Sometimes we’re advised to “be in the now,” so let’s take a look at what that might mean.
Let’s assume that now is a thing, and let’s find try to find it. Here is an experiment you can do at home: take your finger and point to something, anything, and ask “is this now?” Point to something else and ask, “is this now?” Keep looking around and seeing if you can find now. If you’re like me, you won’t be able to find it.
When I did that experiment yesterday, I started laughing until I cried (as shown in the photo above). It became so overwhelmingly clear that reality is infinitely more rich, full, and satisfying than the concept of now.
“No! Now is not a thing!” I hear you cry, “Now is when something is happening!” Ah, that sounds like a concept. Okay, well let’s try to find it anyway. Point to anything and ask, “is this happening now?” Then point to something else and ask, “is this happening now?” Keep trying to find something that is not happening now.
It turns out that everything seems to be happening now. It’s impossible to find anything that does not seem to be happening now. Also, if you keep pointing at the same thing, and keep asking if it’s happening now, it seems to keep happening now. However, if you pay close attention, you’ll notice that the experience of what seems to be happening actually keeps subtly changing.
