This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
front of you, then racing to catch it, and then if you do catch able. It is offering itself to you now, now, and now again, wher-
it, immediately throwing it out in front of you again—while ever you are. But you aren’t aware of it because, well, you’re
also complaining that you never ever have a ball. too busy doing other things, like trying to become peaceful (or
On a deeper level, if our sense of contentment is de- reading this book).
pendent on circumstances, then it is So think of my approach as just go-
vulnerable to a change of circumstances. ing straight to the point. If being peace-
If we are only content because life is ful is possible now, and is only possible
going well, we will not be content when now, then you might as well get right to
life is going badly. That’s just not a very it. But please know that I don’t intend this
stable or deep kind of contentment. approach to replace any other form of
True contentment transcends the “ups meditation or prayer, any path of self-
and downs” of life. It embraces life as it discovery, or any of the excellent self-help
is now, with all of its imperfections. In or leadership books available today. It’s just
other words, the only way to be really peaceful is to be fully that whatever path you choose, whatever help you seek, if you
content with what’s happening now—even if, sometimes, it don’t learn to master the moment, then your chance of success
isn’t peaceful. is limited. But if you do learn to master the moment, well, then
In the wonderfully succinct words of the spiritual teacher there’s nothing stopping you.
Krishnamurti, “It’s now or never.” This doesn’t mean that if you “One Moment Meditation: Stillness for People on the
aren’t feeling peaceful now, you will never feel peaceful. It Go” by Martin Boroson is available at Amazon.com and
just means that contentment is only possible when you are not bookstores nationwide.
throwing that ball into the future. It is only possible in the pres-
ent tense (or rather, the present not-tensed). When you are truly Martin Boroson is an original and imaginative teacher
present in the present, your mind is not concerned with wanting of meditation and spirituality. With a background that in-
things to be different than they are—and that is contentment. cludes management, psychology, and Zen practice, he distills
Since contentment can only be found now, in the present knowledge from many wisdom traditions into simple power-
moment, this also means that it doesn’t take any time at all. It ful techniques for transformation. As an author, speaker, and
doesn’t happen over time: it happens in a moment. So you don’t consultant, he presents a modern, multicultural understanding
have to go on a retreat or quit your job or find “twenty minutes, of spirituality that is playful, profound, and always practical.
twice a day” in order to become peaceful. Peace is always avail- www.martinboroson.info
May 2009 47
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72
Produced with Yudu - www.yudu.com