SONG — “It’s always Now”
For years she imagined awakening as an event.
Something ahead of her.
Something she would reach.
A future moment where everything would finally line up.
She pictured it arriving like a milestone —
Then I’ll be awake.
Then I’ll know.
Then I’ll be done.
One afternoon, sitting quietly, that thought appeared again:
I’m not there yet.
And immediately after it — something subtler:
There is no “yet” here.
She looked around.
The room wasn’t waiting.
Her breath wasn’t preparing.
The sound outside wasn’t approaching anything.
Everything was already happening.
She realised then that awakening couldn’t possibly arrive later — because later never shows up.
The past only appeared as memory — now.
The future only appeared as imagination — now.
Even the idea of “waking up someday” was happening — now.
If awakening were real, it wouldn’t be a future achievement.
It would have to be recognised in the only place anything ever appears.
Now.
She laughed softly.
Not because she’d arrived —
but because she saw she’d been postponing something that could never be postponed.
Awakening hadn’t been delayed.
It had been continuously overlooked —
by looking for it somewhere other than where she already was.
INVESTIGATION — “When Could Awakening Happen?”
This investigation isn’t theoretical.
It’s very practical.
1. Look for “later”
Right now, ask:
Where is the future?
Don’t answer conceptually.
Look.
You’ll find thoughts about later — appearing now.
Images of later — appearing now.
But never later itself.
2. Examine the idea of awakening
Ask:
When do I expect awakening to happen?
Notice how the answer always references:
improvement
readiness
resolution
a coming shift
All of that appears as thought — now.
3. Notice what’s actually present
Before the next thought arrives, check:
seeing
hearing
breathing
sensation
Ask:
Is anything missing from this moment?
Not philosophically — experientially.
4. See the trap
Seeking says:
“This isn’t it — something else must happen.”
But notice:
That statement itself appears now.
Seeking doesn’t delay awakening.
It keeps attention pointed away from the only place awakening could be noticed.
5. The simple recognition
If awakening is real, it cannot be:
remembered
anticipated
stored
achieved later
It can only ever be recognised now.
Not as fireworks.
Not as permanence.
Just as what’s already happening —
without waiting for something else.