Now! : The Art of Being Truly Present

by Smith, Jean

• ISBN13: 9780861714803
• ISBN10: 0861714806
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1991-06-09
• Publisher: Wisdom Publications

Summary

Bringing the most important spiritual virtue to the forefront, the authorresents eighty-five meditations on the subject of living in the moment,evealing how embracing the present is an essential stage in any attempt toive a more balanced spiritual life. Original.

Author Biography

Jean Smith is the noted writer and editor of many successful books, including Everyday Mind and 365 Zen, and is coauthor of The Beginner's Guide to Insight Meditation. Personally and through her books, she has introduced thousands to the benefits of mindfulness and meditation. She currently divides her time between the Adirondack Mountains and Taos, New Mexico.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
Introduction	1	(7)
PRESENCE OF SPIRIT
Faith	8	(2)
Mindful Awareness	10	(2)
The Present Moment	12	(2)
Mindfulness Bells	14	(2)
Harmony	16	(2)
Spiritual Effort	18	(2)
Renunciation	20	(2)
Aging	22	(2)
Illness	24	(2)
Death	26	(2)
Prayer and Meditation	28	(2)
Meditation and Reflection	30	(2)
Breath	32	(2)
Karma	34	(2)
Cause and Effect	36	(2)
Hands	38	(4)
PRESENCE OF HEART
Emotions	42	(2)
Happiness	44	(2)
Grief	46	(2)
Suffering and Pain	48	(2)
Compassion and Pity	50	(2)
Guilt and Remorse	52	(2)
Sympathetic Joy	54	(2)
Aversion	56	(2)
Anger	58	(2)
Envy and Jealousy	60	(2)
Fear and Anxiety	62	(2)
Desire and Greed	64	(4)
PRESENCE OF MIND
Thoughts	68	(2)
Intentions	70	(2)
Expectations	72	(2)
Truth and Reality	74	(2)
Humility	76	(2)
Doubt	78	(2)
Ideas and Opinions	80	(2)
Restlessness	82	(2)
Concentration	84	(4)
PRESENCE OF CONDUCT
Motivation	88	(2)
Ethical Actions	90	(2)
Harmful Acts	92	(2)
Discipline	94	(2)
Speech	96	(2)
Exaggeration	98	(2)
Gossip	100	(2)
Indifference	102	(2)
Balance	104	(2)
Moderation	106	(2)
Integrity	108	(2)
Livelihood	110	(2)
Work	112	(2)
Laziness and Procrastination	114	(2)
Stealing	116	(2)
Misusing Intoxicants	118	(2)
Freedom	120	(4)
PRESENCE IN RELATIONSHIP
Friendship	124	(2)
Bearing Witness	126	(2)
Self	128	(2)
Praise and Blame	130	(2)
Comparisons	132	(2)
Listening	134	(2)
Kindness	136	(2)
Forgiveness	138	(2)
Love and Lust	140	(2)
Sexual Intimacy	142	(2)
Humor	144	(2)
Prejudice	146	(2)
Pets	148	(4)
PRESENCE IN THE WORLD
Perspective	152	(2)
Seeing	154	(2)
Ephemeral Beauty	156	(2)
Human Nature	158	(2)
Metamorphosis	160	(2)
Peace	162	(2)
Politics	164	(2)
Continuity	166	(2)
Eating	168	(2)
Teachers	170	(2)
Music	172	(2)
Art	174	(2)
Seasonal Changes	176	(2)
Fire	178	(2)
Diversity	180	(2)
The Air around Us	182	(2)
One World	184	(3)
Alphabetical List of Topics	187