We met last Friday to discuss Chapter 7, which is about finding out who we truly are. It is a continuation of Eckhart’s main message about finding our true selves so that we can bring a new consciousness into this world, or at least our small portion of it. He directs our attention to the inner spirit, and to start with a fundamental question asking Who am I?
The interesting point of this question is that we should strip away all the materialistic labels we would normally use to describe ourselves. The labels are just mental concepts, made up by the ego and thus transient and temporary. When we strip these away then what we would be left with is our eternal spirit selves. In his interview with Oprah, Eckhart says to just ask the question and leave it at that, without searching for an answer because any answer would again be only a mental label. We went around the table asking each of us this question, and I think everyone felt they knew the right answer. But somehow it is not satisfying, or complete enough, to say that “we are spirits” or “we are part of God” or anything like that, which implies to me that we value the labels and our external identity. It is certainly very unsatisfying for me to believe that I’m nothing but a spirit, which somehow negates everything I’ve done in my life, or owned, or enjoyed, or even suffered. And that’s where the larger message makes more sense, that my body and my current life is a gift I’ve been given by God. Or, to put another way, that my soul has chosen to manifest itself in a material form so that I may experience earthly life.
This explanation seems more satisfying. Problems in our lives arise when we forget our inner selves and identify completely with our material form only, and it then feeds our ego and causes pain-body, as Eckhart would say. And in this chapter he clearly explains that we are made up of both the form and the formless, the thing and the no-thing. Since our formless self is more important then it is our task to make sure that we recognize it and pay attention to it.
We also had another group member join us in person. It was really nice to have Salmah's sister, Jabeen, who's visiting Chicago and has been a member of our group in spirit from the beginning. Jabeen is a practicing Reiki master and she demonstrated how it works and what it can do for us. Reiki is an ancient Japanese stress reduction technique, and it harnesses the energy that the Chinese call Chi. Chi in turn is related to Indian Yoga, and all of this refers to the eternal life energy. Jabeen showed how the chakras, or energy circles, in us can move an external object, and it was fascinating to watch that. Something about energy being channeled from the ground through the body and interacting with the chakras ... amazing to physically see the life energy that we all intuitively know is there.
Brian also joined us this time and he reminded us again that it's the collective consciousness we raise in our gathering which is really the point of creating A New Earth. The more people gather and reflect on this topic the stronger our consciousness emerges and benefits the larger world,
Another thing about Chapter 7 that I like is the idea about abundance, and the lack of it that some people perceive. Eckhart says that we already have so much abundance, that our formless self does not lack for anything. It is the dysfunction in our material self caused by mental distortions that creates a feeling of lack, or wanting or craving, and thus causes misery and unhappiness. Being spiritually awakened means to recognize the abundance that we already have, and to feel good as a result. Sounds good to me ... :)
Please fill in any gaps I may have missed. Looking forward to our next meeting
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
Chapter 6 Discussions
SALMAH's post:
We had a great meeting Saturday night at our home. We missed each one of you who could not attend. Raj, Meena, Michelle and Vick were with us. Also had some other guests …my dad and Joyce, my very good friend.
The main message I received is being present is the best way to reduce or even eliminate the pain body and ego. When one is present the pain body dissolves, then one is truly present one is not reactive, but understands and accepts what is, without fighting it and can get the best outcome of the situation, by not reacting, but experiencing the present and being one with it. The pain body is made of old emotional baggage, and new emotional dramas that we can all be without. Let us be PRESENT, as it is the present we have received, which we should be mindful of.
The discussions focused around how to bring more presence into our lives. My dad had some life experiences to share and some of his own writings that shed light on some of the great truths…like definition of time, past present and future, courtesy, some universal truths in some urdu poetry and English as well. We had some “aha” moments and some moments of knowing these truths that are the common thread in all seekers of truth.
Looking forward to our next meeting -- Salmah
RAJ'S post:
On Saturday we met at Salmah’s house to discuss chapter 6 of A New Earth. We were a smaller group than normal, but we again had some new participants and it was great to hear some new perspectives. It’s a relief to confirm some truths and beliefs we have about the spiritual path, but a new insight can also enhance and deepen those truths, helping us to better understand and become more acquainted with them. Salmah’s dad, Mr Shafique, had joined us and he shared many of his poems and writings that he has accumulated over the years. He has spent a good part of his almost-84 years studying, contemplating and writing his insights about spiritual matters, and he has also published some of them in English, Urdu, and Farsi. I thought it was very refreshing to observe and listen to someone who is far more mature in these matters than any one of us.
Another new participant in our group was Joyce and it was wonderful to listen to her thoughts also, and have her consciousness join ours. As we have all acknowledged before, these group meetings are far more than a mere book club -- it’s about sharing moments of consciousness as a group. Having new participants adds new flavors to the spiritual recipe, and there’s never any indigestion … :)
In Chapter 6 Eckhart talks about breaking free from the pain-body and its destructive cycle. His prescription is simply put, that we need to be aware and very present in those moments when the pain-body has flared-up. When we remain present in those difficult moments we bring all the power of Now to bear on the immediate problem, and the problem usually goes away or we realize that it wasn’t a problem at all. It can seem like a frivolous or trivial prescription to just step back and be aware in those moments when we’re consumed by our rage or hurt or resentment, but it makes sense if we understand Eckhart’s main message of always being present. He elaborates quite a bit about this in his first book, The Power of Now, and continues with it in A New Earth. This same message of being present is also the main emphasis in Buddhist teachings, and is explained in different ways in other teachings also.
What I understand is that when we remain present and accept or surrender to whatever is happening, we allow another dimension to come in. Call it spirit, universe, God, present, or any other name, but it is far more powerful and effective than anything our mind can come up with. I was reading recently that some psychiatrists have started including Buddhist principles in cognitive therapy, and it’s the same idea of stepping back and away from the mind. In my own experience I can see that I feel very calm and relieved after I do some meditation and make an effort to step away from the mind. The same affect happens with physical exercise, and also with prayer. We thus break free from the pain-body and the ego’s eccentricity.
I would love to hear what others think, whether this makes sense, or if you disagree, or understood something else. This is an important point Eckhart is making, and we should get the most out of this book and the discussions we’re having – don’t you think? Of course the food and the drink and the socializing is always fun … !
Looking forward to our next meeting -- Raj
We had a great meeting Saturday night at our home. We missed each one of you who could not attend. Raj, Meena, Michelle and Vick were with us. Also had some other guests …my dad and Joyce, my very good friend.
The main message I received is being present is the best way to reduce or even eliminate the pain body and ego. When one is present the pain body dissolves, then one is truly present one is not reactive, but understands and accepts what is, without fighting it and can get the best outcome of the situation, by not reacting, but experiencing the present and being one with it. The pain body is made of old emotional baggage, and new emotional dramas that we can all be without. Let us be PRESENT, as it is the present we have received, which we should be mindful of.
The discussions focused around how to bring more presence into our lives. My dad had some life experiences to share and some of his own writings that shed light on some of the great truths…like definition of time, past present and future, courtesy, some universal truths in some urdu poetry and English as well. We had some “aha” moments and some moments of knowing these truths that are the common thread in all seekers of truth.
Looking forward to our next meeting -- Salmah
RAJ'S post:
On Saturday we met at Salmah’s house to discuss chapter 6 of A New Earth. We were a smaller group than normal, but we again had some new participants and it was great to hear some new perspectives. It’s a relief to confirm some truths and beliefs we have about the spiritual path, but a new insight can also enhance and deepen those truths, helping us to better understand and become more acquainted with them. Salmah’s dad, Mr Shafique, had joined us and he shared many of his poems and writings that he has accumulated over the years. He has spent a good part of his almost-84 years studying, contemplating and writing his insights about spiritual matters, and he has also published some of them in English, Urdu, and Farsi. I thought it was very refreshing to observe and listen to someone who is far more mature in these matters than any one of us.
