| Has someone told you that you need to work on | | | | they are there? When you do these things, you are |
| staying in the "present moment"? Do you understand | | | | focused on them and nothing else. |
| what the other person is saying? Eastern religions | | | | Learning to Stay in the Present Moment |
| have been focusing on this for thousands of years. | | | | It is not easy at first to learn to stay in the present |
| Eastern Religion Teachings | | | | moment. Often, when you are trying to do so, you find |
| Eastern religions and philosophies are something that | | | | your mind attempts to stop you. What happens is you |
| many people are afraid of because they think it goes | | | | end up thinking about things in the past and the future |
| against their own religion. That is not true. Eastern | | | | instead of the present. It is frustrating when this |
| philosophies and religions do not impact your own | | | | happens but don't be too hard on yourself because |
| religious beliefs. They are all about being in the present | | | | that is not going to help anything. |
| moment and that is something that we can all benefit | | | | Know that your mind is always reaching forward and |
| from. The majority of religions would tell you that | | | | behind and just learn to let those thoughts go when |
| staying in the present moment is important. | | | | they occur. With practice it becomes less difficult. |
| Eastern Religion in the West | | | | The Art of Meditation |
| Eastern religion has a lot of different ideas and beliefs | | | | Meditation is not something only those involved in |
| that do not all agree completely but they all will tell you | | | | Easter religions practice. Meditation can be used to |
| that the most important thing you can do is stay in the | | | | help you stay in the present moment. |
| present moment. | | | | The following suggestions are helpful if you are new to |
| People in the West are beginning to apply these ideas | | | | meditation:o Meditate at a time that allows you to relax |
| to their own lives and they are seeing how beneficial | | | | without being bothered.o Find a comfortable position to |
| staying in the present moment can be. The fact that it | | | | sit in and keep your posture straight.o Focus on |
| is as effective today at helping people with problems | | | | breathing.o Breathe deeply, exhaling and inhaling and |
| as it was centuries ago tells you that humans have not | | | | focusing exclusively on your breathing.o Spend about a |
| really changed. | | | | half an hour meditating on a daily basis.o Do not let |
| What is the Present Moment? | | | | yourself fall asleep when meditating. |
| If you are in the present moment, you are paying | | | | As you spend more time meditating, you will see it |
| attention to what is going on then and there and not | | | | gets easier. Keep trying. You won't be as relaxed |
| focused on anything else. When you are doing laundry, | | | | every time you meditate but it gets better with |
| you are focused on picking up the clothes, turning on | | | | practice. |
| the washer, adding the soap and closing the lid. You | | | | When you practice meditation, you are connecting with |
| are not thinking about anything but what you are doing. | | | | your mind and body. You will be much more aware of |
| It may not sound very exciting but chances are you | | | | agitation in your mind and be able to calm yourself |
| have used it to help you at one time or another. | | | | down faster so you can continue to succeed in life. |
| Have you ever experienced a peaceful and calming | | | | Staying in the present moment is great way to live a |
| feeling when you are walking in nature? Have you | | | | peaceful and fulfilling life. It just takes practice! |
| spent time wondering what the stars are like and why | | | | |