Introduction

In this article, we continue the series on “My spiritual teachers” with Eckhart Tolle. 

In our first episode, we learned about the power of affirmations to implement positive change in your life. 

Today, we will discover another key concept of spiritual awakening: the present moment.  

We'll explore how we can free ourselves from our ego, liberate ourselves from the pain created by our own negative thoughts and achieve inner peace by living in the present moment.

Let’s discover the Power of Now!

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My second spiritual teacher- Eckhart Tolle

Eckhart Tolle’s renowned book “The Power of Now” has had a transformative impact on me, because it taught me how to free myself from the limitations of my own mind and achieve inner peace.

Let me begin by introducing Eckhart and his personal journey. For many years, he regularly struggled with anxiety and suicidal depression, sometimes over periods of weeks or even months. In his relentless quest to overcome anxiety and depression, he explored various means of finding relief - without success until then. Then one day, at the age of 29, he experienced what he called a profound "spiritual awakening". It was as if something emerged from within him, deeper than who he thought he was - dissolving his personal sense of self.

He then understood that the “self he could not live with” - which caused him turmoil - was not an authentic representation of his true self, but rather a construct of his mind. He realized that he could find inner peace by simply being present and disengaging from identification with his mind and the self-image he had fabricated.

This profound realization triggered a radical change in his life, and from then on he embarked on an introspective journey, devoting his life to deepening his knowledge and sharing his insights into the transformation of self-identity.

At the heart of his teaching lies a fundamental message: the cause of our suffering is rooted in our resistance to what is and our identification with our mind.

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Stop resisting what is, surrender to it

Eckhart Tolle introduced me to the key concept of surrendering to the present moment, a practice that has had a transformative impact on my life, as I've come to understand that letting go doesn't mean giving up. 

Previously, when faced with difficulties and situations that didn't align with my desires, my reaction was often annoyance and resentment towards the people or circumstances that seemed to be impeding my progress. Frustrated, I was trying to change what I couldn’t control, often getting stuck fighting reality.

Imagine, for example, that I had planned to go for a walk in the park, but a sudden downpour prevented me from doing so. In such a scenario, frustration would set in, accompanied by thoughts such as "the day is ruined" and "what am I supposed to do now? Why is it that every time I have a day off, this kind of thing always happens to me?”

It was a clear example of my old self - someone who resisted what is.

In the same way, imagine that you assign a task to a work colleague and expect them to complete it within a certain timeframe or a certain way. However, the colleague fails to meet your expectations and doesn't deliver the expected work on time. Most probably, you would react with anger or frustration, trying to change your colleague’s actions.

More generally, many of us resist what is, believing we have the power to change or control reality. However, Eckhart Tolle reminds us of a fundamental truth: "WE CANNOT CHANGE WHAT IS". In other words, the reality of what already exists cannot be changed. 

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By investing energy and focus in resisting what is, or trying to change what you can't control, you are essentially denying or rejecting the present moment. You attach yourself to your own ideas of how things should be, and when reality doesn't align with these expectations, you experience frustration, anxiety and disappointment.

So, by feeling frustrated by the rain and wishing it would stop, I was only creating mental stress or emotional anxiety because I refused to accept the situation as it was, even though there was nothing I could do to change it.

Similarly, when you're confronted with an uncooperative colleague and try to modify or manipulate their actions to meet your expectations, you are building up stress and negative emotions because you're resisting and trying to change what's beyond your control.

By releasing your internal resistance and fully accepting what is, you unlock the ability to work with your circumstances rather than have them work against you. While you can’t change your situation, you can choose to focus on what you can control—your thoughts, attitudes, and responses to the situation.

Surrendering to the present moment doesn't mean you give up, passively resign yourself, or stop taking action to improve your life- quite the contrary! It's about recognizing and accepting reality without unnecessary resistance or judgment.

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“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have. Make the Now the primary focus of your life.” - Eckhart Tolle

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Shifting your perspective liberates you internally and gives you the freedom to transcend the limits imposed by external conditions. You achieve great spiritual power and experience a heightened sense of liberation by accepting what is.

Accepting what is facilitates a more harmonious relationship with reality and empowers you to manage the situation from a place of clarity and inner strength, detached from the weight of resistance. You align ourselves with the flow of life. You stop fighting life's current and start navigating it with grace and ease. You become active participants in your life, equipped with the wisdom to respond consciously rather than reacting on autopilot.

To return to the rain example, by recognizing the fact that I can't control the weather, I understand that by resisting it, I'm fighting against something beyond my control. Instead, I can choose to accept the rain as it is and adapt my plans accordingly. I might decide to go for a walk later, when the rain has stopped, or find another activity to do inside, like finally starting the book I've been wanting to read for a long time. By accepting the reality of the situation and adapting, I can make the best of the circumstances.

Similarly, at work, you can choose to accept the fact that your colleague didn’t meet your expectations and focus on finding a constructive solution. This may involve having a conversation with them to understand the reasons for the delay, offering support or advice if necessary, and exploring ways of avoiding similar situations in the future. By accepting the situation and taking productive action, you can reduce stress and promote a healthier working environment.

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Surrendering to the present moment is about finding the balance between taking appropriate action when you can and letting go of what is beyond your control. 

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The egoic mind

We've all experienced it. That nasty little voice whispering: "You're not good enough", "You don't deserve it", or "What's the point in trying, you're going to fail anyway"... That voice in your mind is your ego. 

The ego is the product of your thoughts, emotions, or beliefs accumulated over the years.

