Eckhart Tolle Archive

On Meditating Regularly

January 3, 2004 · Category: Buddhism, Eckhart Tolle, Meditation

This arrived today in my inbox: Some days, due to my schedule, I find it very difficult to meditate (I normally meditate for 20 minutes twice per day). Should I just not worry about it and try to do the two meditations the next day, or should I try to sit down and meditate for 5 minutes, or however long I have time for? Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated. I have a few suggestions. First, your idea -- about not worrying and resuming your regular meditation schedule the next day -- sounds to me like a good one. (Introducing worry seldom contributes to ...

Posted by Joshua Zader · View Comments

Mind Identification

November 22, 2003 · Category: Buddhism, Eckhart Tolle, Mindfulness, Mudita Forum

Just posted to Mudita Forum in response to David Axel's excellent kick-off essay for chapter three in our topical discussion of The Power of Now: I greatly enjoyed David Axel's kickoff essay for chapter three. I'm particularly glad he brings up the subject of "mind identification," as I find this to be one of Eckhart's most important, and yet most challenging, ideas to understand and apply fully. David writes: As much as I agree with Tolle's recommendation that we "disidentify" from what he calls "mind," I nevertheless remain unwilling to disown my mind or to treat it as anything less ...

Posted by Joshua Zader · View Comments

You Are Not Your Mind

November 9, 2003 · Category: Buddhism, Eckhart Tolle, Mindfulness, Mudita Forum

Just posted to Mudita Forum: My thanks to Mark for his spirited kick-off essay introducing Chapter 1 in our discussion of The Power of Now. In some ways, this chapter is a tour-de-force of challenging ideas. Here is my personalized summary of some of the key points from the chapter: * Enlightenment is not a superhuman accomplishment, but rather a natural state of "felt connectedness with Being." * The experience of Being provides the basis of the spiritual life; however, Being is not something supernatural, but rather the supremely natural: existence itself, prior to being differentiated, by the mind, into existents. * Being can ...

Posted by Joshua Zader · View Comments

Eckhart Tolle Discussion

September 21, 2003 · Category: Eckhart Tolle, Mindfulness, Mudita Forum

I just posted the following to Mudita Forum. I'm pleased by the growth of this forum and I'm happy that our membership—and the interest in the topics we discuss—has grown beyond dyed-in-the-wool Rand admirers. I expect this to make our discussions even more interesting and fruitful. As listowner, I'd like to express my pleasure at having the Zen meditation teachers Craig Richards and, now, Michael McAlister in our group. I appreciate their ability to bring the fresh Zen perspective to our discussions and dialogues. Ultimately, whether we agree or disagree on the topics we discuss is less ...

Posted by Joshua Zader · View Comments

Buddhism & Happiness

May 21, 2003 · Category: Buddhism, Eckhart Tolle

Thanks to Paul Hsieh for pointing out this tidbit from Reuters about Buddhism and happiness: Meditation Shown to Light Up Brains of Buddhists LONDON (Reuters) - Buddhists really are happy, calm and serene people -- at least according to their brain scans. Using new scanning techniques, neuroscientists have discovered that certain areas of the brain light up constantly in Buddhists, which indicates positive emotions and good mood. This happens at times even when they are not meditating. "We can now hypothesize with some confidence that those apparently happy, calm Buddhist souls one regularly comes across in places such as Dharamsala, India, really are happy," ...

Posted by Joshua Zader · View Comments