The Power of Now

Last night I began re-reading Eckhart Tolle’s first book “The Power of Now.” I have always believed, and taught, that the next step in human evolution is learning to choose our thoughts and consequently choose our emotions. Eckhart Tolle takes this idea a step further when says that we urgently need to learn to stop thinking altogether and find the quiet space within where wisdom and intuition can emerge. The future of humanity depends on it. He says, “Many people live with a tormenter in their head that continuously attacks and punishes them and drains them of vital energy. It is the cause of untold misery and unhappiness as well as of disease.”
This morning when I woke, I quietly watched my thoughts. I do this in meditation, while I focus on my breathing and repeat a mantra, but this morning I simply observed what was happening inside my head and my God it’s a traffic jam in there! One thought after another, all lined up eager for airtime. All competing for space and going in different directions. Very much like a traffic jam in rush hour. As a silent witness I was intrigued by the relentless busyness of my thoughts. There was a problem here, a memory there, a plan to be made, something I needed to do, or buy, or find. So much to think about. The image of my thoughts being like cars in peak hour traffic presented itself and I decided to imagine some people with Stop-Slow signs controlling the traffic at certain locations. As I pictured this the streets began to clear. Things became quieter. I felt a spaciousness within my mind. The noise and pollution of all that traffic dissipated and a sense of peace began to appear. Stillness and clarity replaced the chaos. It felt so much better. As I rested in that space I realized that a number of magnificent, colourful floats, like you would see in a Mardi Gras parade, had been waiting on the outskirts of the city. Now that the streets had cleared they could enter one at a time. They moved slowly past at a pace to be savoured and appreciated. It was a procession of inspired, sacred, creative, light-filled beauty. They were surprising and spontaneous images that are difficult to describe in words. I realized that whatever it was that was now flowing slowly through my mind was infinitely more meaningful than the typical mind chatter that had been blocking it just minutes before.
Tolle says that when you attempt to stop thinking, “There is one certain criteria by which you can measure your success in this practice: the degree of peace within.”
The challenge now of course is to keep that traffic under control. I might just have to install some permanent road blocks.

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