Hello everybody,
Have you ever paused to wonder how the present moment unfolds? Like a quiet stream flowing effortlessly, the "now" arises—ever-present yet often unnoticed. In Sonomama (as-it-is-ness) practice, we explore this profound mystery by being fully present with the way it is now.
The way it is now is shaped by your six faculties (六根-rokkon). You see with your eyes, hear with your ears, smell with your nose, taste with your tongue, sense with your skin, and think with your mind. This experience is uniquely yours—no one else’s. Whether you find it pleasant or challenging, the way it is now is entirely your own.
Even without intention, you see. Without effort, you hear. Without trying, you smell. Without control, you taste, sense, and think. The way it is now arises naturally, moment by moment, through these six functions. They are fundamental to being human and essential to our life.
What’s remarkable is that we cannot fully comprehend where the "now" comes from or where it disappears. It simply arises—whole, complete, and perfect in its presence. Nothing needs to be added. Nothing needs to be removed.
No matter the situation, before we know it, the state of "now" spreads out before us. It’s truly mysterious, isn’t it? Even without consciously trying to create anything, the "now" simply appears naturally before our eyes. When we notice its perfection and naturalness, a profound sense of peace and calm often arises, as though this very moment is quietly supporting us.
Yet, as we move through life, this natural simplicity shifts. From the moment we are born, we start labeling and categorizing the world around us. This process helps us make sense of our surroundings, but it also creates a sense of separation—a division between "self" and "other," "subject" and "object." Ironically, the more we label and categorize in an effort to understand, the more we distort the purity of reality. This distortion often leads to confusion and disconnection.
Pure reality exists before words, interpretations, and judgments—before the translations and labels that filter our perception. It is the unfiltered truth of each moment, untouched by thought.
Yet, we often mistake the labeled and categorized version of reality for the ultimate truth, unaware of the pure reality beneath. This distortion is the root of much suffering. In contrast, pure reality is always simple, fresh, and unbound by suffering.
Sonomama practice—the art of being—encourages us to notice these distortions and recognize the mechanisms shaping our perception. By embracing this process, we open the door to a deeper understanding of reality.
Through this clarity, we reconnect with the simplicity and freedom of the way it is now—untainted, alive, and whole in each moment.
Thank you for exploring this with me. Please take a moment today to pause and notice the way it is now. What do you see, hear, or feel? May this practice of being present guide us all toward greater clarity and connection with life as it truly is.
Winter wetland is magical. Words and photo is by K E I K O
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