--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One has to live in the present. Whatever…" description: "\"One has to live in the present. Whatever is past is gone beyond recall; whatever is future remains beyond one's reach, until it becomes present. Rememb..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d10/s-n-goenka-25258_deals_one-has-to-live-in-the-present-whatever_171537.png" --- # One has to live in the present. Whatever is past is gone… ![“One has to live in the present. Whatever is past is gone beyond recall; whatever is future remains beyond one's reach, until it becomes present. Remembering the past and giving thought to the future are important, but only to the extent that they help one deal with the present.” quote by S. N. Goenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d10/s-n-goenka-25258_deals_one-has-to-live-in-the-present-whatever_171537.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d10/s-n-goenka-25258_deals_one-has-to-live-in-the-present-whatever_171537.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d10/s-n-goenka-25258_deals_one-has-to-live-in-the-present-whatever_171537.png) > “One has to live in the present. Whatever is past is gone beyond recall; whatever is future remains beyond one's reach, until it becomes present. Remembering the past and giving thought to the future are important, but only to the extent that they help one deal with the present.” [S. N. Goenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-goenka/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote stresses focusing on the present moment, using past and future only as tools to improve current experience. **In simple terms:** Live now, use past and future as guides. Key Takeaway Prioritize present actions. Themes mindfulness presence temporal awareness Mood calm focused Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - daily decision making - stress management - goal setting - meditation practice Key Concepts philosophy psychology practical wisdom Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance reflection with present focus? - What present actions benefit from past insights? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on present may neglect valuable lessons from past or future planning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Live in the present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-in-the-present/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Remembering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remembering/) [Remembering the past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remembering-the-past/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [At the end it doesn't matter the past. Matters how you face the present remembering the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/at-the-end-it-doesn-t-matter-the-past-matters-how-you-face-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The greatest challenge in life is living in the present while remembering the past and looking to the future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pg-harding/the-greatest-challenge-in-life-is-living-in-the-present-while/) PG Harding > [“Just like that, he's gone. Things can change so quickly. One second you're in the present, the next you're remembering the past.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-gurtler/just-like-that-he-s-gone-things-can-change-so-quickly-one-second-you/) [Janet Gurtler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-gurtler/) > [Planning FUTURE Living PRESENT & Remembering PAST Makes a story of LIFE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shashank-rayal/planning-future-living-present-remembering-past-makes-a-story-of-life/) [Shashank Rayal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shashank-rayal/) > [“Remembering the past that hurts is like carrying the baggage which just makes heart heavy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tonmoy-acharjee/remembering-the-past-that-hurts-is-like-carrying-the-baggage-which/) Tonmoy Acharjee > [Remembering the past gives power to the present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fae-myenne-ng/remembering-the-past-gives-power-to-the-present/) Fae Myenne Ng > [Remembering the past, realizing how much I've been through and proud that I made it to now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/remembering-the-past-realizing-how-much-i-ve-been-through-and-proud/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Wisdom comes from remembering the past and taking responsibility for the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/wisdom-comes-from-remembering-the-past-and-taking-responsibility-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I asked once why we kept it if it was useless, and she told me that remembering the past is never useless.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennifer-albin/i-asked-once-why-we-kept-it-if-it-was-useless-and-she-told-me-that/) [Gennifer Albin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennifer-albin/) > [Remembering the past, looking forward to a brighter future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/remembering-the-past-looking-forward-to-a-brighter-future/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Laying Down And Remembering The Past Aiin't Gonna Prepare You For What You Have Coming In The Future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rolando-djelf-ramirez/laying-down-and-remembering-the-past-aiin-t-gonna-prepare-you-for/) Rolando Djelf Ramirez > [Bliss cannot be found by remembering the past or anticipating the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/bliss-cannot-be-found-by-remembering-the-past-or-anticipating-the/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“In a drama, does one see what comes forth in front of him or does he see after remembering the past? If you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/in-a-drama-does-one-see-what-comes-forth-in-front-of-him-or-does-he/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [I'm a writer obsessed with remembering: with remembering the past of America above all - and above all, that of Latin America, intimate land…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-galeano/i-m-a-writer-obsessed-with-remembering-with-remembering-the-past-of/) [Eduardo Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-galeano/) > [Remembering the past times. Those good times. When you were all so happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/remembering-the-past-times-those-good-times-when-you-were-all-so-happy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by S. N. Goenka > [In meditation you withdraw from others and focus your attention inside to gain purity of mind and wisdom energy. Then you must become extroverted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-n-goenka/in-meditation-you-withdraw-from-others-and-focus-your-attention/) [S. N. Goenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-goenka/) > [For real happiness, for real lasting stable happiness, one has to make a journey deep within oneself and see that one gets rid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-n-goenka/for-real-happiness-for-real-lasting-stable-happiness-one-has-to-make/) [S. N. Goenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-goenka/) > [Observe the reality as it is. As it is, not as you wish it to be. Perhaps your breath is deep. Perhaps your breath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-n-goenka/observe-the-reality-as-it-is-as-it-is-not-as-you-wish-it-to-be/) [S. N. Goenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-goenka/) > [Peace and negativity cannot coexist just as light and darkness cannot coexist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-n-goenka/peace-and-negativity-cannot-coexist-just-as-light-and-darkness-cannot/) [S. N. Goenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-goenka/) > [Discover real peace and harmony within yourself, and naturally this