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Eckhart Tolle, excerpts from The New Earth
RECOGNIZING INNER SPACE
A consciousness mesmerized by experiences and conditioned to identify exclusively with form, that is to say, object consciousness, finds it ... almost impossible to become aware of [inner] space.
Editor’s note: The evidence for “R” is merely apparent, not real; as credible as believing in a flat Earth, or that the Sun travels around the globe, or that the stars are nudged along by angels. All of “R”’s so-called evidence melts away upon closer inspection. Further, in the “Clear Thinking” article, we discussed how people must and need to believe in certain things; in such cases, the facts don’t matter. Even when better information is offered, the cultish mind remains fixed: the issue becomes one not of better “content” but a failure of “structure.” And what is that corrupted mind-structure? Tolle, in his own way, begins to answer this in the first sentence: “A consciousness mesmerized by experiences and conditioned to identify exclusively with form … finds it ... almost impossible to become aware of [inner] space.” Those who are required to believe in “R” do so because they have not yet discovered the “inner space,” the domain of the “true self.”
This ultimately means that you cannot become aware of yourself, because you are always aware of something else. You are continuously distracted by form. Even when you seem to be aware of yourself, you have made yourself into an object, a thought form, and so what you are aware of is a thought, not yourself.
Editor’s note: “R” is a “salvation theory.” It’s a quest to make oneself “more” and “enhanced.” Even if “R” were an option, you would not be able to find yourself and save yourself in multiple lives. Why is this so? Because the essential “you” is the sacred “inner space,” the Universal Consciousness. Nothing material can touch it. Seeing yourself as an entity to be enhanced by one more immersion into materialistic life is an illusion; the very concept of oneself doing this is an illusion - it would be like trying to find a snowball in hell - the very nature of the case precludes it; it's not going to happen. “You” are not a thought-form, which is one more expression of materialism; "you" are an expression of Universal Consciousness, and therefore you cannot be enhanced/saved/rescued or otherwise helped by anything material.
When you hear of inner space, you may start seeking it, and because you are seeking it as if you were looking for an object or for an experience, you cannot find it. This is the dilemma of all those who are seeking spiritual realization or enlightenment. Hence, Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, 'Lo, here it is!' or 'There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you" ...
Editor’s note: You will never find wholeness, completeness, a sense of worthiness, or “I am enough” by filling yourself with anything material, anything you can point to. “The kingdom of God” – a metaphor of salvation – cannot accessed by material means, cannot be singled out with, “Lo, here it is.” But followers of “R” hope to do just that: "one more materialistic trip to Earth," or a hundred, or a thousand, "will complete me, will make me whole." But it doesn’t work that way. Your “salvation,” your sense of wholeness and completeness, can be gained only “in the midst of you,” only within you, within the sacred “inner stillness” of the “true self.”
Because you have been conditioned to pay attention only to form, you are probably not aware of [inner space] except indirectly. For example, there is a common element in the ability to see beauty, to appreciate simple things, to enjoy your own company, or to relate to other people with loving kindness. This common element is a sense of contentment, peace, and aliveness that is the invisible background without which these experiences would not be possible… true happiness is not caused by the thing or event, although this is how it first appears.
Editor’s note: But the materialistic mind doesn’t believe this. It will insist that a “thing” or an “event” – or one more Earth-trip, or a thousand -- can make one happy, can make one whole and complete. But this is gross illusion and has no hope for success.
The thing or event is so subtle, so unobtrusive, that it takes up only a small part of your consciousness – and the rest is inner space, consciousness itself unobstructed by form. Inner space consciousness and who you are in your essence are one and the same. In other words, the form of little things leaves room for inner space. And it is from inner space, the unconditioned consciousness itself, that true happiness, the joy of Being, emanates.
Editor’s note: Each person, each one “made in the image,” already has life within. Eternal life. There is nothing to add, nothing to enhance, no need to make oneself “more,” as we’re linked to Universal Consciousness in its fullness. Our task is to open our eyes to what we’ve been given. One moment of cosmic clarity, not multiple lives, is our salvation.
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Editor’s note: Yes, I know what you’re thinking. If you’ve not personally discovered the “inner space,” the “true self,” all of the above talk about “unconditioned consciousness” or “Being” or “materialistic thought forms” will sound like rubbish to you. I once felt the same. The dysfunctional ego believes only in materialism. It’s frightening to think otherwise. But, without the discovery of what we truly are, we condemn ourselves to a materialistic conception of life and love, a dystopian future. We will never find true happiness – in this world or in Summerland - until we agree with ourselves to open our eyes. For more discussion on this, see the "500 Testimonies from the Other Side."
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