In the Present Moment

~ By Ajahn Jayasāro ~

It was cool and damp this morning here in the hermitage. After my daily meal I returned to my kuti, wrapped myself in my shawl, and made a cup of tea.

As I sat in my chair looking out at the vibrant green trees surrounding the kuti and sipping tea, my mind turned to the donor of the tea, and I felt a wave of appreciation.

Then my mind turned to the lay supporter who offered the water that the tea was made with,

and the person who offered the cup I was drinking from,

and the donor of the kettle,

and the person who paid for electricity to be installed in the kuti,

and the person who pays the electricity bill.

The more my mind reflected on all the generosity that made this single cup of tea possible, the more I enjoyed it.

Being in the present moment is not in itself the goal of Buddhist practice; there are different ways of being in the present moment, some more skilful than others. As Buddhists we train ourselves to dwell in the present moment because it cuts off all the superficial busyness of the mind. In the present moment we can be aware of the big-picture dimension of our lives: questions of meaning, purpose and value. It is in the present moment that we can open our eyes to the truths of life so easily overlooked.

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"Food for the Heart", a series of Dhamma teachings handwritten weekly is posted on the Buddhadāsa Indapañño Archives page with Ajahn's kind permission.

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For other teachings by Ven. Ajahn Jayasāro, please visit the Panyaprateep Foundation website.