The mind often loses its peace because it is either brooding about the past or is anxious about the future. But the past has finished – it is not going to come back under any circumstances. We can use the past to learn from any mistakes we may have made, but other than that we can let go.
The future also hasn’t happened yet – there is no evidence of it until it comes to the present. We can, and we often must plan for the future, but we don’t have to be anxious unnecessarily. The present moment is, in fact, the only moment that exists. Meditation is that training where we keep the mind in the present moment.
As Meditation Master Shiva Rudra Balayogi (Babaji) says, ‘When you do not brood about the past or become anxious about the future, you are ready to face the moment – that is the power of now. Then you able to focus a hundred percent of your concentration in the present. You can shape a better future by putting perfect effort in the present. The meditation practice helps you neutralise your mind into the present.’