LOSING SIGHT OF THE PRESENT MOMENT

Eihei Dogen, Dogen's Genjo Koan: Three Commentaries, Translations and Commentaries by Nishiari Bokusan, Shohaku Okamura, Shunryu Suzuki, Kosho Uchiyama, Sojun Mel Weitsman, Kazuaki Tanahashi, and Dairyu Michael Wenger (Berkeley: Counterpoint, 2011) (From Uchiyama Roshi's Teisho on Genjo Koan: "How can we determine if we are in the present moment? There is no fixed criterion to measure this because it is never hidden or revealed. At any moment, the present moment is the present moment without fail. Therefore, in our lives, the present moment is the present moment anytime and anywhere. However, if we say that the present moment has become the present moment, it is too much because it is already in the past. At that point, it is not the present moment anymore. If we say the present moment will become the present moment, it is not sufficient because it is still in the future. At that point, the present moment has not yet become the present moment. In whatever situation, the present moment is the present moment. And yet, it is possible to lose sight of the present moment. At that time the present moment is no longer the present moment for us." "It goes without saying that air is more important for the physical life of human beings than money or diamonds. However, actually there are many people who put more value on money or diamonds than air. Although we cannot be alive for a moment without air, we often lose sight of this truth. Even if we lose sight of it, we will not die from suffocation right away. But, if we continue to pollute the air for the sake of maintaining our luxurious lives as we do today, the time may come when we will suffocate. Therefore it is a problem for us to lose sight of the importance of air." "Thus we are always living in the present that has nothing to do with appearing and disappearing. The present moment is always the present moment. But if we do not value the present moment as the present moment and instead us it to fulfill our illusory thoughts, we will certainly suffocate. It is truly important to live without losing sight of the present moment as the present moment. That is why we have to endlessly deepen this genjo." Id. at 149, 152-153.).