The latest live teaching session on the YouTube channel “Eckhart Tolle” offers invaluable insights into how presence can transform lives. The session, presented by Eckhart Tolle in partnership with Sounds True, concentrates on the notion of presence and its immense power.
Tolle elucidates the idea that presence—or a higher dimension of consciousness—awaits within everyone, ready to be realized.
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Understanding the Power of Presence
Presence is described as an often-forgotten dimension of consciousness. Tolle asserts that most people experience presence only in fleeting moments or not at all. He explains that these brief instances are usually misinterpreted as external causes imbibing feelings of peace, creativity, or vitality.
However, Tolle encourages viewing presence as a higher intelligence that significantly impacts various aspects of life. Presence can manifest in multiple ways, such as enhanced creativity and improved relationships.
When presence permeates an activity, it transcends ego and brings about a seamless, ego-free flow of creativity and action. Tolle emphasizes that presence diminishes the ego and liberates individuals from the confines of their mind.
Gateway into Presence: Inner Body Awareness
One of the key gateways into presence discussed by Tolle is inner body awareness. This form of embodied mindfulness directs attention away from ceaseless internal chatter to the felt sense of one’s physical existence.
Tolle combines this practice with breath awareness, a time-honored spiritual tool. He states that focusing on the inflow and outflow of breath is a simple yet effective way to reclaim consciousness from compulsive thinking. During the guided exercise, Tolle prompts participants to sense their breathing, shifting attention to different parts of the body.
He explains that this practice anchors individuals in the present moment, fostering a deeper connection with oneself. As attention settles on the felt sense of breathing and the internal energy field, thinking subsides, giving way to a profound feeling of stillness and inner aliveness.
Challenges in Practicing Inner Body Awareness
Participants who attempt inner body awareness may occasionally encounter discomfort. Tolle addresses this issue by acknowledging that as attention is directed inward, long-hidden emotional disturbances can surface. Anxiety, anger, or sadness might temporarily intensify when one tunes into the inner body.
Tolle advises recognizing these emotions as energy fields and not mistaking them for one’s identity. He underscores the importance of accepting their presence and using breathing techniques to release these uncomfortable feelings.
By bringing awareness to these emotions, sufferers can gradually transmute these energies into higher-frequency states of consciousness.
He cautions against solely identifying with these transient emotional states, advocating instead for a recognition of being the spacious awareness in which these emotions arise. Through consistent practice, painful emotional patterns can dissolve in the light of conscious awareness, leading to personal liberation and deeper inner peace.
Making Presence a Lifelong Practice
Maintaining presence amidst the fluctuations of daily life is indeed challenging, but Tolle offers practical advice. Rather than being concerned with sustaining presence indefinitely, he stresses the significance of being aware in the present moment. The key question, Tolle asserts, is whether one is present right now or lost in thought.
Every moment of presence counts, even if it only lasts for a minute. Tolle explains that short moments of present awareness interspersed throughout the day can gradually lead to longer periods of sustained presence.
With practice, individuals can begin to maintain an awareness of the inner body and the present moment, even while engaged in daily activities. This ongoing awareness harmonizes the “horizontal” dimension of daily life with the “vertical” dimension of deeper being.
In essence, the convergence of these dimensions manifests as a life lived in true mastery—a life where one’s deep essence intermingles seamlessly with day-to-day engagements. This intersection, says Tolle, is the fulfillment of the purpose of human existence.
In sum, the teachings of Eckhart Tolle on presence provide a pathway to a more harmonious and fulfilled life, grounded in the profound realization of one’s true essence.
Recommended Reading
“Stillness Speaks” by Eckhart Tolle is a profound exploration of the power of presence and the transformative effects of inner stillness. Through a series of short, impactful passages, Tolle invites readers to transcend the noise of the mind and connect with the deeper essence of being.
The book serves as a guide to experiencing the peace and clarity that comes from embracing the present moment fully.
Tolle’s teachings are simple yet powerful, offering timeless wisdom that resonates with those seeking a more conscious and serene way of living. Whether you’re new to Tolle’s work or a long-time follower, “Stillness Speaks” is an essential read for cultivating mindfulness and inner peace.
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