“Blessed are the poor in spirit,” Jesus said, “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
What does “poor in spirit” mean?
No inner baggage, no identifications. Not with things, nor with any mental concepts that have a sense of self in them. And what is the “kingdom of heaven”? The simple but profound joy of Being that is there when you let go of identifications and so become “poor in spirit.” This is why renouncing all possessions has been an ancient spiritual practice in both East and West.
The ego tends to equate having with Being: I have, therefore I am. And the more I have, the more I am. The ego lives through comparison. How you are seen by others turns into how you see yourself. If everyone lived in a mansion or everyone was wealthy, your mansion or your wealth would no longer serve to enhance your sense of self. You could then move to a simple cabin, give up your wealth, and regain an identity by seeing yourself and being seen as more spiritual than others. How you are seen by others becomes the mirror that tells you what you are like and who you are. The ego’s sense of self-worth is in most cases bound up with the worth you have in the eyes of others. You need others to give you a sense of self, and if you live in a culture that to a large extent equates self-worth with how much and what you have, if you cannot look through this collective delusion, you will be condemned to chasing after things for the rest of your life in the vain hope of finding your worth and completion of your sense of self there.
How do you let go of attachment to things? Don’t even try. It’s impossible. Attachment to things drops away by itself when you no longer seek to find yourself in them. In the meantime, just be aware of your attachment to things. Sometimes you may not know that you are attached to something, which is to say, identified, until you lose it or there is the threat of loss. If you then become upset, anxious, and so on, it means you are attached. If you are aware that you are identified with a thing, the identification is no longer total. “I am the awareness that is aware that there is attachment.” That’s the beginning of the transformation of consciousness.
Excerpted from Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth, pages 43-46
Comments
I understand what you are trying to tell us about things but what about the other side of things. We are amazing beings and have created a lot of amazing things for us to experience and that is not ego that, it is my spirit enjoying the physical world. Having comfort, ease, beauty in your life, how does that equate to ego, I call that loving myself. When I have something that leaves me, I let it go because I know something wonderful is ready for me to experience that. Everyone, please enjoy and embrace all the wonderful things you have in your life, you deserve them.
"There are some of you who feel their spirit may be waning. This is due to the hardness of this world and has caused you to suffer and sometimes feel alone. But you are far from poor, my beloveds, and you must not forget that, ever!
And now, as for those talents and gifts of the spirit that have been bestowed on you by the father, please do not forget to invest them into your worlds and multiply them, for my Spirit is of abundance. So being as the wise and faithful servants that you are, I will help point you into situations where you may invest those talents, that the glory of the father may be made manifest, and that your cup may runneth over for all to see...
Go now in the service of love and make manifest the richness of heaven in the fullness of Spirit, and I am with you and you in me. Mutiply that rich spirit through that the loaves I have given you through the father, that they may multiply and feed thousands and more. My friends, and I call you friends that do this, are blessed and rich beyond anything of this world, and you shall find all your needs met as the birds of the air and the lilies of the fields. You are blessed beyond measure!"
Thank you Atrest and Zorro for your comments. I really appreciate the wisdom and feeling in your words for those of us needing to embrace our gifts and allow the abundance you speak of.
Blessings ...
Namaste~
While we are soul embodied we have come into experience the physical "stuff'. As long as we are not attached to it or bound in it, it is then to enhance our life, enhance our enjoyment. It is not about trying to fill ourselves up with external money or stuff. It quite simply and beautifully enhances our life.
And " As you set financial (abundance) expansion, it is not only about the expansion for yourself, it's about the expansion for all of those you're about. In other words , it creates this nucleus, this machine , that allows so many to begin to thrive along with you. It's much bigger then finances(abundance)."
-Abraham
Thank You, All.
Wonderful message and great comments.
I find that when I am at peace, and present, the Joy I feel cannot be bought, anywhere.
The freedom, the abundance, the beauty is overwhelming.
And so very lovely.
Much Love, Light, and Inner Peace to All.
You are so welcome, we all need an awesome spiritual support group and I have found that here.
Spot on. Thanks so much for this post.