"Eating all day, yet never chewing a single grain of rice." — Our body is in the present, but our mind wanders through past and future.

Ask yourself: Is this your daily reality? Scrolling through your phone while eating, thinking about work while walking, worrying about tomorrow while showering? Though physically present, our minds drift away—lost in regrets or anxieties.

Most of the time, we live like zombies or pre-programmed robots, mechanically repeating actions without awareness: walking, eating, bathing—each motion hollow and unconscious.  

When we forget to ‘live in the present’ and neglect life’s small details, our passion fades. We grow numb to the world around us.  

 

"When eating, just eat; when walking, just walk."

This mantra, often shared by mindfulness practitioners, urges us to anchor our attention wholly in the current act—free from distractions, worries, or attachments.  

Simple in theory, yet challenging in practice.  

Try these daily exercises to return to the now:  

1. While eating: Feel the chopsticks/spoon against your fingertips. Savor each bite with gratitude—notice the flavor, temperature, and texture.  

2. While walking: Sense your muscles moving. Feel the ground meeting your feet.  

3. While showering: Let water flow over you. Feel its touch; imagine worries washing away like dust.  

4. Before sleep: Lie down and feel Earth supporting you—scan from head to toes, acknowledging each body part.  

5. In nature: Listen to rustling leaves. Breathe in blooms. Thank your senses for these gifts.  

 

From this moment, may we no longer "eat all day without chewing a single grain of rice." Only when you focus fully—embracing the present with heart and mind—can you truly live in "this moment".