How can living in the present be reconciled with having an optimistic attitude?
Podcast
Transcript
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doesn’t directly contribute to devotion. It is also said that live in the present. But then if you have the attitude that things will become better in the future, how do we reconcile the two? See, we should live in the present, but we shouldn’t live for the present.
Live in the present means focus on what I can do in the present right now. Don’t worry about this problem in the future. Don’t lament about that problem in the past.
Focus on what you can do in the present. So, the behavior part is what will connect with the present. What can I do right now? Things are very bad, but right now what is one right thing that I can do? So, that is about the present, but we have to live in the present, but we can’t live for the present.
In fact, intelligence means to see that the present is going to lead to the future. And then I shouldn’t just live in a way that because of the way I am living in the present, my future would be dark. The child might just want to play, but the parents tell the child to study.
So, the child may just live for the present. I am enjoying this, why should I study? But the parents see the future. So, when we talk about live in the present, the point over there is focus on what you can do right now.
But don’t live for the present. That means what can I do right now in a way that means I can play my part in creating a better future. So, we by our very nature strive to make things better.
So, that is the human initiative. So, that idea that we can make things better in the future, at least at some level in some ways, that is what drives all human actions. And that is why we act.
So, I would say that both are fine because both are perfectly reconcilable, because what vision of the future do I have? And what am I doing in the present? Going back to the sick person’s example, if a person is very sick, and they are in pain, and you tell them live in the present, my present is all in pain right now. Don’t think about the future. Well, only the future that my health will be better.
That is what will help them to live, isn’t it? So, but just don’t think I will be healthy in the future. Take the medicine now. If you have to do some exercise, even if it is painful, do some exercise.
So, live in the present means take the medication, do the exercise. But don’t live for the present means don’t think that this is the situation you have to always face. Things will become better.
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