Tolle on Don't Ask Don't Tell

The New York Times, among other sources, is reporting that General Colin Powell has finally come out . . . in support of the Obama administrations proposal to end the 17-year ban on military service by openly gay men and women, that is; the policy known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

Citing a change in societal circumstance, Powell has reversed his position from way back when as the sitting Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to side with the present one, Admiral Mike Mullen and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.

In times like these I always wonder what Oprah's favorite spiritual teacher, Eckhart Tolle might have to say on the subject. It seems clear that Tolle would be in favor of removing Don't Ask Don't Tell but his reasoning might surprise you. Indeed, his support may be a double-edged sword for the gay community.

In answer to a question as to the impact of gayness upon the journey toward enlightenment, the subject of his first book, The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment,Tolle says that homosexuality "takes you out of unconsciousness almost by force."

By this he means that it's a good thing, as unconsciousness is the opposition of enlightenment. So a jolt out of unconsciousness will at least point you in the right direction.

"On the other hand," Tolle writes, "if you then develop a sense of identity based on your gayness, you have escaped one trap only to fall into another."

For Tolle, and eastern religion in general, identification with anything--even, and maybe especially, your sexuality--keeps you from getting to know your true, underlying self.

This is where Don't Ask, Don't Tell comes into play. No one cares to "tell" about their sexual practices and preferences unless they feel it in someway expresses "who they are"; that is, it's part of their identity.

But wait! This, in Tolle's rubric, is just one of a wide array of identifications that keep us from getting to our true selves, one of which can be heterosexuality, and it's much more common. Some people are wrapped up in straight sex and if you get to know them, sooner or later they're going to want to "tell" you all about it.

And we couldn't very well outlaw that, could we? We wouldn't have an Army left. Or a Navy. Or . . . you see where I'm going with this. I don't want to get started on the Marines.

The point is, to paraphrase another famous spiritual teacher, "He who is without sin, commence the next administrative separation (which is the official designation for what happens under the present policy to gays who tell).