The Trouble with Now

[Max Power]

The big problem with right now is that most people don't like the now they've created. People look at their lives and go "blah, this is not what I want at all!" It's frustrating because we need to acccept two really simple things, before we can successfully change our current now.

1. Right now is all we have
2. Change can only take place right now

We only exist right now, this day, not tomorrow and not yesterday. As Chopra said "The past is history, the future is a mystery and the present is a gift" and it's so true.

How often do you spend your day regretting the past or worrying about the future? It's a mind trap for sure, because while you're doing that, the present (the only place you can exist) is busy just being present.

To change your life in any way, you're going to have to be present in the present. No more sneaking off and regretting the past and fearing the future. Nope that's for people who don't want control and/or responsibility and I know you're way smarter than that right?

Okay let's get practical.............

You're here right now existing in the moment, in the present, but what do you see there? Crappy job? No love? No money? Whatever it is, it exists in the present because you are keeping it there by observing it right now. You are maintaining your life, by observing your life, it's a system of creation that creates as it observes.

So you can't get out of loneliness by observing no love, because the present is the sum total of all your thoughts, all your choices. Every observation is a thought and every thought is a choice for how you want the present to be.

You must take responsibility for what is in your present moment, for what is in your life right now. If it's there, you created it, so all you have to really do, is accept that fact and say "right, I created this and now I'm going to create something else" then decide what that something else is, observe it as often as you can and it will manifest. Things will start to happen, opportunities will arise, people will aid you, things will change in your favor.

Think about where and when you are existing, are alive and you'll see that all you have is right here and right now, but the moment is malleable because observation is creation, to observe is to create and the system of creation is always just feeding back into itself, in the moment.

Accept that your observations are creating your present moment and accept that if that's true, then by changing those observations, then the moment will change.

Max

[cylon]

Just at the right time for me, Max!

[wolfgang]

Originally Posted by Max Power

How often do you spend your day regretting the past or worrying about the future? It's a mind trap for sure, because while you're doing that, the present (the only place you can exist) is busy just being present.

Have you ever thought of it this way? The past and future only exist as thoughts and thoughts only exist in the present moment. That means the past and future are part of the present moment and don't really exist in terms of time. Past and future are only thoughts that we can only have in the present moment. I tend to think it's ok to have thoughts about the past and future - that by itself is not taking me out of the present.

The problem comes when these thoughts of past or future contain regret or fear. Past thoughts can have regret and future can have fear. So it's the quality of these thoughts or the attachments to emotions of past and future that bogg us down.

In other words, remembering something cool in my past is actually good for my now moment. Thinking about something being positive in the future is good for my now moment.

[Cantando]

What exactly is 'the present moment'?
If you believe in it, can you prove it exists?
If it does exist, why does it exist?

[Max Power]

Originally Posted by wolfgang

Have you ever thought of it this way? The past and future only exist as thoughts and thoughts only exist in the present moment. That means the past and future are part of the present moment and don't really exist in terms of time. Past and future are only thoughts that we can only have in the present moment. I tend to think it's ok to have thoughts about the past and future - that by itself is not taking me out of the present.

The problem comes when these thoughts of past or future contain regret or fear. Past thoughts can have regret and future can have fear. So it's the quality of these thoughts or the attachments to emotions of past and future that bogg us down.

In other words, remembering something cool in my past is actually good for my now moment. Thinking about something being positive in the future is good for my now moment.

There's nothing wrong with thinking of the past, if it's joyous that's fine, but often, thoughts of the past are negative and affect and infect our present and that's never good.

Max

[Max Power]

Originally Posted by Cantando

What exactly is 'the present moment'?
If you believe in it, can you prove it exists?
If it does exist, why does it exist?

The problem with time is that we think it's a constant chain of present moments linked together and that we are moving along that chain, along that timeline, but I suspect there is just one single moment of existance and we are there and everything is in that moment.

The only reason something we choose to have doesn't appear instantly (somethings do) is because we believe we are moving along a time line that includes a desire, a need for growth. Like you don't think you deserve love until you become (through time) a better person or you don't deserve money until you (take the time to) come up with a great way to make money.

We think we need time, but we don't. If all we have is right now and that right now is you present in the moment, then everything is either existing there with you or you can instantly manifest everything.

