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Constantly Planning for the Future

We spend a lot of time ruminating about the future. We may plan things for hours. "I'll first do this errand, then that, finally the third. Or would it be quicker to do them in the reverse order? Or maybe I should do them on different days?" Back and forth our mind swings trying to decide what to do. "I'll go to this college, do graduate work at that one, and then send out my resumé to land the job I've always wanted." Or, for Dharma practitioners, while doing one retreat, we daydream about all the other practice opportunities that lie before us. "This teacher is leading a retreat in the mountains. I can go there and learn this profound practice. Then, I'll go to this other retreat center and do a long retreat. When that is done, I'll be ready for a private hermitage." No practice gets done now because we're too busy planning all the wonderful teachings we're going to receive and retreats we're going to do in the future.

Unrealistic Expectations for the Future

Envisioning the future, we create idealistic dreams. "The Right Man/ Woman will appear. He/she will understand me perfectly and then I'll feel whole." "This job will fulfill me completely. I'll quickly succeed and be nationally recognized as excellent in my field." "I'll realize bodhichitta and emptiness and then become a great Dharma teacher with so many disciples who adore me." As a result, our attachment runs wild, and we develop unrealistic expectations that leave us disappointed with what is. In addition, we don't create the causes to do the things we imagine because we're stuck in our head just imagining them.

Worrying About the Future

Our future ruminations may also spin around with worry. "What if my parents get sick?" "What if I lose my job?" "What if my child has problems?" In school, we may not have been very good at creative writing, but in our heads we dream up fantastic dramas and horror stories. This leads to an elevated stress level as we anxiously anticipate tragedies that usually do not occur.

Our worries may zoom around the state of world. "What happens if the economy plummets? If the ozone layer keeps increasing? If terrorists take over the country? If we lose our civil liberties fighting terrorism?" Here, too, our creative writing ability leads to fantastic scenarios that may or may not happen, but regardless, we manage to work ourselves into a state of unprecedented despair. This, in turn, often leads to raging anger at the powers that be or alternatively, to apathy, simply thinking that since everything is rotten, there's no use doing anything. In either case, we're so gloomy that we neglect to act constructively in ways that remedy difficulties and create goodness.

The Present: Life Happens Here and Now

The only time we ever have to live is now. The only time that spiritual practice is done is now. If we're going to cultivate love and compassion, it has to be in the present moment, because we don't live in any other moment. So, even though the present is constantly changing, it's all we have. Life happens now. Our past glories are simply that. Our past hurts are not happening now. Our future dreams are simply future dreams. The future tragedies we concoct do not exist at this time.

This article was excerpted with permission from the book:

Taming the Mind
by Thubten Chodron.

Reprinted with permission of the publisher, Snow Lion Publications. ©2004. www.snowlionpub.com.

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About the Author

Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron, an American-born Tibetan Buddhist nun, has studied and practiced Buddhism in India and Nepal since 1975. Ven. Chodron travels worldwide teaching and leading meditation retreats and is known for her clear and practical explanations of the Buddha's teachings. She is the author of Buddhism for Beginners, Working with Anger, and Open Heart, Clear Mind. Visit her website at www.thubtenchodron.org.

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