Spiritual

What exactly is the ego? How does the ego give rise to one’s self? According to Eckhart Tolle, “ego” is the part of your mind that comments, doubts, and speculates on everything. The ego is driven by fear of being nothing, which it tries to alleviate through identification with material, thought, and emotional elements, giving rise to what you think of as your “self.”    Here’s how spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle explains the concept of the ego and how it gives rise to the self and identity.

What exactly is the self? Where does our sense of self come from? According to Eckhart Tolle, the self arises as a result of the ego’s attempt to eliminate its fear of being nothing by collecting and identifying with material, thought, and emotional elements. Gaining elements alleviates the fear of being nothing because it gives the ego an identity—something to call “me,” “mine,” and “my story.” These elements and our social standing form the mental image most people conjure up when they think of the “self.”    In this article, we’ll explore the elements of self and how they relate

What exactly is the inner self? How do you connect to your inner self? According to Eckhart Tolle, your inner self is pure conscious energy. Connecting with your inner self, rather than the false self-image created by the ego, is the key to achieving a state of perpetual mindfulness. When we’re connected with our inner self, we’re always in a state of mindfulness. Here’s how spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle explains the elusive concept of the inner self and why realizing it is the ultimate purpose of human life.

Why is it so hard to simply be in the present moment? Why do we always seek to drown the present in thinking and activity? If you’ve ever tried to meditate, you should know how hard it is to simply be in the present moment. When you have nothing to do, the mind begins to invent all kinds of scenarios, which rarely lead anywhere good. According to spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle, we resist the present because we are caught up in the endless cycle of wanting—no matter what we have, we will always want more. Here’s why the mind wants

How do thoughts affect behavior? How does overidentifying with thought cause suffering and dysfunction? According to Eckhart Tolle, thought is at the root of human dysfunction. In his book A New Earth, he explains that our thought elements shape how we interact with the world and lead to two forms of dysfunction: 1) inauthentic relationships, and 2) polarization and violence. Here’s why identifying with our thought elements is harmful to both ourselves and others around us.

Do you struggle with mindfulness? Why is it so difficult to stop the never-ending stream of consciousness and simply be mindful of what is happening in the present moment? Being present in the moment is the key to relieving dissatisfaction and anxiety, but our thinking mind prevents us from being present. We have this compulsion to always be consumed in thought—worrying, ruminating, and mind-wandering. According to Eckhart Tolle, mindfulness is difficult because we are caught up in the cycle of wanting. It’s hard to stay mindful in the present moment when you want things to be different than they currently

What exactly is the “pain-body”? How does identifying with your emotional pain-body prevent you from being present? According to Eckhart Tolle, the pain-body is basically an accumulation of the painful experiences you’ve had throughout your life. When you identify with the pain-body by letting it consume your mind, you’re perpetuating its negativity even further, which traps you in the endless cycle of rumination and prevents you from being present. Keep reading to learn about the concept of the pain-body, how and why it forms, and how it affects your perception and behavior.

What is the nature of the ego? What happens when we identify with the ego? How can we prevent the ego from keeping us trapped in mindlessness? The ego is preoccupied with superiority and self-image, always wanting more and better—such is its nature. When we overidentify with the ego, we are consumed with wanting, which traps us in a dysfunctional state of mindlessness. According to spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle, the only way to escape this state is to evolve our consciousness to a higher level—one where we are present in each moment rather than constantly wanting. He calls this state