--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The present moment is changing so fast…" description: "\"The present moment is changing so fast that we often do not notice its existence at all. Every moment of mind is like a series of pictures passing thro..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/009/henepola-gunaratana-10550_change_the-present-moment-is-changing-so-fast-t_951753.jpg" --- # The present moment is changing so fast that we often do… ![“The present moment is changing so fast that we often do not notice its existence at all. Every moment of mind is like a series of pictures passing through a projector. Some of the pictures come from sense impressions. Others come from memories of past experiences or from fantasies of the future.” quote by Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/009/henepola-gunaratana-10550_change_the-present-moment-is-changing-so-fast-t_951753.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/009/henepola-gunaratana-10550_change_the-present-moment-is-changing-so-fast-t_951753.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/009/henepola-gunaratana-10550_change_the-present-moment-is-changing-so-fast-t_951753.jpg) > “The present moment is changing so fast that we often do not notice its existence at all. Every moment of mind is like a series of pictures passing through a projector. Some of the pictures come from sense impressions. Others come from memories of past experiences or from fantasies of the future.” [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We are so absorbed in thoughts that we miss the present, which is a continuous flow of sensory, memory, and imagined images. **In simple terms:** We often overlook the now because our mind jumps between past and future. Key Takeaway Cultivate awareness of each passing moment. Themes mindfulness presence perception Mood calm focused reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - daily meditation - stressful work - creative brainstorming - parenting - travel Key Concepts impermanence mental imagery attention Questions to Reflect On - How can you anchor yourself when thoughts drift? - What simple practice helps you notice the present? A Different Perspective The mind can be trained to stay present, but distraction is a strong habit. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Every moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-moment/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Existence Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence-moment-778250/) [Fantasy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantasy/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Impression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impression/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories/) [Memories of past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories-of-past/) [Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moment/) [Moment Changing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moment-changing-470906/) [Moment Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moment-mind-446704/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Passing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passing/) [Passings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passings/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Past experiences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-experiences/) [Present moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/present-moment/) [Projectors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/projectors/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Series](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/series/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Sitting quietly, doing nothing, not knowing what is next and not concerned with what was or what may be next, a new mind is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-packer/sitting-quietly-doing-nothing-not-knowing-what-is-next-and-not/) [Toni Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-packer/) > [“Never live on your memories of past experiences, but let the Word of God always be living and active in you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/never-live-on-your-memories-of-past-experiences-but-let-the-word-of/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [From this moment on, I'm changing the way I feel. From this moment on, it's time for something real. Cause I still don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/from-this-moment-on-i-m-changing-the-way-i-feel-from-this-moment-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Let your existence be enough for a moment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/let-your-existence-be-enough-for-a-moment/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [Man does not simply exist but always decides what his existence will be, what he will become the next moment. By the same token,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/man-does-not-simply-exist-but-always-decides-what-his-existence-will-3/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“even the slightest stir in the broad grammar of existence—a moment asking only to be noticed—was enough to rekindle that astonished brightness, the kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neena-h-brar-2/even-the-slightest-stir-in-the-broad-grammar-of-existence-a-moment/) [Neena H. Brar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neena-h-brar-2/) > [There is no deterioration and there is no creation. There are projections, moments of existence. Each moment is perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/there-is-no-deterioration-and-there-is-no-creation-there-are/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“Man does not simply exist, but always decides what his existence will be, what he will become in the next moment..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-frankl/man-does-not-simply-exist-but-always-decides-what-his-existence-will-2/) [Viktor Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-frankl/) > [“Man does not simply exist but always decides what his existence will be, what he will become the next moment. By the same token,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/man-does-not-simply-exist-but-always-decides-what-his-existence-will/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I harp always on the 'idea' of life as I dwell perpetually on the existence of the moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsden-hartley/i-harp-always-on-the-idea-of-life-as-i-dwell-perpetually-on-the/) [Marsden Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsden-hartley/) > [When you are so full that there is no emptiness in you, that you have started feeling the significance of the ordinary, day-to-day existence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/when-you-are-so-full-that-there-is-no-emptiness-in-you-that-you-have/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [At that moment I had no mind to change, or not change, or throw against the nearest wall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/at-that-moment-i-had-no-mind-to-change-or-not-change-or-throw-against/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [Live in the Moment", "Empty Your Mind of the Trash" Wisdom is the Use of Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/live-in-the-moment-empty-your-mind-of-the-trash-wisdom-is-the-use-of/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [If moment by moment you can keep your mind clear then nothing will confuse you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheng-yen/if-moment-by-moment-you-can-keep-your-mind-clear-then-nothing-will/) [Sheng-yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheng-yen/) > [“She sketched this moment into her mind, because nothing could be so perfect. Nothing could stay right, and last.