Per Aspera Ad Astra: Through Adversity We Reach the Stars!
Nov 16, 2023
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Eckhart Tolle addresses turning adversity into spiritual growth, providing guidance on emotional stability and the art of sustaining consciousness during difficult times. He discusses the inevitability of suffering and the importance of using wisdom as parents to protect our children and let them experience life's challenges. The podcast also introduces LeVar Burton's new show, Sound Detectives, and explores the impact of over-protectiveness on child development. It emphasizes finding a balance between safety and adventure, taking risks for growth, and the role of consequences in learning.
Staying present during low energy states is crucial for sustaining awareness and preventing negativity from taking control.
Parents should use wisdom to strike a balance between protecting their children and allowing them to face life's challenges and develop resilience.
Deep dives
Fluctuation of Mood and Staying Present
The podcast episode discusses the fluctuation of moods in a person's life. The speaker acknowledges that some days individuals feel great, full of energy, present, patient, and appreciative of everything around them. However, there are other days when the energy seems to be gone, and they feel unmotivated, tired, and unsettled. The speaker suggests that it is important to stay present even during low energy states and observe them without being completely overwhelmed. By catching these low states early and remaining conscious, individuals can sustain awareness and prevent negative thinking from taking control.
Sustaining Awareness through Physical and Mental Challenges
Another key point addressed in the podcast is the connection between physical well-being and the ability to stay present. The speaker mentions that when individuals feel physically weak or experience pain, they may lose their sense of presence. This can also happen when people consume substances like alcohol. However, the speaker emphasizes that awareness should still be maintained in both good and bad states. By recognizing the low states when they arise, individuals can sustain awareness and prevent the low state from controlling their thinking. This practice of staying present during challenges is described as an important part of spiritual growth.
Balancing Protection and Allowing Challenges in Parenting
The podcast explores the question of how to help children awaken without causing unnecessary pain. The speaker acknowledges that some form of suffering is inevitable for every child. The key lies in parental wisdom to determine when to protect the child and when to let them experience life's challenges. Overprotecting a child may prevent them from developing resilience and inner resources, which are vital in facing life's difficulties. It is crucial to strike a balance between protecting a child and allowing them the freedom to make mistakes, understand consequences, and grow in consciousness.
The Necessity of Suffering for Spiritual Growth
The podcast delves into the idea that suffering is a spiritual teacher leading to awakening. The speaker acknowledges that suffering is an inherent part of the human condition and an essential aspect of spiritual growth. However, it's important to note that suffering does not need to be extreme or unbearable. The speaker suggests that through wisdom and conscious awareness, individuals can navigate suffering in a way that promotes growth rather than unnecessary pain. The concept of per aspera ad astra, Latin for 'through adversity to the stars,' is shared as a reminder that challenges and suffering can lead to higher states of consciousness.
In this episode, Eckhart answers questions about turning adversity into spiritual growth. A mother wants more emotional stability in her life. She says she often wakes up, feeling full of energy, only to find the next moment she’s irritable and exhausted. She’s concerned about transmitting her negative moods to her children. Eckhart encourages her to remain alert when the low energy takes hold. He also explains that sustaining consciousness during difficult times is a great art and this could become an important part of her spiritual practice. Another mom asks: if suffering is necessary for our awakening, then how do we help our children to awaken without causing unnecessary pain? He says every child will encounter some form of suffering, which is part of the human condition. He says as parents we must use wisdom to decide when to protect our children and when to let them experience life on life’s terms. Eckhart shares an ancient Roman aphorism. In Latin it is: Per aspera ad astra - which means: through adversity we reach the stars!