Understanding of what Eckhart Tolle calls the pain-body has been around a long time. Here is one of Balthasar Gracian's maxims from The Art of Worldly Wisdom, written in 1637:lxix Do Not Give Way to Every Common Impulse.
He is a great man who never allows himself to be influenced by the impressions of others. Self-reflection is the school of wisdom. To know one's disposition and to allow for it, even going to the other extreme so as to find the juste milieu between nature and art. Self-knowledge is the beginning of self-improvement. There be some whose humours are so monstrous that they are always under the influence of one or other of them, and put them in place of their real inclinations. They are torn asunder by such disharmony and get involved in contradictory obligations. Such excesses not only destroy firmness of will; all power of judgment gets lost, desire and knowledge pulling in opposite directions. [Italics added]
What has been less clearly stated is exactly what to do about the pain-body, how to dissolve it. Tolle says you dissolve the pain-body through simply becoming aware of it. This is a two-step process.
First, you have to be utterly convinced that negativity in any form is completely illogical. Until we achieve this conviction, we will always fight for our right to feel bad. This makes no sense. Peace and joy are our birthright. This understanding is a distinct dividing line in humankind.
Once you become convinced that negativity of any kind is unsupportable, then you can begin to monitor your inner space, keen to detect any negativity that might arise within.
"This is interesting," you might hear yourself whisper at that point as you feel negativity arising inside, when for some reason you find yourself wanting and choosing to feel bad. By allowing that feeling to be there--without judgment, feeling it completely--you will begin to realize how slight the pain is that controls your behavior.
This realization conquers the pain-body utterly, and you will never be bothered by it again. This is the key to conquering addictions and addictive behaviors.
I've tried this--it really works.
You might also like: The Pain-body: What is it?
See more articles about the pain-body
I've tried this--it really works.
You might also like: The Pain-body: What is it?
See more articles about the pain-body
Agreed, I love it!
ReplyDeleteSuch a nice thought provoking article!
ReplyDelete"Self reflection is the school of wisdome." If we only be able to practice self reflection at all times, we'll radiate positivity in our lives and the lives of others.
Thanks for sharing Todd :-)
Dimi
Interesting stuff Todd, I must read The New Earth. I've only read The Power of Now.
ReplyDeleteHave started reading your book.
Tom Butler-Bowdon
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