ET Dialog

2008-3-21 06:06:00

I never intended to get so sidetracked on my differences with Eckhart Tolle [ET], but after all this conflict I thought I would make a post covering some of his teachings and whether or not they agree with my thinking.

ET:

"Truth is within."

JJ:

A common maxim, but only half true. We are stimulated from without and verify from within.

ET:

"You are not your mind."

JJ:

Another ancient maxim and is true.

ET:

"The greatest obstacle to obtaining the bliss of Being is identification with the mind."

JJ:

It is an obstacle to a handful of people who use their minds, but the greatest obstacle is identification with emotion since this is where about 90% of humanity is polarized.

ET:

"Enlightenment is a state of wholeness, of being 'at one' and therefore at peace. At one with life in its manifested aspect, the world, as well as with your deepest self and life unmanifested -- at one with Being."

JJ:

Enlightenment has to do with "light" rather than peace. An enlightened one receives light and has an increase in knowledge and understanding because of it. Peace comes to most people who follow their conscience and sometimes follows enlightenment, but not always.

ET:

"We are one with all there is."

JJ:

Esoterically this is true.

ET:

"Thinking has become a disease."

JJ:

Illusion is the disease and correct thinking is the cure.

ET:

"There is a vast realm of intelligence beyond thought."

JJ:

Without thought does intelligence even manifest?

ET:

"We need to watch the thinker to achieve enlightenment."

JJ:

Partially true. We need to be able to see ourselves as the observer and watch the physical, emotional and mental parts of ourselves as if we were watching a movie to avoid getting to attached.

ET:

"The good news is that you can free yourself from your mind. This is the only true liberation."

JJ:

This may be a step toward liberation. The first great step happens when the seeker can recognize illusions that are embraced by the mind and then dispels them.

ET:

"You can enter bliss in a 'no mind' state."

JJ:

You can get quite blissful quieting the mind and emotions, but then it is good to return to the real (or unreal) world of form and play here.

I get quite a bit of joy from thinking which idea seems to run contrary to the experience of ET [Eckhart Tolle]. It only seems to bring him pain which makes me wonder what kind of thinking process he uses.

To be continued.