17: Meeting New People & Eckhart Tolle’s Teachings
On this episode of Living with Tolle, we explore how Eckhart Tolle’s teachings can help us meet new people. We discuss the oneness of Life, and how “other people” are just different manifestations of the one life force. With this awareness, meeting new people becomes a joyous and conscious practice in honoring the life force within all of us.
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Key Insights from this episode:
Leo opens by talking about his adventures to visit Greg in California and how his shyness keeps him from asking for help and meeting new people. He goes on to share his new awareness that these other people are different aspects of the oneness that “I am.” The challenge continues to be the ego and the preconceived notions, judgments, and stereotypes that the ego uses to maintain separateness. But with the new awareness of the oneness that we are, these differences quickly disappear.
Greg discusses teachings of non-dualism, such as Eckhart Tolle’s, and how they point to this thrust of the ego to protect and solidify its separateness. The ego’s need for self defense limits a broader perspective, an awareness of this oneness, and clings to thoughts that differentiate, puff up, and enhance the identity of the ego.
Leo shares a practical approach to meeting new people. Observe how all of the uniqueness you spot in other people are simply manifestations of life playing through form. Try to see these people as life energy and be aware of the egoic judgments going on in your mind. Being aware of both the judgments and the how life is playing will help shift how you relate to the people around you.
Greg shares an explanation of forgiveness as the ability to look past the conditioning or the dysfunction of another person to perceive the life force that lies at the essence of their being. From this level of consciousness, everyone you meet is already forgiven because the essence, the loving nature of every human, is acknowledge – and not their conditioning. And a step further is to look at how your stories are being projected onto another – even though that judgment or expectation isn’t necessarily true?
Leo and Greg go on to talk about dating and meeting new people. Meeting people from a state of consciousness and presence will enable you to fully explore the connection that is there with everyone you meet. Being in the Now can allow you to enjoy dating without any expectations. Also, meeting people from a state of presence will allow you to be assured in your awareness if that person is not “the one.” How can you trust your intuition to sense and accept the reality that your date may not be your idealized “soul mate”? Presence and consciousness will allow you to refrain from projecting onto the other person something that they are not, including a role in your stories.
Cultivating presence, accepting the Now, and being aware of the one Life that we all are, will allow you to meet and enjoy the people around you in completely new ways.
Questions for Deeper Reflection:
How can you respect and honor the life essence in all the forms, and other people, around you?
How would it change your life to grown in presence power so you can meet new people from a position of being available for life?
Our recent Projects
- Greg’s new song Better Friends, his new recording, music video and website www.bebetterfriends.com.
- Leo’s newly launched Eckhart Tolle iPhone Applications. Read about them and view video demos *here*
Comment by Mary on 11 September 2009:
Greg & Leo,
I want to say thanks for your work and posting the podcasts. I read The Power of Now and directly followed that with A New Earth in January and February of this year. I found your podcasts on Itunes and downloaded them, listening to them on my commute 30 minutes to work. I must admit, initially I was turned off by the introduction - Greg’s claim of “expert teacher of Eckhart Tolle’s work” or such - it seemed that to claim oneself to be an “expert” teacher was of the ego, and was comforted to realize more recent podcasts did not include this claim.
Recently, I had an altercation with a fellow team member at work that really made me very angry and resulted in my ego reacting fully and completely - not a pretty site. I wanted to tell you that I had recently downloaded the more recent podcasts and that the edition #17 Meeting New People really, really, really (!!!) helped me deal with this situation.
Yet…without developing or indulging in a “story” about this situation, I am not sure as to how to stand up for myself when someone basically runs over me. It’s not my nature to be a doormat, and I don’t know whether I can escape the emotions of the situation to address it so that it does not happen again. We are two strong personalities and we must work closely together in a small healthcare office environment. (Maybe I can’t prevent it from happening again and the only thing I can really adjust is my reaction to it??)
I wanted you to know that by listening to your words and works, it helps to bring the message of Eckhart’s work to me in “real time”.
Thanks alot - you are making a difference in this complicated world.
In peace,
Mary
Decatur, Alabama
Comment by Greg on 14 September 2009:
Thanks Mary for your message and feedback!
I really thought the self proclaimed expert blurb was spot on - but Leo was present enough to think otherwise and took it out
What is more important for you is not what I proclaim, but your (or your ego’s) reaction. What else are you “turned off” by - and is it your ego reacting or is it coming from a deeper space within?
Regarding your situation at work, so glad to hear that the podcast really helped you deal with the situation! It sounds like your work environment and your co-worker are great teachers for you.
If you look at the situation from the perspective of the teaching, then the ego’s angry outburst was a blessing because the ego’s over-reaction completely exposed it. That is the gift!! Your ego must over-react, and when it does it exposes itself to the light of your consciousness.
This exposure enables you to withdraw energy from your ego, which will allow you to consciously react the next time a similar event happens. Then you are consciously interacting with the situation from your state of presence.
If you are interacting with any life situation grounded in your state of presence, then you are never under-reacting (again the ego) and being a doormat for someone’s ego to run over. From your state of presence, you will be able to consciously address the situation and a win/win outcome is more likely to be achieved. As is stated in the Tao Te Ching, you will be kindhearted as a grandmother, yet alert as a warrior in enemy territory - and right action flows from this space.
Cultivating your state of presence is the key - and glad to hear the podcasts are supporting you in this area!
All the best Mary on your journey!
Greg