What does it mean to live strictly in the 'present' tense ?

[m1469]

I am not sure.  My thoughts are almost always some kind of riddle -- and so is my life.  And, it's as though I see all directions of my life at once; forward, backward, side to side -- up and down (maybe  ).  I don't even really know what it means to live in the 'present'. 

It seems that people are really 'into' being in the present -- at least they love to say it.  But, why ?  and ... how ?  Lately, I don't know if it really is such a big deal to try to achieve this frame of mind.  It seems that the "present" tense is just a place along a path where there is a certain view forward and a certain view backward, but it's always inclusive of greater views.

Anyhoo, tell me your thoughts .

[maul]

I'm pretty sure it means to live like there is no tomorrow. Therefore, go ahead and screw without a condom, do drugs, make crack babies, and kill people... because HEY. It could all end tomorrow. Joy.

My thoughts, are that we should use the past as a learning platform. Think about the past, but don't dwell on it. Simply learn from it. That is the purpose of the past in the present tense. The present... now that is to create the future. Live in the present, but create the future. Have goals, and work toward accomplishing them. Enjoy life, experience life, but expand life through accomplishment.

If you live for just today then tomorrow won't be so pretty.

[opus10no2]

Well time is in 'motion', that is life...I'm confused what you mean exactly, because I'm not you.

Surely you percieve the present, but you daydream or think in a state which feels timeless?

[opus10no2]

I'm pretty sure it means to live like there is no tomorrow. Therefore, go ahead and screw without a condom, do drugs, make crack babies, and kill people... because HEY. It could all end tomorrow. Joy.

My thoughts, are that we should use the past as a learning platform. Think about the past, but don't dwell on it. Simply learn from it. That is the purpose of the past in the present tense. The present... now that is to create the future. Live in the present, but create the future. Have goals, and work toward accomplishing them. Enjoy life, experience life, but expand life through accomplishment.

If you live for just today then tomorrow won't be so pretty.

Indeed, and this is especially relevant for people who have longterm goals which require work.

It helps having perspective that the effort you are putting in now will reap rewards and joy in future.

[maul]

by the way mayla, since you don't really care about time or the present tense, how old are you anyway?

[m1469]

by the way mayla, since you don't really care about time or the present tense, how old are you anyway?

Oh, LOL.  Well, I have decided that I am as old as what I get cast for... hee hee.  Anyway, I don't "believe" in keeping track of my age in years like "we" do "here" .

I guess I just think it's silly to live like we are going to die tomorrow.  I mean, sure, it might happen, but what's the use in that ?  I mean, what, we are going to live that way for 100 years ?  200 years ? 

In my mind, I can't just erase tomorrow, and I can't just erase yesterday.  And, it seems to me, that to be truly "present," one would not be conscious of anything but the "present" -- but what is that, even ?  To me, it just seems like a conglomeration of past experiences and future possibilities -- and that doesn't make sense compared to what I think it's supposed to mean.

I don't know how to explain it, I guess  .

[maul]

Yes, I see what you mean. You are right, it is a combination. Seeing how "present" is constantly changing, it makes sense when you can't truly live in "it" without totally throwing out the past and future. Hard to explain, true. When people say they live in the present tense, they claim they have "no regrets" and "live each day like it's their last". That is why we have so many crack babies in this world. Indeed.

[rc]

Living in the present means I'm actually busy doing something, rather than thinking of what's already happened or thinking of what I want to be doing.

Speaking of which, I seem to have slipped into the habit of spending more time talking, reading and thinking about practicing than actually practicing.  I came to think place to learn about piano and now I'm posting more intellectual gymnastics and ridiculousness.  Nothing against humour, but I could use a little more acting in the present than just thinking about it...  Classic procrastination, creative avoidance, the atrocity of wasting time...  Maybe I'm not the only one.

Well, that must mean it's time for me to unplug for a bit.

[zheer]

  Life like music only moves in one direction, its too easy to be stuck in the past or worry to much about the future.

 " Life is never stagnation.It is a constant movement,unrhythmical movement,as well as constant change.Things live by moving and gain strength as they go"

  ( Bruce Lee)

[pianistimo]

i feel eternity enters one day a week if you let it.  if God is eternal and he rested from His work at creation - He literally dwells in rest with us on the seventh day.  when you allow your mind to be renewed (as after creation - that was simply what God did - although each and every day) - you are literally recharging a sort of celluloid battery in your mind.  you can prepare for the next week.

perhaps i take the bible too literally - as people sometimes say - but i think that we tend to view ourselves as the center of the universe and that time revolves around our schedules and our work - but really - we are little peons that could die (like you see insects around - that accidentally fly into wall).  cars are very fast moving objects.  the chance one could die in a car accident before 200 years is quite likely.  and, our lifespans have been limited to 120 (genesis 6:3).  wikipedia mentions that in biblical terms - God first started with 1000 year proximation (adam being 930yrs) - then moved the lifetime limit to 500 year range - then 120 after the flood - and nowdays we typically have a natural death age around 77 or so.

one the weekend i feel like i am happy 'just being.'  but, in the middle of the week usually my life is very time related.  people say yoga and meditation is also a relaxant - but  i believe that music or our own thoughts do not necessarily produce the rejuvination we are looking for.  the Holy Spirit is ALIVE.  it can literally heal, make whole, forgive, help us forgive, always looking for what is true and right.  sometimes in the world we live - we are brought down by evil - and traits that produce a different fruit than love, peace, and joy.  it's like we're in the midst of a battle.  the battle to produce fruit - despite the weeds all around.  the fruit would be something in the future.  something that God planted and we watered.  the watering is probably actually 'resting in God.'  any day of the week.  to say ' ok, God.  you made me - please help me with my life and help me to treat other people as i would treat myself.' 

