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A fourth century (BCE) Indian teacher, philosopher, economist and royal adviser, Chanakya, has given us a great advice – ‘We should not fret for what is past, nor should we be anxious about the future; men of discernment deal only with the present moment’. The precious moment of the present is hidden in – ‘Now’, i.e., the existing moment. However, the mind does not stay in the present. Instead, it wanders either in the memories of the past (which has already gone, which has moved out of our hands and which will never ever return) or in the dreams of future (which is yet to come).

The mind lost in the pages of the past has already lost the past but continues to lose even the present, because it cannot live in the present moment. Another thing, if the memories of the past are good, pleasant and golden, they become the source of inspiration for the present.

The present can learn from that golden past, get inspired from it and can make the optimal utilization of the present moment. But this happens rarely, as our mind does not remember the sweet memories of the past so much as it remains stuck to the bitter memories. Whenever the mind turns backwards, it brings the sad and remorseful memories and makes even the present unbearable.

The actual utility of the present moment lies in living it to the fullest. Living consciously involves being genuine; it involves listening and responding to others honestly and openly; it involves being in the moment (Sidney Poitier). However, the nature of mind is either to turn backwards or to look beyond. It is easier for it to turn backwards because it has already lived that moment. Otherwise, it dreams about the future, which is yet to come. There is not much difficulty in dreaming for the future also, as the mind does not actually have to do anything for this. Neither is there any struggle involved, nor is there any challenge. It only has to dream idly. It is easy to dream about the future and when there is ease, when nothing needs to be done, the mind gets lost in various fantasies and imaginations and loses its present.

Whether it is the delusion of past memories or fantasies of the future, both take us away from action and hard work. For making endeavors and getting reward from hard work, one needs to live in the present. The wise and diligent people neither remain wandering in their past moments nor are busy in dreaming about the future. Instead, they focus only on their present. This makes them healthy, wealthy and wise. Lord Buddha has rightly said - “The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.”

One can make proper use of the present moment only if he can utilize all his capabilities and potentials in the present. Failing to do this would push the present into the deep pit of the past. Soon, existing moment would become the companion of the past. But, the wise and hardworking people make its best utilization before it becomes a part of past.

One needs to live in the present for making efforts. There is no other alternative apart from this. Whatever may be the state of life, one has to live and struggle with it and accept its complexities and realities. One, who runs away from the challenges, struggles and adversities of the present moment, is an escapist. An escapist wants to avoid facing the problems of the present moment rather than trying to solve them. He never understands that his problems would become even more complex if he would run away from them. The reality is that not even a single step can be taken forward without solving the complexities and problems of the present moment.

By running away from the present, one remains in the night of dreams. In this night, he can fantasize many happy dreams and run away here and there in intoxication, but he cannot see the sunrise and the golden radiance of awakening. Dreams are not only confined to sleep. Our mind remains swimming in these dreams even when we are awake. Hence, it keeps on swinging between the past and future. Actually, both the past and future are grave intoxicants for the mind, which make it drowsy and prevent it from overcoming it or gain consciousness. The mind remains stewed in this intoxication and this becomes the medium for escaping from the reality of life.

One who can liberate himself from these illusions is able to understand the glory and significance of the present. The moment of the present is meant for making efforts, being awakened, attaining new life and being liberated from the illusions. In this direction, let us follow the advice of an Indian Sanskrit playwright and poet, Kalidasa:

Look to this day,
for it is life, the very breath of life.
In its brief course lie
all the realities of existence,
the bliss of growth, the glory of action,
the splendor of beauty.
For yesterday is only a memory
and tomorrow is but a vision.
But today, well-lived
makes every yesterday a memory of happiness
and every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well, therefore, to this day.

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