Dear, Tulku Lobsang,

Why do I keep thinking about the past?
I am a single mom of a beautiful son, my question is: How do u get over it???
Take care. Love,

Sabrina.

Response from Tulku Lobsang:

Life is just the simple present moment. And in this present moment, you don't need to think so much because you can just see everything. And if there is a problem in this present moment, maybe you can change it or maybe it is not possible to change. Somehow it is simple. But the past is something that is gone. You will not see it again; it is something that is gone; it is no longer there. We think so much about the past because the past is what causes us most of our problems. Why? Because the past is something you can no longer change. It is impossible to change because it is gone. It is just memories. The reality of the past is gone. It is only pictures. These pictures appear in the present moment, but it isn't the present moment that causes problems, but the picture of the past and thinking so much about the past that causes problems. Why do we keep the past with us? The past is gone and only the picture remains. So there is nothing left to change. It is out of our control. It is like grabbing at the empty sky. There is only a picture, nothing solid. Maybe you can change this picture, but there is nothing more than this. Conclusion: The past causes us a lot of problems because it is not really there, but you act like it is there. Better not to grasp at it. Focus on the present moment instead.

~Tulku Lobsang

Answered on July 24th, 2011
New York City, NY, USA