Yay, I finished the book!

Just wanted to let you know. I will post once more on it, maybe tomorrow.

So, What's Next?

Hello-

Every week I get an issue of People magazine delivered to my house. Luckily, there is a section in the magazine that focuses on books. One of the books that was reviewed this week was, "A Little Girl's Death, and After" by Ann Hood. The book is a memoir-which is a book that focuses on one particular event and creates a story around it. The review reads, "Some things that didn't help novelist Hood after her 5-year-old daughter, Grace, died in 2002: being told she should try Pilates. Going to church (she hated God).
'None of them,' Hood writes, 'know what it is to lose Grace.' This affecting memoir shows what it was, and what brought solace in the dark months and years after the little girl, who loved art, sparkly shoes and overripe kiwis, came down with a virulent form of strep one day and was dead 36 hours later. Undone by sorrow, Hood found respite in knitting-filling her empty arms with soft wool. Her husband's and son's love helped; adopting baby Annabelle in '05 cheered them all. Friends suggested that by sharing her story, 'I could help others,' Hood writes. 'Of course I can't.' In graceful prose, Comfort bears witness to the heartbreaking particularity of her-of any-loss. It's what she could do."

The other books that are highlighted in this week's issue of People include:

Evan Handler: It's Only Temporary
Nikolai Grozni: Turtle Feet
Janelle Brown: All We Ever Wanted Was Everything

We could try to pick a newer novel or we could think about reading some of the classics. The only problem with picking one of the classics is that it would be harder to find something that we all haven't read. I am thinking that I would like to read a newer fiction novel. What is everyone else thinking about?

Have you ever?

Have you ever been in a big argument with someone, and then suddenly looked at them and realized how ridiculous, how irrelevant, how what your arguing about is off point and doesn’t matter? Or, has someone ever been very upset with you, and as they talk to you and speak of the hurt/anger, you don’t recognize the look in their eye?

I have noticed these things on many occasions, and even though I had the presence of mind to realize how fruitless an argument was, many times couldn’t stop it because of my ego. I have also been on the other end where someone has been angry with me and I felt like I couldn’t reach their true self, because something else had taken over. I see this now as both examples of the ego and pain-body.

Broken Laptop

Hello All-

I hope that all of you are having a great time finishing the latter portion of "A New Earth." I have enjoyed the majority of the book and I have recommended the book to several people. I haven't really been posting because my laptop is broken. Boo. I am sharing a laptop with Tom and that has not been so great. I loved having my own laptop...So, I am working on fixing my laptop and if that doesn't work out I will get a new one. I am almost finished with the book (only a few pages left) and I will make a final post after the long weekend. I have really enjoyed talking with all of you. You are all so smart and wonderful.

Have a terrific weekend!

~Erika

Where you at?

Hi everybody!

Erika, where are you at in your reading? I know you have been going strong whereas I keep taking breaks from the book. I am enjoying reading it slowly. I feel like I am learning a lot, and I'm letting all of it sink in before I continue plugging along. In my spare time I am also reading a book series that I read in middle school - The Vampire Diaries. I LOVED this series when I read it 15 years ago and I am enjoying it once again! lol. Tiff, where you at in your reading? Marcus, are you even bothering with this book anymore? Lou, how is your second read coming along?

I am mid-Chapter 7. I will post more soon.

Love you all.

Kim

Tons of Pain-body

Hi everyone!

