By Sarah McLean
Oprah’s newest favorite person, Eckhart Tolle, is the author of the book
A New Earth: Awakening to your Life’s Purpose. His book is #1 on
the best-sellers’ list has been for nine consecutive weeks. In 2007, The
Secret by Rhonda Byrne spent 13 consecutive weeks at #1. This
says a lot about what is on the mind of our society as a whole – we are
collectively seeking help from “spiritual self-help” books. We want to
awaken to find meaning and purpose in life. We want to find the secret.
Spiritual Self-Help. Perhaps a better title for this genre of books
might be: Spiritual Revolution. On his web site, http://Revolution.com,
former AOL chairman Steve Case says, “This concept is still so new that
most people don’t even know what to call it – some focus on wellness, others
on healthy living, others on mind, body and spirit, still others on the
idea of life in balance. We care less about what people call it and more
on how it can improve people’s lives.”
How have people sought to improve their lives? Up to now there was an
agreement: “Whoever dies with the most toys wins.” But does having the
most toys really create a life of balance, wellness, or improve people’s
lives? Toys or possessions – yes, they do seem to improve our lives for
a while-but they come and go. Just like everything in life. And we
eventually end up back in the same predicament: looking for the key, buying
the next thing, including a self-help book, so we can figure it out. What if
winning were defined another way: The ability to experience a life of
lasting happiness and peace?
Most of us, Americans I mean, have ‘mastered’ the external world, or
could if we put our mind to it. As a nation we have access to food,
clothing, shelter, water – the basics according to Maslow’s hierarchy of
needs. And with those taken care of, we can comfortably begin to explore a
new terrain and find a path to live a more meaningful, peaceful, joyful
life.
This is the real spiritual revolution.
This revolution is literally a turning – a shift – in our collective
approach. We are beginning to see that real change is created from the
inside out, rather than attempting it from the outside in. But that
inner world is a sheer mystery to most of us, save perhaps
yogis, the Pope, and some of those famous enlightened people who are
floating about these days. Turning inward isn’t really part of our
culture. How do we do it? Is there a way?
Our inner world, who we really are, some call it our soul, is where we
find the source of harmony, peace, silence, contentment, balance,
wholeness, and expanded awareness. We can’t think or buy our way there.
One of the only ways I have found to access it is through a regular
meditation practice.
A regular practice of silent meditation is a direct route to that which
we all seek: a sense of peace that can be your life’s cornerstone. And
it is not conditional on the new job, house, partner, etc. It isn’t
difficult either, but it does require taking time out to take the journey inside.
No pill, no gadget- nothing will give you the shortcut. That is the real self-help.
And then as our inner world becomes our reference point, full of peace,
spaciousness and contentment, our external world might just reflect that too.
