The Return of the Porch Vacation
The porch vacation season began on March 1st and involved the sound of construction from our neighbor’s yard; the beeping signal of heavy machinery backing up and fooling me into thinking I had clothes in the washer ready for hanging; our tail wagging dog, anxious to be petted; and the book “A New Earth.”
The first flower probably did not survive for long, and flowers must have remained rare and isolated phenomena, since conditions were most likely not yet favorable for a widespread flowering to occur. One day, however, a critical threshold was reached, and suddenly there would have been an explosion of color and scent all over the planet … ~ The Flowering of Human Consciousness, A New Earth
I just couldn’t bring myself to be a cog in the Oprah machinery when the book was added to her book list and she announced that she and its author, Ekhart Tolle, would be teaching a web class on it. I resisted the consumer urge to be run out and buy the book, as if it was the latest IT toy or play station. I checked it out from the library instead.
Things that happened to “me” in the past, the memory of which are thoughts that further define my sense of self as “me and my story.” These are only some of the things people derive their identity from. They are ultimately no more than thoughts … ~ A New Earth
The day I got the book, my husband, Joe, told me he had one in his hand when he was at the mall returning something, but he put it back on the shelf, thinking ‘do I really need another self-help book?’ So now we have to share this one.
One thing we do know: Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness. How do you know this is the experience you need? Because this is the experience you are having at this moment. ~ A New Earth
I’m ahead of him, so I had to concede it for most of the weekend so he could catch up. “Don’t read it like a regular book,” I instructed. “Don’t skip around, scan, or jump ahead. Read it like passage meditation; slowly repeat the words to yourself so that the book can work as an experience, rather than an intellectual exercise.”
In most ancient cultures, people believed that everything, even so-called inanimate objects, had an indwelling spirit, and in this respect they were closer to the truth than we are today. When you live in a world deadened by mental abstraction, you don’t sense the aliveness of the universe anymore. Most people don’t inhabit a living reality, but a conceptualized one. ~ A New Earth
Periodically he or I would set the book down to talk about what it had inspired in us. So far it’s prompted some rich conversation. And we both have a little sunburn from sitting on the porch so long.
March 4th, 2008 12:58 am
I started it over the weekend. I like this sentence:”One thing we do know: Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness. How do you know this is the experience you need? Because this is the experience you are having at this moment.” ~ A New Earth
It all reads very much like Cayce in new words.
March 4th, 2008 4:56 am
Those above words are burnt into my brain right now- having difficulties– biggees..
March 4th, 2008 6:17 am
I read “The Power Of Now”, did you? I was wondering how this book compares. Does it add more to his philosophy or is it refreshment from the old book?
March 4th, 2008 9:05 am
I haven’t read the Power of Now. Maybe you could post a review about it at some point, June.
March 4th, 2008 9:18 am
Sounds like I should get that. The online course will be interesting to see how it works. I am busy when it’s on but I know people who have signed up.
March 4th, 2008 9:30 am
My therapist keeps wrestling me over my idea of “my story”. The story that I tell myself about my life. She argues that it is not written in stone, that I can change the way I tell my story to myself.
But, I don’t buy it. The story I tell myself about my life feels too much like my authentic self. Any attempt at re-telling, or re-wording it feels like I’m trying to lie to myself when I know the truth.
Maybe there is something I’m not understanding about this message. Maybe I’m just blind to a very simple truth. I sure wish I could believe it is possible to rewrite myself!!
March 4th, 2008 9:38 am
Haven’t read the book, but it’s on my “I should pick it up” list. That or the Power of Now. So are you enjoying the book and do you agree with it? It looks very thought provoking.
March 4th, 2008 10:07 am
One of the rich conversations Joe and I had was on the paradox of our stories. In the end, all we leave behind is our story. We try to make a good story that will last and mean something later. But I think what Tolle is saying, and what I believe, is that we need to have some distance from our stories, to view them as a watcher rather than taking the stories so personal. The watcher, or the thinker who realizes the mind is thinking is the truer part of self.
One aspect of me loves my story, my roots, my history, and what makes me me; another aspect knows this life is all one big field trip, so have fun and take good notes. They exist together, hopefully in balance.
