Sunday, August 24, 2008
7/16/08
Wow! Two days in a row writing! Oh, but I'm anxious. I don't know why but my head is spinning with spiritual thoughts, desperate thoughts, seeking thoughts. It's probably the combination of getting a letter from my aunt who is the most liberal, spiritual-seeking person in my family, that along with the theology class and reading the Dali Lama's "The Good Heart". I seem to be a spiritual tweeker, like a person desperately seeking his lost car keys in a craze swearing up and down that "they have to be here somewhere", that's the way I'm searching for God, for truth. The reading of Biblical scriptures, systematic theology, Buddhist philosophy and psychology. desert father writings, contemplative prayer brochures, mixed with my own meditation, prayer and yoga may seek like the oddest combination, but, but, but, "I know I left my self-realization here somewhere! God's self-revelation and his plan for me must be here somewhere!" Ha, ha! Like a said, a spiritual tweeker. I've never tried meth but I talk to people inside here and how you take a hit and your mind goes into one-track mode and you think or do little else than the one thing that you're stuck on. Yeah, that's me only crazier. 95% of my day is spend thinking about some spiritual or religious thing. The other 5% is being caught up in prison bullshits. Yeah, spiritual tweeker, truth seeker. I think I'm going crazy but so far I love it.
7/15/08
I Think I have just read the most touching, beautiful and personal paragraphs. No other writing has spoken to me and about what I'm feeling. It is an excerpt from "The Seven Story Mountain" written by Thomas Merton. It is a meditation of God speaking directly to Thomas and in so doing, speaking to me in a round about way also. Here it is:
"When you have been praised a little and loved a little I will take away all your gifts and all your love and all your praise and you will be utterly forgotten and abandoned and you will be nothing, a dead thing, a rejection. And in that day you shall begin to possess the solitude you have so long desired. And your solitude will bear immense fruit in the souls of men you will never see on earth.
Do not ask when it will be or where it will be or how it will be: On a mountain or in a prison, in a desert or in a concentration camp or in a hospital or at Gethsemane. It does not matter. So do not ask me, because I am not going to tell you. You will not know until you are in it.
But you shall taste the true solitude of my anguish and my poverty and I shall lead you into the high places of My joy and you shall die in Me and find all things in My mercy which has created you for the end..."
Well, that's it. Painfully perfect, accurate, personal and beautiful.
"When you have been praised a little and loved a little I will take away all your gifts and all your love and all your praise and you will be utterly forgotten and abandoned and you will be nothing, a dead thing, a rejection. And in that day you shall begin to possess the solitude you have so long desired. And your solitude will bear immense fruit in the souls of men you will never see on earth.
Do not ask when it will be or where it will be or how it will be: On a mountain or in a prison, in a desert or in a concentration camp or in a hospital or at Gethsemane. It does not matter. So do not ask me, because I am not going to tell you. You will not know until you are in it.
But you shall taste the true solitude of my anguish and my poverty and I shall lead you into the high places of My joy and you shall die in Me and find all things in My mercy which has created you for the end..."
Well, that's it. Painfully perfect, accurate, personal and beautiful.
7/12/08
So many ups and downs in here. Actually...that's bullshit. It's more like constantly treading water just to keep your head above the line. That's a good day. It is exhausting and sometimes you feel like you're going to drown. Like today. There are some things you know are coming and yet when they do, you still feel like you've been impaled on a red hot spike. Like my sentencing, my divorce, and my friend "S" finally visit and good-bye. I say friend but there really isn't any words to describe who she is and what she has meant to me. My guardian angel, the one I confessed my long to end it all when all this shit first hit. The angel that can to this very day ask me the simple question, "How are you?" and when I give my generic answer of "I'm fine" will stare intently at me and say "No you are not, what's really going on?" I then get blurry-eyed from the pain she makes me face, the mask she sees right through, and the frustration I fell because I can never fool her. It is looking into those eyes that I've told her things and shared feelings that I would never, could never, tell anyone else. All those visits and support she gave me through my county time and my time here on the hill, when 95% of the rest of my family and friends won't visit or write, they all just vanished like smoke in a strong wind, she is my rock.
