A New Earth Ch. 1, section 1.4, 1.5
Eckhart Tolle - The Arising New Consciousness, Spirituality and Religion
Good news; after discussing the damage and devastation we humans and our fearful egos have caused, Eckhart now begins to talk about how we can learn to connect to and let rise our inner wisdom. This is the reason for the book. The ancient religions, along with pointing to our delusion (dukkha, maya, sin), also point to a path of light, a path of love, sometimes called enlightenment, salvation, or the end of suffering.
The teachers who recognized this path and taught about the possibility of awakening from the madness were, no surprise, shunned and misunderstood. They were worshipped and hated, adored as gods and killed as demons. And their messages while simple, were as Eckhart says, “distorted and misinterpreted.”
The teachings were recorded and interpreted by those who I am sure began with good intentions, but then the concepts devolved into dogma and ideology. While some of the world was intrigued and realized there might be a better way, overall, people weren’t yet ready to release the clinging, fear based way of being and that got mixed up with the pointers; much was added, some lost, and this came to be what we now know as religion.
Teachings that pointed the way beyond the dysfunction of the human mind, the way out of the collective insanity, were distorted and became themselves part of the insanity.
Ekchart Tolle, A New Earth
People took the wisdom shared by these wise teachers (the Buddha, Jesus, Lao Tzu for example) and used them to enhance their egos, or as Eckhart says, “enhance their false sense of self.”
And so the othering began, and unfortunately continues. The reasons for it are understandable. We want answers on how to live well. We are searchers by design. When someone offers a roadmap, a set of rules, we sigh with relief. We are happy to not have to think, to be given directions. Okay, so if I do x, y, and z, then I’m golden! Maybe that feels like now I know I will go to heaven and so can relax. Or perhaps it goes in a different direction, as in now I know there is no god and so I don’t really have to think about a spiritual life at all! Either way, phew!
So, we want answers, and often believe can find them in intellect, spirituality, or religion. We join a group that seems to fit for us; we gather and discuss, learn and grow, all which is good. Then we begin to wear our beliefs like a badge of achievement or an elite branded piece of clothing. See my shirt? See how good I am? Do you know whom I associate with? Do you recognize that I am better than many people, probably better than you, because of my beliefs? And so it begins. The attachment to our way, my way, clearly the best way. Then we treat others as less than. If only you understood what I understand, then you too could be good like me.
…the more you make your thoughts (beliefs) into your identity, the more cut off you are from the spiritual dimension in yourself.
Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth
So clinging to our beliefs, we lose spirituality? Oh great. Spirituality isn’t about what I believe? But, but, how can I talk about my superior intellect or spirituality or religion without explaining (justifying) my beliefs?
Life is too complex for any one set of rules. There is an amazing beauty in that complexity, and in the not knowing. Guides, roadmaps and pointers are helpful. But they aren’t everything. They need to be combined with our own inner wisdom and understanding that we gain through life experience.
…how spiritual you are has nothing to do with what you believe…but everything to do with your state of consciousness.
Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth
Aha. Our state of consciousness. So it has to do with our beingness, how we are in the moment. It’s the glasses (see previous post) we wear moment to moment. And it requires we check in with said moments, much more often.
So, I want to live a peaceful life, I put on peaceful glasses, and head out into my day. Next thing I know, I’m annoyed and angry at the traffic or my stupid boss (probably both, what the hell did he call an early meeting for anyway???), and I’m not radiating peace. What happened?
We can figure out what happened. With commitment and curiosity spurring us on, we can begin to notice more and more moments in our lives and mine them for information. (Fancy yourself researcher? You’ll love this stuff! You are your own best subject. No that’s not selfish. The best thing you can do for others, especially. those you love, is to work on yourself.)
So my consciousness huh? Hmmm, let’s keep reading and practicing together. A hint, it begins with being waking up to when you don’t like your glasses. How can you notice? Could be that you feel crappy, are experiencing some kind of negative emotion. Aha! you can say to yourself. I’m aware, that’s good. (I feel better already!) Time to keep exploring…
Thank you,🙏🏼 stay strong,💪🏼 and be kind (what’s the emoji for that? Seriously, please tell me) to yourself and others no matter what comes your way. More soon.
Please share and invite your tribe to join us on our journey. 🙏🏼
woah!