| In a previous article, Some Thoughts on Thoughts: | | | | evolution we observed that water runs down hill, and |
| Don't Worry. Be Happy, I discuss how Eckhart Tolle, in | | | | we used that awareness to our advantage in our |
| his book A New Earth, points the way to a renewal of | | | | physical survival. Recently, scientists have observed |
| spiritual consciousness. Tolle contends that our ego | | | | that the polar ice caps are melting at an accelerated |
| obstructs spiritual consciousness with thoughts, and it | | | | rate, and that the melting ice caps will lead to a |
| uses thoughts to feed itself, generating | | | | significant rise in the level of our oceans. This |
| thoughts-for-thought-sake in an endless uncontrolled | | | | awareness has led us to a renewed consciousness of |
| cycle that is emotionally and spiritually dysfunctional. An | | | | the urgency to take steps to reverse this trend. These |
| indiscriminate reader might conclude that Tolle | | | | are the kinds of practical thoughts that come out of |
| considers all thoughts as unhealthy and | | | | conscious awareness, and should result in more |
| counterproductive. Indeed, he makes a forceful and | | | | productive actions. Without these thoughts, we might |
| convincing argument, but not so much against all | | | | never have discovered how to renew water |
| thinking but in support of the need for consistent, | | | | resources or how to reduce hydrocarbons in our |
| deliberately practiced downtime, what he calls being in | | | | atmosphere. |
| the "Now". | | | | It might be difficult to imagine how an awareness |
| The implication of our endless absorption in thought is | | | | thought could not be of some benefit. It depends on |
| that most of us, especially in our western capitalistic | | | | how we react to our awareness. The recent "Miracle |
| society, give much too much time to useless, | | | | on the Hudson" is a superb example of extraordinary |
| dysfunctional thoughts. In fact, almost all of us suffer | | | | functional thinking and action out of awareness. Not |
| from varying degrees of obsessive thoughts. We may | | | | only did the US Airways' pilot perform a flawless |
| not be dysfunctional as in a classic clinical diagnosis of | | | | emergency splash down, it appears that the |
| obsessive-compulsive disorder, but Tolle believes that | | | | attendants and passengers reacted equally as well. |
| our pattern of unconscious, endless cycle of thoughts | | | | Had there been panic, some or many lives may have |
| is spiritually dysfunctional. | | | | been lost. Awareness of the need to remain calm and |
| Nonetheless, are all thoughts bad? Could we function | | | | to follow the standard procedures for the safe |
| without thinking at all? Of course not. Surely, some | | | | evacuation of the airplane saved the lives of all the |
| thoughts must be productive. After all, it is functional | | | | passengers and the crew. |
| thinking to remember to pay our taxes, right? (Some | | | | Unfortunately, the loss of life in the Station nightclub in |
| of us in public office might do well to have this thought | | | | Rhode Island in 2003 was the result of dysfunctional |
| more regularly.) Is there a productive escape from | | | | reaction to the awareness of a fire and the need to |
| useless thoughts? Can we practice more useful | | | | evacuate the building. There was panic. The crowd |
| thoughts? | | | | stampeded to the main entrance, the door they |
| Everyday I am aware of some of my more useless | | | | entered to the concert, where many persons were |
| thoughts, especially worrisome thoughts. I have not | | | | crushed, blocking what nearly everyone believed to be |
| been diagnosed with a disorder. Three of my closest | | | | their only escape route. There were at least three |
| friends are clinical psychologists and consider me | | | | other exits. Had the nightclub crowd functioned as well |
| normally functional. And it may reassuring to remind | | | | as the attendants and passengers of the US Airways |
| myself that I am not alone in my "normal" thought | | | | flight, perhaps they too would have lived a miracle. |
| patterns. But almost daily, I am aware of exaggerated, | | | | Awareness often helps to facilitate increased joy in |
| dramatic worry thoughts. The more conscious I | | | | our lives. We might note that we feel joyful when our |
| become, the more aware I am of what Tolle considers | | | | grandchildren arrive for a visit, or that we feel a deep |
| a global disorder. But I am heartened that Tolle | | | | sense of joy when we contribute to efforts to reduce |
| contends that the moment we are aware (or "in a | | | | world hunger. This kind of awareness enhances the |
| state of awareness"), we are in the "Now" and we | | | | joy and stimulates the desire to repeat the awareness, |
| are connected with our "Source Being", our spiritual | | | | to our benefit, to our grandchildren, and to humanity as |
| being. Awareness is the source of healing. Awareness | | | | a whole. |
| is the cure for obsessive thoughts. Awareness is our | | | | We might become aware that every time we lose our |
| connection with our spiritual selves. | | | | temper, we pay the consequence of stress, and so, |
| Awareness thoughts are some of our most useful | | | | we determine to take a more positive perspective on |
| thoughts we can have. They come from observation, | | | | the things that we previously allowed to anger us. We |
| introspection, and realization. According to Tolle, | | | | might also notice that our more positive attitude |
| awareness thoughts are our most spiritual thoughts. In | | | | produces more positive reactions in other persons, |
| some ways, it could be argued that a state of | | | | creating a self-perpetuating increase in tolerance and |
| awareness is technically not thought at all. Through | | | | respect around us. |
| being still and observing closely our inner visions, we | | | | Growth begins with building awareness. Indeed, the |
| might find an awareness of oneness and peace. The | | | | greater the awareness, the better are the chances |
| practice of meditation is a path to this kind of | | | | that we will achieve their goals. The process of |
| awareness. | | | | awareness is like shining a light where there has |
| But out of awareness can come very useful, | | | | always been darkness. The revelations can be |
| productive, even practical thoughts. Out of awareness | | | | remarkable and miraculous in the process of healing |
| come thoughts that identify and solve problems, leading | | | | and renewal. |
| to appropriate actions. A very long time ago in our | | | | |