Living in the present moment.

[Guest guest]

Everyday I make countless mistakes - but to dwell in them, is to

insult the present moment and creates another mistake - and the cycle

goes on . Self-Deprecation reigns. What kills this demon ? I have

found it is the courage to drop all unresolved questions with a

simple "Let me go on and give my fullest attention to the present

moment"

 

Here is a story that I read in "The Courage of Love ". My thanks to

the author Osho.

 

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I have heard about an old Zen monk: He was on his deathbed. The last

day had come, and he declared that on that evening he would be no

more. So followers, disciples, friends started coming. He had many

lovers, they all started coming; from far and wide people gathered.

One of his old disciples, when he heard that the master was going to

die, ran to the market. Somebody asked, "The Master is dying in his

hut, why are you going to the market?" The old disciple said, "I know

that my master loves a particular type of cake, so I am going to

purchase the cake." It was difficult to find the cake, but by the

evening somehow he managed. He came running with the cake.

 

And everybody was worried – it was as if the Master was waiting for

someone. He would open his eyes and look, and close his eyes again.

When this disciple came, he said, "Okay, so you have come. Where is

the cake?" The disciple produced the cake – and he was very happy

that the Master asked about it. Dying, the Master took the cake in

his hand… but his hand was not trembling. He was very old, but his

hand was not trembling. So somebody asked, "You are so old and just

on the verge of dying. The last breath is soon to leave you, but your

hand is not trembling."

 

The Master said, "I never tremble, because there is no fear. My body

has become old but I am still young, and I will remain young even

when the body is gone." Then he took a bite, started munching the

cake. And then somebody asked, "What is your last message, Master?

You will be leaving us soon. What do you want us to remember?" The

Master smiled and said, "Ah, this cake is delicious." This is a man

who lives in the here and now: This cake is delicious. Even death is

irrelevant. The next moment is meaningless. This moment, this cake is

delicious. If you can be in this moment, this present moment, this

presentness, the plenitude, then only can you love.

 

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