Razor's Edge Zen Society: Notes for discussion of Eckhart Tolle's Power of Now Audiobook CD1

1) Dread, unease vs. joy

Eckhart's account of enlightenment: Preceded by longing for annihilation

"I cannot live with my self any longer" - Eckhart's discovery: Are there two of me? A me that cannot live with another me?

This is an example of the apprehension of a greater perspective that transcends two opposites.

What do you think of the idea that "what we think of joy" is merely the absence of unease and disturbance?

Leading to state of bliss - feeling of newness? Parallels in our previous “chemognosis” experiments (the morning after)?

2) Mind stops - “entering the void”

Pressure of Suffering leading to withdrawal of identification with self

Self as fiction of the mind

Self collapses - what do we think that means? What use is our definition for our spiritual search?

Ever present "I AM" - what have we already read or experienced re: "I AM"?

3) Spiritual crisis - is this a prerequisite to spiritual discovery? Otherwise, what is the relationship of crisis/pain to self-realization?

Can we make this crisis happen? What are other ways of referring to effecting a crisis, if possible? e.g., making ourselves somehow prone to crisis, etc.

What is the source of our resistance to this idea (i.e., of deliberately trying to effect crisis)?

4) Levels of realization

Initial discovery, followed by deepening experiences of entering into the void (ecstasy, etc.)

Effects of realization experience on "out there" life: ex. Eckhart "dropping out", sleeping on park benches

Ephemeral nature of even most defining, life-changing, ecstatic experience....Eckhart: sometimes it comes strong, sometimes it's there in the background  (undercurrent of peace)

"I want what you have"....Is this what we want? Eckhart: we all have it already. We ARE it.

5) What is enlightenment, self-realization, etc.?

Do we expect to experience Truth (To experience: to apprehend an object, thought or emotion through the senses or the mind).

6) What do we think of Eckhart's declaration that "You Are Not Your Mind"?

Eckhart: The disease is that, the mind uses you, because you believe you are the mind (or its content). Proof: We can't just stop. Like the alcoholic or addict's delusion: I can stop whenever I want.

If we can't grasp the truth of our true nature with the mind, then how "do we get there"? 

Eckhart: You will know it when the mind stops. Again, can we effect that? If so, how?

7) Terms: God, Self, Truth. cf. Eckhart's discussion of the misuse of the word "God". cf. Eckhart's discussion of Being as a term and Being as a living reality. And how should we refer to the moment after which our suffering ends? Should we even bother trying to put a name on this end point we look forward to?

Eckhart: Feeling the Unity of Existence as an obvious, self-evident reality.

Two comments made to me in the past:

Comment 1: You'll wonder at how you missed it.

Comment 2: It's so obvious.

What is obvious to us right now?

8) Identification with the mind leads to incessant thinking. Can meditation help?

Watching the thinker. Cat at the mousehole. Do NOT judge, condemn, suppress, get caught up in it.

Watching the watcher.  Awareness watching awareness.

Do not have grandiose expectations about meditations and meditation sessions.

9) Thus, we can discern a two-pronged approach to self-understanding. Observational and Confrontational. Watching, as well as accepting the implications of what is seen.