Savouring the Moment

K P SHASHIDHARAN





In the hurly-burly of life, many of us forget to live mindfully .We find that our mind is more preoccupied with emotions, feelings, thoughts, aspirations, the past and future, rather than engage with the present.Life, despite its myriad distractions, escapisms, obsessions and passions, makes us feel lonely even when we're among loved ones. There is an underlying feeling of void, a sense of helplessness. We are haunted, for example, by the process of ageing, by what we perceive as impermanence of goodness, and by pain, distress, disease and the thought of death. That's why Buddha talks about `dukha' as the essence of life, not a pessimistic perception, but the reality of life.
Mindfulness meditation enables us to live life mindfully , with awareness of the present to realise the true worth of our being. Mindfulness begins when we stop talking: being silent both inside and outside.We witness thoughts and ideas come and go like uninvited guests in mind waves. Can we listen to the silent song of our soul that is powerful enough to elevate us, taking us closer to Supreme Consciousness? It has power to inspire, and instil in us the true joy of living.
Be quiet first, sit straight, focus on incoming and outgoing breath, and follow and become the flow of air that you inhale and exhale. Keep body , mind and intellect fine-tuned in the present. Enjoy breathing in and out. Let your body be fully energised, and be fully aware of what is going on, effortlessly, like a witness, but mindfully .