How are the LoA and now-presence compatible?

HenrikSH · December 29th, 2008, 18:15

From my perspective, the LoA seems to be mostly about THINKING (feeling) positive thoughts whereas the now-presence dictated by meditation and people like Eckhart Tolle is the omission of THINKING.

I believe in the LoA, but I also believe in the wisdom of living in the now. Can somebody please help me understand better how the two are related? How can the individualistic LoA with its quest to grant the Ego its wishes be relevant to a person who wants to detach from the Ego in the first place?

I know there's a good answer to this and I'am anxious to hear it. Thanks!

pollyanna · December 29th, 2008, 21:40

Hey Henrik,

I also believe in both. Through meditating regularly with LifeFlow I have become aware of both mine and others ego. The ego or map of reality or belief system can change if you allow it to do to a healthier belief system that serves you and others better.

I really believe that becoming aware of the ego is the key to being able to watch the emotions and thoughts unemotionally. This is when you can allow great changes to occur.

I also believe that thoughts become things and we create our own present. Whatever we focus on and think and feel about, we bring about. The universe simply obeys.

Eckhart states somewhere that it's normal to have goals, as long as you are not forsaking the present moment by pining away for all the things you want and I have found this to be very true.

Years ago when I wanted to meditate or get out of debt, I used to be like a dog worrying a bone

I was desparately trying to achieve something and forsaking the present moment. I used to read every word in whichever book I was reading and feel desparate in case I didn't understand it correctly. It was frustrating and horrible.

LifeFlow has been amazing for me because it has gotten me to the right place for meditation to work for me. I just enjoy it daily and don't think about it until I or my family see changes for the better in me or I have an aha moment that solves a current challenge.

I used to dwell in the past and be a victim of it or desparately work towards a happier and brighter future - now I really enjoy whatever I am doing in the present moment, whether it's work, play or just being.

If I find my thoughts occasionaly running away to the past I simply avert them and think of people or things I am truly grateful for. I really feel in control of my life and love my daily break to my true self.

I hope this makes some sense for you and I wish you an abundance of peace and joy

Edwin · January 2nd, 2009, 18:44

Lately I have come to a new understanding about ego and LoA.

I used to think that wishing wealth for myself was a product of the ego like you, but then I realised something.
When you live in the Now long enough, you experience something that Zen calls "Satori", a sudden moment of insight.
This is as much a moment of becoming fully present as Tolle describes, as it is coming into a Zen-state. Both are the same.
Along with this comes a deep and total surrender to whatever comes your way. When this insight deepens, the "higher plan" for you is revealed, because you realise that the things you have been chasing is not "real".

Some people take radical steps and quit their job, and simply await what is offered to them, others take steps to change their lifes.
However this is not needed, so don't worry about that. To the ego this is very scary, so if you feel anxious after reading this ( I still feel something stirring when reading my own words back ) that is probably normal.
After your moment of true insight is experienced for the first time, fear is something of the past anyway, just like your ego in the sense as you understand it now is.

If however you need something to reach that goal, being present and fully in the Now, especially after a moment of "satori" will in fact increase the chances of the LoA working for you.

Loosely summorised, LoA will work better for you when you become fully present in the Now.
There just is a chance that your goals for the LoA might change if you are fully present.

In the end, the Universe will provide just what you need, no matter what that is, as long as you live in the Now.

Hope I make sense :S

Coenrad Morgan · January 9th, 2009, 17:26

Hi,

My limited understanding of LOA and BEING is as follows:

We are always desiring, be it acceptance, something to eat or water when thirsty, this cannot be any other way, we need to survive both as physical and social beings.

The “me” doing the desiring is reactive, a mind construct always comparing, calculating, referencing the “story”, what happened to me, on the basis of this it builds on survival and social standing and starts including standing out in society and Dom Perignon instead of water and a Ferrari to go with it. It is always trying to control and evade life experiences on the basis of what it interprets from “the story”. In the end this is the “you” that has become dominant, it is an illusion, a thought construct. As Edwin, a fellow practitioner of Jiu Jitsu will attest, cut off its blood supply and the story and all else goes away, it’s the brain’s version of reality, it was born, it will die or in the case of the Jiu Jitsu example, pass out. It reacts and therefore the desires that spring from this are not always serving you, they are serving “the story”. inconsistant, frantic and needy (attachment) is this “self”.

