Welcome to this meditation on making best use of the present moment with Peter Radcliffe.
So in this meditation of making full use of the present moment,
We're going to do a meditation which is particularly Buddhist because it assumes that there is a continuation of the mind after death.
So if you're open to this possibility,
Then this meditation can be very motivating for your journey.
Now in past meditations,
We have contemplated the unsatisfactory nature of life that we call suffering,
And the fact that we have a unique opportunity at this moment and in this life to cultivate and practice positive qualities of mind.
We've also contemplated the unpredictability of when death may come to fill us with a sense of urgency to do something.
So in this meditation,
We contemplate the best way to spend this precious time that we have left,
This precious opportunity.
Because up until this point in our life,
We have spent so much time involved in worry,
Concern,
Working hard for material gain.
Go ahead and actually estimate the number of hours you've spent involved in things like idle chatter,
Watching TV,
Sleeping,
Or working on projects that are less than productive.
We spend the majority of our life in mundane concerns.
And yet compare this to the number of hours that you've spent specifically cultivating your own mind.
Of course,
The disparity is huge,
But consider that when we die,
According to many traditions,
That only the mind will go on.
So if this is true,
Then it's only mental qualities such as peace,
Compassion,
Wisdom,
And equanimity,
And things like that,
That will go with us.
The Buddhists believe that these qualities of mind are a form of karma,
And it's this karma that we take with us when we die and into any possible future life.
And it is this life,
It is in this particular life,
That we develop those qualities into deep-seated patterns and habits of the mind.
Now these patterns can be reinforced in a number of ways.
We can think positive thoughts,
And by thinking positive thoughts over and over,
It reinforces those patterns.
We can talk to people and teach people about positive ways to think and act,
And that has an even greater effect.
And then finally,
We can act in ways of generosity,
Patience,
Humility.
So these three ways,
Thinking,
Speaking,
And acting,
All contribute a powerful effect to the mind,
Each one greater than the last.
But of course,
We need to do all three to have the most powerful effect on our mind.
But in the same way that these positive patterns can be reinforced by thinking,
Speaking,
And acting,
So too negative aspects of the mind,
Such as anger,
Frustration,
Jealousy,
Pride,
Or desire and the like,
Can also be reinforced as patterns in the mind or karmas that we can take with us after death.
So consider again if on balance you've created more positive karmas in your life,
That is positive qualities of mind,
Or more negative ones.
Which one is greater in your life?
And then decide that it is in this very moment that we have the choice to move forward in a positive or negative direction.
So make a commitment to make the effort right now and in the future not to let yourself slide into negative states of mind.
But always strive to cultivate your mind,
Speech,
And actions into more and more positive states.
Aim to practice things like generosity,
Humility,
Patience,
Compassion,
And especially above all else,
The wisdom.
To see the truth in everything you do so that these patterns sink deep and strong into your mind.
Only these things that will serve you now,
In the future,
And even after death as you go forward.
