A New Earth Study Guide Week 1 The consciousness that says ‘I am’ is not the consciousness that thinks. —Jean-Paul Sartre Affi rmation: "Through the guidance and wisdom of Spirit, I am being transformed by the renewing of my mind. All obstacles and emotions are stepping stones to the realization and appreciation of my sacred humanness." Study Questions – A New Earth (Review chapters 1 & 2, pp 1-58) Chapter 1: The Flowering of Human Consciousness Refl ect: Eckhart Tolle uses the image of the fi rst fl ower to begin his discussion of the transformation of consciousness. In your transformation, is this symbolism important to you? Describe. The two core insights of early religion are: 1) the normal state of human consciousness is dysfunctional (the Hindu call it maya – the veil of delusion) and 2) the opportunity for transformation is also in human consciousness (the Hindu call this enlightenment) (p. 8-9). What in your recent experience points to each of these insights? “To recognize one’s own insanity is, of course, the arising of sanity, the beginning of healing and transcendence” (p. 14). To what extent and in what circumstances (that you’re willing to discuss) does this statement apply to you? Religion is derived from the Latin word religare, meaning “to bind.” What, in your religious experience, have you been bound to? Stretching your imagination a bit, what could the word have pointed to in its original context? Spirit is derived from the Latin word spiritus, breath, and spirare, to blow. Aside from the allusion to hot air, how does this word pertain to your transformation? Do you consider yourself to be “spiritual” or “religious”? What examples of practices or beliefs can you give to illustrate? How does this passage from Revelation 21:1-4 relate to your transformation? Tease out as much of the symbolism as you can. Congregant Spiritual Development— 117 “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the fi rst heaven and the fi rst earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the fi rst things have passed away.” Get Active Spend some time in the presence of something you consider beautiful—a fl ower, a gem, a piece of artwork, etc. As you look at the object, try to see it without naming it mentally. When we appreciate beauty in this manner, a window opens into the formless, and into a state of gratitude. See if you can experience that. Choose one or two activities you do routinely and bring your attention to them. Here are three examples. ° Every time you walk up and down the stairs in your house or place of work, pay close attention to every step, every movement…even your breathing. Be totally present. ° When you wash your hands, pay attention to all the sensory perceptions associated with the activity: the sound and feel of the water, the movement of your hands, the scent of the soap and so on. ° When you get into your car, after you close the door, pause for a few seconds and observe the fl ow of your breath. Become aware of a silent but powerful sense of presence. Chapter 2: Ego: The Current State of Humanity Refl ect In his discussion of the ego, Tolle refers to the use of words and labels as a means of disguising the miracles with which we are continually blessed (p. 26). What experiences have you had that illustrate this idea? Tolle asserts that the ego’s conditioning is completely in the past and is composed of content and structure (p. 34). Why is this distinction relevant? The egoic mind arises in its identifi cation with form. Thought is considered essential to the ego’s continuance. If we are to let go of the ego, is it essential to let go of thought as well? Is there anything to take the place of thought? 118—Congregant Spiritual Development Toole declares, “Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness” (p. 41). Are you inclined to agree with that statement? Can you illustrate with a personal example where that seemed to be the case? Where it did not seem to be the case? Several tools of the ego ensures its continuance: • making yourself right and others wrong • stimulating your appetite for “more” • identifying with the body What behaviors/activities can you practice/perform to reduce or eliminate the effect of the ego’s use of these tools? “Descartes’ error” refers to his oft-quoted dictum, “I think, therefore I am.” Why is this an error? How does the acceptance or belief of this statement keep us in the state of maya? How does tragic loss lead us to the realization of “the peace that passes all understanding” (p. 56)? Get Active A few times a day, listen quietly for the voice in your head, the stream of continuous self-talk. Then ponder the following questions. Just be with the questions. Don't necessarily try to answer them. • Am I the thoughts that are going through my head? or • Am I the one who is aware that these thoughts are going through my head? Pay attention to the gap between your thoughts—when one thought subsides and before another arises. In this way, you draw consciousness away from mind activity and create a gap of no-mind in which you are highly alert and aware but not thinking. When these gaps occur, you disidentify from your mind and feel a certain stillness and peace inside you. This is the essence of meditation and the single most vital step on your journey toward enlightenment. Next Week: Read chapters 3 & 4. Congregant Spiritual Development— 119 A New Earth Study Guide Week 2 The Truth is inseparable from who you are. —Eckhart Tolle Affi rmation: "I AM as God created me." Study Questions – A New Earth (Review chapters 3 & 4, pp 59-128) Chapter 3: The Core of the Ego Refl ect “Egos only differ on the surface. Deep down they are all the same…. They live on identifi cation and separation.” (p. 60) What examples do you have of your ego living on identifi cation and separation? How has that proved “useful” to the development of your relationships? “To forgive is to overlook, or rather to look through.” (p. 63) Compare and contrast this concept of forgiveness to that which is taught at Living Water Unity: “Forgiveness is the process of giving love to the moment, without constraint, without limitation, without condition. Forgiveness is not an action after the fact but an attitude with which we enter each moment.” Tolle identifi es tools of the ego to include: complaints and resentment (p. 61), reactivity and grievances (p. 64), and being right and making wrong (p. 66). Aside from the obvious effect of these “ego tools” reinforcing the perception of separation from others, describe how you have used (abused?) these to make yourself feel “special”. What is the bodily feeling that arises when you use these tools? Y. Haveli is quoted as having suggested the opportunity of “accommodating a competitive narrative” (p. 72). What does that mean to you and why do you think it is important in the transformation from egocentric to God-centric consciousness? “Fighting unconsciousness will draw you into unconsciousness yourself. Unconsciousness, dysfunctional egoic behavior, can never be defeated by attacking it.” (p. 75) When have you tried to do this and what was the result? Identify several instances. “The underlying emotion that governs all activity of the ego is fear.” (p. 80) Tolle states that this is so because the ego arises by identifying with form – and it knows no form is permanent. This and other references in A New Earth ascribe a motivation to this entity known as the ego as if it were separate from you. If all is one, then the ego cannot, in truth, be separate. How do you resolve this seeming paradox? 120—Congregant Spiritual Development Get Active Are you so busy getting to the future that the present is reduced to a means of getting there? There are simple things you can do to bring your attention to the here and now. You can measure your success in this practice by the degree of peace that you feel within. Try This Be patient. It is not easy at fi rst to be there as the witnessing Presence, especially when the ego is in survival mode, but once you have had a taste of it, you will grow in Presence power, and the ego will lose its grip on you. The ultimate purpose of human existence, which is to say, your purpose, is to bring that power into the world. Become aware of your breathing. Feel the air fl owing in and out of your body. Feel your inner energy fi eld. All that you ever have to deal with, cope with, in real life—as opposed to imaginary mind projections—is this moment. Ask yourself what "problem" you have right now, not next year, tomorrow, or fi ve minutes from now.