Sounds crazy right? but look at what you are already manifesting instantly, look at your life right now, what can you claim that you're manifesting instantly right now? If you can manifest any one thing, then what's the difference between that one thing and any other thing.

The difference only exists in your mind.

Observation is creation

Max

[Cantando]

Originally Posted by Max Power

The problem with time is that we think it's a constant chain of present moments linked together and that we are moving along that chain, along that timeline, but I suspect there is just one single moment of existance and we are there and everything is in that moment.

The only reason something we choose to have doesn't appear instantly (somethings do) is because we believe we are moving along a time line that includes a desire, a need for growth. Like you don't think you deserve love until you become (through time) a better person or you don't deserve money until you (take the time to) come up with a great way to make money.

Max, I agree with you here, but I don't think it's a very easy thing to do.
There are two concepts here - the present moment and the eternal now.

The present moment is an infinitesimally small snapshot of now which proceeds to the next moment in this time/space continuum.
The eternal now transcends all this and incorporates all past, present and future into one emergence of beingness. For me to grasp that and incorporate that into each temporal moment of each day sounds to me a very tall order, given that I am operating in a mind/body/ego framework.

We can't hold the present moment - it's immediately gone to be replaced by the next present moment. So, why should I bother even considering living in the present moment?

[Angela]

Originally Posted by Cantando

So, why should I bother even considering living in the present moment?

Because it's all you've got, and it's all you'll ever have. Everything else is just a fantasy.

[Ree]

I tend to agree with you about this intellectually, but it's difficult to put into practice. In defining our intentions then, if we set a deadline of two months from now or two weeks from now or two days from now, how does that effect our intentions?

[Angela]

Originally Posted by Ree

I tend to agree with you about this intellectually, but it's difficult to put into practice. In defining our intentions then, if we set a deadline of two months from now or two weeks from now or two days from now, how does that effect our intentions?

Ree, if I declare an intention of, say, getting joyfully married, or having a fabulous job, can you see that if I set a target date for 10/31/07, how I'm being in my current moment now would look very different than if I declare the same intention for two years from now?

Same is true for values-based manifestations. If I intend joy or abundance in my life NOW, that's quite a different thing than intending joy and abundance in my life whenever the Universe gets around to my request.

Now is where it's at! (-- patent pending M. Power)

[Max Power]

Originally Posted by Cantando

We can't hold the present moment - it's immediately gone to be replaced by the next present moment. So, why should I bother even considering living in the present moment?

CT,

I know it looks like it's one fleeting moment after the next, but it's not. If you can only ever exist in the moment and you're always existing, then the moment is the only place you are and the only place anything can exist.

The secret is to see it not as a moment or moments strung together, but to see it as a constant place of existance. You're always existing, but only right now, it's one place, one space, it's not really even a moment for a moment implies time and there really isn't any.

If we look at it as a place we exist, a space where we are, then we can also see that things don't take time to come into being. Ask yourself this.....why do some things take time to manifest and somethings take longer??

It's not about time, it's about observation of your place/space. I wrote a post a while back (I should really orgainse this posts somewhere handy ) about how consciousness is actually a container of sorts. inside that container you place everything you require including time, money, love, sky, birds everything you want inside.

Because the container (consciousness) is timeless, manifestation requires no time to come into being and if anything, everything manifests instantly (via choice) inside the container, but because you like things to be interesting, you create time and delay inside the container.

Calling it a container means we don't need the delay of time to mainfest. Yes it may seem like that, but as long as we observe right now that it is so, that it is done, then it will mainfest inside the container, inside consciousness, inside your reality, it will do it instantly and you'll think it took time.

The way we make things appear inside our container is to observe them and this is easier when we consider time is illusionary, because we then realise we don't need time, we can mainfest as quickly as we choose to.

Why do we need time? Because it helps us appreciate our physicality

Observation is creation.

Max

[Max Power]

Originally Posted by Ree

I tend to agree with you about this intellectually, but it's difficult to put into practice. In defining our intentions then, if we set a deadline of two months from now or two weeks from now or two days from now, how does that effect our intentions?

Ree,

See the bold above? You can play it like that if you like, but I believe it's asking for trouble. If your creative power doesn't know of time (it doesn't) then time is something you think you need. I'm not convinced it even works like that.

