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Beyond the Mind’s Clutter: Finding Presence | Eckhart Tolle

Eckhart Tolle・14 minutes read

Individuals are encouraged to disconnect from technology and focus on their true essence by stilling their stream of thinking, emphasizing the importance of presence over personal history or thoughts. Accessing stillness is inherent in every human and can be achieved through moments of being present, allowing for a shift in response to life's challenges towards acceptance and action.

Insights

  • The question "Who am I?" cannot be answered through thoughts or words but requires a sense of presence or beingness, emphasizing the importance of stilling the stream of thinking.
  • Decluttering the mind and accessing inner consciousness is inherent in every human, achievable through simple practices like disconnecting from technology, engaging with pets, or observing the sky, leading to increased presence and alertness.

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Recent questions

  • How can individuals disconnect from technology?

    By taking a moment to reflect on their true essence without delving into past memories, individuals can disconnect from technology. This involves sensing their presence without relying on personal history or thoughts, emphasizing the importance of stilling the stream of thinking. By focusing on being fully present and alert, individuals can access a sense of stillness that is inherent in every human. Engaging in physical activities or interacting with pets can also help free individuals from their thoughts, leading to feelings of intense aliveness.

  • What is the significance of stillness in life?

    Stillness plays a crucial role in allowing individuals to be fully present and alert. By contrast with the continuous stream of thinking, accessing stillness can provide a sense of spaciousness within oneself. This inner dimension of consciousness does not require extensive effort or time to achieve, as it is inherent in every human being. By decluttering the mind and withdrawing from thinking, individuals can become more present and access this dimension of spaciousness.

  • How does spiritual awakening impact life challenges?

    Spiritual awakening does not eliminate life challenges but changes one's response to them. As individuals evolve, they face more complex issues, but spiritual awakening fosters acceptance and action without amplifying problems. By embracing life's challenges and shifting focus from unhappiness to present awareness and spaciousness, individuals can navigate difficulties with a different perspective.

  • Can fame or material wealth guarantee lasting happiness?

    No, achieving fame or material wealth does not guarantee lasting happiness. Challenges persist in every new situation, regardless of external success. Embracing life's challenges while spiritually awakening can shift one's focus from unhappiness to present awareness and spaciousness, leading to a different outlook on life.

  • How can individuals access the dimension of spaciousness within themselves?

    Individuals can access the dimension of spaciousness within themselves by decluttering the mind and withdrawing from thinking. This process is instantaneous and involves becoming fully present and alert. By looking at the sky or engaging in activities that free them from thoughts, individuals can tap into the inherent stillness and spaciousness that exists within every human being. This perspective offers a new way to approach life's challenges and see them in a different light.

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Summary

00:00

Discovering Presence: Stillness Amid Modern Chaos

  • Encourages individuals to take a moment to disconnect from technology and reflect on their true essence without delving into past memories.
  • Urges people to sense their presence without relying on personal history or thoughts, emphasizing the importance of stilling the stream of thinking.
  • Highlights the revelation that the question "Who am I?" cannot be answered truthfully through thoughts or words but rather through a sense of presence or beingness.
  • Emphasizes the significance of stillness in allowing individuals to be fully present and alert, contrasting it with the continuous stream of thinking.
  • Points out that access to stillness is inherent in every human and does not require extensive effort or time to achieve.
  • Discusses how interactions with pets or engaging in physical activities can momentarily free individuals from their thoughts, leading to feelings of intense aliveness.
  • Acknowledges that while some individuals may struggle to access this inner dimension of consciousness, others are beginning to awaken to it.
  • Warns against the cluttering of the mind by modern devices like phones and social media, which hinder the naturally occurring spaciousness in people's lives.
  • Suggests that decluttering the mind is an instantaneous process of withdrawing from thinking and becoming present, using examples like looking at the sky to access spaciousness.
  • Offers a new translation of the concept of the "kingdom of heaven" as the dimension of spaciousness within individuals, providing a perspective from which life's challenges can be seen in a different light.

19:04

"Challenges and Spiritual Awakening in Life"

  • Life presents challenges to all life forms, including humans, with increased evolution leading to more complex issues. Spiritual awakening does not eliminate life challenges but changes one's response to them, fostering acceptance and action without amplifying problems.
  • Despite misconceptions, achieving fame or material wealth does not guarantee lasting happiness, as challenges persist in every new situation. Embracing life's challenges while spiritually awakening shifts focus from unhappiness to present awareness and spaciousness.
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