--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The past is over, and the future is…" description: "\"“The past is over, and the future is unknown. We can dwell in the imagined worlds of yesterday and tomorrow if we so choose. But the more we do so, the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f43/lama-surya-das-16324_life-itself_the-past-is-over-and-the-future-is-unkno_1937268.jpg" --- # The past is over, and the future is unknown. We can dwell… ![“The past is over, and the future is unknown. We can dwell in the imagined worlds of yesterday and tomorrow if we so choose. But the more we do so, the more we miss out on life itself as it is happening, moment by moment, and the more we fail to realize who we actually are, moment by moment.” quote by Lama Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f43/lama-surya-das-16324_life-itself_the-past-is-over-and-the-future-is-unkno_1937268.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f43/lama-surya-das-16324_life-itself_the-past-is-over-and-the-future-is-unkno_1937268.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f43/lama-surya-das-16324_life-itself_the-past-is-over-and-the-future-is-unkno_1937268.jpg) > ““The past is over, and the future is unknown. We can dwell in the imagined worlds of yesterday and tomorrow if we so choose. But the more we do so, the more we miss out on life itself as it is happening, moment by moment, and the more we fail to realize who we actually are, moment by moment.”” [Lama Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lama-surya-das/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Living in the present prevents missing life’s reality and self‑discovery. **In simple terms:** Focus on now, not past or future. Key Takeaway Embrace present moment fully. Themes mindfulness presence self‑awareness time existence Mood peaceful insightful Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - daily routines - stressful moments - personal growth Key Concepts meditation philosophical spiritual practice Questions to Reflect On - What practices help you stay present? - How do you balance reflection with present awareness? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on present can ignore valuable lessons from past. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Life itself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-itself/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Yesterday and tomorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yesterday-and-tomorrow/) ## Related quotes > [“Today is half of Yesterday and Tomorrow, Choose Today to make Tomorrow”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yando-wanii-nimbo/today-is-half-of-yesterday-and-tomorrow-choose-today-to-make-tomorrow/) Yando Wanii Nimbo > [You can feel sore tomorrow or you can feel sorry tomorrow. You choose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-feel-sore-tomorrow-or-you-can-feel-sorry-tomorrow-you-choose/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I could walk away from boxing tomorrow, if I choose to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-groves/i-could-walk-away-from-boxing-tomorrow-if-i-choose-to/) [George Groves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-groves/) > [The one who is talking to you about me today is likely to talk to others about you tomorrow. Choose your friends wisely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-one-who-is-talking-to-you-about-me-today-is-likely-to-talk-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Its nt about what happens today but what happens tomorrow if we choose to be togethr.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/its-nt-about-what-happens-today-but-what-happens-tomorrow-if-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It would be wonderful to think that the future is unknown and sort of surprising.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/it-would-be-wonderful-to-think-that-the-future-is-unknown-and-sort-of/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [“Since the future is unknown, nobody can really know where he is going! When asked, tell them you know not where you are going!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/since-the-future-is-unknown-nobody-can-really-know-where-he-is-going/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [You cannot travel to the known; because all travels are towards the future and the future is unknown!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/you-cannot-travel-to-the-known-because-all-travels-are-towards-the/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Future is an unknown country which requires tough visas for anyone to enter. Not all of us will get the chance to visit it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/future-is-an-unknown-country-which-requires-tough-visas-for-anyone-to/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [The future is an unknown, but a somewhat predictable unknown. To look to the future we must first look back upon the past. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-future-is-an-unknown-but-a-somewhat-predictable-unknown-to-look/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“The future is always unknown.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-future-is-always-unknown/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“The future is always unknown. Live your own life. Live in the moment. Live so well in the present, so that when tomorrow never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-future-is-always-unknown-live-your-own-life-live-in-the-moment/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Honestly, I don’t know what will happen. The future is unknown to me. All I have is a dream that I cannot see. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuvi/honestly-i-don-t-know-what-will-happen-the-future-is-unknown-to-me/) Yuvi > [The future is unknown and dealing with unknowns is stressful. It is why imagining the future can be so scary for people and why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-johnson/the-future-is-unknown-and-dealing-with-unknowns-is-stressful-it-is/) [Bryan Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-johnson/) > [Since the future is unknown, in every step forward we walk to the unknown!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/since-the-future-is-unknown-in-every-step-forward-we-walk-to-the/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) ## More by Lama Surya Das > [“As long as we’re preoccupied with our former traumas and triumphs, or our fears and dreams about what might happen down the road, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lama-surya-das/as-long-as-we-re-preoccupied-with-our-former-traumas-and-triumphs-or/) [Lama Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lama-surya-das/) > [“It is not the outer objects that entangle us. It is the inner clinging that entangles us." - Tilopa”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lama-surya-das/it-is-not-the-outer-objects-that-entangle-us-it-is-the-inner-clinging/) [Lama Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lama-surya-das/) > [“I have been thinking that the crux of happiness matter for me is whether or not I am in the moment, in the flow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lama-surya-das/i-have-been-thinking-that-the-crux-of-happiness-matter-for-me-is/) [Lama Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lama-surya-das/) > [“All the happiness and virtue in this world come from selflessness and generosity, all the sorrow from egotism, selfishness, and greed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lama-surya-das/all-the-happiness-and-virtue-in-this-world-come-from-selflessness-and/) [Lama Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lama-surya-das/) > [“We need to learn how to live consciously and, trusting ourselves, purposefully on that inevitable balance point between form and emptiness, relative and absolute,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lama-surya-das/we-need-to-learn-how-to-live-consciously-and-trusting-ourselves/) [Lama Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lama-surya-das/) > [“All too easily, however, we can become distracted, scared, frustrated, gullible, cynical, or just plain inattentive. 