Another new participant in our group was Joyce and it was wonderful to listen to her thoughts also, and have her consciousness join ours. As we have all acknowledged before, these group meetings are far more than a mere book club -- it’s about sharing moments of consciousness as a group. Having new participants adds new flavors to the spiritual recipe, and there’s never any indigestion … :)
In Chapter 6 Eckhart talks about breaking free from the pain-body and its destructive cycle. His prescription is simply put, that we need to be aware and very present in those moments when the pain-body has flared-up. When we remain present in those difficult moments we bring all the power of Now to bear on the immediate problem, and the problem usually goes away or we realize that it wasn’t a problem at all. It can seem like a frivolous or trivial prescription to just step back and be aware in those moments when we’re consumed by our rage or hurt or resentment, but it makes sense if we understand Eckhart’s main message of always being present. He elaborates quite a bit about this in his first book, The Power of Now, and continues with it in A New Earth. This same message of being present is also the main emphasis in Buddhist teachings, and is explained in different ways in other teachings also.
What I understand is that when we remain present and accept or surrender to whatever is happening, we allow another dimension to come in. Call it spirit, universe, God, present, or any other name, but it is far more powerful and effective than anything our mind can come up with. I was reading recently that some psychiatrists have started including Buddhist principles in cognitive therapy, and it’s the same idea of stepping back and away from the mind. In my own experience I can see that I feel very calm and relieved after I do some meditation and make an effort to step away from the mind. The same affect happens with physical exercise, and also with prayer. We thus break free from the pain-body and the ego’s eccentricity.
I would love to hear what others think, whether this makes sense, or if you disagree, or understood something else. This is an important point Eckhart is making, and we should get the most out of this book and the discussions we’re having – don’t you think? Of course the food and the drink and the socializing is always fun … !
Looking forward to our next meeting -- Raj
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
May 23rd Meeting Summary
We met on Sunday (a VERY, VERY hot day!) at Meenakshi’s house, and we had a great turnout. We talked about chapter 5 again, The Pain Body, and I think we got quite a bit figured out.
The pain body appears to be our beliefs, or past conditioning. I find it very interesting that many different authors refer to this issue in many different ways. I have heard them called beliefs, the thoughts behind the thoughts, rules, emotional baggage, unconscious programming, mental associations, unconscious assumptions, pain body, etc. They have almost as many names as God does. Whatever you call them, they are tough little buggers, for sure. They control our every move, our every word, our every thought. That seems like a big claim, an exaggeration. But maybe it’s not so far fetched after all.
Consider the fact that each and every one of us goes about our day in a different way. Each and every one of us will approach a situation in a different way, if we’re even willing to approach it at all. And each of us perceives the exact same person or situation in a different way. Granted, sometimes some of our perceptions are similar to others’, but never exact. Why is this? Because each of us has had different experiences, and our experiences form our beliefs. And since we continue to have more experiences every day, our beliefs continue to be shaped and altered, however slightly or drastically, all the time.
The problem is, they’re unconscious. We can’t always tell what our true beliefs are. They, like the ego, like to hide in the shadows with a remote control, making us do this or do that, sometimes against our better judgment. But in order to gain full control of our lives, and of our own minds, we must find out what they are, figure out which ones are actually useful to us, and change the ones that are not.
I’m excited for the next chapter, Breaking Free. Perhaps Eckhart will give us some powerful insight regarding how to identify our pain body and how to eliminate it.
One thing I have noticed in our meetings, especially the past few meetings, is that we are getting off the subject more and more. At first, it made me a little anxious, feeling this need to control things and “accomplish” something at these meetings. But I have since recognized the FAR more important benefit of all of us getting together every other week or so. And that is connection. Each meeting, I learn more and more about you all, and that makes me feel closer to each of you. No book could ever replace that, nor are there words that could accurately describe it.
I like the idea of including meditation and visualization at our future meetings. In fact, having a segment of time during our meetings to talk about these and what each of us does on a daily basis (or whenever we get around to it!) could be very enlightening. If anyone has any ideas regarding this - types of meditation, things to visualize, meditation or visualization CDs you’d like to bring in for the group to share, peaceful places to go, etc., please feel free to add to this.
Farewell, until our next adventure…
Tom L.
The pain body appears to be our beliefs, or past conditioning. I find it very interesting that many different authors refer to this issue in many different ways. I have heard them called beliefs, the thoughts behind the thoughts, rules, emotional baggage, unconscious programming, mental associations, unconscious assumptions, pain body, etc. They have almost as many names as God does. Whatever you call them, they are tough little buggers, for sure. They control our every move, our every word, our every thought. That seems like a big claim, an exaggeration. But maybe it’s not so far fetched after all.
Consider the fact that each and every one of us goes about our day in a different way. Each and every one of us will approach a situation in a different way, if we’re even willing to approach it at all. And each of us perceives the exact same person or situation in a different way. Granted, sometimes some of our perceptions are similar to others’, but never exact. Why is this? Because each of us has had different experiences, and our experiences form our beliefs. And since we continue to have more experiences every day, our beliefs continue to be shaped and altered, however slightly or drastically, all the time.
The problem is, they’re unconscious. We can’t always tell what our true beliefs are. They, like the ego, like to hide in the shadows with a remote control, making us do this or do that, sometimes against our better judgment. But in order to gain full control of our lives, and of our own minds, we must find out what they are, figure out which ones are actually useful to us, and change the ones that are not.
I’m excited for the next chapter, Breaking Free. Perhaps Eckhart will give us some powerful insight regarding how to identify our pain body and how to eliminate it.
One thing I have noticed in our meetings, especially the past few meetings, is that we are getting off the subject more and more. At first, it made me a little anxious, feeling this need to control things and “accomplish” something at these meetings. But I have since recognized the FAR more important benefit of all of us getting together every other week or so. And that is connection. Each meeting, I learn more and more about you all, and that makes me feel closer to each of you. No book could ever replace that, nor are there words that could accurately describe it.
I like the idea of including meditation and visualization at our future meetings. In fact, having a segment of time during our meetings to talk about these and what each of us does on a daily basis (or whenever we get around to it!) could be very enlightening. If anyone has any ideas regarding this - types of meditation, things to visualize, meditation or visualization CDs you’d like to bring in for the group to share, peaceful places to go, etc., please feel free to add to this.
Farewell, until our next adventure…
Tom L.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Chapter 5 discussions
We met yesterday at Michelle’s house to discuss Chapter 5. We were a small group, only 6 of us, but the feeling of being connected in consciousness was just as wonderful as before. Chapter 5 of A New Earth is large and complex and I feel it deserves more discussion, especially when others in the group are also there. I think we’ve arrived at the central message of this book, about the fundamental dysfunction within ourselves, which Eckhart calls the pain-body.
A simple definition of the pain-body is the energy from our negative emotions that has become lodged within us. It took some effort for me to understand what this means. Being always in the head as I usually am, it seemed to me that if I can just NOT think negatively then everything would be fine. But there is the connection between thoughts and emotions, so all those earlier negative thoughts have had a destructive impact on the emotions. Eckhart says all that negative energy lingers in us as the pain-body which can make our life difficult and is causing unhappiness and misery. The science of psychology and the practice of psychiatry both deal with such matters also, and I’ve always felt that Eckhart’s books are the true self-help books. Now we’ve come to a point where our spiritual and physical sides coincide and affect each other.
