Being in the moment

[yuri110v]

The biggest obstacle to reaching my life-purpose that I have is that I am too absent-minded..im often lost in my own world & i act without thinking & i later regret it..What is the best way to learn to be in the present moment?? Is it mindfulness meditation described in "Wherever you go there you are" by Zinn or the meditations in "The Power of Now" by Tolle??

[Michael Chui]

Which one worked when you tried it?

[yuri110v]

I am yet to try any bro...im asking the guys out there as to which 1 should try.

[Michael Chui]

Flip a coin, try it out, see if it works. If it doesn't, try the other one, see if it works.

[ragtag]

I bought the audio book version of "The Power of Now" and didn't like it at all. Besides the fact that I found Tolle's voice annoying, the whole book felt wrong for me. It may be right for others though.

What was wrong for me was that the book seemed to be written by someone who had used the method of living in the now, to get away from serious emotional/mental problems and depression. I'm sure the Power of Now is fine for that, but for someone living a reasonably happy life, it had little to offer.

Good ol' fashion meditation makes more sense to me.

[yuri110v]

but do the meditaions in the power of now really help you to live in the present moment?

[Michael Chui]

You will not know until you try.

[Niki]

Originally Posted by ragtag

What was wrong for me was that the book seemed to be written by someone who had used the method of living in the now, to get away from serious emotional/mental problems and depression. I'm sure the Power of Now is fine for that, but for someone living a reasonably happy life, it had little to offer.

Good ol' fashion meditation makes more sense to me.

Then what is your definition of good ol' fashion meditation?

I thought it was all about being here, in this moment.

whats wrong about getting away from your problems, if they are gone, they are gone, its all mental.

and if you are a happy person thats really good but then i want to know what your meditation is .

Sorry if i sound not nice , but English is not my native language.

I mean this reaction verry well

[bellbird]

Vaccuuming, doing the dishes and washing your car are great ways to be 'in the moment': wax on, wax off By doing the 'normal boring' stuff one learns to exit cloud 9. One can find appreciation in all one does (or something along those lines.... ) hey I've heard of people meditating in the loo..... whatever works right?

[Takuin Minamoto]

Originally Posted by yuri110v

The biggest obstacle to reaching my life-purpose that I have is that I am too absent-minded..im often lost in my own world & i act without thinking & i later regret it..What is the best way to learn to be in the present moment?? Is it mindfulness meditation described in "Wherever you go there you are" by Zinn or the meditations in "The Power of Now" by Tolle??

I can only say things from my own mind; not that it is the right way or wrong way.
I am always in the present moment. It doesn't matter if I believe it or not. It is a fact. My knowledge might make me want to think otherwise, but it is true.
It may only seem like semantics, but how can one "learn" to be in the present? Learning, in this case, would seem to imply knowledge. Knowledge is always fixed and non-fluid (if that makes any sense). It is always in the past. It doesn't really exist anyway, so how can that bring us to here? It will always leave us in the past.
When you are in the present, everything stops, and there is a swelling of power or energy that is complete and correct action. (I hate to sound like Krishnamurti, but I don't know other words for it yet) If you are in the present moment, nothing else will be there. It is real emptiness and it astonishing.
The other day we had an earthquake (I live in Japan). It was one prefecture away from us, so we felt it quite strongly. During the quake, I was there from moment to moment. The plates in the cupboards rattled, and the glass in the windows shook in their frames. But each moment was perfect. Everything was happening as it was meant to happen (not "meant" as if from a higher power, or some sort of pre-destination). It was reality. If, at that moment, the past was with me, I would have most likely felt fear. But the absence of the past made everything stand out. Each moment was new, and there was no fear or feeling that it should be another way than what it was.
I doubt any of this is helpful (I apologize), but if there is a "best way" to do something, it is within yourself. If you feel bad or inadequte, do you ask why? Not in such a way that you will blame an outside event for your feeling, which is crazy anyway you look at it. But always ask yourself why. What is the necessity of these feelings? If it holds you from expressing yourself, if it makes you feel like poo, if it turns you inside out with grief or anger or worry, then why is it there? Of what use is it? Question it.
I am sorry if this wasn't helpful, but it is nice to see so many wonderful people taking the time to answer your questions. It seems like quite a supportive place.
Good luck to you.