Let's say you intend to have $5000 in two weeks time and then two weeks later you get $5000. That would mean that creative source/power/force whatever, creates delay (time) to expereince growth and accomplishment. But as you can't exist in the future or the past, then how can time exist? How can you move forward and then the goal is attained?

The answer is that doesn't actually happen.

This is how I see it happening...........

The manifestation happens instantly, then the process of denial, the need for growth and the delay of time happen to allude to you gettting the thing you intended two weeks later. It's not possible to exist in the future, so how can anything you want exist there? It can't and it doesn't. It's illusion at best and denial at worst.

You can only ever exist right now and that means that everything you want exists right now. We don't move through time to find things or get them, everything is already here. All the gurus agree, you have to see, observe, believe you have it right now, why?..............Because you do have it right now.

People say next year or next month or next week I'll be this, have this and it can be played like that, but I believe we can speed things up by realising we don't need time. Why do people want time to achieve things? Because they don't feel worthy right now, they think they need to grow to deserve what they desire and as we only ever exist right here, right now, that means the need for growth and time and deserving stuff is all an illusion.

Max

[Ree]

I see what you are saying, Max. If I choose to manifest $5000 in two weeks, it's actually there immediately. It takes me two weeks of denial and delay to observe the $5000. It's risky, because I might never observe the $5000 if I find enough reasons to deny, delay or otherwise defeat the manifestation of $5000.

[Max Power]

Originally Posted by Ree

I see what you are saying, Max. If I choose to manifest $5000 in two weeks, it's actually there immediately. It takes me two weeks of denial and delay to observe the $5000. It's risky, because I might never observe the $5000 if I find enough reasons to deny, delay or otherwise defeat the manifestation of $5000.

Yes! Ree, very good and that's why placing manifestation outisde of now is asking for trouble, because you give yourself time to undo the creation.

Everything manifest instantly, but it's our attainment beliefs that block and delay it. This is heady stuff, but our goal here is to be responsibile for what we create and to create more effecively, to do that we have to be present in the now, it's all there is.

Max

[wolfgang]

Originally Posted by Cantando

We can't hold the present moment - it's immediately gone to be replaced by the next present moment. So, why should I bother even considering living in the present moment?

The present moment is where everything is. You are not ever out of the present moment. You don't have to "consider living in the present moment", because that is actually where you live. Even thoughts of the past and future are in the present moment. If you try to find the past, how are you finding it? Only in your present moment thoughts.

[Frans]

Originally Posted by Max Power

People say next year or next month or next week I'll be this, have this and it can be played like that, but I believe we can speed things up by realising we don't need time. Why do people want time to achieve things? Because they don't feel worthy right now, they think they need to grow to deserve what they desire and as we only ever exist right here, right now, that means the need for growth and time and deserving stuff is all an illusion.

Suppose I'm 16 years old and my intention is to be 18 years (legally of age to drive a car here).
When will this intention manifest? Now or after two years?...

[Max Power]

Originally Posted by wolfgang

If you try to find the past, how are you finding it? Only in your present moment thoughts.

Very good WG The trick with the past is that we consider it's already happened, so when our thoughts go there we say "ah, that's right, I remember that" but try this......think of a time in the past and then insert something that didn't happen there and..............it's the same image, just as powerful, just as meaningful.

What does this show us?? That the past may be not so real as we think and it is just as malleable as the future. This is pushing the envelope, but how do we know it actually happened. Well, we need to consider it did, to keep us from getting locked up (again ) in the nut house!

If the past can only exist when we think about it now, then it's the same with the future. the future can only exist when we think about it now, so how we think of the future will actually create the future.........now. The word future is a lame duck word, for it never happens, it's like tomorrow, it never comes, why? Because it's actually today, right now. We're not moving through time, we are completely stationary in the container, in consciousness, in a place/space that is stable and reliable.

So if the whole experience of growth is illusionary, then so is time. We don't move forward to obtain our intentions, they appear right now in the present. We can't go some place in the future to get what we want and we don't bring it from somewhere, it's here right now, because there is only now.

Max

[Max Power]

Originally Posted by Frans

Suppose I'm 16 years old and my intention is to be 18 years (legally of age to drive a car here).
When will this intention manifest? Now or after two years?...