Heavy stuff! That’s why I say let’s take our time with this. This is when we really get to become our own therapists; to gain insight into our own personalities and whatever there is that may need fixing.
Yesterday we had a new member in our group, Brian, and he made some great points. He reminded us that such group gatherings help to raise individual consciousness. They also re-establish the connectedness which exists in all of us but which we tend to forget or ignore. This prompted Tom to ask a very interesting question: how can we be properly aware that we are all one at a spiritual level, and at the same time be conscious of our individual identity? This led to some spirited discussion but it was clear that these are precisely the sort of questions that we struggle with and try to find answers to. It’s not clear to me what each of us said about this point, so please share your thoughts if you remember.
Michelle shared the story of her sister getting some bad news during a Disneyworld vacation, and how it can ruin positive feelings for everyone. It seems like life throws these curve balls at precisely the wrong time. But one has to try harder to understand the hidden message in such events, and grow as a result. This is easier said then done, and it’s hard to justify why it is okay to ruin the good times children are having. Sam also had a similar story from her childhood, and it was clear that memories of such events lead to the accumulation of one’s pain-body.
Meenakshi commented that she wished she had the understanding she now has about the ego and built-in beliefs, and how she might have approached things differently. We also talked about many other things like career paths and different religions and growing up in rules imposed by society. Our experiences and perceptions of these things contribute to our pain-bodies, because we were most likely un-aware or un-present when they were happening to us. If we can truly understand this point about being present at all times, and find ways to practice and strengthen our ability to stay present, then we might stop inflicting pain to ourselves, and to others.
I would love to hear everyone’s thoughts about all this, and I’m looking forward to our next gathering.
A simple definition of the pain-body is the energy from our negative emotions that has become lodged within us. It took some effort for me to understand what this means. Being always in the head as I usually am, it seemed to me that if I can just NOT think negatively then everything would be fine. But there is the connection between thoughts and emotions, so all those earlier negative thoughts have had a destructive impact on the emotions. Eckhart says all that negative energy lingers in us as the pain-body which can make our life difficult and is causing unhappiness and misery. The science of psychology and the practice of psychiatry both deal with such matters also, and I’ve always felt that Eckhart’s books are the true self-help books. Now we’ve come to a point where our spiritual and physical sides coincide and affect each other.
Heavy stuff! That’s why I say let’s take our time with this. This is when we really get to become our own therapists; to gain insight into our own personalities and whatever there is that may need fixing.
Yesterday we had a new member in our group, Brian, and he made some great points. He reminded us that such group gatherings help to raise individual consciousness. They also re-establish the connectedness which exists in all of us but which we tend to forget or ignore. This prompted Tom to ask a very interesting question: how can we be properly aware that we are all one at a spiritual level, and at the same time be conscious of our individual identity? This led to some spirited discussion but it was clear that these are precisely the sort of questions that we struggle with and try to find answers to. It’s not clear to me what each of us said about this point, so please share your thoughts if you remember.
Michelle shared the story of her sister getting some bad news during a Disneyworld vacation, and how it can ruin positive feelings for everyone. It seems like life throws these curve balls at precisely the wrong time. But one has to try harder to understand the hidden message in such events, and grow as a result. This is easier said then done, and it’s hard to justify why it is okay to ruin the good times children are having. Sam also had a similar story from her childhood, and it was clear that memories of such events lead to the accumulation of one’s pain-body.
Meenakshi commented that she wished she had the understanding she now has about the ego and built-in beliefs, and how she might have approached things differently. We also talked about many other things like career paths and different religions and growing up in rules imposed by society. Our experiences and perceptions of these things contribute to our pain-bodies, because we were most likely un-aware or un-present when they were happening to us. If we can truly understand this point about being present at all times, and find ways to practice and strengthen our ability to stay present, then we might stop inflicting pain to ourselves, and to others.
I would love to hear everyone’s thoughts about all this, and I’m looking forward to our next gathering.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Chapter 4 discussions
This chapter hit home for a lot of people, as it had a lot of factors that are very relevant in our day to day lives.
The labeling of persons, situations and ourselves has a limiting effect on our lives. It only enlarges the EGO, which thrives on such labeling and only serves to enlarge the ego. Once we are aware of the ego and observe it in our day to day lives, the awareness itself will help disintegrate that ego...not completely sometimes ....but to a degree to keep it in check. The roles that we play in our lives, as wives, professionals, husbands, brothers, parents etc. are all helping in labeling us or helping us identify ourselves with the "label" we give ourselves....the roles are necessary and even good, but it is important to keep in mind that they are not all encompassing and we play many roles and there should be some balance in them...this is how I understood this point...please feel free to add on to this or correct me if I am going off the track.
Ekhart mentions in his book that once you do not know who you are...you have finally reached the point of the start of discovery into the self.... The discussion was interesting and I think the conclusion was that, that point of not knowing who your really are is the starting point of when all the labels are stripped away and we are a barren land or rather fertile soil where there is much to discover within. It is only the beginning of the discovery into the self and just the tip of the iceberg....I think we all agreed on that point.
Michelle pointed out at that there are many types of intelligence....factual, emotional, spiritual. One important fact I came away with is that being clever is divisive, but intelligence includes. Cleverness is enlarging the ego...whereas, intelligence is when ego is dissipated and includes awareness and wisdom.
Meenakshi, wondered why do we have to be so overly analytical of where we came from and where we are going....isn't more important to live a good life and do well what we are doing here. Also why the concept of my and your religion, or my and your place of worship...why not we all worship together and in harmony.
Jennifer said that she felt in conflict many times when she went to her place of worship as a young girl, as the worship was more a routine and ritual... and wondered if the prayer would have any effect and how could it have any effect, when it was not done sincerely. Knowing now that prayer or good intentioned thoughts can be done sincerely ...it was concluded by some ....that it could and does have a positive impact. Prayer and meditation seemed to be more effective and meaningful to some when done in the privacy of their personal space. I remembered a relevant saying that " thoughts make your actions, actions make your habits and habits make your destiny."
The discussion on how parents also tend to play out their roles hit a special note with me. I promised myself to be more present with my kids and just be there, rather than always playing out the parent role....it reminded me of the real purpose of being a parent, to teach the child to be present, which is the best "present" one could give them!
By the way the discussion of being present was also enlightening. When one is dealing with a relationship or situation that is played out again and again in ones mind...it is even more important to be present, so that in effect you concentrate on the person and the present moment, rather than reliving the past which is not relevant anymore. It is the best way to forgive and move on ..by being present and aware. It is the best way to appreciate another and move away from any past moments that need to be forgotten and forgiven. Sam had a wonderful example for us and it taught me a lot on how to forgive and forget and move on constructively in your life.
Ikram mentioned that we choose to be who we are and we chose at some level to be where and who we are now.
Raj mentioned that there is some wonderful wisdom in Kabalah and we all concluded at some level that all paths lead to God..(i think that was the name of the book that Raj brought out)
Tom, thank you for your insights and wisdom and Raj thanks for being the best moderator and one that keeps us on track. It is a pleasure to get together with you all and look forward to the next time. Please feel free to add anymore insights which I may have missed.
Salmah.
The labeling of persons, situations and ourselves has a limiting effect on our lives. It only enlarges the EGO, which thrives on such labeling and only serves to enlarge the ego. Once we are aware of the ego and observe it in our day to day lives, the awareness itself will help disintegrate that ego...not completely sometimes ....but to a degree to keep it in check. The roles that we play in our lives, as wives, professionals, husbands, brothers, parents etc. are all helping in labeling us or helping us identify ourselves with the "label" we give ourselves....the roles are necessary and even good, but it is important to keep in mind that they are not all encompassing and we play many roles and there should be some balance in them...this is how I understood this point...please feel free to add on to this or correct me if I am going off the track.