We can also view our stories differently without changing the truth of them. I have a sad true story of being left without any family on two occasions for a month at a time before the age of one, and then at the age of three having to leave a favorite doll behind (which I knew even as young as I was that the doll was symbolic of me). http://looseleafnotes.com/notes/2006/12/once_a_girl_always_a_girl.html#comments I recently reviewed the story/trauma in a counseling session and was able to “get” that it may have happened to me to deepen an awareness in me that allowed me to go on and be a fierce advocate for children. It began to feel almost like a gift, one I needed to prepare myself for some of my life’s work.
So yes, I’m glad I’m reading the book. But I want it to go beyond just being thought provoking.
March 4th, 2008 11:30 am
I haven’t been tempted yet to jump on the bandwagon with this new book. Not at that point in my life right now where it is speaking to me…if and when it does – I will check it out.
March 4th, 2008 2:09 pm
“When you live in a world deadened by mental abstraction, you don’t sense the aliveness of the universe anymore”….
that’s rich….
March 4th, 2008 2:48 pm
I resisted urge to be run out and buy the book until yesterday; because I had agreed to meet with the Coexist Club, which will discuss part of A NEW EARTH this week, I relented and went to Wal-Mart to get a copy … but couldn’t find it. So I borrowed a copy from my friend Donna (who started the Coexist Club) and read the first chapter yesterday. I think we should have some interesting discussions, especially since Donna asked that we share information about our spiritual backgrounds. Over 25 signed up so far, and the people are not homogeneous. Looks like fun!
If you are interested in the questions Donna has come up with, go here:
http://chattanoogacoexistclub.blogspot.com/
If you are interested in my spiritual formation, read this:
http://joyfulnoiseletter.blogspot.com/2008/03/spiritual-formation.html
March 4th, 2008 4:41 pm
Colleen, have you started moderating comments again? Today my comment disappeared with assurances it would appear after you looked at it, but when that happened recently, my comment never appeared. So I’m wondering what’s up?
March 4th, 2008 5:05 pm
Okay, since that comment posted immediately, I’m guessing my earlier comment is lost somewhere in cyberspace. Now to see how much I can re-create of what I tried to say here two or three hours ago.
I also resisted the urge to be run out and buy the book … until yesterday. I have agreed to discuss the book with the Chattanooga Coexist Club, so I broke down and went to Wal-Mart. If they had it, the book wasn’t in the aisle with the other books, so I borrowed the book from my friend Donna, who started the Coexist Club and has posted some questions for discussing the book, here:
http://chattanoogacoexistclub.blogspot.com/
I pointed them over here to read this discussion, Colleen, but the group is so new that not much is happening yet (first meeting on Thursday). Since Donna requested information on spiritual formation as we get to know each other, I’ve written out some of my thinking and posted it here:
http://joyfulnoiseletter.blogspot.com/2008/03/spiritual-formation.html
The 25+ people who have sent emails saying they are interested are not at all a homogeneous group of people, so it oughta be fun!
March 4th, 2008 6:11 pm
This book is on my “read soon” list, having been told to read it by my acupuncturist. I am glad to read your thoughts about it.
March 4th, 2008 6:45 pm
Bonnie, I’m so sorry. It happened to me recently too. When you include an http internet address sometimes it thinks your spam and gives you the message that the comment is being moderated but then it is thrown in the junk folder. I went back and retrieved them all and now will review them to see which ones to keep. I’m sorry it’s caused you a headache today. Thanks for the links. I’ll be checking them out. And it looks like we’ll be reading the book at the same time.
March 5th, 2008 2:36 am
I have absolutely no interest in this book or any others like it at this point in my life, I am sorry to say….I don’t know if it is my age or just that I cannot get through any more books like this, ever! (lol)
Even readimg the excerpt(s) made my head spin. I just cannot seem to concentrate on these types of things anymore…I begin to zone out almost immediately! Oh well, if I don’t have it fairly together by now, well….I’m just not going to worry about it!
March 5th, 2008 8:32 am
I totally understand, Naomi. I used to read many books like this and now I hardly do. This is the first one is a long time and if it starts to get into too much jargon I too immediately shut down. On the occasion I do read a book like this, I use it like a booster shot for the stuff I have already learned and to help me pay attention.
March 5th, 2008 9:10 am
Oh!! Went back and read the Once a Girl Post and the Pink Raft post! Great posts.
Glad you’re enjoying the book. Must check it out.
