World of Objects, by Eckhart Tolle

What is your relationship with the world of objects, the countless things that surround you and that you handle everyday? The chair you sit on, the pen, the car, the cup? Are they to you merely a means to an end, or do you occasionally acknowledge their existence, their being, no matter how briefly, by noticing them and giving them your attention?

When you get attached to objects, when you are using them to enhance your worth in your own eyes and in the eyes of others, concern about things can easily take over your whole life. When there is self-identification with things, you don't appreciate them for what they are because you are looking for yourself in them.

When you appreciate an object for what it is, when you acknowledge its being without mental projection, you cannot *not* feel grateful for its existence. You may also sense that it is not really inanimate, that it only appears so to the senses. Physicists will confirm that on a molecular level it is indeed a pulsating energy field.

Through selfless appreciation of the realm of things, the world around you will come alive in ways that you cannot even begin to comprehend with the mind.

--Eckhart Tolle

Moved by this reading? Join a live Awakin Circle to discuss in community.

Join this week

More ways to connect

Join a Metta Circle

Practice loving-kindness meditation together

Explore peer-learning pods

Small groups diving deeper into shared themes

Start your own local circle

One living room, one intention — we'll help

Add Your Reflection

2 Past Reflections

Ndukwu

Mar 6, 2019

It just awesome not only to concentrate on the world of objects around us, but to pay attention. Perhaps one could abstract from object a data that can help bring hope or joy to mankind. Inventing and discovery take root from keen relationship with our world of object - human, material and some times the invisible that exists.

Nipun Mehta

Jun 12, 2006

David Steindl-rast -- connection between gratefulness and midfulness Duane Elgin -- the awake universe Heng Sure -- reflection before you have a meal, on how that meal has come about. the seed of rice -- where did it come from? thankfulness and selflessness are just as connected objects are useful, but we shouldn't become attached to them; if we lose it, then we shouldn't feel sorrow ... have to be balanced between self-identification and obliviousness human beings don't notice the finest resolution -- we pick the resolution that is appropriate. if we are really going to be in touch with objects, we have to have no agenda. can you plan while being in the moment? when i do parallel thing, usually my attention is not fully on any of them. three pillars of zen: true worth of things: what you think, or what others think? dolphins using seaweed as "mufflers" to prevent being stung by stingrays is evolution the increasing usage o... View full comment

David Steindl-rast -- connection between gratefulness and midfulness
Duane Elgin -- the awake universe
Heng Sure -- reflection before you have a meal, on how that meal has come about. the seed of rice -- where did it come from?
thankfulness and selflessness are just as connected
objects are useful, but we shouldn't become attached to them; if we lose it, then we shouldn't feel sorrow ...
have to be balanced between self-identification and obliviousness
human beings don't notice the finest resolution -- we pick the resolution that is appropriate.
if we are really going to be in touch with objects, we have to have no agenda.
can you plan while being in the moment?
when i do parallel thing, usually my attention is not fully on any of them.
three pillars of zen:
true worth of things: what you think, or what others think?
dolphins using seaweed as "mufflers" to prevent being stung by stingrays
is evolution the increasing usage of objects?
amma: starve the ego to know yourself. attachment to objects is about satisfying your ego.
important to tatain balance between using things and not letting it define you
was trying to find moments where i deeplly appreciated something, and was therefore able to let it go.
if i really like something, i can leave it where it is ...
the more attachment that you have to certain objects, the more pain it causes
objects can organize people
what is a moment? modern physicists say time is an illusion.
we think that we have the ability to think freely, but from the time you're born, our conditioning constrains the choices we make.
the self and the universe are the same thing: microcosm and macrocosm.
calvin hobbes: what is the difference between children and adults? adults are just more attached to their toys
dalai lama: whenever we look at something, we think how nice would it be if it were in my back yard. the real detachment can be when you can appreciate it and don't need it in your backyard.
objects are often symbols of nostalgia
i found myself getting attached to non-possession. attachment is to the relationships with the object.
some things are so beautiful, and so you want them near you. but it gets to the point where they become clutter and congestion ... i want to be able to appreciate beautiful things in museums :-)
appreciate and pay it forward
sometimes it's hard to see your own clutter ... objects bog you down without you realizing it.
the alchemist: if you're in the moment, and reminding yourself to come back to the moment, suddenly you see things you didn't see before.
what exactly is materialism? having objects isn't really it ... you can own objects, but don't let the objects own you!
what are objects, and what are valuations? diamonds are of the same chemical stuff as stones, pretty much; so it's about how you value it.
possession has a euphoria attached
satish kumar: we are like human havings instead of human beings
when we multi-task, we have to be more mindful than usual ... we have to switch contexts etc ... and we can only do that wehen we can put a task on auto-pilot ... so you have to be more mindful to multitask, if you are conscious.
if we are able to perceive that everything is interconnected, then it's easier to let go of one thing.

Hide full comment