There is absolutely no one else closer to me, dearer to me on a spiritual level. She is my counselor, my prophets, my hope, and the only physical presence in my life that shines God's grace and mercy on me. I gaze into her eyes and I literally see God's love working in her and working through her. What a delight to have her in my life! A wonderful mother, a loving wife, a strong, smart, beautiful Christian woman; she embodies everything I dare to dream for if I ever get out of here. If I could find a woman just half as good as her, I would live the rest of my years in bliss. And now she is gone. Oh, she'll write, of that I'm sure, but it will never be the same. How do you thank the sun for the warmth and life it has brought to you? How do you properly praise the flower for bringing the only fragrance of live and hope you've felt in the last 3 years? She was my spiritual sounding board, my right hand in all things of God and I have been amputated.
I've been left empty, a void has been created, my thirst left unquenched. I will miss her painfully every day. My last time seeing her for who knows how long and I couldn't do anything but express my own selfish fears and worries about her leaving. I couldn't even tell her how I feel/felt about her and what she means/meant to me. I made several attempts only to get choked up and have tears run down my cheeks. It took all my strength not to blubber and weep all over her. Can't have that, gotta man up, there are inmates and guards watching, you know. I'll save it all till I am alone tonight. Thank you for everything "S". I love you tremendously and will miss absolutely everything about you.
There is absolutely no one else closer to me, dearer to me on a spiritual level. She is my counselor, my prophets, my hope, and the only physical presence in my life that shines God's grace and mercy on me. I gaze into her eyes and I literally see God's love working in her and working through her. What a delight to have her in my life! A wonderful mother, a loving wife, a strong, smart, beautiful Christian woman; she embodies everything I dare to dream for if I ever get out of here. If I could find a woman just half as good as her, I would live the rest of my years in bliss. And now she is gone. Oh, she'll write, of that I'm sure, but it will never be the same. How do you thank the sun for the warmth and life it has brought to you? How do you properly praise the flower for bringing the only fragrance of live and hope you've felt in the last 3 years? She was my spiritual sounding board, my right hand in all things of God and I have been amputated.
I've been left empty, a void has been created, my thirst left unquenched. I will miss her painfully every day. My last time seeing her for who knows how long and I couldn't do anything but express my own selfish fears and worries about her leaving. I couldn't even tell her how I feel/felt about her and what she means/meant to me. I made several attempts only to get choked up and have tears run down my cheeks. It took all my strength not to blubber and weep all over her. Can't have that, gotta man up, there are inmates and guards watching, you know. I'll save it all till I am alone tonight. Thank you for everything "S". I love you tremendously and will miss absolutely everything about you.
7/06/08
Wow. I haven't written in my "journal" for awhile. I guess that is what happens when there is not much going on. My best friend T comes to visit every weekend. I haven't seen E in about a month now. My aunt from another state came to visit and it was wonderful but nothing I feel like sharing here. (Those are my memories to keep.) I have some more books on the way although I don't know why wince I have plenty to read to begin with. It's an addiction,k this book collecting. I had a poem published in a prison ministry booklet. I submitted another to Quiet Mountain Essays but I haven't heard back yet. I've been writing some more but nothing is edited or refined. I started coloring the mandala that I created more than 8 months ago. I continue with my theology studies, my religious readings and my fantasy/sci-fi readings. It honestly alternates to whatever my mood for the day is. I still watch my shows: The Office, My Name Is Earl, Bleach, Deathnote and various other anime. I still feel a strong urge to draw/paint/create but still too lazy to teach myself or practice. The same goes for the guitar I have in my cell. I still have my chapel job and am thankful for it because it is the only air-conditioned place in the prison, oh yeah, and the free coffee too. I recently redecorated my cork board where I gets to pin up my pictures. I took down all the pictures of my kids and ex-wife and other people I had hanging that aren't in my life anymore. I figured why torture myself any longer staring at them. The only people left up there are people who still are and are still in contact. The rest of the "pictures" are nature shots art I find interesting and religious materials. Well that's it for me. I wish everyone out there reading this a happy and safe 4th of July weekend.
