Often, when our bodies and lives are working perfectly, we take the present moment for granted and get lost in our minds and egos. However, when we suffer an injury or get sick, the body pulls us back by drawing our attention to our pain, which inevitably resides in the present moment. This is why in some monasteries monks are taught to raise their hands during meditation if they grow too connected to their thoughts. The master then comes over and whacks them on their backs with a stick in order to create a painful sensation, which knocks their attention away from their thoughts and back to
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