How do I stay in the present moment when it feels unbearable?

TL;DR

Learn how to stay in the present moment, even when it feels unbearable, by acknowledging and transforming pain through the practice of mindfulness and compassion.

Transcript

(bell) (bell) How do I stay in the present moment when it feels unbearable? Because in Plum Village we always say that "Let us not get caught in the past and the future" "Let us go back to the present moment" And this is a question about "How can I stay in the present moment when the present moment feels unbearable?" That's a good question. (Laught... Read More

Key Insights

• 😃 The present moment holds conditions of happiness and joy that can nourish us.
• 👻 Avoiding pain and running away from the present moment only allows suffering to grow.
• 👨‍🎨 By staying present, we can understand and counter our pain, transforming it into healing and compassion.
• 💄 Collective practice and support from a Sangha are essential for sustaining compassion and making a meaningful impact.
• 🛟 Bodhisattvas like Kṣitigarbha serve as inspirations, willingly entering suffering to bring relief and healing.
• 🤝 Mindfulness helps us stay present and deal with both pleasant and unpleasant moments.
• 💪 A strong volition and aspiration to help others can protect us from being overwhelmed by suffering.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why is it important to stay in the present moment, even when it feels unbearable?

Staying present helps us access conditions of happiness and generate joy, while also providing an opportunity to take care of and transform our pain.

Q: How can mindfulness help us calm and transform our pain?

By practicing mindful breathing or walking, we generate the energy of mindfulness, which enables us to recognize and embrace our pain tenderly, eventually calming and transforming it.

Q: How does practicing mindfulness with others enhance the healing process?

Practicing with a group generates a collective energy of compassion, which not only heals individuals but also enables them to help others in turn.

Q: How can we support and encourage those who serve in difficult and suffering situations?

We can support Bodhisattvas like Kṣitigarbha by sending them our energy of encouragement and providing them with nourishment and healing when they return from their work.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Going back to the present moment allows us to access conditions of happiness and generate joy and happiness to nourish ourselves.

• In the present moment, we may also encounter painful emotions, but by staying present, we have the opportunity to take care of and transform our pain.

• The practice of mindfulness helps us understand and counter suffering, allowing us to embrace our pain with tenderness and find healing.