Ekhart mentions in his book that once you do not know who you are...you have finally reached the point of the start of discovery into the self.... The discussion was interesting and I think the conclusion was that, that point of not knowing who your really are is the starting point of when all the labels are stripped away and we are a barren land or rather fertile soil where there is much to discover within. It is only the beginning of the discovery into the self and just the tip of the iceberg....I think we all agreed on that point.
Michelle pointed out at that there are many types of intelligence....factual, emotional, spiritual. One important fact I came away with is that being clever is divisive, but intelligence includes. Cleverness is enlarging the ego...whereas, intelligence is when ego is dissipated and includes awareness and wisdom.
Meenakshi, wondered why do we have to be so overly analytical of where we came from and where we are going....isn't more important to live a good life and do well what we are doing here. Also why the concept of my and your religion, or my and your place of worship...why not we all worship together and in harmony.
Jennifer said that she felt in conflict many times when she went to her place of worship as a young girl, as the worship was more a routine and ritual... and wondered if the prayer would have any effect and how could it have any effect, when it was not done sincerely. Knowing now that prayer or good intentioned thoughts can be done sincerely ...it was concluded by some ....that it could and does have a positive impact. Prayer and meditation seemed to be more effective and meaningful to some when done in the privacy of their personal space. I remembered a relevant saying that " thoughts make your actions, actions make your habits and habits make your destiny."
The discussion on how parents also tend to play out their roles hit a special note with me. I promised myself to be more present with my kids and just be there, rather than always playing out the parent role....it reminded me of the real purpose of being a parent, to teach the child to be present, which is the best "present" one could give them!
By the way the discussion of being present was also enlightening. When one is dealing with a relationship or situation that is played out again and again in ones mind...it is even more important to be present, so that in effect you concentrate on the person and the present moment, rather than reliving the past which is not relevant anymore. It is the best way to forgive and move on ..by being present and aware. It is the best way to appreciate another and move away from any past moments that need to be forgotten and forgiven. Sam had a wonderful example for us and it taught me a lot on how to forgive and forget and move on constructively in your life.
Ikram mentioned that we choose to be who we are and we chose at some level to be where and who we are now.
Raj mentioned that there is some wonderful wisdom in Kabalah and we all concluded at some level that all paths lead to God..(i think that was the name of the book that Raj brought out)
Tom, thank you for your insights and wisdom and Raj thanks for being the best moderator and one that keeps us on track. It is a pleasure to get together with you all and look forward to the next time. Please feel free to add anymore insights which I may have missed.
Salmah.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Chapter 3 discussions
Our last meeting was to discuss chapter 3 which was about the core of the ego. We had a great turn out for the meeting and it was great to see some new faces around the table. In this chapter Eckhart describes the egoic mind as the idea that there is a sense of self, of I, in every thought, opinion, viewpoint, reaction, and emotion. We think of the ego as what tells us to react, when to react, and how to react. Also everyone's ego has been shaped differently based on their individual life experiences although underneath the surface we are all the same. Eckart believes that the ego thrive on identification and seperateness.
We discussed the fact that the ego strengthens itself by complaining, judging, and resenting others. I don't think anyone at the table admitted to having an issue with complaining but obviously we have all experienced it and no matter how awakened still do it.. But we did discuss the fact that often when we complain about others we are actually misinterpreting them or possibly even criticizing them about something that we ourselves do. We discussed the example from the bible when Jesus says "why do you see the speck in your brothers eye, but you do not see the log that is in your eye?" We all agreed that we need to be more "aware" and "concious" about how often we complain, resent, or criticise and think about what we are trying to gain from these thoughts.
Sam brought up a technique that she is trying to not say "I or me" when speaking to try and be more aware of the ego. Eckhart says that awareness and ego can not coexist. Eckart calls this personalizing, where you turn something into a mental position. The ego is a master of selective perception and distorted interpretation. The ego wants us to believe that our belief system is right and all the others are wrong. We all felt very strongly that religions do this as well races, nations etc., collectively. We talked about recognising in others when they are speaking (acting) from the ego so that we can reduce our defensiveness.
One of the other topics that we discussed was the war mind-set. Jennifer asked the question what are we supposed to do if someone attacks us or our loved ones? Even though eckhart warns of becoming what you are fighting we all agreed that we would still choose to defend ourselves. I think that tolle is talking about the bigger picture addressing this topic but this would be worth talking more about. This also ties into the ego's need to feel superior which is possibly where we could pick up at our next meeting. Thank you all for participating and I look forward to reading what you have to add to this summary. Michelle
We discussed the fact that the ego strengthens itself by complaining, judging, and resenting others. I don't think anyone at the table admitted to having an issue with complaining but obviously we have all experienced it and no matter how awakened still do it.. But we did discuss the fact that often when we complain about others we are actually misinterpreting them or possibly even criticizing them about something that we ourselves do. We discussed the example from the bible when Jesus says "why do you see the speck in your brothers eye, but you do not see the log that is in your eye?" We all agreed that we need to be more "aware" and "concious" about how often we complain, resent, or criticise and think about what we are trying to gain from these thoughts.
Sam brought up a technique that she is trying to not say "I or me" when speaking to try and be more aware of the ego. Eckhart says that awareness and ego can not coexist. Eckart calls this personalizing, where you turn something into a mental position. The ego is a master of selective perception and distorted interpretation. The ego wants us to believe that our belief system is right and all the others are wrong. We all felt very strongly that religions do this as well races, nations etc., collectively. We talked about recognising in others when they are speaking (acting) from the ego so that we can reduce our defensiveness.
One of the other topics that we discussed was the war mind-set. Jennifer asked the question what are we supposed to do if someone attacks us or our loved ones? Even though eckhart warns of becoming what you are fighting we all agreed that we would still choose to defend ourselves. I think that tolle is talking about the bigger picture addressing this topic but this would be worth talking more about. This also ties into the ego's need to feel superior which is possibly where we could pick up at our next meeting. Thank you all for participating and I look forward to reading what you have to add to this summary. Michelle
Monday, March 29, 2010
Chapter 2 discussions
We gathered yesterday to discuss Chapter 2 of ‘A New Earth’. The magic of this book is that it is not just interesting reading and therefore a great subject for discussion and mental stimulation. It is a book that helps us to transform as a person, to address the dysfunction that we have begun to see in our own selves. Maybe transformation was not the intent for some who pick up this book, but as we start to read, it becomes obvious that there is an answer here for those things in life that trouble us the most. It is an instruction manual for how to live our lives in the way our Creator intended. What sets this book apart from other self-help books is that it simply points us to the answer that is already within us, without making it seem complicated.
Prior to our meeting Subhashji had chatted with myself and Meenakshi, and he reminded us that in the first chapter, Eckhart tells us to do introspection and to acknowledge our own part in society’s collective dysfunction. As individuals we are at the mercy of modern society’s emphasis on hyper-sensuality, the continuous chase for pleasure in all its forms, from shopping and accumulating, to eating and drinking, to chasing money, even to chasing knowledge. But it is always short-lived and unsatisfactory. If it is not consumerism, then it is problems with relationships that are causing us misery. Happiness is meant to be a 24-hr thing, not just momentary, and if it comes and goes then it is not happiness. And so in Chapter 2 Eckhart begins explaining the causes and reasons why we have lost touch with that essential happiness, and he blames it all on our tendency to identify with the ego.
