Ep. 40: Time

Happy Friday, all! 🪷 

I’m finally at the finish line for medical school so me and Karla have been on a sort of dream vacation before we dive into residency training back home-home in California (SO EXCITED!). We were fortunate enough to visit our 8th (out of 10) wonder of the world, Christ the Redeemer, in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. The entire trip was mesmerizing, from start to end. 🇧🇷 I will share our itinerary and travel blog next week!

With all these flights, I had some time to dive into a new book, where I came across an outstanding take on time, from Eckhart Tolle’s book, The Power of Now, which I’d like to share with you and our students this week!

I found a free version on Spotify which you can find here. Chapter 4 is where it’s at! These ideas are repeated over and over again after that.

Eckhart Tolle's concept of time is central to his teachings on spiritual awakening and living in the present moment. Here are some key points that elaborate on his understanding of time:

1. The Illusion of Time: Tolle posits that much of human suffering arises from our identification with time—dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. He suggests that time, as we commonly perceive it, is largely an illusion created by the mind. The past and future only exist as thoughts in our heads; the only reality is the present moment. What struck me here is his concept that time is on an x-axis, but consciousness is independent of time, on the y or z-axis, so-to-speak. 🤯 
   

2. The Power of Now: Tolle emphasizes the importance of living in the present moment, which he calls "the Now." He suggests that true peace and happiness can only be found by fully embracing and experiencing the present moment without resistance or judgment. By doing so, individuals can transcend the limitations imposed by time and connect with a deeper sense of being (that z-axis!).
   

3. Escaping the Tyranny of Thought: According to Tolle, the incessant stream of thoughts related to time—regretting the past, worrying about the future—keeps us trapped in a cycle of suffering. He teaches techniques to quiet the mind and become more aware of the present moment, such as mindfulness meditation and focusing on sensory perceptions.
   

4. Ego and Time: Tolle suggests that the ego, or the sense of a separate self, is closely tied to the concept of time. The ego thrives on identification with past experiences and future expectations, perpetuating a sense of identity rooted in time (why we want to get off that x-axis). By disidentifying from the ego (and what fuels it: fear, anger, pain, even joy) and embracing the present moment, individuals can experience a deeper sense of self beyond the confines of time. 🤯 
   

5. Timelessness and Presence: Ultimately, Tolle's teachings on time lead to a recognition of timelessness and presence (what we all inherently know, and religions try to teach (and fail miserably at, across the board). He suggests that true fulfillment and spiritual awakening come from transcending the limitations of time and fully embracing the timeless essence of the present moment—pure consciousness.

What do you all think!?

Pretty thought-provoking right!? Ideas worth playing around with, considering the upside could quite literally be out of this world.

That’s all this week, I can hardly wait to share more readings and of course, our second little venture after Brazil, where I’m writing from at the moment! 😎 

Quote this week:

Deepak

Currently:

📖 : Reading | 👀: watching/listening | 🎵: song of the week | 📚️: Team Message

📖 : The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

👀 : The White Lotus (Season 1 rewatch) - HBO Max

🎵 : 200 Copas- Carol G

📚️ : Ehm Academy: Please reach out for our summer schedule!