i joke about God 'blasting' - but his anger is said to be very short (and strong) but his mercy neverending.  if He has power to destroy the world as we know it - as hasn't done so yet - it is doubtful that he will completely destroy the world. anwyas, he promised from the time of noah that there would never be a worldwide flood.  but, in revelations - we know that He says - he will 'cut short' the time of armageddon because people will be seeking warfare and death - and he will turn it into life and peace in the millenium.  'swords turned into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks.'  so implements of war will be turned to peaceful implements of farming.

changing the subject slightly - don't you think a garden epitomizes timelessness as well.  if you walk into a beautiful garden - you're not thinking -'ok what time is it?'  you just sort of become a part of this wonderment.

[zheer]

i joke about God 'blasting' - but his anger is said to be very short (and strong) but his mercy neverending.  if He has power to destroy the world as we know it - as hasn't done so yet - it is doubtful that he will completely destroy the world. anwyas, he promised from the time of noah that there would never be a worldwide flood.  but, in revelations - we know that He says - he will 'cut short' the time of armageddon because people will be seeking warfare and death - and he will turn it into life and peace in the millenium. 

   Is that so, well i've heard a different story, not suprisingly it is not too different to the bible.

[thalbergmad]

i feel eternity enters one day a week if you let it.  if God is eternal and he rested from His work at creation - He literally dwells in rest with us on the seventh day.  when you allow your mind to be renewed (as after creation - that was simply what God did - although each and every day) - you are literally recharging a sort of celluloid battery in your mind.  you can prepare for the next week.

perhaps i take the bible too literally - as people sometimes say - but i think that we tend to view ourselves as the center of the universe and that time revolves around our schedules and our work - but really - we are little peons that could die (like you see insects around - that accidentally fly into wall).  cars are very fast moving objects.  the chance one could die in a car accident before 200 years is quite likely.  and, our lifespans have been limited to 120 (genesis 6:3).  wikipedia mentions that in biblical terms - God first started with 1000 year proximation (adam being 930yrs) - then moved the lifetime limit to 500 year range - then 120 after the flood - and nowdays we typically have a natural death age around 77 or so.

one the weekend i feel like i am happy 'just being.'  but, in the middle of the week usually my life is very time related.  people say yoga and meditation is also a relaxant - but  i believe that music or our own thoughts do not necessarily produce the rejuvination we are looking for.  the Holy Spirit is ALIVE.  it can literally heal, make whole, forgive, help us forgive, always looking for what is true and right.  sometimes in the world we live - we are brought down by evil - and traits that produce a different fruit than love, peace, and joy.  it's like we're in the midst of a battle.  the battle to produce fruit - despite the weeds all around.  the fruit would be something in the future.  something that God planted and we watered.  the watering is probably actually 'resting in God.'  any day of the week.  to say ' ok, God.  you made me - please help me with my life and help me to treat other people as i would treat myself.' 

i joke about God 'blasting' - but his anger is said to be very short (and strong) but his mercy neverending.  if He has power to destroy the world as we know it - as hasn't done so yet - it is doubtful that he will completely destroy the world. anwyas, he promised from the time of noah that there would never be a worldwide flood.  but, in revelations - we know that He says - he will 'cut short' the time of armageddon because people will be seeking warfare and death - and he will turn it into life and peace in the millenium.  'swords turned into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks.'  so implements of war will be turned to peaceful implements of farming.

changing the subject slightly - don't you think a garden epitomizes timelessness as well.  if you walk into a beautiful garden - you're not thinking -'ok what time is it?'  you just sort of become a part of this wonderment.

I thought you never introduced religion into threads.

Thal

[opus10no2]

In my mind, I can't just erase tomorrow, and I can't just erase yesterday.  And, it seems to me, that to be truly "present," one would not be conscious of anything but the "present"

And that Is another uniquely human quality, we're capable or foresight, regret, etc.

I suppose without it, we wouldn't have gotten anywhere as a species.

[pianistimo]

perhaps it is how we think of the future according to the present instead of the present according to the future.  do we limit it to our lifespans - or could it go on forever?  like God?  isaiah 57:14 'and it shall be said, build up, build up; prepare the way, remove every obstacle out of the way of my people...for thus says the high and exalted one.'  it's not just for the return of Jesus - but that we also might be with Him.  forever.  that is the difference between warring dictators and peaceful kings.  He is the Prince of peace. 

zheer, i'm not sure which parts of the bible you are referring to - about God's anger - but in isaiah 57:16 it says 'for I will not contend forever, neither will I always be angry; for the Spirit would grow faint before Me, and the breath of those whom I have made...I will lead him and restore comfort to him and to his mourners, creating the praise of the lips.  peace, peace to him who is far and him who is near. says the Lord, and I will heal him.'

revelations speaks of the 'healing of the nations.' 

[pianowolfi]

Maybe to me at the time "living in the present tense" means to say what I have to say now, to do what I have to do now. I mean the important tasks of my life. Not keeping back if I feel something is important that I have to do here on this layer of being.

[counterpoint]

And that Is another uniquely human quality, we're capable or foresight, regret, etc.

I suppose without it, we wouldn't have gotten anywhere as a species.

Our culture is a culture of development. Discontent is the moving power for development.

The culture of "living totally in the present" is a culture of content. All is good just as it is. It's unthinkable to me to live and feel like that. Brecht said "Change the world - she needs it" - that's much more what I think.