In this meeting we concentrated on the workbook questions which guide us along each chapter. They cover all the material and helped us to talk about all the major points. By listing those questions here, we can revisit them often and continue to contemplate the meaning and effect that the answers could have for each of us.
(1) On pages 30-33, Eckhart tells the story of a woman on the subway who appeared “quite insane.” Later in the story he realizes there were only differences in degree between that woman and himself – and all of us – because we all have a “voice in the head” that we mistake as our self. Start listening to that “voice in the head” as often as you can. Pay attention to any repetitive thought patterns, particularly negative ones about yourself, our life or other people. Write down any such repetitive thought patterns that you detect.
(2) In childhood, we start looking for a sense of self in the things we want and get. “My toy later become my car, my house, my clothes” (p. 35). Things themselves are not bad, but our identification with those things keeps us unsatisfied and unhappy. Investigate your relationship with the world of things, things that are designated with the word my. Be alert and honest. Take some time to honestly answer the following questions from page 38, using examples from your daily lives.
A. Do certain things induce a subtle feeling of importance or superiority? Do you casually mention things you own or show them off to increase your sense of worth?
B. Does the lack of them make you feel inferior to others who have more than you? Do you feel resentful and somehow diminished in your sense of self?
(3) "There are people who have renounced all possessions but have a bigger ego than some millionaires. If you take away one kind of identification, the ego will quickly find another” (p. 44). What do you think this means?
(4) “No matter what your body’s appearance is on the outer level, beyond the outer form it is an intensely alive energy field” (p. 52). Close your eyes for a moment and see if you can feel the life energy inside your hands. This is your “inner body.” Make it a habit this week to feel the inner body in your hands as often as you can. If you like, you can incorporate other parts of the body – feet, legs, arms, chest, abdomen and so on – into that feeling until you are aware of the inner body as a global sense of aliveness. This kind of body awareness not only anchors you in the present moment, it is also a doorway out of the prison that is the ego. Record your experiences here.
(5) Have you ever had the experience of standing before the open refrigerator, not really hungry, but looking for something anyway? Many people try to fill up their life with food, drink, drugs or other addictive behavior. The “need for more” can turn into insatiable hunger. The next time you find yourself reaching for something you think you want, get in touch with your inner body – your “essence identity” – and see what happens to your “need for more.” Record your experiences here.
(6) Whenever loss occurs, we can either resist or yield. “Yielding means inner acceptance of what is. You are open to life. Resistance is an inner contraction, a hardening of the shell of the ego. You are closed. … When you surrender, a new dimension of consciousness opens up. … Your action will be in alignment with the whole and supported by creative intelligence. … Circumstances and people then become helpful. … Coincidences happen” (p. 57-58). Have you ever had an experience of loss that you resisted? Have you had an experience of loss that you yielded to? What happened? Write about these experiences.
As a group we discussed each of these questions in a general way. It is gratifying to hear others confirm some of the same doubts and issues I have, and it is a pleasant feeling to have the sense of a shared journey. I noticed that there are less and less disagreements about the major points, even if we may not always agree on minor specifics. This goes to show that the essential truth, the essential message behind most (if not all) spiritual books, is consistent and becoming apparent as we continue to explore. Many interesting and thought-provoking comments were made by the group members, and I’m listing some of them here:
Meenakshi raised the question – Is ego the same as self-esteem? Best answer we came up with is that self-esteem is a subset of the ego, and having wholesome self-esteem is a positive thing. We all agreed, however, that the science of psychology has a lot more to say about this.
Lynne told us the story of someone at a wine-tasting party mentioning that her brother-in-law is the president of Afghanistan. This name-dropping is common when someone is trying to impress, but is the impulse coming from the ego and thus dysfunctional? It seems okay to be proud of associating with a famous person, but then why do we have a negative reaction? Is it the ego of the person telling the story, or the ego of the person receiving it, that is at play here? What would Eckhart say if we posed this question to him?
Tom made many comments which shows he has really thought through many issues. He had many good suggestions about how to take on a tough challenge like quitting cigarettes, but I liked what he said about inter-personal relationships. Many times people behave strangely towards us, but is it just them, or something we are doing to cause the things that are happening to us? This touches on the law of attraction, about how we ultimately are the cause of all that happens to us. Tom also made another interesting and significant point about work, about how the majority of us are not really working at what is our passion, therefore we should think of it as an opportunity to develop wonderful relationships at our place of work. Once we acknowledge that we are all connected at the spiritual level, then each person we meet is a divine happening. This is even truer for those people at work with whom we spend so much time.
Salmah told us that the real power of Now is that creativity can flow; therefore we need to be present as much as we can. This was a timely reminder of Eckhart’s message which he elaborates in his book Power of Now. If we want to achieve some goals, find solutions to problems, or bring about something into this world, we need to be creative, but creativity will only come in the present moment, so we have to be in the right frame of mind.
Ikram talked about how we should not resist but accept. But are we not obligated to fight when something is bad? The conclusion was that one should do what one has to do at any given moment but one can be in a state of inner acceptance to whatever is happening. What’s happening is happening (the is-ness as Eckhart says) so why resist?
Along the same lines, I mentioned what Eckhart says in his interview with Oprah, about how “worry pretends to be necessary.” When we think about it, we see that this is a powerful statement. We all worry at some point, and without fail we realize afterwards that worrying was un-necessary. Whatever was going to happen, happened anyway, and worrying is just a drain on mental energy. This ties in to the idea of not resisting, to how surrender opens up a new dimension, a wonderful dimension. Eckhart ends the chapter with this point.
Prior to our meeting Subhashji had chatted with myself and Meenakshi, and he reminded us that in the first chapter, Eckhart tells us to do introspection and to acknowledge our own part in society’s collective dysfunction. As individuals we are at the mercy of modern society’s emphasis on hyper-sensuality, the continuous chase for pleasure in all its forms, from shopping and accumulating, to eating and drinking, to chasing money, even to chasing knowledge. But it is always short-lived and unsatisfactory. If it is not consumerism, then it is problems with relationships that are causing us misery. Happiness is meant to be a 24-hr thing, not just momentary, and if it comes and goes then it is not happiness. And so in Chapter 2 Eckhart begins explaining the causes and reasons why we have lost touch with that essential happiness, and he blames it all on our tendency to identify with the ego.
In this meeting we concentrated on the workbook questions which guide us along each chapter. They cover all the material and helped us to talk about all the major points. By listing those questions here, we can revisit them often and continue to contemplate the meaning and effect that the answers could have for each of us.
(1) On pages 30-33, Eckhart tells the story of a woman on the subway who appeared “quite insane.” Later in the story he realizes there were only differences in degree between that woman and himself – and all of us – because we all have a “voice in the head” that we mistake as our self. Start listening to that “voice in the head” as often as you can. Pay attention to any repetitive thought patterns, particularly negative ones about yourself, our life or other people. Write down any such repetitive thought patterns that you detect.
(2) In childhood, we start looking for a sense of self in the things we want and get. “My toy later become my car, my house, my clothes” (p. 35). Things themselves are not bad, but our identification with those things keeps us unsatisfied and unhappy. Investigate your relationship with the world of things, things that are designated with the word my. Be alert and honest. Take some time to honestly answer the following questions from page 38, using examples from your daily lives.
A. Do certain things induce a subtle feeling of importance or superiority? Do you casually mention things you own or show them off to increase your sense of worth?
B. Does the lack of them make you feel inferior to others who have more than you? Do you feel resentful and somehow diminished in your sense of self?
(3) "There are people who have renounced all possessions but have a bigger ego than some millionaires. If you take away one kind of identification, the ego will quickly find another” (p. 44). What do you think this means?