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calia-read/she-sketched-this-moment-into-her-mind-because-nothing-could-be-so/) [Calia Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calia-read/) ## More by Henepola Gunaratana > [You can only have bliss if you don't chase it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/you-can-only-have-bliss-if-you-don-t-chase-it/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [“we try mentally to grab onto it or push it away. That sets the worry response in motion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/we-try-mentally-to-grab-onto-it-or-push-it-away-that-sets-the-worry/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [You can learn not to want what you want, to recognize desires but not be controlled by them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/you-can-learn-not-to-want-what-you-want-to-recognize-desires-but-not/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [The Buddha's message was simple but profound. Neither a life of self-indulgence nor one of self-mortification can bring happiness. Only a middle path, avoiding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/the-buddha-s-message-was-simple-but-profound-neither-a-life-of-self/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [Mindfulness helps us freeze the frame so that we can become aware of our sensations and experiences as they are, without the distorting coloration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/mindfulness-helps-us-freeze-the-frame-so-that-we-can-become-aware-of/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [But look within and watch the stuff coming up-restlessness, anxiety, impatience, pain-just watch it come up and don't get involved. Much to your surprise,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/but-look-within-and-watch-the-stuff-coming-up-restlessness-anxiety/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [“You can learn to perceive your life as an ever-flowing movement. You can learn to see the continuous flow of all conditioned”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/you-can-learn-to-perceive-your-life-as-an-ever-flowing-movement-you/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [No problem. You are not crazier than you were yesterday. It has always been this way, and you just never noticed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/no-problem-you-are-not-crazier-than-you-were-yesterday-it-has-always/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [“We spend all of our energies trying to make ourselves feel better, trying to bury our fears, endlessly seeking security.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/we-spend-all-of-our-energies-trying-to-make-ourselves-feel-better/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [Peace is not a thought, not a concept; it is a nonverbal experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/peace-is-not-a-thought-not-a-concept-it-is-a-nonverbal-experience/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [You can't ever get everything you want. It is impossible. Luckily, there is another option: You can learn to control your mind, to step…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/you-can-t-ever-get-everything-you-want-it-is-impossible-luckily-there/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [Whatever attitudes we habitually use toward ourselves, we will use on others, and whatever attitudes we habitually use toward others, we will use on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/whatever-attitudes-we-habitually-use-toward-ourselves-we-will-use-on/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [When you have learned compassion for yourself, compassion for others is automatic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/when-you-have-learned-compassion-for-yourself-compassion-for-others/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [“There is no clinging to the pleasant, no fleeing from the unpleasant. Mindfulness treats all experiences equally, all thoughts equally, all feelings equally. Nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/there-is-no-clinging-to-the-pleasant-no-fleeing-from-the-unpleasant/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [“Place no head above your own.” By this he meant, don’t just accept somebody else’s word. See for yourself. We want you to apply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/place-no-head-above-your-own-by-this-he-meant-don-t-just-accept/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) [Explore all 65 Henepola Gunaratana quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) [Phil Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/) > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The present moment is changing so fast that we often do not notice its existence at all. Every moment of mind is like a series of pictures passing through a projector. Some of the pictures come from sense impressions. Others come from memories of past experiences or from fantasies of the future.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henepola Gunaratana" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/the-present-moment-is-changing-so-fast-that-we-often-do-not-notice/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/the-present-moment-is-changing-so-fast-that-we-often-do-not-notice/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/009/henepola-gunaratana-10550_change_the-present-moment-is-changing-so-fast-t_951753.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/009/henepola-gunaratana-10550_change_the-present-moment-is-changing-so-fast-t_951753.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/009/henepola-gunaratana-10550_change_the-present-moment-is-changing-so-fast-t_951753.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The present moment is changing so fast that we often do not notice its existence at all. Every moment of…” — Henepola Gunaratana", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Henepola Gunaratana", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The present moment is changing so...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/the-present-moment-is-changing-so-fast-that-we-often-do-not-notice/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/the-present-moment-is-changing-so-fast-that-we-often-do-not-notice/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```