October 15, 2003
Ojai, California, USA
2:30pm. Eckhart Tolle is sharing the Power of Now by
cassette tape and an Angel is telling me a story
simultaneously as I write this. Bombarded by
information, how much do we deeply understand? Where
is my attention focused? The information is there
being projected at me, but what is my mind open to
understanding? Am I ready to really hear Eckart or
the Angel?
"I want you to read my story today in John's book,"
said the Angela just now. "Books are my teachers for the
most part. And I'd like to share my writing with you."
And now Eckhart is saying:
"When I occasionally quote the words of Jesus or the
Buddha, from my Course in Miracles or other teachings,
I do so not in order to compare but to draw attention
to the fact that in essence, there is and always has
been one spiritual teaching, all that comes in many
forms. Some of these forms such as the ancient
religions, have become so overlaid with extraneous
matter, that their spiritual essence has become almost
completely obscured by it. To a large extent therefore,
their deeper meaning is no longer recognized and their
transformative power lost."
The interviewer asked, "When you say "being"... are
you talking about God? If you are then why don't you
say it?"
Eckhart answers: "The word God has become empty of
meaning through thousands of years of misuse. I use it
sometimes, but I use it sparingly. By misuse, I mean
that people who have never even glimpsed the realm of
the sacred, the infinite vastness behind that word,
use it with great conviction, as if they knew what
they are talking about, or they argue against it, as
if they knew what it is that they are denying. This
misuse gives rise to absurd beliefs, assertions and
egoic delusions such as "my" or "our God" is the only
true God," and "your gods is false," or Nietzsche's
famous statement, "God is Dead."
"The word God has become a closed concept. The moment
the word is uttered a mental image is created. No
longer perhaps of an old man with a white beard, but
still a mental representation of someone or something
outside you, and yes, almost inevitably a male someone
or something. Neither God, nor being, nor any other
word can define or explain the inevitable reality
behind that word. So the only important question is
whether the word is a help or a hindrance enabling
you to experience that to what which it points. Does
it point beyond itself to that transindental reality
or does it lend itself too easily to becoming no more
than an idea in your head. That you believe in-- a
mental idol.
"The word "being" explains nothing, but nor does
"God." Being however has the advantage that it is an
open concept. It does not reduce the infinite invisible
to a finite entity. It is impossible to form a mental
image of it. No body can claim an exclusive possession
of being. It is your very essence, and it is
immediately accessible to you as the feeling of
your own presence. The realization that "I am" that is
prior to "I am this... or I am that." So it is only a
small step to the word being to the experience of
being."
GETTING ABOVE THE COPING
Bowl riding Santa Barbara skate park
I realize, this the where I am supposed to be
Not so long ago, fearful, it seemed so large
Now I drop-in and kick-turn with ease
All that changed is perspective
CLEAN UP AFTER YOUR PERSON
Homeless
person
dog
walking
service
THE WELL
At times you sink, you fall
into your hole of silence
into your abyss of proud anger,
and you can scarcely
return, still bearing remnants
of what you found
in the depth of your existence.
My love, what do you find
in your closed well?
Seaweed, swamps, rocks?
What do you see with blind eyes?
bitter and wounded?
Darling, you will not find
in the well into which you fall
what I keep for you in the heights:
a bouquet of dewy jasmines,
a kiss deeper than your abyss.
Do not fear me, do not fall
into your rancor again.
Shake off my word that came to wound you
and let it fly through the open window.
It will return to wound me
without your guiding it
since it was laden with a harsh instant
and that instant will be disarmed in my breast.
Smile at me radiant
if my mouth wounds you
I am not a gentle shepherd
like the ones in fairy tales,
but a good woodsman who shares with you
earth, wind, and mountain thorns.
Love me, you, smile at me,
help me to be good.
Do not wound yourself in me, for it will be useless,
do not wound me because you wound yourself.
-Pablo Neruda
"So how can you
protect yourself from the vageries and vicissitudes of
an economy you can't control? According to the writers
in this issue's cover section on money, hoarding a
nest egg doesn't work; real security comes not from
money but from developing your interests and talents
into useful skills and building a network of mutually
supportive family, friends, and neighbors." -From Utne Reader 1992, Money issue
