Question:
Someone help me understand – everyone talks about living in the present moment. But what if the present moment is full of pain in body due to ill-health, then shouldn’t we start dreaming of something else pleasant to take our mind off of the painful present moment?
Sri Prabhuji:
Living in the present moment means accepting situation as it is not dreaming/not imaginging/not regretting. Mind reacts to the unpleasant sensation in the body by triggering thought chain. Thought chain causes suffering – going into past or future. If you are able to be witness to pain without judging – choiceless awareness – it is called being in the present moment. Being aware that the pain is in the body, but my nature is Presence unaffected by pain is called SELF awareness. Present moment is the gateway to blissful Presence. Thus being in the present moment is leading to being the Presence.
Right actions happen when you are centered around presence. Right action can be taking medical help for the pain, accepting pain with mental calmness and equanimity. Coming to the presence moment and recognizing blissful presence is a way to get rid of suffering. Pain in the body is natural to life but mental suffering is optional.