Being Present is the general principle of preferring observation when action is risky. It is a central tenet of the The Hitchhiker's Guild via Rabbit's Guide to North American Travel, and mentioned in the The Hitchhiker's Oath.
It has influences from the principles of Buddhism's Mindfulness and Taoism's Wu Wei.
The phrasing is intentional: "The Principle of Presence" might imply an essentialist input. "The Principle of Being Present" reminds a Guildsman that this is a constant effort of doing rather than a state of being.
Being Present consists of adherence to the following principles of action:
- The vital elements of the The Hitchhiker's Guild are Presence and Communication.
- Presence is stated to include observation without the influence of the past, which carries regret or hubris, and the future, which brings fear and hope. Both the Past & Future are understood to be obfuscating factors in observation. Without Presence, the Guild is blind.
- Communication with other members is the strength of the Guild. Communication with the locals is their duty. Without Communication, the Guild collapses into dust, or ignores tyranny.
- The Principle of Intervention creates the vital flashpoints of history, but secondary to Presence and Communication.
- There are many situations where one has no power to affect the situation he sees, at which point he must communicate with his network. The language in this passage heavily echoes The Twelve Traditions of AA/Al-Anon, implying that Rabbit came from those spheres or at least had familiarity with the culture.