(4) “No matter what your body’s appearance is on the outer level, beyond the outer form it is an intensely alive energy field” (p. 52). Close your eyes for a moment and see if you can feel the life energy inside your hands. This is your “inner body.” Make it a habit this week to feel the inner body in your hands as often as you can. If you like, you can incorporate other parts of the body – feet, legs, arms, chest, abdomen and so on – into that feeling until you are aware of the inner body as a global sense of aliveness. This kind of body awareness not only anchors you in the present moment, it is also a doorway out of the prison that is the ego. Record your experiences here.
(5) Have you ever had the experience of standing before the open refrigerator, not really hungry, but looking for something anyway? Many people try to fill up their life with food, drink, drugs or other addictive behavior. The “need for more” can turn into insatiable hunger. The next time you find yourself reaching for something you think you want, get in touch with your inner body – your “essence identity” – and see what happens to your “need for more.” Record your experiences here.
(6) Whenever loss occurs, we can either resist or yield. “Yielding means inner acceptance of what is. You are open to life. Resistance is an inner contraction, a hardening of the shell of the ego. You are closed. … When you surrender, a new dimension of consciousness opens up. … Your action will be in alignment with the whole and supported by creative intelligence. … Circumstances and people then become helpful. … Coincidences happen” (p. 57-58). Have you ever had an experience of loss that you resisted? Have you had an experience of loss that you yielded to? What happened? Write about these experiences.
As a group we discussed each of these questions in a general way. It is gratifying to hear others confirm some of the same doubts and issues I have, and it is a pleasant feeling to have the sense of a shared journey. I noticed that there are less and less disagreements about the major points, even if we may not always agree on minor specifics. This goes to show that the essential truth, the essential message behind most (if not all) spiritual books, is consistent and becoming apparent as we continue to explore. Many interesting and thought-provoking comments were made by the group members, and I’m listing some of them here:
Meenakshi raised the question – Is ego the same as self-esteem? Best answer we came up with is that self-esteem is a subset of the ego, and having wholesome self-esteem is a positive thing. We all agreed, however, that the science of psychology has a lot more to say about this.
Lynne told us the story of someone at a wine-tasting party mentioning that her brother-in-law is the president of Afghanistan. This name-dropping is common when someone is trying to impress, but is the impulse coming from the ego and thus dysfunctional? It seems okay to be proud of associating with a famous person, but then why do we have a negative reaction? Is it the ego of the person telling the story, or the ego of the person receiving it, that is at play here? What would Eckhart say if we posed this question to him?
Tom made many comments which shows he has really thought through many issues. He had many good suggestions about how to take on a tough challenge like quitting cigarettes, but I liked what he said about inter-personal relationships. Many times people behave strangely towards us, but is it just them, or something we are doing to cause the things that are happening to us? This touches on the law of attraction, about how we ultimately are the cause of all that happens to us. Tom also made another interesting and significant point about work, about how the majority of us are not really working at what is our passion, therefore we should think of it as an opportunity to develop wonderful relationships at our place of work. Once we acknowledge that we are all connected at the spiritual level, then each person we meet is a divine happening. This is even truer for those people at work with whom we spend so much time.
Salmah told us that the real power of Now is that creativity can flow; therefore we need to be present as much as we can. This was a timely reminder of Eckhart’s message which he elaborates in his book Power of Now. If we want to achieve some goals, find solutions to problems, or bring about something into this world, we need to be creative, but creativity will only come in the present moment, so we have to be in the right frame of mind.
Ikram talked about how we should not resist but accept. But are we not obligated to fight when something is bad? The conclusion was that one should do what one has to do at any given moment but one can be in a state of inner acceptance to whatever is happening. What’s happening is happening (the is-ness as Eckhart says) so why resist?
Along the same lines, I mentioned what Eckhart says in his interview with Oprah, about how “worry pretends to be necessary.” When we think about it, we see that this is a powerful statement. We all worry at some point, and without fail we realize afterwards that worrying was un-necessary. Whatever was going to happen, happened anyway, and worrying is just a drain on mental energy. This ties in to the idea of not resisting, to how surrender opens up a new dimension, a wonderful dimension. Eckhart ends the chapter with this point.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Chapter 1 discussions
Yesterday, our group gathered to discuss Chapter 1 of this remarkable book. Maybe it was just me, but I noticed a sense of excitement as everyone has begun to value these get-togethers. We all agreed at first that anyone who has absorbed just a few lines of this book feels an impact within themselves at some level. Michelle started our talk by observing that millions and millions of people had attended or viewed Oprah's webcast discussions, and that was two years ago. Since then many millions more are studying this message, including groups like ours. There is obviously a hunger for some kind of release and solace, probably the same age-old hunger that has been around for centuries and that gave rise to the world's established religions.
We went around the table asking what each person's opinion is about the difference between religion and spirituality. Some in our group said that these were two separate parallel influences in our lives. The rest of us felt that each religion's ultimate aim is to get you in touch with that spirituality. Religions began with the foundation of spirituality but their message has been corrupted and distorted over the years. Many people do not understand or agree with what modern religions are promoting, so the larger message of enlightenment is being obscured. Books like A New Earth are popular because they point to what we're seeking without all the dogma and social baggage.
An interesting side-note is whether this is just successful commercialism, or just a big hype. Well, is it? If one wants to debate then one can argue whether Jesus' message was all hype, or Mohammed's, or Buddha's. Just because it was neatly packaged and marketed by Oprah's business machine does that make it less relevant? Oprah has also promoted medical expertise and had shows like Dr.Phil and Dr.Oz about medical matters, so this book club is another useful service she is providing. My take is that commercialism has a benign side, and we are so conditioned that we are more likely to mistrust something that is NOT properly marketed.
In Chapter 1 the author lays the foundation for the cause of our dysfunction, that being our runaway ego. Or rather our tendency to identify with our egos, and to inflate everything mental and emotional. Samantha told us an interesting real-life example of what happens when we get bypassed for promotion at work. The ego gets badly bruised and negative energy is generated. How one deals with that negative energy (jealousy, anger, fear, envy, sadness, anxiety) is what we need to focus on, to make sure we don't get consumed by that negative energy and get further damaged. We then had long discussions about the ego, what it is, how it comes about, what is the historical context of the dysfunction, etc. Eckhart Tolle says it’s our obsessive thinking that is the root of the madness. He notes that human intelligence is capable of awesome destuctive power like the advances in technology for making weapons. But I pointed out that Eckhart also says human intelligence has produced a lot of good and wonderful things. Like a jetliner that can take you from Chicago to the other side of the world in a few hours. Or the impressive skyscrapers, or pyramids, or the Taj Mahal, and the many consumer goods we enjoy, all are examples of mankind's ability to think and conceive and produce.
The trick is to not get consumed by the ego, but what does that mean in our daily lives?
Ikram brought up the point about our thoughts being very difficult to control. Everyone can relate to this, as many times we are at the mercy of our runaway mind. And usually, at the end of this thinking frenzy, there is misery or a lousy feeling. Why do we obsessively think and think, assuming that the answer to whatever problem we have at the moment lies in our minds? Meditation is the cure for this condition, but we all agreed it is not so easy to do. Prayer is another answer. Salmah made a very good analogy of how we are seeking to look past a window into what we want to see in our soul, but the window is dirty and covered up with grime that we have created as we live our daily lives and think those daily thoughts. And so our work is to continuously clean-up that window so we can finally see through. This was a wonderful and poetic explanation, and drew a well-deserved applause from all of us. Helping us realize essential truths like this is the goal of studying such books and having such discussions. In that regard we had a successful and uplifting meeting and we ought to feel gratitude towards the universe for bringing us this message.
