Awakening From Self

The July Eckhart Tolle Meetup was set against the backdrop of a light summer drizzle, refreshing after such warm weather this summer.  The talk focused on the egoic identity that seems to want problems in order to thrive.  Eckhart described how the ‘self-identity’ can be somewhat addicted to thinking and in particular, projecting forward, looking back or judging what is.  Being focused on the now, allows some of that to slip away – in particular – the recursive thought that something isn’t right. That this moment isn’t enough.  Krishnamurti provides an interesting perspective as well on the tendency to look for problems:  “What is it that we are discontented with? Surely with what is. The what is may be the social order, the what is may be the relationship, the what is may be what we are, the thing we are essentially – which is, the ugly, the wandering thoughts, the ambitions, the frustrations, the innumerable fears; that is what we are. In going away from that, we think we shall find an answer to our discontent. So we are always seeking a way, a means to change the ‘what is’…” One of the eight who attended the gathering shared her strategy of pausing to take three full breaths.  I’ve used this in past, and even have a ‘pause-reminder’ taped onto my computer:  Am I Still Breathing?  It can be very effective to stop and fully be with the breath when circumstances are challenging – not needing to turn away from angst, but to simply be with it without telling stories about it.  A sharp tone in someone’s voice becomes simply a strange sound rather than an accusation… and my own defensiveness can simply be an odd human reflex.   And as I rest in awareness, there is no end to the stillness/peace in which these apparent ‘problems’ seem to emerge and then change or fade… They have no life of their own but that which the mind gives them. Thanks once again for the peace (and space) offered by KECC!