March 5th, 2008 10:16 am
I watched Oprah with her Secret cast again a few weeks back and it was so odd because I found those things out on my own a few years ago. Somewhere around 34 I changed my attitude about everything. I can’t explain it well but things started changing for me when I did. I got a huge raise at work, Martin came along. And when he did I was actually ready to be someone’s true mate. I was happy with myself and being single which I think is key if you ever want to find a good relationship. You don’t marry to make a man like you want him as many young girls tend to think. I believe constant negative talk brings negativity to you…I don’t know I just changed somehow and so I was surprised to see all these books coming out on this big secret. Some of it seems all common sense to me if only people would take the time to listen to their real inner selves. I believe it because I try to live it. I have begged my best friends to read the books so they will embrace who they are as single women and get out of the ruts they have gotten into …Anyway, the Oprah cog comment made me think of that and I am like you on that one, I do want to read this one and I see Naomi’s point too. When something becomes too hyped it doesn’t do anyone any good. If people don’t really feel something or attmept to change themselves no amount of reading is going to work. It is like people who read every weight loss book and do every diet but every year gain a little more weight. All these things are life changes….
Sorry for the long comment…I liked the way you and Joe actually discussed the book with each other. And you know as well as I do that no book knows everything but if we can take away bits and pieces that make us better people, or stronger, or more in tune to ourselves and our lovers that is what matters. The Purpose Driven Life is what really helped me start finding my way but Martin makes terrible fun of that one. Reading books on the ancient true words of the gospels helped him, we are all different but I do believe that books can help us begin a journey to a new and better us. I just don’t think they are cure alls.
March 5th, 2008 5:27 pm
I’m almost finished the book and I have loved it. The ‘basic’ stuff from the book, about all religions having the same message and god being within each of us, I already believed. What I found new and interesting was the idea of recognizing that ‘god’ as your inner Being and the techniques for doing that. I find it interesting that you are talking about your ‘stories’ because I thought the point was that our stories don’t matter. All that matters is the present moment, and we need to be attentive to that moment in order to connect with our inner Being. I do find myself stopping to recognize moments more often, and remembering that “this too shall pass” which is a calming thought. So I’ve really enjoyed reading the book and will watch the shows on rebroadcasts (since the live feed didn’t work very well!).
March 5th, 2008 5:48 pm
I believe the talk on our stories came from the second excerpt from the book that I quoted: They (the things that happened to us in the past) are ultimately no more than thoughts.
Remembering that helps us to not be so held by our stories but I also think our stories are important, like history is. To me everything has a balance (and usually more than one side to the truth). For instance, I AM attached to many of my things, but books like this help me to see how it benefits me not to be too attached. I’m attached not because I need the status of material things as much as the fact that I see things as familiar friends full of energy. If I study a thing I love I see all the steps taken to bring it into being and all the hands that have touched it along the way to me. My things are not for status but for security, yes. I’m easy on myself on being attached to things or my own story, just as I would be if I wasn’t ready to forgive someone — even though I know that forgiveness is a goal I want to move towards and that forgiveness helps everyone involved, especially the one who gives it.
Deana, you are a Wise Woman.
March 5th, 2008 6:35 pm
Thank you, Colleen, for posting excerpts from “A New Earth.” Isn’t it funny how we’ll fight off joining the mob, and nearly miss out on something that appears to be so illuminating, so worth-while? I love to discover new ways of looking at something, and the statement about the first flower took me there.
March 5th, 2008 9:57 pm
“I see things as familiar friends full of energy.”
I love that way of putting it, Colleen, and I share the sentiment. I believe that looking at your things that way deepens your experience of life. There’s a difference between this type of “attachment” and the one that makes us fearful of loss.
March 6th, 2008 9:11 am
OK, this one has been on my list for a while as two friends want to read and discuss the book. They are also doing the Oprah book club web discussion. I hope our library has it! Thanks for posting this one! Oh, and I don’t think you can have enough self-help books. hehe
SUsan
March 9th, 2008 3:25 am
I was so glad to read your post. I have also resisted grabbing every book Oprah recommends,but this sounds like it would be a good title for my husband and I to read together also. Thanks.
March 29th, 2008 10:34 pm
I love self-help, motivational books. But I wish I would have gotten this one from the library. I hated it and am returning it to Wal-Mart. Maybe I’m not evolved enough. One page about rocks and birds would have sufficed. I shut down.