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The philosophy of non-attachment is based in the understanding that holding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lama-surya-das/non-attachment-is-not-complacency-it-doesn-t-imply-a-lack-of-caring/) [Lama Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lama-surya-das/) > [“By meditating, we´re learning to disengage ourselves from habitual clinging and disperse the defilements and obscurations that hinder our capacity to serve others, such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lama-surya-das/by-meditating-we-re-learning-to-disengage-ourselves-from-habitual/) [Lama Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lama-surya-das/) > [“We all have certain desires and undesired outcomes related to whatever possible course and attitude we take in life, whether it be at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lama-surya-das/we-all-have-certain-desires-and-undesired-outcomes-related-to/) [Lama Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lama-surya-das/) > [“Partings make us sad; they make us feel as though we are being beaten up by fate; sometimes they make us feel desperate and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lama-surya-das/partings-make-us-sad-they-make-us-feel-as-though-we-are-being-beaten/) [Lama Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lama-surya-das/) > [“With every breath, the old moment is lost; a new moment arrives. We exhale and we let go of the old moment. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lama-surya-das/with-every-breath-the-old-moment-is-lost-a-new-moment-arrives-we/) [Lama Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lama-surya-das/) > [“So often we mistake movement for meaning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lama-surya-das/so-often-we-mistake-movement-for-meaning/) [Lama Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lama-surya-das/) > [“If you truly want to grow as a person and learn, you should realize that the universe has enrolled you in the graduate program…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lama-surya-das/if-you-truly-want-to-grow-as-a-person-and-learn-you-should-realize-2/) [Lama Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lama-surya-das/) > [“Expecting good things to last and unwanted things to stay away forever is simply unrealistic,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lama-surya-das/expecting-good-things-to-last-and-unwanted-things-to-stay-away/) [Lama Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lama-surya-das/) > [“We must never confuse the teacher with the truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lama-surya-das/we-must-never-confuse-the-teacher-with-the-truth/) [Lama Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lama-surya-das/) [Explore all 40 Lama Surya Das quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lama-surya-das/) ## More Future quotes > [“The future is only an indifferent void no one cares about, but the past is filled with life, and its countenance is irritating, repellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-future-is-only-an-indifferent-void-no-one-cares-about-but-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Getting on the cover of TIME guarantees the existence of opposition in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/getting-on-the-cover-of-time-guarantees-the-existence-of-opposition/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [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/) > [If you can connect people, you can create the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-heiferman/if-you-can-connect-people-you-can-create-the-future/) [Scott Heiferman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-heiferman/) > [A strong, durable Puerto Rican economy will leave the island better prepared to handle future natural disasters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/a-strong-durable-puerto-rican-economy-will-leave-the-island-better/) [Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/) > [“We have no idea, now, of who or what the inhabitants of our future might be. In that sense, we have no future. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gibson/we-have-no-idea-now-of-who-or-what-the-inhabitants-of-our-future/) [William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gibson/) > [“You are destiny for greatness. Your future is in the hands of the Lord.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/you-are-destiny-for-greatness-your-future-is-in-the-hands-of-the-lord/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I'm just always looking forwards. I spend very little time, looking backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/i-m-just-always-looking-forwards-i-spend-very-little-time-looking/) [Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/) > [Football is my passion, and who knows where I will play in the future - you cannot foresee that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edinson-cavani/football-is-my-passion-and-who-knows-where-i-will-play-in-the-future/) [Edinson Cavani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edinson-cavani/) > [When I was 17, I broke up with my future wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-allen/when-i-was-17-i-broke-up-with-my-future-wife/) [Kris Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-allen/) > [I think everybody in the future has stopped talking to each other and we all just use emojis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-moffatt/i-think-everybody-in-the-future-has-stopped-talking-to-each-other-and/) [Scarlett Moffatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-moffatt/) > [When you continue to dwell on the past, there's no chance for a future. History repeats itself, thus, it's ok to LOOK back at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-continue-to-dwell-on-the-past-there-s-no-chance-for-a-future/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am no different from a lot of people. I am concerned for the future of my children and concerned for the future of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/i-am-no-different-from-a-lot-of-people-i-am-concerned-for-the-future/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [Starting a new job can be nerve-racking , but it's also exciting. You're embarking on a new future, positioning yourself to write a fresh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adena-friedman/starting-a-new-job-can-be-nerve-racking-but-it-s-also-exciting-you-re/) [Adena Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adena-friedman/) [Browse all 12,349 Future quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The past is over, and the future is unknown. We can dwell in the imagined worlds of yesterday and tomorrow if we so choose. 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