Climbing the Mountain of Now

Many obstacles can cover up the present moment. This illustration highlights several fleeting hurdles that come and go; others may also wish to distract you away from the now. Not necessarily problems in themselves; really observations to become aware of. The mind tempts you to identify with these states; the ego needs them to strengthen and enforce separation. The ego wants you to see these states as problems and become a victim to them. It seeks a lock-in; the lock-in is however an illusion you buy into.

The mountain signifies reaching for clarity; seeing with new eyes, rising above the fog of delusion. The illusion is that progress is hard, the climb steep, the journey troublesome. It takes time to move past illusions. Some take years to break. Yet beware – the ego knows this. The ego wants to keep you on the mountain; to convince you of the struggle.

Living in the now is a simple idea yet not always easy because of years of learned behaviour that keeps you heavily identified with your thoughts. The mountain could be likened to a ladder where you make progress and slide back down. The mountain also signifies your recognition of these states. Arriving at the top you can stand next to the flag. The now flag is the flag of freedom. Freedom from unconscious identification with the mind and the many states within allows you to use your thinking rather than it using you. The height of the mountain signifies reaching a better viewing point – being in touch with the bigger picture; gaining access to more peaceful states. Seeing with clarity; rising above learning to learn again.

As with many things in life true learning occurs when experience replaces theory. The more you experience the now the greater the recognition of where you have been all this time!

The many states added to the mountain signify potential illusions They represent examples only rather than stages or steps in any order. You transcend these states to arrive in the now (recognising the present moment). Awareness allows you to notice these states when they arise and witness them with detachment. You might view the states as areas of temporary stuckness rather than problems. Awareness recognises the stuckness as temporary. The mind attempts to convince you the state is permanent and the fiction begins; the story taking you away from now. If you buy into the story it is not difficult to find evidence to back up your thinking or people to concur with your “position”.

Standing next to the flag your primary state and focus becomes the now. Before, the other states occupied your conscious awareness with the now largely or totally hidden. The present moment always exists; like the sun always shines behind the clouds, only your thoughts take you away from the now. Unaware thinking, past, future, all hiding the now; you effectively turn your back on the mountain.

As your awareness of the now deepens your ability to witness the other states strengthens. The mountain begins to evolve into transparency. The states become similar and begin to merge, making recognition easier. You might even group the illusions as “other than now”. Their hold over you lessens with greater awareness.

Being aware of your body, your thoughts and your surroundings anchors you effortlessly in the now. Beyond struggle lies freedom. Letting go of wrestling with your thoughts allows space to enter; the space of now.

No force, no struggle; no resistance. Not even a route to the flag of now – your map is pure awareness.

Silence is your compass; stillness your guide.

Without leaving the moment – you notice you have arrived and the view from the top takes your breath away.

You reach the top of the mountain and recognise the mountain as your own design.

When you begin to sense your feet on the ground – the mountain disappears.

Your senses heighten and the World is anew.

You return to now – only this time you know it.

 

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Recognising the present moment

In touch with the now

Part of being aware of the present moment is to recognise that you cannot be anywhere else. There is no need to try to be in the now because you are already there. The only way to escape the present moment is via your thoughts which may drag you into the past or future. Being aware of your surroundings, your body and your thoughts at any given moment puts you in touch with the now. You might think of it as an invisible timeline on which we can add dates and times; or an empty bowl before adding any “content”.

Losing the present moment

The illustration shows several examples where you may detect that your thoughts are trying to take you away from the present moment. This can build an inner resistance to what is happening now. Your thoughts may take you so far away from what you are doing now that you actually lose what you are doing in this moment. You might be here wanting to be there. You might be reading a book and wishing you had finished the book.

Here wanting to be there

Slowing down and enjoying each moment enriches the experience. Your mind may want to race ahead. If you recognise this, you have brought awareness to what you are doing and can be more aligned with the activity and enjoy it more. If you are here wanting to be there you may notice the inner resistance and perhaps label it as impatience. The mind can create the illusion that you need to rush when very often you don’t need to. You might be painting a wall and want to be the other end and have the job finished. If you concentrate on the paint going on and enjoy the painting in the moment each step is enjoyable rather than projecting your enjoyment to having finished the wall. Postponing happiness in a sense – “I won’t be happy until this wall is painted!”

No method

The best method for staying in the present moment is to have no method. To simply “be” wherever you are whenever you are. There are techniques to help you become more present yet ultimately staying in the now requires no effort other than awareness. Being aware of your surroundings, your body and your thoughts in every moment puts you in touch with the now. For tips to help you stay present see the Present Moment Awareness Mind Map and Blog Post.

See also: Three points of awareness Mind Map