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The Most Important Moment in Your Life
Taking refuge in the present moment is the practice of living deeply. Sitting is not a form of hard labor aimed at a future goal; it is a pleasure and a nourishment in itself. In the Soto Zen tradition, the instruction is to “just sit” without expectation. When three things come together, one is truly there:
- The body
- The breathing
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The mind
This mindfulness extends to every daily activity, such as brushing teeth, boiling water, or walking. Each moment is an end in itself, providing an opportunity to touch the wonders of life and cultivate the energies of mindfulness, concentration, and insight. Awareness of being alive is already enlightenment.
Life is available only in the present, yet many use the now merely as a means to build a future. This habit of running, driven by worry or ambition, prevents us from taking care of our bodies and feelings. Whether in politics, business, or study, the future can become a dictator that sucks away the time for tea, breakfast, or breath. Through the teaching of “The Golden Lion” and the Avatamsaka Sutra, we see that the one contains the all and that the self is made only of no-self elements. This insight of interbeing allows us to transcend three specific complexes:
- The complex of superiority
- The complex of inferiority
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The complex of equality
True happiness is based on freedom from the notion of a separate self. Like a lotus flower that recognizes the pond and mud as its own foundation, we find that we are not separate from others.
Transformation and healing occur in the here and now when we stop striving and instead enjoy each breath and step. Suffering, fear, and pain play a vital role in this process, acting as the mud necessary to nourish the lotus. By holding our suffering dearly rather than running from it, these elements become the compost that fosters beauty and insight. Within a Sangha, practitioners motivate and support each other to live every moment of the twenty-four hours given each day, recognizing that every moment is holy and every moment is life.
