Moment

I remembered today something Thich Nhat Hanh said when I went to hear him speak in London years ago. Surrounded by monks from Plum Village, one of whom opened a flask and poured water for TNH with such clarity, gentleness and economy of movement I remember it still, he sat quietly, a slender figure not taking up much space yet utterly commanding of attention. And he said at one point that this, now, sitting here talking to us was the most important moment of his life. And what he was saying really was that each and every moment is that, none more important than another if one is truly present. And I loved that. I was thinking of it because I was looking beyond my two sessions with clients this afternoon and beyond my morning with the students tomorrow, to my weekend and time to myself, and then wondering about how that looking ahead impacted on my ability to be present in those settings with those people. Remembering too how guilty I used to feel before a session with a client if I noticed myself looking forward to it being over. I loved what TNH said because it made the moment so vivid, made me feel so attended to, so cared about, but also because I wanted to bring that kind of presence and attention to my own life.

Present moment, wonderful moment, as he used often to say in guided meditation...