I hope that my English writing skills do my thoughts justice, because this isn't easy to express... much less in other language.

As we grow, we are encouraged by the Western (I don't know about others) society to get prepared for the future: we go to kindergarten, then primary school, then secondary, then we are told to make our best efforts and study at university (although it's not mandatory). All this may happen without actually questioning ourselves why we are investing such an eternity of time in that. Of course, education is freedom, but what type of education is freedom? Do we really have to study that way?

After the formal education, we have to work at least for a living. Probably pay for a retirement plan. We may save money for spending it in the future, and to be happy then.

I'm feeling that our society is a slave of the future. The goal of everything we do now is to be happy in the future. We may not do something now to preserve ourselves for the future. We may think "oh well, I'm having a bad time now, but I'll be better in the future".

My question is: When is The Future? When can we stop getting prepared for, and instead enjoy? Otherwise we will just be endlessly preparing our graves until it's time to use them.

I think in life the most important thing is balance.

There is a certain kind of enjoyment you can only get from being in the present. I've never been happier for example than travelling, meeting people, making connections and going with the flow.

But sometimes goals require that you invest time. It's easy to be happy if you're just creating meaning for yourself. But if you want to change the world, or contribute to the knowledge we have gained as a human race, sometimes you need experience or education first.

I don't think the attitude of living for the future is so bad. What is bad is the kind of future we live for. It's not bad that children have to go to school until they are 18, but the kind of society it prepares them for is bad. It's not bad that people give up a few weeks to earn enough money for a TV, but the kind of programmes they watch are bad. I think we need both to refocus on the present, and to reclaim the future.

Neither the past, nor the future exist. There is only the present. We have been conditioned since birth to want something that does not exist, to place ourselves outside the present moment inot a theoretical construct which keeps us from ourselves.

It is good to have goals, to understand and strive for the things we want in life, that which gives it meaning. But it all stems from the present moment, therefore focus on that which you desire in the present, and it will become yours, not in the future, but in another present moment.

People will stop being obsessed with the future when they accept the idea that they could be crushed now. Until then, future keeps ego alive. Occupying the mind with future preparation prevents ego from being crushed now, keeps sense of self alive in the moment by projecting ego in to the imagined future. Whoever wants to accept loss can live in peace. Any takers?

If society and individuals neglect preparation for future events they will collapse.

Being able to think about and plan for the future it part of what makes us human and what makes humans unique compared to other mammals. I would further argue that it is not a western obsession but a human characteristic to prepare for the future. Perhaps western societies just do it differently but perhaps these are reasons why those societies have advanced so far technologically.

None the less its important to enjoy your life now and not always wait for the future because that future we all envision may never arrive.

Thinking about the future is not such a bad thing. If you care about anything, you have to think about the future.

Thinking about the future though, may be a way for people to escape the present. This is often the case when people make great unrealistic plans.

Our current society would not be able to function as it is, which is the point of the original poster. But societies have existed and continue to exist to this day which do not require a need to perpare endlessly for the future.

I would agree that our apparent need to constantly plan and obsess about the future has led to the technological advances of the day. But technology is supposed to ease the burden on life, instead peoople work far harder and longer in more advanced societies than in more primitive ones.

The thing is, both the past and the future are illusions, there is only the now. Even Einstein acknowledged this...

isnt it pretty obvious that its about balance? if you dont have at least a bit of notion of future, how are you going to prepare your meal or have a shelter from the rain? But of course if one wastes half his life, just thinking about how such and such day he will be happy when he can buy whatever thing, then the reasonable line has been crossed (since long.... ).

Indigenous people also think of the future. One indigenous group from north america (forgot which, I could look it up) has a saying that advices "for every action one has to think of its consequences for the next 7 generations".

There is no 'one-size-fits-all' solution or ideal plan to how much preparation for the future is good; its very contextual. Its all about dynamic balance, strategically thinking of the future but acting in the present moment to at the same time enjoy one's life but also know when to make the necessary sacrifices, so that in the long run one's actions are sustainable and benefiting for oneself and for the world.

modern cultures especially in the west are the most dumbed down brainwashed twits on the planet

Care to elaborate?

Are there any modern cultures where the people aren't "dumbed down"? In order to keep large populations under control, you cannot have an aware populace.

There is certainly a program of brainwashing going on, so much so that most people do not realize that they are slaves.

well, personally Im just attuning my energies since the aliens are comming. Im ready for 2012 you can bet your ass! I have "the secret"! Ive been reading all the sylvia brown books I can get ahold of and practicing opening my third eye so I can communicate with the aliens and also auditing out the thetans from by brain that my scientologist neighbours told me live in me..Ive been working on building a landing pad for the Raelians, becasue when they land I want to be ready!

We will Ascend!

governments steal our freedom
religions steal our souls
education dumbs us down
big pharma killed the real cures
television is a weapon of mass brainwashing as is education government religion ......we have devolved into mindless dependant slaves under their spells......everything is backwards today

fighting for peace is like fucking for virginity
we are taught to parrot propaganda not taught to think on our own two feet anymore
psychedelics are banned and forbidden and that is one of natures best teachers of the nature of reality and the reality of nature......we live in a fear based culture we are taught to fear the unknown rather than explore and trust it

fractal...what do you think if anything is going to happen in 2012?

^^lol your asking me?? If I started to REALLY talk about some of the things that have happened to me sober and with psychedelics,id start to sound like a freaking space man...so I wont go there..im just waiting curious to see if there is any reality to all that..

That said..i think in 2012 we will see alot of naive people that were relying on the ramantic idea of aliens and some number to change the world..they will look around and realize that alot of what people talk about sounds nice, and they will realize it would be good to build that anyway. We will build it if it happens.

we are the aliens the only species destroying the planet and out of sync with the rest of creation.......probably because we are hostages of our own delusional fears.......not taught truth and denied our birthrights to explore who we really are where we really came from and have forgotten our purpose for being here........psychedelics can help us remember ...dissolve the maya and re-member and rewire........

One day you'll start talking about the things you've experienced, as they won't seem that crazy anymore. Those who are waiting for a specific date or for some aliens to come and save us will be waiting a long time. They are already here, always have been, and are here to help us help ourselves. They aren't going to save us, we are the determiners of our own fate and future.

All I know is that something is happening, and I'm not waiting around...I'm participating. Be the change you want to see in the world, realize the power you already possess, and simply be the most authentic person you can be at any given moment.

What you want to do? If you don't prepare for your future, your existance will degenerate!!!
You have to exercise your body, you have to exercise your mind, you have to be social.
These are VERY important aspects of your existance as an human being.

You can do something for your future <- or "body-future" without losing focus on NOW!
You understand?
Nothing contradictory. Yes, the future is an illusion, doesn't exist at all.
BUT: If you don't do anything, and you stand still -> you keep dying in the herenow.

Thank you for your attention and have a nice future.