Many other things were said, and quite a few were off-topic. In order to get the most out of these meetings, I think next time we should stay close to the topics in the book. Those workbook questions that Meenaskhi found should help. I’m sure I’ve missed jotting down an important point or two here, so please fill in the gaps as you remember them.
Looking forward to our next gathering.
We went around the table asking what each person's opinion is about the difference between religion and spirituality. Some in our group said that these were two separate parallel influences in our lives. The rest of us felt that each religion's ultimate aim is to get you in touch with that spirituality. Religions began with the foundation of spirituality but their message has been corrupted and distorted over the years. Many people do not understand or agree with what modern religions are promoting, so the larger message of enlightenment is being obscured. Books like A New Earth are popular because they point to what we're seeking without all the dogma and social baggage.
An interesting side-note is whether this is just successful commercialism, or just a big hype. Well, is it? If one wants to debate then one can argue whether Jesus' message was all hype, or Mohammed's, or Buddha's. Just because it was neatly packaged and marketed by Oprah's business machine does that make it less relevant? Oprah has also promoted medical expertise and had shows like Dr.Phil and Dr.Oz about medical matters, so this book club is another useful service she is providing. My take is that commercialism has a benign side, and we are so conditioned that we are more likely to mistrust something that is NOT properly marketed.
In Chapter 1 the author lays the foundation for the cause of our dysfunction, that being our runaway ego. Or rather our tendency to identify with our egos, and to inflate everything mental and emotional. Samantha told us an interesting real-life example of what happens when we get bypassed for promotion at work. The ego gets badly bruised and negative energy is generated. How one deals with that negative energy (jealousy, anger, fear, envy, sadness, anxiety) is what we need to focus on, to make sure we don't get consumed by that negative energy and get further damaged. We then had long discussions about the ego, what it is, how it comes about, what is the historical context of the dysfunction, etc. Eckhart Tolle says it’s our obsessive thinking that is the root of the madness. He notes that human intelligence is capable of awesome destuctive power like the advances in technology for making weapons. But I pointed out that Eckhart also says human intelligence has produced a lot of good and wonderful things. Like a jetliner that can take you from Chicago to the other side of the world in a few hours. Or the impressive skyscrapers, or pyramids, or the Taj Mahal, and the many consumer goods we enjoy, all are examples of mankind's ability to think and conceive and produce.
The trick is to not get consumed by the ego, but what does that mean in our daily lives?
Ikram brought up the point about our thoughts being very difficult to control. Everyone can relate to this, as many times we are at the mercy of our runaway mind. And usually, at the end of this thinking frenzy, there is misery or a lousy feeling. Why do we obsessively think and think, assuming that the answer to whatever problem we have at the moment lies in our minds? Meditation is the cure for this condition, but we all agreed it is not so easy to do. Prayer is another answer. Salmah made a very good analogy of how we are seeking to look past a window into what we want to see in our soul, but the window is dirty and covered up with grime that we have created as we live our daily lives and think those daily thoughts. And so our work is to continuously clean-up that window so we can finally see through. This was a wonderful and poetic explanation, and drew a well-deserved applause from all of us. Helping us realize essential truths like this is the goal of studying such books and having such discussions. In that regard we had a successful and uplifting meeting and we ought to feel gratitude towards the universe for bringing us this message.
Many other things were said, and quite a few were off-topic. In order to get the most out of these meetings, I think next time we should stay close to the topics in the book. Those workbook questions that Meenaskhi found should help. I’m sure I’ve missed jotting down an important point or two here, so please fill in the gaps as you remember them.
Looking forward to our next gathering.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Images - Sacred Mirrors
After reading chapter one over and over again (I get something new out of it each time) I have really found that the images of the flower, crystal and bird have stuck out for me. As, mentioned these are symbols of enlightenment and purity in may religions and cultures.
With spring just around the corner I have thought more about the amazing things that the universe has given us in nature. What beauty and perfection - When I was younger I went crystal mining in Arkansas. I remember digging in the hard red dirt and finding these amazing quartz crystals. The dirt was so tough I had to use lots of force to get through but then found a shiny treasure. Looking back the dirt in this case could be seen as the chaos and everything in life we face that we must get through to to find our inner being. While at the core of each of us there is a shiny crystal there for us and others to discover but only with truely opened eyes.
Please check out the website I have attached- Alex Grey has been one of my favorite artists for years. He works in many mediums but my favorite of course are the painings please check out The Sacred Mirrors and read the introduction. I so look forward to our meeting on Friday!!
P.S. ****The title of this post contains the link to the website****
Thank you - Peace, love, unity, respect (PLUR)
Samantha
With spring just around the corner I have thought more about the amazing things that the universe has given us in nature. What beauty and perfection - When I was younger I went crystal mining in Arkansas. I remember digging in the hard red dirt and finding these amazing quartz crystals. The dirt was so tough I had to use lots of force to get through but then found a shiny treasure. Looking back the dirt in this case could be seen as the chaos and everything in life we face that we must get through to to find our inner being. While at the core of each of us there is a shiny crystal there for us and others to discover but only with truely opened eyes.
Please check out the website I have attached- Alex Grey has been one of my favorite artists for years. He works in many mediums but my favorite of course are the painings please check out The Sacred Mirrors and read the introduction. I so look forward to our meeting on Friday!!
P.S. ****The title of this post contains the link to the website****
Thank you - Peace, love, unity, respect (PLUR)
Samantha
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Chat session with Subhashji
----- Yahoo chat with Subhashji on Sat, 3/6/10 12:14 PM -----
SUBHASH SAGAR (11:59 AM): HARI OM!
SUBHASH SAGAR (11:59 AM): HOW DID IT GO?
SUBHASH SAGAR (11:59 AM): DID YOU ALL PLAN TO MEET AGAIN, IF SO WHEN? ? ?
SUBHASH SAGAR (11:59 AM): WAS ANY HOMEWORK TO BE DONE? ? ?
Raj (12:00 PM): hello subhasji
Raj (12:00 PM): yes we met last friday
Raj (12:00 PM): homework was to begin reading chapter 1
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:01 PM): GD
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:01 PM): WHEN IS THE NEXT MEET? ? ?
Raj (12:01 PM): probably next weekend
Raj (12:01 PM): i have to confirm with Meendakshi
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:01 PM): DID U ALL UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE IN A STATE OF MADNESS, AS ECKHART SAYS? ? ?
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:02 PM): THAT IS WHEN THE JOURNEY CD BEGIN
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:02 PM): MANY OF US PREFER TO CONTINUE TO LIVE IN THAT MADNESS
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:02 PM): SORRY I CD NOT YET POST ANYTHING ON THE BLOG
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:02 PM): U CD CARRY THIS CHAT TO IT
Raj (12:02 PM): yes i will do that
Raj (12:03 PM): i think i understand the state of madness
Raj (12:03 PM): i wd say most of us do
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:03 PM): AND NOW THAT U DO; DOES THE INNER WORLD BEGIN TO QUEST FOR A WAY TO BE EASED OUT OF THIS MADNESS
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:04 PM): AT LEAST ONE PERSON IN THE GROUP SHOULD HV A TASTE OF THAT MADNESS, TO BE ABLE TO SHOW IT TO OTHERS
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:04 PM): THAT IS TO BE ACHIEVED EVEN IF IT TAKES ANOTHER 2 MEETINGS
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:05 PM): EACH PERSON MUST DO THAT HOMEWORK AND COME AND SHARE WHERE ALL WAS THE MADNESS SEEN IN OUR CURRENT LIVING? ? ? ?
