Passage 1
Passage
1
Every morning, when we wake up, we have 24 brand-new hours to live.
Every
morning
,
when
we
wake
up
,
we
have
24
brand-new
hours
to
live
.
What a
What
a
gift!
gift
!
We have the capacity to live in a way that these 24 hours will bring peace, joy, and happiness to ourselves and to others.
We
have
the
capacity
to
live
in
a
way
that
these
24
hours
will
bring
peace
,
joy
,
and
happiness
to
ourselves
and
to
others
.
Peace is right here and now, in ourselves and in everything we do and see.
Peace
is
right
here
and
now
,
in
ourselves
and
in
everything
we
do
and
see
.
The question is whether or not we are in touch with it.
The
question
is
whether
or
not
we
are
in
touch
with
it
.
We don't have to travel far away to enjoy the blue sky.
We
do
n't
have
to
travel
far
away
to
enjoy
the
blue
sky
.
We don't have to leave our city or even our neighborhood to enjoy the eyes of a beautiful child.
We
do
n't
have
to
leave
our
city
or
even
our
neighborhood
to
enjoy
the
eyes
of
a
beautiful
child
.
Even the air we breathe can be a source of joy.
Even
the
air
we
breathe
can
be
a
source
of
joy
.
We can smile, breathe, walk, and eat our meals in a way that allows us to be in touch with the abundance of happiness that is available.
We
can
smile
,
breathe
,
walk
,
and
eat
our
meals
in
a
way
that
allows
us
to
be
in
touch
with
the
abundance
of
happiness
that
is
available
.
We are very good at preparing how to live, but not very good at living.
We
are
very
good
at
preparing
how
to
live
,
but
not
very
good
at
living
.
We know how to sacrifice ten years for a diploma, and we are willing to work very hard to get
We
know
how
to
sacrifice
ten
years
for
a
diploma
,
and
we
are
willing
to
work
very
hard
to
get
But we have difficulty remembering that we are alive in the present moment, the only moment there is for us to be alive.
But
we
have
difficulty
remembering
that
we
are
alive
in
the
present
moment
,
the
only
moment
there
is
for
us
to
be
alive
.
Every breath we take, every step we make, can be filled with joy, peace, and serenity.
Every
breath
we
take
,
every
step
we
make
,
can
be
filled
with
joy
,
peace
,
and
serenity
.
We need only to be awake, alive in the present moment.
We
need
only
to
be
awake
,
alive
in
the
present
moment
.
Passage 2
Passage
2
The
The
of both
of
both
is that we were but to open ourselves to the richness of the moment, to concentrate on
is
that
we
were
but
to
open
ourselves
to
the
richness
of
the
moment
,
to
concentrate
on
, we would be filled with bliss.
,
we
would
be
filled
with
bliss
.
I have lived in the present from time to time and can tell you that it is much overrated.
I
have
lived
in
the
present
from
time
to
time
and
can
tell
you
that
it
is
much
overrated
.
Occasionally, as a holiday from stroking one's memories or brooding about future worries, I grant you, it can be a nice change of pace.
Occasionally
,
as
a
holiday
from
stroking
one
's
memories
or
brooding
about
future
worries
,
I
grant
you
,
it
can
be
a
nice
change
of
pace
.
But to "be here now," hour after hour, would never work.
But
to
``
be
here
now
,
''
hour
after
hour
,
would
never
work
.
I don't even approve of stories written in the present tense.
I
do
n't
even
approve
of
stories
written
in
the
present
tense
.
Ads for poets who never use a past participate, they deserve the eternity they are striving for.
Ads
for
poets
who
never
use
a
past
participate
,
they
deserve
the
eternity
they
are
striving
for
.
Besides, the
Besides
,
the
has a way of intruding whether you like it or not.
has
a
way
of
intruding
whether
you
like
it
or
not
.
Why should I go out of my way to meet it?
Why
should
I
go
out
of
my
way
to
meet
it
?
Let it splash on me from time to time, like a car going through a puddle, and I, on the sidewalk of my solitude, will salute it grimly like any other modern inconvenience.
Let
it
splash
on
me
from
time
to
time
,
like
a
car
going
through
a
puddle
,
and
I
,
on
the
sidewalk
of
my
solitude
,
will
salute
it
grimly
like
any
other
modern
inconvenience
.
If I attend a concert, obviously not to listen to the music but to find
If
I
attend
a
concert
,
obviously
not
to
listen
to
the
music
but
to
find
in which to meditate on the past and future.
in
which
to
meditate
on
the
past
and
future
.
I realize that there may be moments when the music invades my ears and I am forced to pay attention to it, note for note.
I
realize
that
there
may
be
moments
when
the
music
invades
my
ears
and
I
am
forced
to
pay
attention
to
it
,
note
for
note
.
I believe I take such intrusions gracefully.
I
believe
I
take
such
intrusions
gracefully
.
The present is not always
The
present
is
not
always
, so long as it doesn't stay too long and cut into my remembering or brooding time.
,
so
long
as
it
does
n't
stay
too
long
and
cut
into
my
remembering
or
brooding
time
.
 Passage 1  Every morning, when we wake up, we have 24 brand-new hours to live. What a  gift! We have the capacity to live in a way that these 24 hours will bring peace, joy, and happiness to ourselves and to others.  Peace is right here and now, in ourselves and in everything we do and see. The question is whether or not we are in touch with it. We don't have to travel far away to enjoy the blue sky. We don't have to leave our city or even our neighborhood to enjoy the eyes of a beautiful child. Even the air we breathe can be a source of joy.  We can smile, breathe, walk, and eat our meals in a way that allows us to be in touch with the abundance of happiness that is available. We are very good at preparing how to live, but not very good at living. We know how to sacrifice ten years for a diploma, and we are willing to work very hard to get  But we have difficulty remembering that we are alive in the present moment, the only moment there is for us to be alive. Every breath we take, every step we make, can be filled with joy, peace, and serenity. We need only to be awake, alive in the present moment.  Passage 2  The  of both  is that we were but to open ourselves to the richness of the moment, to concentrate on  , we would be filled with bliss. I have lived in the present from time to time and can tell you that it is much overrated. Occasionally, as a holiday from stroking one's memories or brooding about future worries, I grant you, it can be a nice change of pace. But to "be here now," hour after hour, would never work. I don't even approve of stories written in the present tense. Ads for poets who never use a past participate, they deserve the eternity they are striving for.  Besides, the  has a way of intruding whether you like it or not. Why should I go out of my way to meet it? Let it splash on me from time to time, like a car going through a puddle, and I, on the sidewalk of my solitude, will salute it grimly like any other modern inconvenience.  If I attend a concert, obviously not to listen to the music but to find  in which to meditate on the past and future. I realize that there may be moments when the music invades my ears and I am forced to pay attention to it, note for note. I believe I take such intrusions gracefully. The present is not always  , so long as it doesn't stay too long and cut into my remembering or brooding time.