Reflections on Tolle

Photo by Lutz R Frank on Flickr

I have just completed reading the transcript from the Oprah and Eckhart online class that happened on Sunday night. I tried to log on and watch but my computer didn't want to cooperate so I waited until today and read it instead.

I took some notes so I decided to post them hear along with some of my thoughts regarding what I read.

In order to awaken to your life's purpose you must ask Life, Grace, Consciousness or God what it wants for your life. Instead of asking; "What do I want?" ask, "What does Grace want?"

This has been very powerful for me and is something I learned at the Manifesting Abundance retreat through The Journey. I have used it many times and in fact used it when I began this year of Vibrant Health. You can read about it here.

I think this is a good exercise to do frequently and especially when there are decisions to be made. I try to do it at least twice a year and sometimes quarterly. It keeps me focused on my path.

Find spaces of silence so that you may hear the answer. The answer may not come right away.

So often we send out our prayers and we never take time to listen to the answers to them. Our minds are moving in a constant flurry and there is no room for the quiet. I remember when I did my first Journey process I was so enamored with silence. I had these huge experiences with a powerful and resounding silence. I didn't know that silence was my own truth, my own essence and it was being hidden by my ego and the incessant noise of my mind.

Nature is a beautiful access point into inner stillness

I do not spend enough time in nature. I can't wait for spring!

Become aware of your conditioned mental processes. How you react in every day situations? What kind of thoughts go on in your head? What is it you are putting out into the world? It contributes to the collective consciousness.

Recognize the voice in your head as conditioned thought processes from your past, your childhood, your upbringing and culture.

The only way to gradually go beyond the conditioning thought is to be a witness. You don't need to act on it or say go away, I don't want to be thinking this. That doesn't work.

Wow, this was huge for me. I read it over and over again. I only need to be a witness, not try to change it? I guess that when we are making a decision to change it, that may be coming from our ego, trying to be "good or better." Simply by witnessing it we are allowing our awareness to expand. So interesting!

"The majesty and power and omniscience of this force that we call 'God' cannot be contained in church." Oprah

Oooh, the words melted in my mouth like coconut butter. She did go on to say that if going to church allows you to feel like you are being of service then you should use it.

"If there is dissatisfaction, that is not a good place, not a good starting point for changing your life. The ego may tell you that but it isn't. You need to find a place of acceptance." Eckhart

"No matter where you are, come to terms and become friendly with the present moment. Because if you do not become friendly with the present moment, you're not friendly with life because life is only now. If you're not friendly with life, life cannot support you." Eckhart


Wow, I never would have thought of that. Usually when we are most unhappy with out lives do we feel compelled to make changes. This is saying the opposite, that we need to come to terms with where we are right now and then make changes from that place of peace and acceptance. Once again I imagine that making decisions based on our unhappiness leads to decisions that come from the ego. This is a complete paradigm switch for me.



What is my relationship with the present moment? Is there any negativity in which case I'm fighting? I'm making the present moment into an enemy.

What you resist persists. Make peace with the moment.

Acceptance of what is first. Then action comes out of the acceptance. It no longer comes out of resistance.

Books that were mentioned:

Discover the Power Within You by Eric Butterworth
The Seekers Guide by Elizabeth Lesser
Any books by Joel Goldsmith
Stillness Speaks by Eckhart Tolle