will overflow to benefit others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-n-goenka/discover-real-peace-and-harmony-within-yourself-and-naturally-this/) [S. N. Goenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-goenka/) > [Work diligently. Diligently. Work patiently and persistently. Patiently and persistently. And you're bound to be successful. Bound to be successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-n-goenka/work-diligently-diligently-work-patiently-and-persistently-patiently/) [S. N. Goenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-goenka/) > [When I observe myself and find that I am generating anger, ill will, or animosity, I realize that I am the first victim of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-n-goenka/when-i-observe-myself-and-find-that-i-am-generating-anger-ill-will-or/) [S. N. Goenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-goenka/) > [The Buddha never taught a sectarian religion; he taught Dhamma - the way to liberation - which is universal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-n-goenka/the-buddha-never-taught-a-sectarian-religion-he-taught-dhamma-the-way/) [S. N. Goenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-goenka/) > [We cannot live in the past; it is gone. Nor can we live in the future; it is forever beyond our grasp. We can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-n-goenka/we-cannot-live-in-the-past-it-is-gone-nor-can-we-live-in-the-future/) [S. N. Goenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-goenka/) > [The only conversion involved in Vipassana is from misery to happiness, from bondage to liberation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-n-goenka/the-only-conversion-involved-in-vipassana-is-from-misery-to-happiness/) [S. N. Goenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-goenka/) > [I am against conversion (to Buddhism). In my speech at UN, the first thing I said was that I am for conversion, but not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-n-goenka/i-am-against-conversion-to-buddhism-in-my-speech-at-un-the-first/) [S. N. Goenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-goenka/) > [Real wisdom is recognizing and accepting that every experience is impermanent. With this insight you will not be overwhelmed by ups and downs. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-n-goenka/real-wisdom-is-recognizing-and-accepting-that-every-experience-is/) [S. N. Goenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-goenka/) > [The mind spends most of the time lost in fantasies and illusions, reliving pleasant or unpleasant experiences and anticipating the future with eagerness or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-n-goenka/the-mind-spends-most-of-the-time-lost-in-fantasies-and-illusions/) [S. N. Goenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-goenka/) > [One learns the art of dying by learning the art of living: how to become master of the present moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-n-goenka/one-learns-the-art-of-dying-by-learning-the-art-of-living-how-to/) [S. N. Goenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-goenka/) > [It is a basic human need that everyone wants to live a happy life. For this, one has to experience real happiness. The so-called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-n-goenka/it-is-a-basic-human-need-that-everyone-wants-to-live-a-happy-life-for/) [S. N. Goenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-goenka/) [Explore all 23 S. N. Goenka quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-goenka/) ## More Deals quotes > [Right now we're concerned about budget. Right now we're concerned about the prospect of interest rate rise. We're concerned about government corruption, government handing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/right-now-we-re-concerned-about-budget-right-now-we-re-concerned/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [A lot of indigenous cultures are deeply involved in working with ancestor spirits, elemental spirits, and demons. Many of these cultures feel that, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pinchbeck/a-lot-of-indigenous-cultures-are-deeply-involved-in-working-with/) [Daniel Pinchbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pinchbeck/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [Failure is a part of life and you have to learn to deal with it. Failure is something that is part of life's cycle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/failure-is-a-part-of-life-and-you-have-to-learn-to-deal-with-it/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [When you reach that competing point, when you reach that time when the gun is about to go off, everyone's level is pretty much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apolo-ohno/when-you-reach-that-competing-point-when-you-reach-that-time-when-the/) [Apolo Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apolo-ohno/) > [I think the next 50 years are going to present the human race with challenges that so far exceed the limitations of geopolitical boundaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-think-the-next-50-years-are-going-to-present-the-human-race-with/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [Americans are very friendly and very suspicious, that is what Americans are and that is what always upsets the foreigner, who deals with them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/americans-are-very-friendly-and-very-suspicious-that-is-what/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [As a professional athlete and someone who has spent almost his entire life in boxing, not a day goes by when I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-de-la-hoya/as-a-professional-athlete-and-someone-who-has-spent-almost-his-entire/) [Oscar De La Hoya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-de-la-hoya/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [I don't really resent being on the red carpet as much as I do having to deal with the paparazzi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/i-don-t-really-resent-being-on-the-red-carpet-as-much-as-i-do-having/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [I think kids growing up, if they were picked on and feeling inferior at 12, they're going to feel that way at 72. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/i-think-kids-growing-up-if-they-were-picked-on-and-feeling-inferior/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [You know, by the time you reach my age, you've made plenty of mistakes if you've lived your life properly. So you learn. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/you-know-by-the-time-you-reach-my-age-you-ve-made-plenty-of-mistakes/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [ By profession a biologist, \[Thomas Henry Huxley\] covered in fact the whole field of the exact sciences, and then bulged through its four fences.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/by-profession-a-biologist-thomas-henry-huxley-covered-in-fact-the/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [I deal with the obvious. I present, reiterate, and glorify the obvious - because the obvious is what people need to be told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/i-deal-with-the-obvious-i-present-reiterate-and-glorify-the-obvious/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [But when you have to deal with notes, and to be able to make a full definition of what a sound is - if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-brown/but-when-you-have-to-deal-with-notes-and-to-be-able-to-make-a-full/) [Dennis Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-brown/) Browse all 7,121 Deals quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One has to live in the present. Whatever is past is gone beyond recall; whatever is future remains beyond one's reach, until it becomes present. 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