Beauty Let Down
Staring out my cell door through the bars
Gazing out the thick cubed security glass
I lose myself in the beauty of an orange sunset
Only to realize it's the sodium security light, just come one.
A trick of the light;
A trick on my slight.
With a sigh, I go back to reading.
Longing
In a world of concrete walls, floors and walkways, my feet ache to feel a massaging walk in cool spongy thick emerald fields of fragrant grass. I long to dip my hands into crystal cool waters and have rivulets tickling me all the way down to my elbows.
In a world of steel mesh and bars colored gray and concrete walls that are white-washed, my eyes thirst to drink in flawless blue skies deep enough to lose yourself in. I long to feast upon rolling hills of flowers every color of the rainbow and watch them sway, dance and bow in the breeze. I long to gaze upon snow-capped mountains that majestically defy time and stretch their grandeur to the heavens.
In a world filled constantly with lies, sarcasm, profanity and hatred, my ears strain to hear the whispering sighs of the wind moving through the trees, the soothing laughter of mountain streams and the quiet meditative sounds of nature surrounding me.
Beauty Let Down
Staring out my cell door through the bars
Gazing out the thick cubed security glass
I lose myself in the beauty of an orange sunset
Only to realize it's the sodium security light, just come one.
A trick of the light;
A trick on my slight.
With a sigh, I go back to reading.
Longing
In a world of concrete walls, floors and walkways, my feet ache to feel a massaging walk in cool spongy thick emerald fields of fragrant grass. I long to dip my hands into crystal cool waters and have rivulets tickling me all the way down to my elbows.
In a world of steel mesh and bars colored gray and concrete walls that are white-washed, my eyes thirst to drink in flawless blue skies deep enough to lose yourself in. I long to feast upon rolling hills of flowers every color of the rainbow and watch them sway, dance and bow in the breeze. I long to gaze upon snow-capped mountains that majestically defy time and stretch their grandeur to the heavens.
In a world filled constantly with lies, sarcasm, profanity and hatred, my ears strain to hear the whispering sighs of the wind moving through the trees, the soothing laughter of mountain streams and the quiet meditative sounds of nature surrounding me.
7/01/08
Grace and Mercy
by #48018
It only hurts when I'm awake and when I'm asleep, dreaming.
It only hurts when hearing the metallic clank of my cell door and whenever I hear a child's laugh.
It only hurts when I reflect on the good times and when I remember the not-so-good times.
It only hurts when no one writes or visits and when they do write and visit.
It only hurts when...It only hurts when...It only hurts when...
(shh) stop. Quiet - breathe in.
(shh) Psalms 46:10 - breathe out.
"Be still and know that I am God."
In a single span of a breath
In the space between in and out.
Grace and Mercy
And my cheeks are wet with gratitude.
by #48018
It only hurts when I'm awake and when I'm asleep, dreaming.
It only hurts when hearing the metallic clank of my cell door and whenever I hear a child's laugh.
It only hurts when I reflect on the good times and when I remember the not-so-good times.
It only hurts when no one writes or visits and when they do write and visit.
It only hurts when...It only hurts when...It only hurts when...
(shh) stop. Quiet - breathe in.
(shh) Psalms 46:10 - breathe out.
"Be still and know that I am God."
In a single span of a breath
In the space between in and out.
Grace and Mercy
And my cheeks are wet with gratitude.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
6/16/08
Chapter 6: Breaking Free
Again this chapter is about the pain body and again it is just as easy to substitute the word demon. Tolle even makes the transition easier with words like "unholy alliance" and "a person possessed".
Chapter 7: Finding Who You Truly Are
This is so far the best-written and smartest chapter of the book. Why does it take 185 pages to get to real substance and advice on how to live happier? Still pantheistic themes but a lot of Zen and "living in the now" and mindfulness examples and exercises.