Through being, you start initially glimpsing and through continued practice and cultivation, become the self who starts out simply as the observer. This aspect has no need for social standing or acceptance, nor is it too pre-occupied with survival, it was never born, can never die but non the less it is friendly to life, it can’t be any other way, such is its nature. As such, desire from this perspective becomes about expression, true fulfillment based on a true self, a comfortable home perfect for you, water is fine and Dom Perignon fun, walking is great and a Ferrari oh so cool, but they are only forms and it accepts that they come and go, from its perspective all is well, always will be, with or without the forms, all has always been well.

In the end desire remains desire, you cannot do otherwise, if you disagree, don’t seek out a gents or ladies next time your bladder is beyond full…be desire less if you please, but dry you wont be. The difference is why you desire not what, these 2 aspects of you are no different in the what, just the why and the what then.

I trust that this may be useful.

Edwin · January 9th, 2009, 19:42

That....

Was brilliant.

I tried to explain the same but you succeeded so increadibly better than me.

blueskygal · January 9th, 2009, 20:38

"Years ago when I wanted to meditate or get out of debt, I used to be like a dog worrying a bone I was desparately trying to achieve something and forsaking the present moment. I used to read every word in whichever book I was reading and feel desparate in case I didn't understand it correctly. It was frustrating and horrible.

LifeFlow has been amazing for me because it has gotten me to the right place for meditation to work for me. I just enjoy it daily and don't think about it until I or my family see changes for the better in me or I have an aha moment that solves a current challenge.

I used to dwell in the past and be a victim of it or desparately work towards a happier and brighter future - now I really enjoy whatever I am doing in the present moment, whether it's work, play or just being."

Pollyanna I so relate! i am a devotee of Catherine Ponder and something she wrote really spoke to me - that when we try too hard we actually block the flow of good! When we clutch our dreams too tightly we block our good. That is why I am working with this affirmation when I get worried "I let go and leave this situation to its perfect divine outworking." These worries are like pesky flies. I'm glad to hear of your experiences of LifeFLow and look forward to getting in the same space you are as being at peace.

Coenrad Morgan · January 9th, 2009, 23:40

Hi Blueskygal,

I was raised on Rev. Catherine Ponder too, an inspirational woman.

To add to what you said and Henrick's question, Ester Hicks talks of the process of meditation removing resistance by bypassing ones conditioned thinking and slipping into unlimited thinking. For this purpose Life Flow is immensely useful and powerful as you have said.

rubytwo · January 29th, 2009, 20:19

What has helped me is what Jerry and Esther Hicks say: First get to the acceptance of the Now and be appreciative of it and then use the Now as your springboard for attracting your desires. Let your Now EVOKE your new desire. When you get to where you are in a state of great appreciation of your Now, no matter what it is, Then you are in a much better place of attraction.
Hope that helps...I do a lot a paraphrasing that can be a bit confusing!

HenrikSH · January 30th, 2009, 18:15

Thanks you everybody for your responses! It's been a wonderful read.

I think the general gist of what you're saying is: Don't bother with the LoA, just be in the Now and the LoA will work for you. This has been my own experience throughout life: All the happy moments take place in the Now and being in the Now is what creates the happy moments. Conclusion: Being in Now --> LoA working to your advantage.

This is in fact precisely what Tolle claims in his book, as well.

The real trick I have yet to master is the 'trying to be in the Now without trying'. I find that trying to be in the Now, focusing on surroundings observing the Thinker etc will often push me in the wrong direction and simply focus awareness on what I was intending not to focus on. I suppose it's the non-attached attitude that eludes me - but cultivating this ability is why we're meditating in the first place, right?

Have a nice weekend! :-)