Eckhart Tolle Present: You Are Not Your Mind

Sometimes letting things go is an act of far greater power than defending or hanging on. — Eckhart Tolle

Eckhart Tolle is a spiritual teacher and author. Born in Germany, educated at the Universities of London and Cambridge. He is the #1 New York Times bestseller The Power of Now and the highly acclaimed follow-up — A New Earth.

Tolle’s teachings focus on the importance of being present in the moment, transcending the ego, and connecting with the deeper essence of who we truly are. His insights have helped millions find peace, clarity, and a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them. Through his work, Tolle encourages us to let go of mental distractions, quiet the inner noise, and discover the power of living fully in the now.With that said, let’s jump right in.

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RISING ABOVE THOUGHT

Eckhart Tolle describes the mind as an instrument—a tool for doing specific tasks. When the job’s accomplished, explains Tolle, you lay it down. You’re not obsessed with it because you understand that being can be felt, but never can it be understood mentally. Tolle writes, “You can know it only when the mind is still and your attention is fully and intensely in the Now.”

The present moment holds the key to liberation. But you cannot find the present moment as long as you are in your mind. — Eckhart Tolle

He explains, it’s okay to listen to the voice in your head. However, be there as the witnessing presence. 

The voice belongs to your conditioned mind. He added. It results from your history and the collective cultural mindset we inherited growing up.

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Do not judge or condemn what you hear.

Doing so would only mean the same voice has returned through the back door.

Tolle observes, you’ll soon realize there is the voice, and here I am, listening to it, watching it.

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In your everyday life, you can practice this by taking any routine activity that’s usually a means to an end and giving it your fullest attention — to become an end in itself.

For example, if you’re doing the dishes, give it your full attention.

Feel the sensation of the water, the soap dripping off the plate.

And soon, you’d realized the playfulness of it all.

And as Russian writer, and spiritual thinker, Leo Tolstoy writes, “The present is the moment in which the divine nature of life is revealed. Let us respect our present time; God exists in this time.”

Closing thought:

Remember; you are not your mind. Eckhart reminds us, “enlightenment” means rising above thoughts.It’s not about falling back to a level below thoughts. Explains Tolle. (e.g, the level of an animal or a plant.)

The moment you start watching the thinker, Tolle says—a higher level of consciousness becomes activated.Watch the thinker long enough, and gradually you’ll realize you are not your mind.A person can easily grow accustomed to living a lie.” Writes the Russian writer, Leo Tolstoy, “especially if he sees everyone around him living in the same way.”

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Thank you for reading.

Here is a similar post you might also like:

A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose by Eckhart Tolle [Book Summary & PDF] — Leapessence

Until next time. 

Photo credit: Mor Shani on Unsplash