The Present is the Only Thing That Has No End

Summary

The web content presents a poem and reflection inspired by Alan Watts' "The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are," emphasizing the boundless and continuous nature of the present moment.

Abstract

The webpage features a poetic meditation on the theme of the present moment as an eternal and unending experience, as explored in Alan Watts' philosophical work. The poem, titled "The Present is the Only Thing That Has No End," uses vivid imagery to convey the idea that the present is a harmonious, self-contained continuum without a past or future. The author, Jonathan Greene, shares the creative process behind the poem, which involves being moved by a passage and writing without revisiting the source, allowing the initial emotional response to guide the words. The poem is accompanied by a photograph and a direct quote from Watts' book, reinforcing the central theme. Additionally, the page includes a link to another poem by the same author, also inspired by Watts, and an affiliate link to purchase "The Book," supporting local bookstores.

Opinions

The author believes in the profound impact of the present moment, viewing it as an endless and dynamic state.
Jonathan Greene values the emotional and inspirational power of literature, particularly passages that resonate deeply and spontaneously inspire creativity.
The poem suggests a perspective that the past and future are irrelevant compared to the perpetual now, which is a concept that the author finds compelling and worth exploring in his work.
The inclusion of an affiliate link to purchase "The Book" indicates the author's support for local bookstores and the physical reading experience.
By encouraging readers to explore another related poem, the author expresses a desire to share a broader body of work influenced by the same philosophical themes.

A Poem

This boundless rhythm trapped inside itself continues in harmonic reverie drinking up the present in one gulp

No end in sight no past to care for a future unreachable because it is only this singular moment

Now and then now in perpetuity a tumbling vision that stands still and moves forward at the same time

The present is the only thing that has no end

This poem was inspired by a passage in the book, The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are by Alan Watts. I find myself highlighting words or passages that move me every time I read, no matter what I am reading. When I find the highlight that projects to a poem, I don’t read the source again before I write, I just allow the nerve to be touched. And then I spill my words.

A snippet from page 108 of The Book, where I got my inspiration:

“And not merely ‘some day’: now, today, every day she is bringing you forth, not once but thousands upon thousands of times, just as every day she engulfs you a thousand times over. For eternally and always there is only now, one and the same now; the present is the only thing that has no end.”

If you liked this, you might like this as well (inspired by the same book):

*The link for the novel is an affiliate link to Bookshop. Supporting local bookstores.

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