FR,

It's not magic the purpose of this thread is to discuss the empowering thought that our power is in the now and no where else and to keep our thoughts there for effective creation.

But to answer your question.......Technically anything is possible, butyour reality is built to maintain an acceptable physical existance. It's like the old, 'why can't I fly unaided' question........there are rules, some can be bent, some broken............proceed.

Does that sound like a cop out? It is, why? Because people don't want to hear that they can do anything, because it breaks their model of reality, the model that has been programmed since birth. They want the most empowering information, but they want it based in reality.

The trick is to embrace the idea that you create your own life and you create it right now, nowhere else, once you gain experince doing that, then you can start pushing the self imposed rules to see how far they'll bend

Max

[wolfgang]

Originally Posted by Max Power

......think of a time in the past and then insert something that didn't happen there and..............it's the same image, just as powerful, just as meaningful.

I think the malleable part is our perspective or interpretation of memory. Where memory is some sort of law like gravity that collects a mass of thoughts. I think trying to insert something that didn't happen is not useful, but maybe seeing why you think of the past and how your attitutes of "events" effect what you have now, is useful.

[Cantando]

Originally Posted by wolfgang

The present moment is where everything is. You are not ever out of the present moment. You don't have to "consider living in the present moment", because that is actually where you live. Even thoughts of the past and future are in the present moment. If you try to find the past, how are you finding it? Only in your present moment thoughts.

It's just terminology.
What you describe as 'the present moment' I would prefer to call 'the eternal now' or 'eternity'.
For me, the present moment is that point in time which we perceive to be as now, but which immediately gives way to the next moment, in this time/space continuum.
I know in meditation that I am living in the eternal now, where all past, present and future are one. But when I come out of meditation, I am back in the world of ego/body/mind.
If I desire to manifest a million dollars, I don't think it is created anywhere, apart from being a concept or image in my mind. It must be so. If I was in meditation, and tuned into the eternal now, there would be no need for me to create or manifest anything, because in that state I am complete and perfect and have no desire for anything.
So, desiring anything material or which may be classed as a possession, for me, is an ego/mind/body flaw and limitation and is thus an obstacle to spiritual progress.

[Tam9]

Originally Posted by Angela

Because it's all you've got, and it's all you'll ever have. Everything else is just a fantasy.

This seems a bit drastic. Illusion or not, we measure time/space here in our earth esistence.

[Lil Chris]

Originally Posted by Tam9

This seems a bit drastic. Illusion or not, we measure time/space here in our earth esistence.

We do with our current level of understanding of time/space... But then again (as far as I'm aware of) humans are the only creatures that do, So if it doesn't exist for monkeys or elephants what makes it exist for us? Our perception of it? Our clocks and watches? The sun and the moon chasing each other? Because we were taught this? Because we believe it to be that way?

I suspect some of us are forming new beliefs of time/space, let's look at Einstein back in his day. Do you think the masses understood what he was talking about when he would discuss E=mc2, or any of his other observations? I would suspect most would just say "Oh that crazy Albert"

I'm only offering a perspective...

[Tam9]

Originally Posted by Max Power

.......there are rules, some can be bent, some broken............proceed.
Does that sound like a cop out? It is, why? Because people don't want to hear that they can do anything, because it breaks their model of reality, the model that has been programmed since birth. They want the most empowering information, but they want it based in reality.Max

1. Who's rules?

2. How do you function on a day to day basis? There are rules in objective reality too! Do you ignore them?

Post-modern philosophical theory suggests, and evidently so, that language is too imprecise, our senses too limited and deceptive to ever absolutely or correctly describe Reality in any way.

Given that you are as limited by your senses as the rest of us, how are you so confident of your beliefs? You pass them off as if they're truth. You take much liberty in what you write.

[Iff]

Originally Posted by Max Power

[...]
The only reason something we choose to have doesn't appear instantly (somethings do) is because we believe we are moving along a time line that includes a desire, a need for growth. Like you don't think you deserve love until you become (through time) a better person or you don't deserve money until you (take the time to) come up with a great way to make money.
[..]

That is definitely something I need to print out and read over and over again. I find myself abusing "time" (whether it be real or just an illusion) almost all of the time - the need of having time to become a better person or achieve some goal screams out to me way to clearly on an every day basis.