I was glad to see some posts about chapters 4-6. I felt very connected to the idea of the pain-body. I feel like I have a lot of pain-body; however, I feel like I have accumulated most of it during my adult years. Tolle states, "Children in particular find strong negative emotions too overwhelming to cope with and tend to try not to feel them." This quote could explain why I don't feel like any of my pain-body occurred during my childhood. For the last 10 years, I have been trying to find out what I want to do with my life. Most of my adult life has been extremely wonderful, but I feel like I have been focusing on the negative--even if it is something small. Luckily, this book has changed the way that I think about life, about me, and about awareness. Almost two years ago, my friend passed away and I was very angry and devastated. After about a year, I felt like time had healed so much of that pain, but every once in a while that pain would seep out. Sometimes the pain would be unbearable and other times I felt like I forced the pain because I thought that was what I was supposed to feel. Now, I am still trying, and I mean I am trying, to clear my head. I am trying to become aware. I know that I cannot erase the pain-body that I have, but I can prevent more pain-body from entering into my body. I feel really silly for admitting this (so please forgive me in advance), but for some reason every time that I see my mom or anyone in my family, I feel like it is going to be the last time that I see them. It is so strange. I will write more about this topic, but I need to rest my eyes.

Hugs,

Erika

The Pain-Body

Hi Friends,

I have read through Chapter 6. This book continues to open my eyes and help me understand myself as well as others. Now - with the explanation of the pain-body. It’s a good thing, because this here pain-body has been rearing it’s ugly head on me sporadically for the past year. I don’t want to go into explanations of what Tolle named the pain-body, I’ll just tell you what I took away...

“The ego cannot distinguish between a situation and its interpretation of and reaction to that situation.” The situation is what it is. “What is dreadful is your reaction, your inner resistance to it, and the emotion that is created by that resistance.” This is huge for me, because I was in the habit of blaming Arizona for my unhappiness. Many times, in so many words, I’ve stated “I would be happier if I lived somewhere else.” At first I was saying that I didn’t want to be here because I missed my family, and then I started saying that so many other places would be better than AZ - that it’s AZ that is just not doing it for me.

What I feel now is that I don’t have to love Arizona, and this new way of living isn’t going to MAKE me love it, but it will separate my dislike from ME. My situation is what it is. How I react to it determines my state of happiness.

Since reading this book, I still have moments where the “funk” creeps up on me. I got very annoyed at the pool recently because it’s so hot already, I couldn’t stand to be out there. I was mad that when I touched the metal chair it burned me. I started hating on AZ and getting mad at Jason for laying there, loving it. I know this is ridiculous behavior! Another day, I got a letter from my niece - the first letter she had ever thought out and written to me by herself - and it was beautiful and it made me cry, and my pain-body surfaced and I was once again sad about being here and being away from my family.

These types of situations would happen before and I would completely slip into a funk. My negative thoughts would feed into my pain-body and it would spiral down. Or, sometimes, I couldn’t even pinpoint my trigger - it would just feel like a bad mood - which would then led to the same thoughts of why am I here and I don’t want to be here and I’m miserable. This would also lead to problems with Jason, because the pain-body wants to be miserable and it wants to drag others down with you.

I have been able to break that pattern now - I have done it. I recognized my pain-body, and the negative thoughts and feelings did not immediately go away, but there was a separation between me and it. The negativity didn’t consume me for more than a few moments, which is a major improvement. I felt OK with how I felt, while also finding a peace with the present.

“The knowing needs to be followed by accepting. Accepting means you allow yourself to feel whatever it is you are feeling at that moment. Through allowing, you become what you are: vast, spacious. You become whole.”

Sorry!!!

I would like to apologize for triple responding to Tiffany's post. As the Amazing Kim Boven will tell you, computer technology is not my forte.

I know we are talking about books on this blog, but there are a few movies I feel really encapsulate what we are reading. One of my favorites is, "What the bleep do we know". This movie uses some "interesting" illustrations of the scientific explanations of the power of thought and Ego.

I also recently watched a movie called, "Revolver", the latest Guy Ritchie movie. Interesting interpretation of the power of Ego, if you can handle a ganstar flick. Makes sense since he and Madonna practice Kabbalism.

You could make a case for both "Donnie Darko" (great movie!) and "Into the Wild" being awareness quest movies also.

If anyone is thinking about watching the movie version of "The Peaceful Warrior" and has not; my recommendation is to skip it. It is a Hollywood-ized version of an amazing book. Practically the entire meaning is lost.

Does anyone else know of any great movies that parallel Tolle's work?

