Guy Finley Quotes

Wherever you are - be all there.

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.

Meditation is a state of mind which looks at everything with complete attention, totally, not just parts of it. And no one can teach you how to be attentive. If any system teaches you how to be attentive, then you are attentive to the system, and that is not attention.

A lot of exercise is mindless; you can have music or the radio on and not be aware. But if you're aware in anything you do - and it doesn't have to be yoga - it changes you. Being present changes you.

Harnessing the power of the present means having your full awareness on the task at hand and having access to the possibilities, the opportunities, and the support that exists right now.

Only when your consciousness is totally focused on the moment you are in can you receive whatever gift, lesson, or delight that moment has to offer.

My life is going at the speed of light, so it's a lot of just trying... to be present in each moment... Giving each situation and each part of life that space and making sure that it's sacred in every aspect.

Give whatever you are doing and whoever you are with the gift of your attention.

I like to be present; I like to be in the now. The way life has shaped up, it is difficult, you know, with mobile phones taking you to another time and space all the time. So it's always a battle to stay in the moment. But according to me, it's a better way to be.

Usually, when I give talks, I'm 100% there, 100% present.

A Zen student asked his roshi the most important element of Zen.The roshi replied, "Attention." "Yes, thank you," the student replied. "But can you tell me the second most important element?"And the roshi replied, "Attention."

The best gift we can have is living in the present moment and really enjoying it for what it is; and, not being in our heads and getting sidetracked.

What I have learned over the years is to try to stay in the moment.

We always project into the future or reflect in the past, but we are so little in the present.

When you wash your hands, when you make a cup of coffee, when you're waiting for the elevator - instead of indulging in thinking, these are all opportunities for being there as a still, alert presence.

The simple act of paying attention can take you a long way.

When there are thoughts, it is distraction: when there are no thoughts, it is meditation.

Only one thing has to change for us to know happiness in our lives: where we focus our attention.

Mindfulness is often spoken of as the heart of Buddhist meditation. It's not about Buddhism, but about paying attention. That's what all meditation is, no matter what tradition or particular technique is used.

Be intent upon the perfection of the present day.

As long as you're fully present in what you're doing at the moment, you're doing it.

I've known for years that you're supposed to be present. I know that thinking about what's happened or thinking about what I want is not going to get me anywhere, but until I quit doing it I'm not present.

When you are present, the world is truly alive.

One of the things I like about performing on the stage is that it is a kind of meditative experience. Time does stand still. You have no concept or feeling of the passing of two or three hours' time. It's all kind of one present moment, which is a kind of a description of meditation.

A great hallmark of mental wellness is the ability to be in the present moment, fully and with no thoughts of being elsewhere.