The Pain-Body
One of the most interesting and thought-provoking discussions to come out of Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth, is the acknowledgment that we all have a pain-body.
Tolle explains how the voice inside our heads often takes on a life of its own. Many of us are trapped in our thoughts and we tend to re-hash the things that happened in the past over and over again. Our bodies respond to these thoughts with emotions - and our feelings may often be registered physically before we are even aware of them.
Negative emotions are toxic and they interfere with balance and harmony in our lives.
Tolle points out that the energy field of emotions that are still living inside of us is what constitutes the pain-body, and it is a reflection of our egoic state.
Besides our individual pain-bodies - many of us all participate in collective pain bodies by virtue of our race, gender, ethnicity, and even family. We have an "en-coding" that can be passed on from generation to generation.
I had an interesting discussion with a friend this morning on the pain-body. We both agreed, when we shared certain aspects of our personal stories - that our mostly deeply painful experiences did give us a chance to awaken and grow in areas and ways that were necessary.
The pain-body feeds on drama and negativity - yet it is possible for us to break free from its hold. It begins with the realization that we have a pain-body - and that we all carry hurts and wounds.
After coming to this awareness, we simply need to cultivate a greater sense of Presence, which enables us to dis-identify with the pain-body. In time, and with practice - our very energy fields change.
We need not negate what we feel - but simply recognize it for what it is. It is the acceptance of what is - that opens the door to transformation.
Tolle explains how the voice inside our heads often takes on a life of its own. Many of us are trapped in our thoughts and we tend to re-hash the things that happened in the past over and over again. Our bodies respond to these thoughts with emotions - and our feelings may often be registered physically before we are even aware of them.
Negative emotions are toxic and they interfere with balance and harmony in our lives.
Tolle points out that the energy field of emotions that are still living inside of us is what constitutes the pain-body, and it is a reflection of our egoic state.
Besides our individual pain-bodies - many of us all participate in collective pain bodies by virtue of our race, gender, ethnicity, and even family. We have an "en-coding" that can be passed on from generation to generation.
I had an interesting discussion with a friend this morning on the pain-body. We both agreed, when we shared certain aspects of our personal stories - that our mostly deeply painful experiences did give us a chance to awaken and grow in areas and ways that were necessary.
The pain-body feeds on drama and negativity - yet it is possible for us to break free from its hold. It begins with the realization that we have a pain-body - and that we all carry hurts and wounds.
After coming to this awareness, we simply need to cultivate a greater sense of Presence, which enables us to dis-identify with the pain-body. In time, and with practice - our very energy fields change.
We need not negate what we feel - but simply recognize it for what it is. It is the acceptance of what is - that opens the door to transformation.
Comments