Simple Presence.
Being present is the latest catchphrase in a world living for the rush but dying for some peace. Being present is about entering into each moment and living it fully without the inhibiting contemplations of past and future. The past is gone and the future has no guarantee. But how does simple presence look? In what ways can it manifest for every person? For my practice, I monitor simple presence with physicality. If I am walking, I will take a moment to notice the flexing of my feet on the ground, the rush of air past my palms, the pace and gait of my step. If I am sitting at my desk staring into my computer, I will take a moment to pull off my glasses, blink my eyes, flex my wrists, and move my body. In these actions, I am taking stock of my body’s present position in my life and in the greater scape of the world. I am taking a moment to realize every detail of the physical objects of my life, including my own body. It may seem crazy to imagine your body in the span of the universe, but these real moments of awareness help to propel your mind into this reality. In these moments, I am forced to consider exactly what my body is doing and this helps me to refocus my mind. While meditation is an important part of my development, I think of these actions as small meditations throughout the day that center me in my world. Gaining simple presence is just a matter of choosing to stop and take a moment to collect and reflect. Choosing to focus on physical elements of the present is something I do to counter the concept of total metaphysical reality. While it is vital to understand the human body and soul in these two realms, centering the physical body in the physical landscape can help to feed the mind in ways I never expected.