Chapter 8: The Discovery of Inner Space
This is a continuation of the previous chapter. Smart, insightful with good explanations of a quiet place you can reach with some lifestyle changes and meditation exercises. I would have liked to see less preaching on the evils of TV and more advice and exercises on different meditations, Zen and Christian.
Chapter 9: Your Inner Purpose
This is a pretty good self-help chapter about living in the moment and being mindful in everything you do. It ties in well with Chapter 7 & 8.
Chapter 10: A New Earth
Overall, not a bad conclusion to the book or more accurately the last 3 chapters of the book. It seems Tolle kind of hurried through it though. There are a lot of Zen, Sufi and Christian references without Tolle expounding on any of them. He could have kept the last 3 chapters as they were and cut the rest of the book down to at least half of what he wrote and came out with a better book.
In Conclusion: A New Earth is not a book for beginners or people that are in a deeper place in their spiritual lives or reading. It works well for the average, intermediate spiritual seeker and introduces good starting concepts on emptiness, space, ego and mindfulness. I would recommend it to a person that seems chronically unhappy or angry all the time and is hostile toward religions or God. The psychology in it is very down to earth and well written, but Tolle's theological ideas seem hastily put together and are most of the time inconsistent. It's a good jumping off point in reading about what is wrong with you but I wish he would have offered more solutions or at least added a recommended reading list for meditation, mindful living, etc. I think it will and does click well with some people and not so well with others. I guess that's okay since Tolle addresses that very issue in the book.
On a more personal note, I appreciate my aunt for sending me the book and though I don't agree with everything in the book, I do love reading all kinds of books. So my heartfelt thanks to her.
Again this chapter is about the pain body and again it is just as easy to substitute the word demon. Tolle even makes the transition easier with words like "unholy alliance" and "a person possessed".
Chapter 7: Finding Who You Truly Are
This is so far the best-written and smartest chapter of the book. Why does it take 185 pages to get to real substance and advice on how to live happier? Still pantheistic themes but a lot of Zen and "living in the now" and mindfulness examples and exercises.
Chapter 8: The Discovery of Inner Space
This is a continuation of the previous chapter. Smart, insightful with good explanations of a quiet place you can reach with some lifestyle changes and meditation exercises. I would have liked to see less preaching on the evils of TV and more advice and exercises on different meditations, Zen and Christian.
Chapter 9: Your Inner Purpose
This is a pretty good self-help chapter about living in the moment and being mindful in everything you do. It ties in well with Chapter 7 & 8.
Chapter 10: A New Earth
Overall, not a bad conclusion to the book or more accurately the last 3 chapters of the book. It seems Tolle kind of hurried through it though. There are a lot of Zen, Sufi and Christian references without Tolle expounding on any of them. He could have kept the last 3 chapters as they were and cut the rest of the book down to at least half of what he wrote and came out with a better book.
In Conclusion: A New Earth is not a book for beginners or people that are in a deeper place in their spiritual lives or reading. It works well for the average, intermediate spiritual seeker and introduces good starting concepts on emptiness, space, ego and mindfulness. I would recommend it to a person that seems chronically unhappy or angry all the time and is hostile toward religions or God. The psychology in it is very down to earth and well written, but Tolle's theological ideas seem hastily put together and are most of the time inconsistent. It's a good jumping off point in reading about what is wrong with you but I wish he would have offered more solutions or at least added a recommended reading list for meditation, mindful living, etc. I think it will and does click well with some people and not so well with others. I guess that's okay since Tolle addresses that very issue in the book.
On a more personal note, I appreciate my aunt for sending me the book and though I don't agree with everything in the book, I do love reading all kinds of books. So my heartfelt thanks to her.
