I've studied in depth a half dozen or more religions and love finding the parallels or alignment and similarities. On being present, from the Bible, Jesus taught his Disciples to "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself...." (Matt 6:24) Also He taught, "No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62) discouraging both past and future thinking when following him. I too have often thought of Peter on the water, who was focused on Christ (if interpreted as ever-present) took his eyes and mind off of Christ and into the waves instead began to sink, Jesus kindly rebuking, "Oh ye of little faith." And what I faith but belief in present action. For nowhere is there taught in any Christian faith I've studied that past deeds or a future procrastination will ever Save anyone, but through His grace to those who believe.
Sacred Mormon Text teach "Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend." (Mosiah 4:9) key word "is".
The Jewish Torah (or first 5 books of the old Testament, or records of Moses, "God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am," (Ex. 3:14–15.) Not was or will be but am, in the present.
Sacred hindu text, a primary sacred text of a western version of Hinduism, the Bhagavad Gita, teaches "In the mind of those who are attached to sense enjoyment and material opulence, and who are bewildered by such things the resolute determination for devotional service to the Supreme Lord does not take place." (Text 44) I interpret to mean, unless you're present you can't truly serve God (similar to what Christ said.)
This idea of attachment, or rather non-attachment, taught by Pema Chordon a phenomenal budist teacher (sp?) is called "Shenpa" or that which hooks us.
One from the Koran does not come to mind off the top of my head, but there seems to be a fundamental underlying truth similar to being 'present' in every faith I've come across, if not taught by their mentors, priests, or teachers, clearly presented in the sacred text for which they primarily use as a foundation of their theology.
