Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Stillness Speaks

"When each thought absorbs your attention completely, it means you identify with the voice in head. Thought then becomes invested with a sense of self. This is the ego, a mind-made "me." That mentally constructed self feels incomplete and precarious. That's why fearing and wanting are it's predominant emotions and motivating forces.

When you recognize that there is a voice in your head that pretends to be you and never stops speaking, you are awakening out of your identification with the stream of thinking. When you notice that voice, you realize that who you are is not the voice -the thinker- but the one who is aware of it.

Knowing yourself as the awareness behind the voice is freedom."

Taken from the book Stillness Speaks by Eckart Tolle

I don't think I've mentioned before that a take a Yoga class once a week? It's great for me because I get to stretch out my whole body- which helps counteract the stiffness I get from sitting at my computer for hours on end! Plus of course Yoga's about quietening the mind and I definitely need help with that! We finish off every class with 20 minutes of relaxation and meditation and my teacher always reads us a passage from a book. I thought it would be a nice idea to write a blog post today about an author 
my Yoga teacher introduced me to. I am a huge fan of Eckart Tolle and I chose the passage above because it's something that I try to practice everyday- becoming aware that I don't need to pay attention to all that mind chatter- most of which I've become to realise is repetitive, pointless and stressful. And I have to say I am a lot less stressed as a result! If this passage resonates with you at all and you want to read more I would also recommend reading A New Earth- one of my most treasured books. And who knows if enough people enjoy this post perhaps I'll blog a passage every week?
Hope everyone is having a peaceful, relaxing day also :) 

5 comments:

Stacy said...

Thanks for posting this passage from Eckhart's book. It was good to read a reminder that we are not our stories or the voice in our head. I like his books, too.

Shabby Chick said...

Very interesting quote, I had to read it a couple of times to "get" it (but then my usual reading material du jour is Meg & Mog!). I like the thought that I can ignore some of thoughts and that they aren't all ME.

On a lighter note, loved the hedgehogs!

Mel xxx

Jacqueline said...

Emma, thank you for this reminder. :) And thanks for posting this quotes from Eckhart. I have one of his book "A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose". Really like the book and thanks for the recommendation too! I might check it out when im looking for a new book to read!
Yoga is really good...helped me alot with balance. I stop taking it now...coz the center that hosted the classes closed down and i have not look for others ever since. Lazy me...>_<
Have a lovely merry happy day and lots of love to you!! *hugz*

noelle said...

Thanks for that Emma , i am forever listening and worrying about all thats going on in my head . Sometimes i just want to shout 'SHUT UP' . i find it really hard to switch off, i must try harder! x noelle x

Anonymous said...

I am looking forward to more of your inspirational blogging.
My body (mind and spirit) is crying out for yoga, I haven't done any for a very log time. Time I thought of taking it up again.
Thanks for the reminder.
x
Sumea