What does it mean to "stay" and become "present"?

The meaning of the phrase to “stay” and become “present” more or less means to “stay present.” The present is the only place that is real. And often the present is calling for your attention.

Yesterday I was running late for the faculty meeting at the high school where I teach. And I passed a line of students waiting at the Finance Office. I paused to chat with a few student in line -- when I realized the line was not moving.

At the front of the line was another one of my student, Isaac, and he was clearly upset. He stood drop-jawed staring at a piece that said he would not graduate until he paid $130. He was speechless staring at the truth, completed deflated.

I steered him out of the line and towards my classroom, so we could collect ourselves and solve the problem. He’s dad’s been out of work. The only money he could come up with -- he sat gripping in his hand-- two twenties, and it wasn’t enough.

This wasn’t our first conversation about his dad, or money, or graduation -- and after a few lines of explanation left his lips-- this eighteen year old man, cried. And I let him, for a minute. Then we made a plan: He would gather up the as much of the money as he could -- then he could work for me to pay off the rest. We would fix this. And I gave him chocolate. He smiled. He’d be okay.

I was really late to the staff meeting. But if I hadn’t stayed present I might have missed a more significant meeting.

Isaac returned today with $100 dollars and agreed to help me move out of the classroom next week. In truth, I needed the help as much as he did. Staying present allows us to clearly see what is right here in front of us today: be it a problem or opportunity. And respond with what is real to what is “real.”

Chodron, Pema. Taking the Leap: Freeing Ourselves from Old Habits and Fears. Boulder: Shambhala, 2010.