6/16/08
Chapter 3: The Core of Ego
I really, really liked this chapter and the psychology of it. I felt like he was attacking Christianity a little when he is telling of the inquisition and the horrible crimes that were committed in the name of religion. But it wasn't the religion that was flawed but the people following it which further shows the broken-ness of humans. I think this is what Tolle was trying to say but he wasn't very articulate or graceful in doing so. I couldn't help but laugh out loud when Tolle states: "...you won't find absolute truth if you look for it where it cannot be found: in doctrines, ideologies, sets of rules, or stories." But yet here is another book claiming the absolute truth! Ha Ha! He also makes the statement, "The Truth is inseparable from who you are. Yes, you are the truth." This is (in my opinion) a false statement. The use of the capital "T" in Truth can only be another label for God and at best we are but an image, a reflection of God or Truth: not God or Truth itself. In the sub-chapter entitled "All Structures Are Unstable", Tolle tacks on a statement from Jesus about "eternal life" which is hastily put into place and conveniently not expanded upon. I can't help but feel that Tolle feels like he needs to back up his ideas and beliefs by pointing out Biblical scripture that is taken out of context and used to make his own point. This is nothing new though, many so-called Christians do it also, but it is still equally wrong.
Chapter 4 Role Playing: The Many Faces of Ego
This is where the book really shines. Tolle is a very intelligent psychologist and articulates very well the workings of the ego and the different roles we play to sustain it. He should stick with the psychology and basic practices of how to overcome it without bringing the sense of spirituality into it. He is not so strong in that area and his theology is inconsistent at best. In this chapter I cam across a paradox of the ego that creates suffering or a "hell on earth" but yet Tolle claims that suffering is needed to come to an awakening and rid the ego. Again on page 116, he quotes Biblical scripture to fit his needs of a psychological analogy. "Forgive them for they know not what they do." Jesus was not discussing the broken egos or psychological dysfunctions of his persecutors.
I'm actually done with Chapter 5 also but I have so many things to write about that chapter, that I need to collect my notes and write it in later. If Tolle's example of God is correct, then I am truly crazy because God speaks to me and guides me. If He is not a conscious, personal, intelligent being, then I just have voices and delusions, which I guess could be true, but I don't think so.
Chapter 5: The Pain Body
This chapter is very interesting. The concept of the pain body is unique and I agree with Tolle for most of the chapter. His writing once again is inconsistent though and he often contradicts himself. If he would only stick to psychology! Once he starts introducing mystical or spiritual concepts the chapter falls apart. It starts on page 129 when he misinterprets the term karma. He continues to use a pantheistic view of "intelligence" at least up until he starts describing the pain body. With phrases and words such as "primitive intelligence" that know when to sleep, wake, what buttons of yours to push to feed the ego, and with intelligence enough to recognize other pain bodies that it can use to beef up your suffering, it is obvious that this thing has a personality and he also states that it is separate from the harmony of the creative intelligence. Um...if Tolle subscribes to the God is in everything/Life Force/Universe knows best theory, then shouldn't the pain body be a part of the same universe? And if it is separate from the life force, then where does it come from? If there isn't a personable God involved in life, then why does this thing that is the opposite of God have personality traits? (Or for that matter why do we??) IN fact, I don't disagree with Tolle about the pain body at all and all the personality traits it has and how it schemes. I even like that he calls it a "psychic parasite". I just choose to call it what it really is...a demon. Do yourself a HUGE favor and go buy/rent the book "The Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis and read it side by side with this pain body chapter and see how eerily close they resemble each other. The Christian demon that Lewis writes about acts and reacts the EXACT same way that Tolle's pain body does. Tolle also climbs a slipper slope when he is describing collective pain bodies. One false step and a person could easily misconstrue or fall into such concepts of justifying a caste system, racism, sexism and even anti-Semitic thoughts. The collective pain body sounds very familiar to group or collective karma teachings I've read and I had a hard time swallowing those too.