Raj (12:05 PM): i will pose that question in our next meeting
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:06 PM): AS THE GRP LEADER, IT WD BE GD IF U HV SOME REAL OBSERVATIONS ABT THE MADNESS WHICH U CAN CONVERT INTO LANGUAGE
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:07 PM): BY CONTEMPLATION U WD ARRIVE AT MANY CONCLUSIONS ANDMAYBE ABLE TO DRIVE THE DISCUSSIONS TO THAT POINT
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:07 PM): IT WD BE GD TO PASTE THIS ON THE BLOG AND RQST EVERYONE TO COME PREPARED FOR THIS DISCUSSION
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:08 PM): WE WILL SUBSTITUTE THE WORD MADNESS WITH DELUSION
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:08 PM): FOR THIS U NEED TO READ CH 7 ST 23 TO END
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:08 PM): FM YOGNANDJI
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:08 PM): ALL THOSE WHO HV IT CAN READ IT
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:08 PM): V CAN SEND MORE SETS WITH MICHELLEJI RETURNING TO CHICAGO ON 29TH FM KWT
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:09 PM): IF MORE THAN ONE PERSON READS IT, THEN THE VIBRATIONS BECOME STRONGER
Raj (12:10 PM): i will read the words of the gita out loud in our next meeting
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:12 PM): OK
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:12 PM): GD LUCK AND LK FWD TO YR PROGRESS IN THIS STUDY
Raj (12:13 PM): thank you subhasji
Raj (12:13 PM): i will be sending an email to the group soon
Raj (12:13 PM): and you will recv it also
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:13 PM): WELCOME ALWAYS
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:13 PM): AT YR SERVICE ALWAYS AND IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY YOU ALL HV AFFORDED ME
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:13 PM): THANKS VERY MUCH FOR IT
Raj (12:14 PM): we look forward to meeting with you soon
SUBHASH SAGAR (11:59 AM): HARI OM!
SUBHASH SAGAR (11:59 AM): HOW DID IT GO?
SUBHASH SAGAR (11:59 AM): DID YOU ALL PLAN TO MEET AGAIN, IF SO WHEN? ? ?
SUBHASH SAGAR (11:59 AM): WAS ANY HOMEWORK TO BE DONE? ? ?
Raj (12:00 PM): hello subhasji
Raj (12:00 PM): yes we met last friday
Raj (12:00 PM): homework was to begin reading chapter 1
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:01 PM): GD
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:01 PM): WHEN IS THE NEXT MEET? ? ?
Raj (12:01 PM): probably next weekend
Raj (12:01 PM): i have to confirm with Meendakshi
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:01 PM): DID U ALL UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE IN A STATE OF MADNESS, AS ECKHART SAYS? ? ?
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:02 PM): THAT IS WHEN THE JOURNEY CD BEGIN
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:02 PM): MANY OF US PREFER TO CONTINUE TO LIVE IN THAT MADNESS
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:02 PM): SORRY I CD NOT YET POST ANYTHING ON THE BLOG
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:02 PM): U CD CARRY THIS CHAT TO IT
Raj (12:02 PM): yes i will do that
Raj (12:03 PM): i think i understand the state of madness
Raj (12:03 PM): i wd say most of us do
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:03 PM): AND NOW THAT U DO; DOES THE INNER WORLD BEGIN TO QUEST FOR A WAY TO BE EASED OUT OF THIS MADNESS
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:04 PM): AT LEAST ONE PERSON IN THE GROUP SHOULD HV A TASTE OF THAT MADNESS, TO BE ABLE TO SHOW IT TO OTHERS
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:04 PM): THAT IS TO BE ACHIEVED EVEN IF IT TAKES ANOTHER 2 MEETINGS
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:05 PM): EACH PERSON MUST DO THAT HOMEWORK AND COME AND SHARE WHERE ALL WAS THE MADNESS SEEN IN OUR CURRENT LIVING? ? ? ?
Raj (12:05 PM): i will pose that question in our next meeting
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:06 PM): AS THE GRP LEADER, IT WD BE GD IF U HV SOME REAL OBSERVATIONS ABT THE MADNESS WHICH U CAN CONVERT INTO LANGUAGE
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:07 PM): BY CONTEMPLATION U WD ARRIVE AT MANY CONCLUSIONS ANDMAYBE ABLE TO DRIVE THE DISCUSSIONS TO THAT POINT
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:07 PM): IT WD BE GD TO PASTE THIS ON THE BLOG AND RQST EVERYONE TO COME PREPARED FOR THIS DISCUSSION
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:08 PM): WE WILL SUBSTITUTE THE WORD MADNESS WITH DELUSION
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:08 PM): FOR THIS U NEED TO READ CH 7 ST 23 TO END
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:08 PM): FM YOGNANDJI
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:08 PM): ALL THOSE WHO HV IT CAN READ IT
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:08 PM): V CAN SEND MORE SETS WITH MICHELLEJI RETURNING TO CHICAGO ON 29TH FM KWT
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:09 PM): IF MORE THAN ONE PERSON READS IT, THEN THE VIBRATIONS BECOME STRONGER
Raj (12:10 PM): i will read the words of the gita out loud in our next meeting
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:12 PM): OK
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:12 PM): GD LUCK AND LK FWD TO YR PROGRESS IN THIS STUDY
Raj (12:13 PM): thank you subhasji
Raj (12:13 PM): i will be sending an email to the group soon
Raj (12:13 PM): and you will recv it also
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:13 PM): WELCOME ALWAYS
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:13 PM): AT YR SERVICE ALWAYS AND IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY YOU ALL HV AFFORDED ME
SUBHASH SAGAR (12:13 PM): THANKS VERY MUCH FOR IT
Raj (12:14 PM): we look forward to meeting with you soon
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Introduction to 'A New Earth'
We had a wonderful gathering on Friday at Michelle's place. Vik and Michelle provided great snacks as well as a delicious dinner. Their explanation for all the wonderful goodies was that we need to nourish our bodies as we nourish our souls. All I can say -- thank you, guys !
Our objective was to get introduced to the book for those who haven't read it and for all of us to begin discussing and absorbing its message. As Subhashji had suggested we began our discussion by observing that there is much collective dysfunction in this world. This dysfunction is created by our minds and egos and is the cause of much misery, collectively in the world as well as individually in a person. The rest of the book will go into recognizing and addressing the symptoms and causes of this dysfunction, and I personally am very much looking forward to it. At the same time, we're putting the fun back in the dys'fun'ction of our group ... :)
What I like about our group is that we bring a variety of viewpoints. Michelle, Meenakshi, and Anna brought up points that showed healthy skepticism about life and its problems, which are not always so easily explained or resolved. Vik mentioned the book The Secret and how its message of positive thinking can transform your life in the immediate future. Salmah made the point about prayer being an effective tool in dealing with life's challenges. Minto asserted the idea that every problem has a solution that is most certainly already residing within you. Also, the parents in our group have made a conscious decision to include children in these meetings. Even if the verbal concepts are not fully understood, the younger members absorb the positive vibrations that we generate; and I think everyone benefits just being near an innocent presence or consciousness.
We are really fortunate to have a new member in our group, Robin Richardson, who is a professional spiritual teacher and psychic. There is a wealth of information on her website http://yourpsychicgirlfriend.com and I would encourage everyone to check it out. I think having Robin in our gatherings will add a wonderful dimension to our journey on the path. The presence of a learned person seems to make the journey more real rather than just a theoretical exercise.
The essence of Eckhart Tolle's message in this book is that we need to bring about a shift in our consciousness. The brief glimpse that I have had into this new consciousness has had a very dramatic impact to me. That is why I am so excited and happy to be doing this discussion, and I hope everyone will experience this shift, if they have not already had it.
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