The Sacred Moment

(conclusion)

In all of those spiritual literature I have read, there is one obvious thing commonly talked about, yet the most subtle truth many of us find unnoticed. It is called in different words, such as the Now, the Eternity, the Zone, the Flow, the Nondoing, the Present, the Kairos, the God's Time. All these terms point to the same experience. It is obvious, because it is happening right here, right now. Nevertheless, it still unnoticed; for we often forsake the truth of this truth: that all reality is only happening now, with its fullness, wholeness and holiness; the truth of the Sacred Moment. If the Sacred Moment is something that appears before us, what hinders us to see it?

There are actually two things that stop us: the past and the future.

We are always defined by our past. We have networks of memories, often associated with some unwanted experiences. Haunted by these lingering regrets, we want to correct every bad memory, if only we could invent a time machine to go back again. We hated those things that caused us to hate ourselves. Escape becomes a meaningful way to undo what we abhor. It comes in many forms: like putting layers of masks coming from our careers, the powers we wield over others, the economic status and its symbols, the comforts of social labels, and those emotional stronghold we use to manipulate other people in any situations. A new friend shared a fascinating metaphor that makes these "masks" more three-dimensional: she finds the experience like that of babushka dolls. Those smaller cylindrical dolls hidden inside the bigger ones represent our different unwanted lives often hidden and confused from the truth of one's being. This experience is not uncommon. We tend to hide our bitter selves with another life we struggle to live, and we do them repeatedly until we end up incapable of tracing back our true selves. 

We are also defined by the future. Many of us want to peek into our fortunes as if cheating our destinies. Once we get a glimpse, we live like everything would happen as they are fated to happen, without exercising our power to choose the course of our lives. We draft long-term plans, similar to constructing a house or going to war, strategizing events to prevent delays and ensure favorable conditions.  If not, worries become our nightmares. Strings are attached to us from the ticktocking hands of our clocks and watches. We have deadlines and due dates that horrify our days, and we are left with no choice but to dream of "sooners" and "laters", handing the possibilities of the things we most wanted to do to a tomorrow that never comes.

These two clearly cast the inner darkness. They keep us from noticing and enjoying what is happening at each moment. They both bring us the anxieties and discomforts and pains, things that we would rather vehemently reject than accept. They torment us with thoughts, emotions, and sensations, altogether manifesting like entangled knots we badly want to unravel. But, at the other side of the coin, they ignite the light of our awareness. But how?

Shortly before I discovered an insight, a particular memory had been wearing away my patience. I was quite worried on both my shortcomings I committed in the past, and those things that might embarrass me in the future. I felt distressed and I lost my concentration. I was trying to refocus my attention to the surrounding nature where I was. Still, the memory disturbed me. I was triggered to breathe again. I inhaled strongly, feeling the air in my nostrils. Then, I exhaled. As I did it constantly, I began to lose the feeling of internal pains. More than that, I was surprised to discover that the sound and chill of that morning became more intense. I felt enveloped with gentle tranquility. It was so remarkable that it lead me now to the insight of the Sacred Moment.

The Sacred Breath, in this Continuum, becomes the Sacred Moment. They are two, and yet they are one. In this flowing, non-ending, unfolding Continuum, our breath brings us to experience life in a more magnified way. This sacred transformation pushes our awareness to the flow of the Continuum. The Breath turns into the Moment, and the Moment cuts through the chaos within. Instead of rejecting any unbearable pain, we can tolerate them. It is always sacred to pay attention to our pains, since this process is always a birthing of wisdom. Our pains are usually results of our tendency to be attached to something we reject or crave for, which fail to satisfy us. Enhancing our awareness of the Moment teaches us to appreciate whatever blessings we have that we often take for granted. As an insight, the Moment awakens us to a very simple maxim: what we look for is always elusive; what we overlook is always at hand. 

Our reverence to the Moment does not only work out for internal pains. We are ever-creating beings, and each minute is a Sacred Moment of creation. Whenever we express ourselves in many artistic ways such as painting or playing musical instruments, or practical chores we do everyday,  we have often felt that time literally stops or slows down. Our senses are heightened, and we are fully concentrated on the process. The same thing happens when we commune with nature, connect intimately with our loved ones or friends, or engrossed with the works of our daily lives, we are all enthralled by the magic of the moment. And as William Blake puts it, infinity is really in the palm of our hands. When we experience our lives this way, every movement, word, or stroke expand our souls to the fringes of time and space. We are brought to our awareness of everything, of wholehearted gratitude to all. Every Sacred Moment is a deep prayer, wherein possibilities are endless, and Oneness is truth.

At the seemingly end of the Awareness Continuum, Sacred Moments bring us again to the Sacred Breath. Both of them are now intertwined, inseparable, and indistinguishable. They exist in distinct ways, in different instances, but with the same intensity and mystery. They consistently transpire to this never-ending flow, when we begin to recognize that both of them are transformations of the unconditioned and enlightened core of our souls: the obvious and unnoticeable, yet the ever-present experience of Love.