The Now

Trying not to live in the past. Trying not to live in the future.

Trying to live in the now.

This is a Buddhist axiom, though I am not Buddhist.

While Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, by Robert M. Pirsig, was a 1974 bestseller, it in fact has little to do with Zen as a religious practice or motorcycle maintenance. Rather it deals with the notion of the metaphysics of "quality" from the point of view of the main character. Pirsig was attending the Minnesota Zen Center at the time of writing the book. He has stated that, despite its title, the book "should in no way be associated with that great body of factual information relating to orthodox Zen Buddhist practice". Though it may not deal with orthodox Zen Buddhist practice, Pirsig's book in fact deals with many of the more subtle facets of Zen living and Zen mentality without drawing attention to any religion or religious organization.

--- Wikipedia article on "Zen"

Living in the past makes you sad, for the loss of things gone by which can never return. Living in the future makes you worry, for things which may or may not ever come to be.

Living in the now makes you fully present, not filled with regret about the past, or fear for the future.

I don't think this is religion, I think this is common sense.



I'm taking the old motorcycles out of my email sig.

It used to read:

• 2009 Harley FXD (Black) "Kingston" - Hers
• 1994 Honda VF750C (Red) "Jezebel" - Mine
• 1982 Honda GL1100I "Black Betty" - Mine (sold)
• 1984 Honda VF500C (Black) "Katie" - Hers (sold)
• 1984 Honda VF500C (Black) "Raven" - Mine (departed)

There are lots of memories tied up in this, but I feel these clutter my mind.

Then new sig is focused only on the now:

• 2009 Harley FXD (Black) "Kingston" - Hers
• 1994 Honda VF750C (Red) "Jezebel" - Mine

It's a small step. That's how a journey of a thousand miles begins.