I really, really liked this chapter and the psychology of it. I felt like he was attacking Christianity a little when he is telling of the inquisition and the horrible crimes that were committed in the name of religion. But it wasn't the religion that was flawed but the people following it which further shows the broken-ness of humans. I think this is what Tolle was trying to say but he wasn't very articulate or graceful in doing so. I couldn't help but laugh out loud when Tolle states: "...you won't find absolute truth if you look for it where it cannot be found: in doctrines, ideologies, sets of rules, or stories." But yet here is another book claiming the absolute truth! Ha Ha! He also makes the statement, "The Truth is inseparable from who you are. Yes, you are the truth." This is (in my opinion) a false statement. The use of the capital "T" in Truth can only be another label for God and at best we are but an image, a reflection of God or Truth: not God or Truth itself. In the sub-chapter entitled "All Structures Are Unstable", Tolle tacks on a statement from Jesus about "eternal life" which is hastily put into place and conveniently not expanded upon. I can't help but feel that Tolle feels like he needs to back up his ideas and beliefs by pointing out Biblical scripture that is taken out of context and used to make his own point. This is nothing new though, many so-called Christians do it also, but it is still equally wrong.
Chapter 4 Role Playing: The Many Faces of Ego
This is where the book really shines. Tolle is a very intelligent psychologist and articulates very well the workings of the ego and the different roles we play to sustain it. He should stick with the psychology and basic practices of how to overcome it without bringing the sense of spirituality into it. He is not so strong in that area and his theology is inconsistent at best. In this chapter I cam across a paradox of the ego that creates suffering or a "hell on earth" but yet Tolle claims that suffering is needed to come to an awakening and rid the ego. Again on page 116, he quotes Biblical scripture to fit his needs of a psychological analogy. "Forgive them for they know not what they do." Jesus was not discussing the broken egos or psychological dysfunctions of his persecutors.
I'm actually done with Chapter 5 also but I have so many things to write about that chapter, that I need to collect my notes and write it in later. If Tolle's example of God is correct, then I am truly crazy because God speaks to me and guides me. If He is not a conscious, personal, intelligent being, then I just have voices and delusions, which I guess could be true, but I don't think so.
Chapter 5: The Pain Body
This chapter is very interesting. The concept of the pain body is unique and I agree with Tolle for most of the chapter. His writing once again is inconsistent though and he often contradicts himself. If he would only stick to psychology! Once he starts introducing mystical or spiritual concepts the chapter falls apart. It starts on page 129 when he misinterprets the term karma. He continues to use a pantheistic view of "intelligence" at least up until he starts describing the pain body. With phrases and words such as "primitive intelligence" that know when to sleep, wake, what buttons of yours to push to feed the ego, and with intelligence enough to recognize other pain bodies that it can use to beef up your suffering, it is obvious that this thing has a personality and he also states that it is separate from the harmony of the creative intelligence. Um...if Tolle subscribes to the God is in everything/Life Force/Universe knows best theory, then shouldn't the pain body be a part of the same universe? And if it is separate from the life force, then where does it come from? If there isn't a personable God involved in life, then why does this thing that is the opposite of God have personality traits? (Or for that matter why do we??) IN fact, I don't disagree with Tolle about the pain body at all and all the personality traits it has and how it schemes. I even like that he calls it a "psychic parasite". I just choose to call it what it really is...a demon. Do yourself a HUGE favor and go buy/rent the book "The Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis and read it side by side with this pain body chapter and see how eerily close they resemble each other. The Christian demon that Lewis writes about acts and reacts the EXACT same way that Tolle's pain body does. Tolle also climbs a slipper slope when he is describing collective pain bodies. One false step and a person could easily misconstrue or fall into such concepts of justifying a caste system, racism, sexism and even anti-Semitic thoughts. The collective pain body sounds very familiar to group or collective karma teachings I've read and I had a hard time swallowing those too.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
6/8/08
Crazy busy this week. I did read the next few chapters of "A New Earth" though; here are some thoughts and notes.
