Live for the Present

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai
Boulder, CO, U.S.A., May 14, 1991
(Originally in English)

Q: I hear from a lot of different sources about the end of the world at the end of the century, in terms of ending an era.

M: Aquarian age and Golden age?

Q: Yes, impending changes and physical changes. Is there anything that relates to this practice?

M: Yes. It also happens because you've changed. It happened to you individually: you've changed; you got initiation, you are vegetarian, you feel better now, you are wiser. In that case, it's true. The whole of humankind gets uplifted and turns themselves toward goodness and God. So in that sense, this clairvoyant prediction is true.

Q: A lot of people have made prophecies about the year 2000 - significant changes, but not necessarily for the good, more likely the opposite. Because 2000 years ago we had Buddha, Christ, and so on, so the 2000 mark seems to bear some significance throughout history.

M: So you want me to become another prophet and make another prophecy, right? My prophecy is: let's wait and see. The surest way is to live until the year 2000 and then we'll see what happens. It's more fun. You see, if you're reading a detective book and someone tells you the end, is that fun? I don't like to spoil the fun. What will happen will happen anyhow whether you say it or not. Where can you run to? How can you run out of God's hand? Let Hirm play what Hes wants. We'll watch.

We have no fear of anything. We play the game. Let's have that attitude. It's better than knowing what will happen in the future. Let's have the attitude of: "Whatever will happen in the future, I'll face it. That is braver, more courageous and more fit for your dignity, than just to want to know things about the future and feel fearful or resentful, or anticipate some kind of boredom, or disappointment, relief, and things like that. It's no good. It affects our natural growth, and affects our surprise.

I don't like to know anything about the future. If I have that gift, please ask God to take it away from me. I like to enjoy surprises. Don't you? Can you imagine being born and knowing everything about your life? Better to be dead, no? Would you like that? Born with a clear book about every detail of your life until you die: how many hairs will be grayed, how many teeth will be lost, how many lovers you will have and how they will treat you. You enjoy all the pleasure and pain beforehand. Would you like that? And when you eat, when you taste it again, it's like secondhand stuff, like already digested food. No fun! I wouldn't like it. The real wisdom is not to know the future. It's just to know the present. Enjoy everything at the present, and don't worry about the past and the future.

The wisest person is like that. The wisest person knows nothing, and doesn't want anything; has no desires and no fears, because he has no ego. Who is that person who wants to know things and what for? What is the good of knowing things? What is the good of having anything and knowing anything? He must have a big ego to want to know all these things.