Clarity in motion requires presence here and now. Clarity in one spot is merely an illusion of progress until we realize how little we’ve gained.

Chogyam Trungpa explains the Three Poisons as passion (wanting to magnetize or possess), aggression (wanting to reject or attack), and indifference (can’t be bothered). As I read about these poisons, I first thought that I have a major problem with indifference; my path seems to bring me to a very laissez-faire attitude toward life.

In a sense, this is quite true. Sometimes, I don’t get very animated when it comes to deciding where my life will go. I get satisfied with what I’m doing now.

There’s a fine point hidden in the teachings that I’m currently reading. I can’t go on believing that being present is all about being happy with whatever is in my life now. After all, I recently told a friend that “being happy with what you have now doesn’t mean giving up goals for the future.”

Why? Because the Buddhist still has desires, but is not attached to their fruition in a way that causes them undue suffering when results are not achieved. Clear seeing comes from being able to handle each setback without obscuring habitual responses and overwhelming emotional cycles. The Buddhist sees the path to his goal and takes the steps necessary to reach that goal.

If a setback occurs, she does not stop and cry “I’ll never make it there, I’m thwarted at every turn.” She views the problem dispassionately and makes adjustments – in essence, reflecting necessity – and still moving toward attainment. On the other hand, the Buddhist who gives up his goals in the interest of staying present takes the easy, indifferent way; how much easier is it to reflect if one is like still water?

But why does a person remain still? I think one hides in the present, without goals, because he or she is not really in the present, but trapped now in the clutch of the illusion that the past foretells the future. We take what we have learned before and grow so afraid because we’re so sure that the future will bring the same results the past will bring. This is why we carry the baggage from one relationship to another: she will hurt me because my ex hurt me, he will hit me because my father-in-law hit me. We learn so easily to trust our anguish but never so easy do we trust our successes.

Clarity in motion requires presence here and now. Clarity in one spot is merely an illusion of progress until we realize how little we’ve gained.