The “now” moment is often celebrated as a state of pure being, detached from the burdens of the past and the uncertainties of the future. But in truth, the “now” is not an isolated fragment of time—it is profoundly tethered to both the past and the future. To exist in the present is to stand at the crossroads of memory and anticipation.
The past, present, and future are not distinct islands; they are a flowing continuum where events, experiences, karmas, and imaginations merge and reshape one another. The present moment draws its substance and meaning from the footprints of the past and the possibilities of the future. Managing the future is, in fact, a process of filtering and distilling lessons from the archives of the past within the fleeting window of the present.
The idea that the “now” exists independently is an illusion. Even the experience of happiness in the present—saying “I am very happy and enjoying myself”—rests on comparisons with past joys or the anticipation of future pleasures. Without the past and future reference points, the present would be an empty shell devoid of context or value.
Understanding the “power of now” does not mean detaching from the past or ignoring the future; it means recognizing that the present is a composite of reflections and projections. The “now” derives its depth and significance by connecting to other moments. It is the echo of where we’ve been and the whisper of where we might go.
Promod Puri.com 