NOW-HERE
"The only aspect of time that is eternal is Now" --- A Course in Miracles
For years and years and years I have been interested in spiritual ideas and concepts. There are as many different paths to take as there are people to take them. What I've always looked for are the points that they all agree on and there are just a few.
First - the idea of "knowing thyself"
They all have different names for the "self"; some even say there's no (individual) self. But basically you have to discover what you are/what you are not.
Second - they all agree that "Love is the answer"
Love is the cause of life, the reason for life or indeed "Love is life itself". Love is healing, redeeming, creative, etc. Love is what we are, why we are, "the art of giving", compassion forgiveness, God is Love, only Love is real
Third - that we are all one, that there is no separation/division in existence.
Anything that appears to be separate in anyway is an illusion, a trick of the mind.
Basically all of the above are the same, the are all just a matter of distinguishing what is Real from what is False. What is, from what is not. This is done by surrendering / letting go / accepting / forgiving / dying (not necessarily physically!) etc.
The thing to remember is that you CANNOT lose or get away from what is Real. That will always be, eternally, and you are in it, you are it!
Fourth - "to live this moment, only this moment, no past no future, just be-here-now".
All Religious/Spiritual/New Age teachings agree on is.
Jesus once described what it was like in "The Kingdom of God". He said, "There would "be time no more."
Buddhists say the same about Nirvana. They say it's a state of timelessness.
Jesus and Buddha may seem very different but they agree that the ultimate is nowhere, or rather Now-Here.
"If Past to Future is on a horizontal line, the present moment is not in time - it is a vertical movement - transcending time."
--- Osho
Apparently one of the meanings of Jesus' cross is the passing from the horizontal line to the vertical; it's a dying from time to the timeless, from death to deathless. He was crucified with two thieves, one on either side; they represent the past and the future and both of these will steal your happiness, your quality of life.
The ego, the mind, fear... cannot exist in the here and now. The present moment really is the only safe place. Remember that "the past is history, the future is a mystery, this moment is a gift... And that's why it's called the present."