We often speak of “living in the present moment.” But what is the present moment? Is it the reality in front of us—or our reaction to it?
At first glance, it may seem like they are the same. But they are not.
Reality Is What Is
Reality is the ever-changing present. It’s what appears now—before interpretation, before judgment, before thought.
A sound.
A breath.
A flash of light.
A sudden emotion.
All of these arise in the now. Reality is the unfiltered experience of this moment.
Reaction Is What We Bring to It
Reaction is the movement of mind and heart in response to reality. It comes after the moment has arrived. It is often shaped by memory, fear, desire, habit, or resistance.
We might see someone frown. That is reality.
We feel rejected, offended, or concerned. That is our reaction.
The gap may be tiny—but it’s there.
Are We Always Reacting to the Past?
In most cases, yes.
By the time the mind reacts, the moment that triggered it has already passed. We are reacting not to the living presence of now, but to a memory of now—a fragment held and filtered through our own conditioning.
This is why our reactions often feel repetitive. We are not experiencing what is—we are reliving what was.
Can We Experience and React at the Same Time?
We can observe both—but not in the same way.
To experience reality directly requires presence. Stillness. Openness.
To react is to overlay that experience with commentary, emotion, and preference.
But when awareness is present, something beautiful happens:
You see the reaction as it arises.
You feel the pull without following it.
You remain in touch with what is, even as old patterns stir.
This is not suppression—it is witnessing.
And in witnessing, reaction begins to dissolve.
Living in Reality
To live in reality is not to stop thought or emotion.
It is to recognize them for what they are: movements within the present—not the present itself.
Each reaction offers a choice:
Cling to the past—or return to now.
Identify with the voice—or rest in the witness.
Resist what is—or let it pass through.
In the end, Reality is always here.
The question is: Are we?