Lord Krishna's Teachings - How to Focus on the Present Moment

In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna teaches Arjuna many important life lessons, one of the most important of which is to focus on the present moment. This advice was not only important for Arjuna on the battlefield, but it is also highly relevant for every person in today's time. Living in the present moment can be a wonderful solution to break free from the complexities, worries and stresses of modern life.

The Principle of Karma Yoga

Lord Krishna said in the Gita, "Karmanyewadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadacana" (Bhagavad Gita 2.47), which means that you have authority only over action, not over results. This is the most basic teaching of focusing on the present moment. If we keep worrying about future results, our attention gets diverted and we are not able to be fully present in the present moment. Krishna teaches that we should focus on our duties and stop worrying about the result, which keeps our mind steady.

Letting go of attachment

Lord Krishna repeatedly tells us that we must be free from attachment. Often we get lost in future aspirations or past regrets, which makes us lose focus on the present. The Lord says, “Naasakti” (Letting go of attachment) means that we should not be attached to any object, person or result. When we let go of attachment, our focus naturally becomes on the present moment.

Mind control

Lord Krishna says in the Gita, “Uddharedatmanatmanam” (Gita 6.5), meaning one must control one’s own mind. The most important thing to live in the present moment is to control our mind. The mind has a natural tendency to wander, and if it is not controlled, it will wander into the past and the future. Through the process of yoga and meditation, the Lord teaches us how to keep our mind steady and anchor it in the present moment.

Concentrate on your Breathing

Bringing your attention to your breath is another technique to stay in the now. Lord Krishna stresses the value of meditation and yoga. Our minds shift from the past and future to the present when we pay attention to our breathing. We may still our minds and bring them back to the present moment by engaging in yoga and meditation.

Follow your own Dharma

Another important teaching of Lord Krishna is, “Svadharme nidhanam shreyah” (Gita 3.35), which means that we should follow our dharma, our duties. Our attention automatically shifts to the here and now when we give our all to our responsibilities and duties. We are no longer burdened by anxieties about the past or uncertainties about the future.

Distancing and Calmness

According to Lord Krishna, one should approach joy and sorrow, gain and loss, and success and failure from an equal standpoint. When we are free from these dualities, we can live in the present without any mental blocks. Lord Krishna says, “Samatvam yoga uchyate” (Gita 2.48), meaning equanimity is called yoga. When we maintain equanimity in any situation, we are fully present in the present moment.

Practice of knowledge and Meditation

Lord Krishna explains that the practice of knowledge and meditation is the most effective way to live in the present moment. Meditation connects us with our inner consciousness and frees us from distractions. Also, self-knowledge teaches us what is the true purpose of our life. When we understand this knowledge, our mind is focused on the present, away from the past and future.

Lord Krishna’s advice teaches us that living in the present moment is the greatest happiness and peace in life. When we focus on the present, not only does our life become more meaningful, but we also achieve mental peace and balance. We should practice karmayoga, meditation, and swadharma to be free from regrets of the past and anxieties of the future so that we can fully appreciate the present moment. This is how Lord Krishna teaches us to have a healthy, contented, and prosperous life.