The truth is that almost everything in our life manifests instantly. If you want to have a healthier lifestyle (for example), you don't have to work for it for months on end. All it takes is to make that choice to live healthier and then you are. No need for deciding, planning and failing over and over again.

Originally Posted by Cantando

[...]
If I desire to manifest a million dollars, I don't think it is created anywhere, apart from being a concept or image in my mind. It must be so. If I was in meditation, and tuned into the eternal now, there would be no need for me to create or manifest anything, because in that state I am complete and perfect and have no desire for anything.
So, desiring anything material or which may be classed as a possession, for me, is an ego/mind/body flaw and limitation and is thus an obstacle to spiritual progress.

Cantando, however, raises a very valid point. Time exists for a very important reason - it allows us to experience everything that is (or is believed to be) around us. If you would just be in the present moment with every fiber of your body, you would not need anything at all, no growth or goal is needed. You'd be perfect and accomplished in your own sense. However, this would heavily hinder our ability to experience our lives and fulfil our desires.

So I would think we need some kind of compromise here. Time is an illusion that on one hand hinders manifestation but on the other hand allows experience. We need a way to use both ends of that idea to maximise our potential for a fulfilling life.

[Tam9]

Originally Posted by Lil Chris

We do with our current level of understanding of time/space... But then again (as far as I'm aware of) humans are the only creatures that do, So if it doesn't exist for monkeys or elephants what makes it exist for us? Our perception of it? Our clocks and watches? The sun and the moon chasing each other? Because we were taught this? Because we believe it to be that way?

I suspect some of us are forming new beliefs of time/space, let's look at Einstein back in his day. Do you think the masses understood what he was talking about when he would discuss E=mc2, or any of his other observations? I would suspect most would just say "Oh that crazy Albert"

I'm only offering a perspective...

So would you suggest we dispense with it (time/space)?

How do you know how animals percieve things?

Einstein's theory has been up for question lately. It's a theory too.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by Tam9

This seems a bit drastic. Illusion or not, we measure time/space here in our earth esistence.

What do you mean by "drastic"? Why waste time indulging in your fantasies of the past and future? Especially when you've got the greatest gift of all - Now -- jumping up and down like a puppy, trying to lick your face and get your attention.

Worrying about what might happen and fretting about what has already happened is like spitting in the face of your mom when she brings you a chocolate cake.

By the way, I don't consider making plans for the future (non-worrying) and evaluating past events (non-regretting) to be fantasy -- you can plan and evaluate and still be living completely in the moment. Maybe what you mean by "drastic" is that you think I'm suggesting you should give those things up? I'm not.

But "measuring time": what good is it except for planning and evaluating? Why bother, otherwise?

[Lil Chris]

Originally Posted by Tam9

So would you suggest we dispense with it (time/space)?

No, I would suggest exploring the possibility more.

Originally Posted by Tam9

How do you know how animals percieve things?

I don't. If you read what I posted, I said as far as I'm aware of, perhaps I'm just creating the perception for my own experience, since I haven't seen my cat wearing a watch (this is a joke)

Originally Posted by Tam9

Einstein's theory has been up for question lately. It's a theory too.

So is what we are discussing here...

[Tam9]

Originally Posted by Angela

What do you mean by "drastic"? Why waste time indulging in your fantasies of the past and future?

I mean that to call it 'fantasy' implies that your past never existed. Denying the past and not being aware of the future is not necessarily a good thing. It can be good or not. It's how you apply it to your present life that counts. People with Alzheimers disease have no past or future and they find it painful to function daily. They are disoriented and lost.

[Tam9]

Originally Posted by Lil Chris

So is what we are discussing here...

You brought up Einstein, I merely pointed out that E=mc2 is only a theory as well. One that has it's detractors as well.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by Tam9

I mean that to call it 'fantasy' implies that your past never existed. Denying the past and not being aware of the future is not necessarily a good thing. It can be good or not. It's how you apply it to your present life that counts. People with Alzeimers disease have no past or future and they find it painful to function daily. They are disoriented and lost.

Well, things happened in the past, and things will probably happen in the future (and I hope I'm around for them), but the past and the future do not exist, except as thoughts.

I don't deny that things have happened or that I hope and anticipate things happening later. But the past and the future are pure fantasy -- they are nothing but thought.