Something to think about...

First of all- let me say- that this is book is GREAT.. with a capital GRR! I read Siddhartha when I was 19 and it changed my life. New Earth is in the same vein as Siddhartha but breaks the concept down clearly and specifically. I feel from reading everyone else's posts that these concepts are something that we have all felt intuitively but have not been able to grasp consciously. I read an essay once that really put all of this into perspective for me and I'll share it with all of you. I felt the itch after I read Siddhartha- the sense of connection to something greater, the seed of awareness being planted, the excitement that after a life of being fed bullshit that maybe the truth was upon me...much the same as how I'm feeling reading New Earth... so anyway.. I got obsessed. I started reading Eastern philosophy, going to a Buddhist temple, started Yoga.... I renounced materialism (sort of - HA!).. yada..yada.. BUT it wasn't working. I was still angry and narcissistic...I still wanted new clothes and the material trophies of success....I still gossiped and felt negativity toward my fellow man. I felt like a spiritual failure, like maybe I just wasn't cut out for enlightenment or "awakening". I tell you all of this because one day I stumbled upon an essay online. The author basically said that it's hard for westerners to grasp these concepts because we are inherently impatient, we make a change and BAM- we want the result- RIGHT NOW or we give up. He explained that to embark on this journey is to look at it like taking up martial arts. Of course you don't expect to be a black belt after your first class or even after your first year or ten years.. but through practice, discipline and commitment some people master the art. Very few ever reach the pinnacle of black belt status but everyone who takes up martial arts benefits in one way or another. I offer you this because as we hit the pavement of this spiritual journey together, maybe thinking about the process in this light will ease some frustration. It helped me feel more patient about learning, more patient with myself- but it's still an ebb and flow for me- there have been way more set backs then successes, for me it's just about picking myself back up and trying again (coincidentally a theme in Siddhartha). There are years when this feeling sits on a dusty shelf of my mind- surfacing only occasionally and then receding quietly in the background of my life. In some ways- I haven't changed at all- still angry, want new clothes and gossip.. but it has made a huge impact on my life and I feel hope that if I ever do understand this or even advance to my green belt- that peace and fulfillment are waiting for me. New Earth is such a refreshing and understandable user's guide...thank you for encouraging me to read this book- it's been a comfort in this period of my life and I feel like I'm back in spiritual karate and ready to kick some ass!!!! I'm almost through chapter 3...

Sorry...

Sorry I haven't been participating....Having some family troubles. Erika, I emailed you on myspace.



Hope to be back in action soon, though!

The Next Novel

I read a review of this novel in People magazine and I was wondering what you all thought.

"Augusten Burroughs wowed readers with his offbeat memoir, Running with Scissors, and the subsequent film based on the book was a hit with critics and fans alike. He returns to his formative years for a chilling portrait of his complicated relationship with his dark and unpredictable father in A Wolf at the Table."

I am thinking that there would be a lot to talk about. Just a suggestion.

~Erika

Any Connections?

Revelation 21

The New Heaven and the New Earth
21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place [1] of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, [2] and God himself will be with them as their God. [3] 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Response to Marcus and Kim

Hi, Guys:

Marcus, I loved your response. Tolle, himself, said many people would not get anything out of the book. I agree with Kim, it is much easier when you have studied either yoga or meditation; because you already have a history of seeking "beingness".

It sounds like you are philosophical. What my old college friends would call a deep thinker. I dont think Tolle wants you to lose that. As a matter of fact, you will find later in the book that is revered. I just think the message is, dont make your past or future your identity. When we tend to worry about these things; we miss the now. As my very wise Father used to say, "When you have one foot in the past and one foot in the future; you end up peeing on the present". Alright, a little crude; but it makes sense.

Maybe you are too evolved for this. Maybe you already have the ability to appreciate the now and not get caught up in labels, baggage and role-playing. I sure am not there. I have just learned how to think about my thinking. Now when the crazy Scottsdale drivers cut me off (a frequent occurence, right Kim?) when I start getting angry, I spend some time thinking about what is really bothering me and find a whole new set of Ego voices. It is pretty freeing.

