LWT 34 | Enjoyment in Everyday Life – Teachings of Eckhart Tolle
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:28 — 46.0MB)
On this episode of Living With Tolle: We focus on “Enjoyment,” the second modality of “Awakened Doing,” as explained by Eckhart Tolle in A New Earth.
Key Highlights From Our Conversation:
Awakened Doing: In A New Earth (Chapter 10) Tolle describes Awakened Doing as “the alignment of your outer purpose – what you do – with your inner purpose – awakening and staying awake.”
Acceptance: whether it’s cold soup, spilt milk or a dirty diaper, accept the reality of this moment as it is. Enjoyment: Experiencing the “joy of being” in everyday activities & through creative expression. Enthusiasm: Combining what you enjoy with a goal or vision.
Be aware of what keeps us from experiencing enjoyment in the moment : Ego
The ego is never satisfied with the present moment and has a voracious appetite for more. The ego looks for enjoyment in a projected future, resisting the flow of enjoyment available in the present moment. How to generate awareness of this condition so the power of the ego is diminished in your life.
Spiritual practices you can use to discover greater enjoyment
The key is your state of presence. Engage in any spiritual practice that will allow your state of presence to expand.
Eckhart offers a specific spiritual practice on page 299 of A New Earth. Make a list of daily activities that you find tedious, stressful or irritating. Then bring a greater degree of awareness to them as you engage in these activities throughout the day, sensing the joy of being flow through you as they become vehicles for greater awareness.
Feel enjoyment by engaging in activities that naturally allow for a timeless experience to arise
When you are engaged in activities that naturally permit a timeless experience of life they are typically activities you “enjoy.” These activities can range from sewing to working on the car, from fishing and hiking to playing the piano. What creative activities or hobbies do you partake in that allow for a timeless experience to arise?
Questions to continue the conversation:
- Do you see value in Eckhart Tolle’s concept of Awakened Doing?
- Have you experienced enjoyment as a flow of energy from within?
- Does the spiritual practice discussed on today’s episode seem practical?
- Do you currently engage in activities that allow you to experience the “joy of being?”
- What was the key insight for your in today’s episode?
- As always, we invite listeners to send us questions and feedback, to share their experiences, and to suggest topics for future episodes.
Use the section below to add your comments.
Till next time,
Peace.
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- Eckhart Tolle » Podcast Episode #7: Enjoyment in Everyday Life | October 24, 2008
Hi Leo,
In your exploration of ways to cultivate awareness, you hesitantly suggested and then discounted your idea of developing a TRICK of some sort to improve your progress in acceptance. I would strongly agree with your suggestion. Perhaps trick is not the most appropriate word. I use the word REFLEX: something that you can design that works for you to be used at those time when you are finding yourself straying from conscious awareness, both when dealing with acute egoic reactions such as in confrontations, as well as when dealing with the more chronic egoic wanderings of the mind in dissatisfaction, anger or frustration with what is. Eckhart Tolle explains that this is a PROCESS. First we become aware of the ego AFTER the event has occured. “Oh my,” we will say, “that was my ego.” This experience leads to increased awareness. Next, we will become aware of the ego RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE of a confration or egoic response. “Oh, here I am in the middle of an egoic response.” Then finally, we become aware BEFORE the ego has a chance to respond. “Here it comes; I can feel the ego/pain body getting riled.” It is good to take note of how your body feels when the ego or the pain body are becoming activated and ready to jump, and this is when you practice your REFLEX. It can be anything that works best for you. A deep conscious breath, becoming transparent and letting the slight or injury flow through you. Then, if a response is necessary, it will come from conscious awareness. In the case of the chronic unhappy/frustrating/angry thoughts, you can tell yourself, “Oops, I was gone again, spending time in the future, but I’m back now.” Deep conscious breath. I think this personal reflex of trick or whatever you want to call it is important for the beginning of awareness. Yes, that’s why it’s called SPIRITUAL PRACTICE. It’s like developing muscle: you exercise the muscle over and over until it develops and becomes stronger.
Thank you, Christine, for a very helpful set of comments. You describe precisely the process I have been developing and practicing. And you are so right in saying it is a process and a practice that develops and comes more easily over time. I’ve been having using these tricks/reminders/reflexes -mostly based on questions I ask myself when I feel the pain body anxiety emerge: What’s going on inside me right now? How is life calling me to serve this moment? What is most important for me right now? Am I in acceptance of the moment or in resistance? And, yes, definitely, taking those deep conscious breaths alwayss helps! I’ve been having great results.
I’d love to hear some of your tricks.
Many thanks for sharing your wisdom.
Leo
Thanks for your reply Leo. I was beginning to think you guys had called it quits. Happy to see you are still PRESENT
Hi Everyone, Comments feature was turned off accidentally for a few weeks. It’s now back on now so feel free to chime in with feedback, questions, or insights! Leo