Mindfully Waiting in the Present Moment

Sitting here in silence, some might say, “feels like a waste of time. Sitting here waiting … waiting for something to be said.” It could be a waste of time if we are sitting here waiting mindlessly. But it is not a waste of time if there is mindfulness present and an awareness of the present moment.

Usually, at this time of day, there is a sense of anticipation as the work period draws near. There are thoughts about what we are going to do and what we don’t want to do, all of which are influenced by the different attitudes that we have toward work. So this silence beforehand can sometimes bring up feelings of anxiety, and we might think, “Say something; it doesn’t matter what it is, just say anything to fill the space.” Or the mind can slip into an animal state during which we zone out with eyes open, not really looking at anything. We are here, but not present. Our behavior is almost cow-like.

During this silence many different feelings and thoughts can arise, and we usually identify with them. We are like a fish caught with a hook and line that is simply pulling us along. But if mindfulness is present, we can see the hook and say to ourselves, “I don’t trust that.” We have the mindfulness to recognize the presence of experience, the presence of feeling and thought, and we can think, “Wait a minute. This compulsion to attach and identify with the content of my consciousness is just like the bait on the end of that hook; it’s trying to get me to bite, and once I bite I can be caught up in it for days, months, or even a lifetime.”

With mindfulness, even if we get caught, there’s no need to despair. When we recognize that we’re caught, it is much easier to remove ourselves from that experience than it is to remove a fish from a hook. A large part of the battle is already won because that recognition brings us closer to the present moment.

This reflection by Ajahn Yatiko is from the book, Beginning Our Day, Volume One, (pdf) pp. 193-194.