Eckhart Tolle discusses the soul of the world and awakening, the benefits of becoming more aware, the balance between inner and outer worlds, consciousness as the driving force behind creation, and the power of being present in human interactions.
Awakening to the transcendent dimension within ourselves allows us to discover the soul of the world as our own soul, which is the essence of spirituality.
Becoming more aware not only makes our lives easier and more enjoyable, but also contributes to making the world a better place and improves our relationships with others.
Deep dives
The Soul of the World
In this podcast episode, Eckhart Tolle discusses the concept of the soul of the world, which is the same as our own soul, when we awaken to the transcendent dimension within ourselves. This is the essence of spirituality and the reason for our existence. Tolle also explains the functional purpose of becoming more aware, stating that it makes our lives easier and more enjoyable, contributes to making the world a better place, and improves our relationships with others.
The Logos and Wisdom
Tolle explores the concept of the logos, which points to the underlying intelligence in the universe. It is often translated as 'word', but Tolle suggests that 'thought' might be a closer translation. He also discusses wisdom as a force that exists in the universe, similar to the consciousness or logos. Tolle emphasizes the importance of accessing and realizing this dimension within ourselves and shares insights from the Bible that highlight the presence of wisdom or consciousness in creation.
The Art of Living in Both Worlds
Tolle emphasizes the importance of maintaining a balance between the being and doing dimensions of our lives. While it is possible to access deep states of presence or consciousness through activities such as dancing, drumming, or meditation, it is essential to also remain aware of the outer world. He suggests that every creative human has some access to these deep states, and it is necessary to bring this presence into daily life interactions, recognizing the essence of others and making every human contact an opportunity for deeper connection.
The Purpose and Impact of Awareness
Tolle addresses the functional purpose of becoming more aware, stating that it makes our lives more pleasant and easier, improves our relationships with others, and makes the world a better place. While accessing deep states of awareness or presence can bring joy and a sense of being connected to the deeper dimension, Tolle emphasizes that the main purpose of awareness is to transform our interactions and bring the essence of consciousness into our everyday lives, not just limited to specific activities or creations.
In this podcast Eckhart talks about the soul of the world which in Latin translates to Anima Mundi. He says when we awaken to the transcendent dimension within ourselves, we are then able to discover the soul of the world as our own soul. Eckhart says that's the essence of all spirituality and is the primary reason we are here. Eckhart then answers questions on a variety of subjects: a woman asks what the functional purpose is of becoming more aware. Eckhart explains there are many benefits to awakening - the most obvious is that our lives get easier and more enjoyable. Another audience member asks about the states of consciousness generated during dancing, drumming and meditation… she’s deeply aware of the inner world, but not the outer. She wants to know if that is the same transcendent dimension Eckhart discusses so frequently. He says we must keep a foot in both worlds because the art of living requires this balance.