling.

 

D: ...

 

M: This moment is the beginning and the end of your life.

 

D: So you mean I don't need to practice anything until tomorrow.

 

M: Practice trying to be in tomorrow now.

 

D: But I can't be in tomorrow now, that's impossible!

 

M: That's what I am telling you.

 

D: But I can practice thinking about tomorrow.

 

M: Fair enough, practice thinking about tomorrow until tomorrow.

 

D: Thank you Master, I will see you tomorrow.

 

M: Not likely.

 

D: Are you not going to be here tomorrow?

 

M: I am never here tomorrow, I am only here now.

 

D: Yes I understand now. So am I, I am also only here now!

 

M: You are here now, but you are also in tomorrow.

 

D: Ha! Then I don't need to practice thinking about tomorrow.

 

M: You should practice thinking about tomorrow all the time until

tomorrow.

 

D: Ok, I see. That will be difficult, but I will try to do my best.

 

M: Don't try to do your best. Do your best.

 

D: Ok, I will. By the way, what did you mean by that this moment is

the beginning and the end of my life? Time goes on, so clearly this

is not the end of my life.

 

M: If there is nothing to come after, then this itself is an end.

 

D: But there will be many things coming after this moment.

 

M: Nothing will come after this moment.

 

D: You mean like nothing at all? Not a single experience?

 

M: Nothing will come after this moment.

 

D: But right now something new has already happened! I can hear a

crow croak in the distance.

 

M: You are talking about a memory and a happening in this moment.

Nothing will come after this moment.

 

D: Ok, I guess you are right. See you tomorrow.

 

M: Yes, see you tomorrow. Don't forget your practice.

 

/AL