Eckhart Tolle: the absence of fear in the present moment

Today, the YouTube algorithm delivered a video to me with excerpts of a recent Eckhart Tolle talk—and boy did I need it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNrytfwJvOM

(This is the whole lecture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKpmXhGVMxI&t=380s)

I have been taking more Ativan recently because these are stressful times, and I’ve learned over time to not only identify when I’m getting anxious, but also to acknowledge that I don’t need to suffer anxiety. It’s kinder to myself to get out of the spiral. Anxiety often isn’t signaling anything to me but an old pattern. My brain runs around in worried circles, imagining dire consequences in the future, and it tends to be a merry-go-round ride that I want to get off and can’t. So the drugs help.

I think this video helps more than Ativan. It’s so soothing and quiet and calming.

In the video, Tolle talks about the sermon by Jesus where he advises building foundations on rock, not on sand, so when the rains and storms come, you will not be destroyed. Tolle hits on words that always resonate with me: dig deep. Find an unshakeable foundation deep within you.

I just love going deeper.

But one concept he said was the balm that soothed me today: That of being in the present moment. That in the present moment, in the now, there is no fear.

That there never is fear in the present moment.

This is what Tolle says: “If you do not fall ill or contract the virus, the fear will consume you, as it is consuming millions of humans at the present time.”

“And why do you fear? What is fear? Fear are certain thought forms you project yourself into some future moment, and you’re not present. Because if you were present you would realize that in this moment there’s nothing to fear. Only when you leave this moment, fear arises as a thought form, which then creates an emotion.”

Because if you were present you would realize that in this moment there’s nothing to fear.

These words hit me hard today.

If I were present—not in my head—not imagining horrid things in the future—I would realize there’s nothing to fear. Because in the absolute now, I am always okay.

For example, right now I am typing on my laptop. My family is home and safe. A cat is curled up on the bed. We have food, money, and I’m wearing a pink sweater. Other than being a little hungry—which I can go downstairs and fix a snack—I’m quite comfortable right now, if I don’t let myself get lost in my thoughts.

See if this is true for you. Right now. Where you are. Right there, reading this. Now.

Are you okay?

You are, aren’t you?

If you aren’t that’s okay, too. But slowing things down to the now. How the keys on this laptop feel under my fingers. The fit of my clothes. The lip gloss I’m wearing. The temperature of the room. All of that feels good.

So why do I feel guilty for feeling good?

Because I believe there is a need to acknowledge the difference between my reality and the reality of the world we are living in.

I’m healthy, and I know many are not. But things could change. Financially, I’m okay, and I know many are not. But things could change. I have family around me, and I know many do not. But things could change. I’m an introvert and am enjoying this “retreat”—if only it weren’t so scary.

But why is it so scary?

Because I’m imagining things that aren’t happening to me right now.

In the present now, I’m absolutely fine.

I’ve been sick before. I had pneumonia a few years ago, and I wouldn’t wish that on any living being. I imagine that COVID-19 is worse. But do I need to be fearful of it?

I’m not talking about taking risky behavior. I’ve barely left the house in almost two weeks, I wash my hands constantly, and we are all pretty physically isolated out here on the farm.

Tolle says, “Adversity is a wonderful opportunity because adversity forces you to go deeper. Adversity forces you to awaken to the deeper dimension of who you are.” He mentions how life can be unbearable if you live on the surface of feelings and the newscasts. It’s the house built on the sand.

So take a moment right now to feel your feelings. And if you are feeling fear, is that fear an imagined future moment? Or is it something right now? How are you right now?

Right this goddamn moment.

I bet you’re okay.

And I bet I am too.

Let’s keep fear at bay together. Let’s help each other. Let’s be safe and take this time for quiet contemplation.

And let’s live in the now.

Go deeper.

PS this is good too: https://youtu.be/LiEU84nHEcY