It’s our present actions that will determine whether we’re going to suffer in the present or not. So we want to look into the present moment to see exactly what we’re doing.

"We focus our attention on the present moment because of the way the Buddha taught karma. He said that our actions influence the future, and they also influence the present moment. In fact, it’s our present actions that will determine whether we’re going to suffer in the present or not. So we want to look into the present moment to see exactly what we’re doing."

~ Thanissaro Bhikkhu "Mindfulness Gets Intimate"

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