Let us learn to pause the 'Now' and breathe it in

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away — a powerful statement that has the potential to change the meaning of one's life, if only put into practice.

As humans, we are on a constant search for meaningfulness, for a sense of gratification and fulfilment. But it is often the case that our daily responsibilities, our routines, our drive to succeed, take over and deprive us from the simple enjoyment of the moment — a feeling that can only be attained when we stop and take in the ‘Now'.

However, this act requires a conscious effort on our part to train our minds to meditate and to reflect on the present, for we as humans seem to, more often than not, be living in the past or in the future while the ‘Now' simply slips through our fingers.

Eckhart Tolle, voted by the Watkins Review as number 1 in a list of ‘The 100 Most Spiritually Influential Living People', delves into the farthest ends of what he calls the ‘Now' and examines the power and the sense of fulfilment that dwells in its depths.

In his books The New Earth and The Power of Now, he teaches: "Realise deeply that the present moment is all you have. Make the Now the primary focus of your life" — a very simple thought rarely contemplated in our chaotic daily lives. He adds, "What you perceive as precious is not time but the one point that is out of time: the Now. That is precious indeed. The more you are focused on time — past and future — the more you miss the Now, the most precious thing there is."

Simple pleasures

I believe it is of critical importance that we apply this powerful philosophy to our daily lives, and in practical ways. The future does not ever guarantee an extension of the ‘Now'. Let us learn to pause the ‘Now' and breathe it in. We can begin to do so at the simplest levels — by simply expressing our love to our mother, daughter, sister, wife, or friend as the opportunity is only certain in the ‘Now'. The truth is that life could only be lived to its fullest if we can learn to live in the present.

Indeed, a kiss on a child's cheek takes on an entirely different meaning when it is a pensive act instead of a passive habitual one, and it is ultimately bound to yield a much deeper sense of fulfilment for both parties involved.

Habit kills meaning! We must fight our human tendencies of turning our lives into habitual routines. For instance, food is something that we often take for granted; yet, if we can become aware of its precious presence in our lives and take a moment to reflect on this fact, then it becomes not only nourishment for the body but also for the soul. Moreover, it could become an act of enjoyment instead of a basic act of survival. This also applies to our health, to our children, to our family and friends, to our beloved, and the list carries on.

Many spiritual teachers and gurus have preached the significance of the Now and the importance of its application in our daily lives. This act is to be first carried out by becoming aware of the present moment.

Then, gradually, all that remains becomes to train oneself to continue living in the moment. With time, the formula becomes obvious — the more the Nows, the more sense of fulfilment in life. Of those who are most aware of the Now are the terminally ill who become alertly conscious of the importance of the present as each day could be their last. Their Now becomes exceedingly precious while the rest simply becomes trivial.

Uncertain future

Yet, an irony that must be taken into consideration here is that whether we are healthy or sick, the future is equally insecure and our tomorrows are never guaranteed — a most perplexing irony, indeed.

The art of meditation is one effective method of evoking the Now and inducing a state of consciousness of the present moment. It is with meditation that one is able to delve into the depths of her/his soul, and it is only at the depth that the ultimate sense of internal peace is attained. Tolle uses the lake as an example to better illustrate my point. He explains that when times are turbulent and storms approach, it is only the lake's surface that is affected by the external forces regardless of how vigorous they are, while the lake's bottom always remains calm and unperturbed.

In the same way, the closer one is to the depth of her/his beings, the less affected s/he is by external factors. And it is only by stillness, by physical and conscious awareness of the Now, that our depths are reached and a meaningful life is lived.

The saying "life is too short" happens to be a common thread that runs across all cultures. My father-in-law once paraphrased it in a most charming way when he quoted a few lines of an Arabic poem he once heard his mother reciting: Get up and dance ye girls and forget about sleep / for life is like the moon, and you'll never get your fill of it! So, let our focus be on the Now and savour life and dance our hearts out before it is too late!

Ghada Al Atrash holds a Master's degree in English.