Steve, Practicing the presence is easy to say, harder to do. I find I tend to forget about this practice while overwhelmed by daily worldly duties.
Do you have a specific strategy to take the mind back to practicing?
I find that we may have karma involved with people who get money from various charities or government sources, that have given us a sustainable income as well at times. Therefore we find ourselves in the ‘service’ of those given to our care and upliftment. Yet at times we recognize that they also provide service to us in perhaps unconventional ways. Yet still there are moments of enlightened understanding of why we have certain acquaintances, friends and yes at times biological family members. These people may have mental challenges that we are meant to learn wisdom about.
In our various activities if we practice the presence as much as possible, our lives often unfold in moments of recognition of purpose and a little light goes on in our head, at those times in gratitude.
Someone may ask what are those activities? For instance I may go jogging or swimming and practice a mantra to every inhalation and exhalation of my breath during such active exercises. And find myself at times flooded with inspiration. I must admit this is after years of practice. For many years I just snatched at the inspiration of others and read uplifting books. Although I did seek out such people and still do. I have seen many people at such events with mentally challenged and physically challenged friends and family.
