THE MOMENT

My window looks out on the over gown pasture, the sheep are in the process of taming. Right outside the window, there is as giant thistle presenting its knobby buds, with their deep pink blooms, to the world. It is visited by Gold Finches as well as butterflies. Monarchs frequent it. I didn't know that Monarchs liked thistle nectar. I can only touch on the beauty and magnificence, I see out this window. A little while ago, I watched a Green Heron creep along the top of the fence. What a sight. I didn't imagine Green Herons would walk on fences.

I can be in the moment, when I am looking out this window. Right now my mind is peaceful. I can report, however, it is not always peaceful, and staying in the moment is sometimes difficult. We have had a lifetime of people teaching us that peace can be found in the moment, and that joy and love emanate from there.

Most of us don't doubt the teaching, we have had experience enough, to validate the truth of it. Why is it difficult to stay in the moment? We have a culture that encourages us to constantly worry about the future. It is always couched in the way, that if we do this, or buy that, we won't need to worry. If we would only buy this insurance; take this medicine; vote for this candidate; support this proposition; et cetera, et cetera, ad nauseam; we would be okay and wouldn't need to worry. Interesting.

We have been programmed to be fearful of the future and our present moment is bombarded by thoughts of an uncontrolled future. If we only could control the future we would be okay.

Our minds have been controlled and manipulated by fear for aeons. Very early in our evolution, beings into power and control, realized that fear could be used to control our destiny. We have had many teachers, in the last several thousand years, who have taught us the way out. All of them, taught that we could eschew fear and see love. In every generation there have been a few who have mastered their thoughts and have been able to stay in the moment. Every time a teacher, has begun to make progress, in teaching this to the public, they are somehow marginalized and their impact is minimized. If they are too successful they have been eliminated. 

However, we have developed a huge store of knowledge, consistent with raising our consciousness, and living in the moment. All through history, a teacher could, teach what he/she wanted to teach, and the learner could learn what they wanted to learn, as long as it didn't present a challenge to the powers that be. What the establishment deemed as a challenge varied greatly over the years.

The good new is, we are can teach and learn what we want, without fear of recrimination. The bad news is that we can do that, because those in power, have complete control of the mainstream media and can marginalize and make ridiculous any person or idea they want. The good news is that the percentage of the population under their control is shrinking. People are awakening and the power, of the control freaks, is waning.

Getting back to my point; why is it difficult to stay in the moment? We are carefully programmed to believe that if we are not worrying, we are being irresponsible. Part of our mind is uneasy, when we are not alert for some danger. It was once, a legitimate and necessary, function of the ego, but has long been corrupted by the controllers.

What do we do now? There are many, many of us who practice meditation everyday. We know what peace is. We have, at least for a short time, have lived in the moment. Every creative person, whether a crafts person or an artist, has experienced the peace of being in the moment. To be totally absorbed in a project can be a heavenly experience.

The answer seems to me, to just keep working on it. We have all the power on our side. For the first time in thousands of years, there are more people who embrace love than fear. The awakening is happening. It is growing apace. Know that when our individual minds are beset by worry, they no longer have the support of the world. It is only a bad habit. Your quiet mind, now has the support of the world. Hang in there. Refuse all invitation to fear the future. Look out your window. Embrace Nature. Embrace Love. Paradise will emerge.

Love and Peace,  Gregg