The ego is shaped by your past experiences, your family history, the stories you tell about yourself, your perceptions of the external world, and your interactions with others... This constant mental chatter represents the conditioning through which you perceive yourself and the world, controlling the way you think and behave, and giving you a false sense of identity.

The ego strives to be right all the time. It wants to be the boss and seeks to maintain control over you by creating different types of fear: fear of loss, fear of failure, fear of judgment, and fear of scarcity... all these fears are created by the ego to maintain its dominance and prevent you from pursuing your dreams or moving forward.

The ego feeds on comparisons, judgments, and reproaches, anchoring you in negative patterns and ensuring that you attract experiences or people that perpetuate your sense of insecurity and reinforce its existence.

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You are not your mind

You believe and identify with your egoic mind, because who else could you be if not the very content of your mind? 

It seems logical that your mind's thoughts and internal monologue define your very existence. After all, these mental processes shape your perception of yourself and the world around you.

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However, your ego is not your true self. 

Quite the contrary! Your true self exists beyond the realms of mental conditioning, judgment, and negativity. You are not the thoughts that emerge from your own mind. To reconnect with your authentic self, it's imperative to disengage from ego identification. Only then can you experience and understand who you really are.

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Liberation comes from separation from your egoic self.

By detaching yourself from the grip of egoic identification, you free yourself from its limits and constraints. This gives you the freedom to explore and express your true nature, unburdened by the incessant chatter and narrow perspectives of the ego. This process opens the way to a profound sense of liberation and self-discovery.

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Separation from the ego is the gateway to self-realization. 

In this state of separation, you realize that you are not simply the sum of your thoughts or the internal dialogue that dominates your mind. You are an expansive being capable of embracing your true essence and manifesting your highest potential. This awareness enables you to navigate life from a place of inner wisdom and authenticity, leading to a deeper sense of fulfillment and purpose.

“What a liberation to realize that the “voice in my head” is not who I am. Who am I then? The one who sees that.”— Eckhart Tolle

Awareness is the first step toward liberation

By observing your thoughts, you can begin to understand that you are not them, and how your mind influences your life. 

When a thought arises, instead of immediately engaging with it, take a moment to simply witness it. By adopting this perspective, you create a space of separation where you become the observer, the "watcher"—your true self—rather than being solely identified with the "thinker," which represents your egoic mind. This change frees you from the slavery of your mind.

By simply being in a particular situation and not being attached to what your mind thinks of the situation, you are no longer a slave to your mind. Fully present in the moment, you awaken to your true self and free yourself from the suffering created by your mind.

Let's take an example: You're in your car, in a hurry to get to work, and running late. Just as the light is about to turn red, the car in front of you slows down, causing you to miss the opportunity to reach the green light. Frustration builds up as thoughts flood your mind - about your lateness, the potential consequences at work, and even your partner's responsibility for asking you to take care of the trash that morning, making you late now. By identifying with all these thoughts, your stress and anxiety levels rise.

However, if you start to observe them, you realize that your mind has created them. The agitation and irritation you feel are merely emotional responses to these ego-created thoughts, they are not who you are. 

By creating a distance between yourself and these thoughts, you recognize that they don't serve you, they only make you suffer.

By becoming aware that you're caught up in your internal dialogue, you stop identifying with your mind's perception of what it is to be stuck in traffic. As a result, you open the door to appreciating and enjoying the present moment.

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By consciously taking on the role of observer, you free yourself from automatic identification with your thoughts. This new perspective allows you to experience a sense of freedom and inner peace, liberated from the incessant chatter of the mind.

By embracing the power of presence, you cultivate the ability to engage fully in the present moment and discover joy, even in the midst of difficult circumstances.

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Conclusion

Whenever you resist what is, you create unnecessary suffering as you try to change what is beyond your control.

By surrendering to the present moment, you release the resistance that causes this suffering and open yourself to new possibilities. You become an active participant in your life through surrender, responding consciously rather than reacting on autopilot.

Whenever you are upset, angry, judgmental, or fearful… It is your ego playing its role of protecting you from any potential threat, imagining the worst that could happen in any situation to keep you under its control. 

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When your ego rules your life, you will live according to the image you hold of yourself, and not according to who you really are.

Whenever you worry about the future or dwell on the past, you surrender your power to your ego, as it immerses you in these negative thoughts and prevents you from being fully present. 

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You only create pain and negativity by constantly obsessing over what could have been, what could be, or resisting what is.

By recognizing that you are not your thoughts and disengaging from ego identification, you free yourself from the limitations imposed by the ego. This separation is the gateway to self-realization and a deeper sense of fulfillment and purpose.

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Awareness plays a crucial role in this process of liberation.

Practicing awareness will help you notice when you are trapped in your own egoic mind. 

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By living fully in the present, in a state of alertness and observation, you can make space for your true self to emerge and start to create a more joyful and empowering life.

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Here is Eckhart Toll's official website if you want to know more: https://eckharttolle.com/

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Now it's your turn to embrace the Power of Now!

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As you navigate through life, apply Eckhart Tolle's teachings to your daily experiences:

Let go of resistance, surrender to what is! 

• Stop resisting what is or trying to change what you can't control, and embrace the present moment.
• The more you accept your current situation, the more you free yourself from its grip. 

Detach yourself from your egoic mind, and cultivate awareness! 

• Stop identifying with your thinking mind and start observing it.
• The more aware you are of your thoughts, the less control they have over you.

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By doing so, you unlock the potential for personal transformation and embark on a journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth.

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