I always find it interesting when a video, movie, book, magazine article, billboard or something someone says will seem to be directed specially at me. This video by Eckhart Tolle is a case in point. I started listening to it yesterday just because I love him, and I always listen to podcasts while I am doing my cards. He first started speaking about how the love of consciousness comes through our doing when we are just present with it, not thinking about a goal or an outcome. What we are doing is not a means to an end but a joy in and of itself (just made me think of the movie).
As I was listening to this, I was making a gift for a friend, and it gave me such joy that she would feel my love for her come through.
Tolle then proceeded to talk about being present with our challenges and not to resist them. What caught my attention in particular was his exploration of what he called “inner states.” I would call this “feeling really shitty.” Our bodies feel crappy because our fight-or-flight response is producing stress chemicals in our bodies, and they just don’t feel good. We are not using them to instinctively fight or run away; we are just stewing in our own juices so to speak. This is the difference between instinct and emotion. The brain doesn’t know the difference between a threat to your physical body and a threat to the ego. We just have to breathe through it, and tell ourselves, “This is what humans feel like sometimes,” and “No feeling lasts forever.” Eventually, if we accept what is going on, the feeling dissipates…and so it has for me.
What I am looking forward to is the last bit he talked about: something “good” always comes of the “bad.” Perhaps this reinforcement of a well-worn insight is the gift, but…you never know… I remain curious.
This is a little clip that Jolene sent me. Something about music always makes me want to cry. This clip is no exception.
I wish I loved Tolle like you do. When I listen to him, his voice just rubs me in an uncomfortable way – is that a sign that I need to listen anyway? I’m in Wisconsin until Tuesday morning, then back to Florida. When do you return to Wisconsin?
Ha! I think it just means you don’t like listening to him. It doesn’t matter. All “good” spiritual teachers are saying the exact same thing. We all find someone with whom we resonate. Do you have a favorite? I return on 4/1.