I know you questioned whether we can ever change the world. You said that pain, disease etc were going to happen anyway. All wars have occured over either commerce or religious beliefs. I think Tolle is saying, all great leaders have been in the now...aware of their beingness. Jesus, Gandhi, Buddha, The Dalai Llama, Mohamed, Martin Luther King etc. were tolerant and spoke of being in the moment and appreciating what we have. If hundreds of thousands of people end up of this mindset, which I believe Oprah alone has over 2 million people taking her class, cant we be more tolerant? If we are less attached to the things the Ego loves (which is MORE) and are more tolerant of people's religious views; wont that spread peace and love?

Chapter 5 will address the disease/pain part. I hope you stick with the book long enough to read about the role-playing and pain-body. Also, I do find Tolle's writing to be a little dry. But if you have ever seen him speak, he is a little dry by nature. If it is something you are interested in; you can go to Oprah.com and see the videos of the classes. The questions people send in are very similar to yours; and he and Oprah answer them more eloquently than I can. It really is worth the time to watch them.

Marcus, I hope you continue to question the book. I think we learn most in this life by listening to others. It helps us to hear other people's views and forces us to analyze our own. I look forward to hearing more from you.

Everyone have a great week. Cant wait to hear your comments on Chapters 4-6.

Where are you?

Bethany, where are you? I know that you have been reading!!! We want to hear what you think!

Welcome

Hello all-

I wanted you all to know that I invited some of my friends and family to this blog. I want you to feel free to invite some of your friends and family as well. Please let me know if there is someone that you want me to invite.

For all of the new people...

Welcome!

We are currently reading "A New Earth" by Eckhart Tolle. Most of us are about 4 chapters in at this point. We welcome all questions, comments, thoughts, ideas, etc. at "The Gathering Place." I hope that you join us in any way that you can. :o)

I hope that you enjoy this experience as much as I do!

~Erika

Response to Marcus

Hey Marcus, I’m glad you’re reading!

Let me first say that the first Chapter of this book did nothing for me. I remember nothing from it, and I read it twice. It is impossible to judge this book from the first Chapter. Honestly, not one part of it made sense to me. I do not identify myself as “flowering.” Nor should I try to. The lesson is not to identify ourselves as anything…just be. Be your awareness. Will that stop bad things from happening? Absolutely not. Does it mean we will stop feeling? No way. Just last night, my yoga teacher was saying that we are, of course, still human. We won’t become robots.
We will still feel bad things and we should allow for that to happen. The important thing is to not MAKE that thing or thought our identity. We allow and we grow. Allow and move on.

I do not think this will take away from the beauty of life - which includes getting through the trials and tribulations. I think it will help us get through it faster. This philosophy just says that if something bad happens, that doesn't become who we are. Because we aren't what happens to us, we aren't what we have and we aren't the content of our mind. We just ARE. I am beginning to feel the boundless joy, freedom and inner peace with what disidentifying from my ego and mind can do for me. It hits home with me because I have been consumed at times with sadness about being away from my family. This philosophy tells me it's ok to feel sad - but I do not have to become so identified with those thoughts and feelings that I AM a sad, depressed person. I am not that - I just AM. That detachment will make me stronger and happier, I know it :)

As a sidenote, I am not sure if this book would have the same impact on me that it does if it weren't for my yoga study, which I have been practicing for one year. This book is simply expounding on those lessons...and, in turn, I feel that I have immediately taken my yoga practice to the next level. Every class has been better so far, I'm nodding along and understanding the teacher better than I ever have before.

Anywho, give the book more of a chance. Chapter 2 was wonderful for me – Chap. 3 was more unremarkable, and so far I am LOVING Chapter 4. It’s about “role playing” of the ego. It’s hilarious, really. People playin roles… ;)

So, if the book still isn’t doing it for you…that’s ok. I thank you for being here and wanting to participate!