A New Earth Ch. 1. Rylla’s reflections, section 1.2
Eckhart Tolle - The Purpose of This Book
Are we ready to wake up to our true selves? According to my actions, it’s a sometimes yes, sometimes no answer.
I do know that when I read this book the first time, I realized I was ready to let go of a way of living that looked good from the outside but left me far from contented within. I was ready to find more. Not the more of more stuff, but rather more within each moment, more contentedness right now, right here.
And yet…there is what Eckart calls the “gravitational pull of materialism.” That’s really what it feels like, like it’s pulling or even sucking me in. It can be easy to fall into what Tara Brach labels if only.
If only I had more money…if only I had more clients…if only my loved one would stop doing X…if only the world were not so messed up, on and on it goes.
Meanwhile life is happening and I’m missing it, wondering what it would be like if only it were different. So, as Eckhart asks, can we rise above?
Can human beings lose the density of their conditioned mind structures and become like crystals or precious stones, so to speak, transparent to the light of consciousness?
Do we want to rise above? Or, in this age of social media, is the gravitational pull of looking good too strong? Or are we still too afraid that maybe not only aren’t we enough, but maybe we’re nothing inside, so safer to stay up at the surface, juggling all the time to keep up appearances?
This way we are as humans isn’t wrong. The doingness, the trying to keep lots of balls up in the air is part of our human nature, as in we evolved to this. But now, are we ready to evolve to something more? Maybe it’s time.
In my yoga classes I sometimes end them with inviting my fellow practitioners to bow their heads to their hearts. I remind them that while the mind is a wonderful tool, it definitely isn’t the best manager, so let’s let our hearts lead the way.
I think Eckart is inviting us to bow our heads to our hearts. He offers an invitation to use our minds and hearts as the amazing tools they are to lead us into a new way of living, an evolutionary awakening. Rather than let the mind take over our lives and our experiences with incessant, often obsessional thoughts, we can notice, wake up, and learn to use our minds and have a better understanding of how to live.
Eckhart points out that in the book there is nothing magical, only words. They either speak to you or not. If they do, then you will experience a shift as you read. If they don’t, go find some other words. There are plenty of wise words out there1. シ
If they do speak to you, even for a moment, then you are on your way.
A glimpse is enough to initiate the awakening process, which is irreversible.
Thank God for that. The thing is to remember is that it is a journey, a practice, not a destination. It isn’t a place to arrive to. It’s a daily, even moment to moment practice. I love learning, and here Eckhart is inviting us to learn in a kind, effective way. He invites us to wake up and notice when the ego is acting.
…unless you know the basic mechanics behind the ego you won’t recognize it…it takes you over, an imposter pretending to be you.
I’m in. Let’s learn these mechanics! And it all begins with recognition.
…the act of recognition (of the ego) itself is one of the ways awakening happens.
I play a game with myself, catching myself in my ego. Then I pat myself on the back for noticing. Sometimes it happens when I resist what is, like traffic or a long line or recently, the heat. Sometimes I notice it when I’m starting to feel threatened and let that out as ugly competitiveness, or when I feel sorry for myself, or when I must prove my point. On and on it goes. (Eckhart outlines many ways to notice the ego so we’ll get to more on that later.)
The good news in the quote above is that each time we recognize that we’ve let the ego take over, we are burning it up just a bit. And that, dear ones, results in a letting go of so much that creates stress and unneeded negativity. That is why I’m on this journey and why I’m writing about it to share with you.
To quote a song from my childhood by The Carpenters, “We’ve Only Just Begun.” シ
I know I’ve said it before, and I want to say it again. I really appreciate you being here with me. I don’t want to do this alone; I believe that in community we can be so much more successful in this learning.
If you connect with and appreciate what you are reading/listening to here, please consider supporting me by sharing my work with others. And if you feel there is value for you and it feels right, please become a paid subscriber. You will get my deeper dive along with more personal insights (Working on that now). And you’ll be invited to a once a week mindfulness conversation where we talk about how it’s going, and support each other to continue on this journey.
Thank you. Namaste.
One thing that thrills me is that no matter how long I live I’ll never be able to read all I want to. I love that!
The birds in the first few seconds girl!!! 🥰🥰