Transcending Conditioned Ways of Thinking | Eckhart Tolle Teachings

Summary

This script delves into the conditioned mind's impact on our lives, highlighting how it can lead to a state of anger and criticism. It emphasizes the importance of transcending the thinking mind to access a deeper level of consciousness. The speaker encourages awareness of one's own consciousness, beyond personal history and ego, as a means to liberation and a more fulfilling life. The talk also touches on the challenges of maintaining awareness in the face of the mind's momentum and the allure of the digital world, which can reinforce the ego.

Takeaways

• 🌐 The internet often reflects a significant amount of anger and criticism, which can influence one's perception of others.
• 🧠 Living identified with the conditioned mind for a long time can lead to rigidity and the development of a 'cranky old man or woman' persona.
• 💭 The conditioned mind has absorbed much of our consciousness, reducing it to an instrument for communication and practical dealings.
• 🌌 Spiritual life aims to transcend the thinking mind, allowing one to operate beyond it while maintaining awareness of a deeper consciousness.
• 👁️ The essence of spiritual practice is to avoid being continuously absorbed by the mind and sensory perceptions, which can distract from true consciousness.
• 🌲 The script uses the analogy of wild horses pulling a carriage to illustrate how sensory organs draw attention away from inner awareness.
• 🚶‍♂️ Practicing awareness of oneself in addition to external stimuli can lead to a new way of living that frees one from the constraints of the historical self.
• 🕊️ Liberation from the historical self is not about its elimination but about recognizing and living from a deeper, unconditioned consciousness.
• 🤔 Awareness allows one to observe thoughts and opinions without being possessed by them, leading to a lighter hold on personal beliefs.
• 🔄 The momentum of the conditioned self can occasionally overpower awareness, but noticing this absence of presence is a step towards freedom.
• 🌐 The internet can be an 'ego device' for those seeking to strengthen their sense of self by making others wrong, a behavior known as trolling.
• 🌈 Awakening to who you are beyond your history and life situation is a path to freedom and a deeper understanding of consciousness.

Q & A

What is the main issue discussed regarding the internet and people's behavior online?

The main issue discussed is the prevalence of anger and criticism online, where people often express negativity towards others, contributing to a perception of widespread awfulness among individuals.

How does the speaker describe the conditioned mind and its impact on individuals over time?

The conditioned mind is described as a state of being that becomes more rigid over time, leading individuals to grow old and potentially become cranky or discontented, due to its absorption of all consciousness.

What is the speaker's view on the evolution of the thinking mind?

The speaker views the evolution of the thinking mind as a wonderful development for communication and practical problem-solving, but also notes its downside as it has absorbed almost everything into itself, overshadowing true consciousness.

What does the speaker suggest as the purpose of being at the retreat?

The purpose of being at the retreat is to deepen one's ability to live from a different state of consciousness, transcending the thinking mind and becoming aware of oneself as pure consciousness.

What analogy does the speaker use to describe the relationship between sensory organs and the mind?

The speaker uses the analogy of horses drawing a carriage to represent the sensory organs, which continuously draw one's attention outward, similar to how the mind demands attention.

How can one practice being aware of oneself according to the speaker?

One can practice being aware of oneself by being conscious of one's own awareness during various activities such as walking, sitting, eating, and listening, recognizing the presence of unconditioned consciousness.

What is the significance of recognizing the 'not-self' in Buddhist terms?

Recognizing the 'not-self' signifies an enormous liberation, as it helps individuals understand that their historical person or personal history is not who they truly are, thus freeing them from identifying solely with their ego.

How does the speaker differentiate between identifying with one's historical self and observing it?

Identifying with one's historical self turns it into an ego, whereas observing it allows one to see it as just the actual historical self, without being possessed by it.

What is the role of awareness in holding opinions and thoughts?

Awareness allows one to hold opinions more lightly and not be possessed by them. Without awareness, individuals can become dominated by their thoughts and opinions, leading to a lack of freedom.

How does the speaker describe the experience of living on the surface level of life?

Living on the surface level of life is described as an unsatisfying experience because it lacks depth and fulfillment, leading to a continuous search for something more meaningful.

What is the effect of the conditioned self's momentum on one's state of awareness?

The momentum of the conditioned self can occasionally take over, causing a loss of awareness and absorption in the mind, which can lead to restlessness, impatience, and other negative states.