Buddhism was founded more than 2,500 years ago, when nature played a significant role in the then agricultural society. We have since progressed to a vastly different age today, where high technologies and computer networks are common place. However, people in both eras face a common issue, which has always been there but cannot be resolved – the issue of death.

From the viewpoint of a Buddhist, one can choose to face death either based on faith or wisdom. There is no contradiction between the two, which serve the same purpose, except the approaches are different. The teachings of Chan Dharma (Zen Dharma) help us cultivate the ability to face death by the wisdom approach directly.

The contents of “Present Moment” are formulated based on two major dharma practices of the wisdom approach: the Four Foundations of Mindfulness practice which is still widespread among Buddhist countries along the Southern route of propagation, and Hui-neng’s Chan practice which was once most prevalent in Buddhism spread through the northern route (China). I have been fortunate to reside in a country where there is religious freedom, and the teachings of various schools of Buddhism are allowed to flourish. Thus, when I travelled to the countries of origin to study teachings of the various schools, I was able to be selective in my learning, which is key to the completion of this work.

In today’s world where education is widespread, we are fortunate to be able to learn from the availability of the myriad amount of information and the exchanges among the various schools of thoughts. In the study of Buddhism, we need a systematic method congruent with the modern way of learning. As a small contribution to the spreading of the Dharma, my writing of the “Present Moment” serves to meet this purpose. In addition, the “Schematic Diagram of the Present” in the book is kept as simple and concise as possible, as a convenient tool for the propagation of the Dharma.

In conclusion, it is my wish that “Present Moment” can be a catalyst of some sort to induce more works in this area for the benefits of all Buddhism learners.

Long live the Dharma.

Shi Fa Liang
Sagaramudra Buddhist Society
18 November 2012