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Dwelling Happily in the Present Moment
Happiness in the Present Moment means living happily in the present moment with what is happening, instead of dreaming of happiness in the future. Suffering is not an obstacle but a necessary ingredient to experience happiness: if we do not know hunger, we cannot know fullness; without sickness or confinement, we cannot appreciate the joy of freedom. It is precisely the experience of suffering, impermanence, and non-self that gives rise to peace, relaxation, and liberation right in the present moment.
To practice dwelling happily in the present moment, first we need to
- maintain mindfulness in walking, standing, sitting, and lying down so that stability and relaxation radiate from us
- have deep awareness of impermanence and non-self as essential conditions of life
- see ourselves as a part of the Sangha, so that each step, each breath nourishes peace and happiness for ourselves and those around us.