Chapter 2 Ego: The Current State of Humanity
For the most part, I really enjoyed this chapter and his descriptions on how the ego works and how it gives rise to suffering. The statement on page 41 - "One thing we do know: Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness." Considering Tolle has yet to attribute God as a personal conscience being I fail to see how a power life "Life" can know anything and recognize what you need. I would rewrite it..."God will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your soul so you will be a part of Him again." Tolle also uses the imagery of a person on his/her deathbed when all external worldly things fall away and you get to the root of who you really are. But prison works for some people also. Tolle also uses the term "I AM" to describe your inner "being". I wonder if he used this term because that is the name of God translated into English or if it was unintentional. Like I said, the chapter on a whole is pretty good but if falls apart on the last page and in his summary on page 58. The statement on negativity about "...the universe will not be on your side; life will not be helpful." Doesn't that contradict his earlier statement that Life will give you what you need to evolve? On the same page, he falls away from his pantheistic view of God and uses the term "creative intelligence" and also states that once you are aligned with this creative intelligence then "coincidences happen". But it is not a coincidence if you are dealing with an intelligent creative force or a personal God and it is not a coincidence if that is what is supposed to happen once you are in harmony with an unintelligent god or life force of universal laws. So either way the statement is wrong. So far (and it is early in the book) I fail to see how Tolle can interchange the words "Universe", "Life", "Creative Intelligence" and "God". If he is in the mind set of God as a pantheistic "presence" a law of the universe to be viewed as other laws of the universe such as gravity or if you want to be spiritual, Karma, then there is no room for intelligence at all. Gravity doesn't think and act on which objects to interact with and which ones to ignore; it acts on all things equally, it is a force. I'm not saying a pantheistic view of God is wrong, but I do wish he would pick a viewpoint and terminology to go with it and stick with it. Whether you agree with his point of views or not, the book would be stronger if he did so. In my opinion all would be tied together if he just came out and said there is a personal intelligent being that oversees all, including the forces of the universe, that we call God. Well, that's all my thoughts on Chapter 2.
6/01/08
Chapter 1 - Ego: The Flowering of Human Consciousness
I actually agree with Tolle's definition of ego and the allusions he draws from Buddhist sources and some western psychology. I do believe there needs to be a shift in basic society conscience but I see no evidence of this already happening. He makes the case of the "shift" by giving examples of people moving away from "dogma" and religion and shows evidence that people are becoming more "spiritual" witghout gluing themselves to a belief system or religions. I like his writings on sea creatures evolving adn coming onto land to become something else or reptiles sprouting wings and turning into birds but if he (Tolle) is an evolutionist then why does he add mystical and spiritual properties to these events? And if he is spiritual then what or who is the driving force for the creaturesw wanting to evolve in the first place? IN fact, in the first chapter which outlines what the rest of the book is about, Tolle lays (it seems so far) all the work of evolving on the individual, there is no mention of a divine personal power or God at all. I also strongly disagree with his statement: "If evil has any reality-and it has a relative, not an absolute, reality-..." Um, spend some time in prison and stare into the eyes of a man who has raped and murdered several women and children and swee no remorse, regret and still in a rage, and tell me that is "relative" not absolute evil. There is absolute wrong or evil in this world otherwise what is that "inner voice" Tolle talks about doing whispering moral rights and wrongs to you? If all is relative, then why have a shift in consciousness at all? If it is all relative, then why is anybody in prison?
6/01/08
Okay. Here's the deal. I was sent this book called "A New Earth" written by Eckhart Tolle. To tell you the truth this book already has a strike against it in that it has been praised and pushed upon the masses by Oprah. It's not that I hate Oprah, in fact, she has given and helped out very noble causes but that is not the definition of a noble person. She still comes off as a little self-righteous when she does these things. Or maybe I just don't like rich people, ha-ha. Anyway, Oprah aside, I'm going to try to read this self-help spirituality book with an open mind. Butg again truth be told, between my own, um, discoveries and studies and what I believe to be divine revelation, I don't have much use for another person to tell me "what it is all about". Not only that but the truths that have been revealed to me are so obviously concrete and absolute to me that I run the risk of being overly critical of anything that I can now sniff out as bullshit, but on the other hand, I can also confirm to alot of teachings that I know to be true. So I'm going to read the book one chapter at a time and make my own comments on it and write them here. Not that I am any expert on anything, but I'll do what I can and write what I can, what else is there to do?
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