What’s the basis of almost every spiritual, self-help book?

Being present!

Why? Because it is the most fundamental state, the most fundamental practice and the most fundamental skill.

When you’re present, you can fully experience life. When you’re present, you stop projecting into the past or future. When you’re present, you let go of the limiting beliefs and stories you have. When you’re present, you’re aware of your thoughts and emotions. When you’re present, you’re in a position of power to change anything.

That’s why so many great books center around presence: The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, Be Here Now by Ram Dass, You Are Here by Thich Nhat Hanh, Wherever You Go There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn…etc.

Presence is a concept that you understand more the more you immerse yourself in it.

When I first heard about presence, I understood it intellectually, and it sounded good, but I didn’t really understand it. Then I read more, and understood it more deeply. Then I read even more and started practicing presence, and now after a few years, I “get it.” I know what “being present” is because I directly experience it every day.

So don’t just read this and then move on to the next thing. Let these words about presence integrate into your being. Read, re-read, toss them around in your mind, meditate on them and start practicing being present.

That is how you will truly reap the benefits of the present moment. And the present moment is all we ever have.

I decided to use three quotes from three of the most profound teachers I’ve come across. Let these words integrate into your being…

9 Quotes About Presence That Will Blow Your Mind

1. “Beyond the concept of here and now, how much power do you need? To go anywhere else you need power, but to be here what do you need?”
– Mooji

2. “My love, stay here.
Going in search of Self (as a goal) is illusion;
You are already the One Self.
You will purchase the map,
Only to find you are already Here.”
― Mooji

3. “You need nothing to be happy – you need something to be sad.”
― Mooji

4. “Your true home is in the here and the now.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh

5. “Breathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment I know this is the only moment.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh

6. “Life is available only in the present moment.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh

7. “Time isn’t precious at all, because it is an illusion. 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.”
– Eckhart Tolle

8. “Realize deeply that the present moment is all you have. Make the NOW the primary focus of your life.”
– Eckhart Tolle

9. “All negativity is caused by an accumulation of psychological time and denial of the present. Unease, anxiety, tension, stress, worry – all forms of fear – are caused by too much future, and
not enough presence. Guilt, regret, resentment, grievances, sadness, bitterness, and all forms
of nonforgiveness are caused by too much past, and not enough presence.”
– Eckhart Tolle

Are you present? Are you here?

What’s the best way to be more present? Meditation! Start with this article I wrote here: Introduction to Meditation

Much love.

– Stephen Parato