Eckhart Tolle Discussion Community

Existence is perfect and the imperfection I perceive is due to my inability to connect with the essence of All That Is. This inability is not my fault either. Excellent point, Tony! a lot of people we may describe as 'down to earth' live in the here and now. They are just not using the same termino...

Thank you for your answers, Tony and Lucy!
From a certain point of view, the mind is not much different from the digestive system - and yet it is the greatest obstacle to awakening!
As Kiki said in another thread, "mind/ego gets caught up in the world of forms and because it senses incompleteness!"

James wrote:Awakening is more of a subtraction than an addition. Removing that which un-enlightens us, which is the mind made sense of self, it is not removing thinking, or the mind, but removing our belief and identification with thought.

I'm wondering, would it be possible to awaken by accepting everything?

Hello, You can find lots of statements on this forum. For example:
http://eckhart-tolle-forum.inner-growth ... 58&p=34297
http://eckhart-tolle-forum.inner-growth ... m.php?f=38

Karmarider wrote:nevertheless, I'll say that I find the LOA as presented by The Secret rather narcissistic and egotistical.

Well said, Karmarider!

In light of the above discussion, it appears to me that the "dream state" or "ego-identified state" is as real as the awareness state.

A separate topic is a good idea, James! I remember that a few months ago you wrote that our only true choice is whether to awaken or not. All other choices are apparent only. We seem to be able to make choices and control "our life" but in fact we are always in the flow of one life. If the above is ...

I see - thank you Kiki!
I now remember that I read somewhere: "a silent mind is the best mirror for awareness"!

Thank your James and Aquarius. Of course in the human experience, there is always the possibility of distortion and subjectivity muddying the waters. You are right James. Many of our discussions and misunderstandings come from slight differences on how we perceive various words - for example "realit...

This is an exquisite step-by-step description of the process - Thank you, Kiki! This is what has been called Self-Realization, this is what the word "awakening" refers to. It's actually quite simple, but it's easily overlooked because mind looks for something other than the simple everyday awareness...

James wrote:Nisargadatta said there is "no ultimate understanding".
Reality on the other hand, is what it is, and is non negotiable.

Interesting! However, it appears to me that understanding is part of reality as well! Could it be possible?

Thank you for a nice post, James!

James wrote:So if we are open minded and receptive to the flow of life, we can relax our opinions, skepticism, doubts, and simply say: "I don't know", "but I am willing to find out what is true."

What if there is no absolute truth?

You are right, James.
I noticed that every time I try to understand with the mind, I am back into some sort of dream.
It surprises me to see that the mind has such a strong influence on being present.

If we consider that awakening is the realization that the individual, the "me", does not actually exist, then all questions become irrelevant. The world of form continues undisturbed (as pre-destined). Each question is a struggle of the "non-existing" individual to define its boundaries. I do strugg...

I'm with you all the way, Sighclone! I guess this is most obvious in individuals who are starting to awaken. They can experience both states: unconscious and awakened. Unawakened individuals see the form-identified state as real. Enlightened individuals see the awareness-identified state as real. Wh...