Embracing What Is

As I was browsing news stories in the Spiritual Networks the other day, I discovered a link to an interview with Eckhart Tolle. He read the insights of an author I hadn't heard of before and mentioned that he had moved up to number 32 on the world's spiritual bestseller list. Eckart Tolle's conversation partner responded, "well, you are also up there". To that Eckhart Tolle replied, "Yes, I was number 1 last year and am now number 2." The other author laughed and asked, "Well, how does that make you feel?" Eckart Tolle replied, "awful", with a face that backed up his statement. The audience was laughing. Some perhaps thought he was joking, but I felt that he was actually quite honest at that moment.

The ego will always wrap us up, independent of whether we are considered enlightened or not. "Enlightenment" is not a status that we can somehow acquire. "Enlightenment" is an insight, an understanding that we have just stepped outside of our ego blanket at that blessed moment. Merge with what is and find perfection in your conjectured imperfection. Every step along the Way - every triumph, every awkward moment, every feeling of bliss - is a jumping board to reach the holy Now.