Being and Becoming

"Imagine toggling between two distinct realities in your everyday life, often without realizing it. We constantly shift between "being" – the pure present moment – and "becoming" – the mind's endless quest for a future state. This constant transition largely goes unnoticed, even as we seek practices like meditation or prayer to find peace, love, and joy.

To truly discover lasting peace, we must understand both the power and limitations of these two fundamental modes of living. One immerses us in the direct experience of the real world. The other pulls us into the thought-driven realm of "Wonderland" – a place as thrilling and engrossing as it is subtly perilous.

Let's start with "being": the state of being fully present, free from thoughts or expectations. Being is the raw, unfiltered, constantly changing experience of the present moment, without judgment or interpretation. It simply is. To genuinely be, we must engage all our senses, committing our complete attention to the now. This is what it means to be truly 'awake.'

The challenge with "being" often lies in the mind's judgment. Painful experiences can trigger mental resistance, creating suffering, even though resisting the present is impossible. The mind might also perceive the present as boring or lacking excitement, prompting an escape into fantasy, like chasing the White Rabbit down a rabbit hole into Wonderland. This escape often manifests as a desire for a future state, leading us into "becoming."

"Becoming" is the mind's native territory. Limited to concepts and memories, the mind operates in the imagined realms of the past and future. Nothing here is truly real; it's all thought, not experience. Yet, the mind isn't useless. It's a vital tool for processing past lessons, storing knowledge, and strategizing for future actions. The critical awareness is simply that these mental constructs are not reality.

So, we return to the starting point: the constant dance between present awareness and mental activity. The crucial difference now is our conscious choice. We can deliberately center ourselves, understanding that the only true constant amidst a changing world and body is found in the continuous engagement with the present experience."