Twenty-second in a series.
"Water? What do you mean by that? I don't understand it." That is what a fish would say if it had a human mind. Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now, page 107
When I first encountered Tolle's writings several years ago, I was most confused about what he calls the "inner body." Here is how he writes about this:
In your natural state of connectedness with Being, [a] deeper reality can be felt at every moment by the invisible inner body, the animating presence within you. from the website, SpiritLibrary.
What I call the inner body isn't really the body any more, but life energy, the bridge between form and formlessness. from Tolle's A New Earth: Awakening To Your Life's Purpose
When you are in touch with the inner body, you are not in touch with your body any more, nor are you identified with your mind. from Tolle's A New Earth
What really helped me with the concept was to follow his advice on page 112 of "The Power of Now": "[d]irect your attention into the body. Feel it from within...Can you feel the subtle energy field that pervades the entire body and gives vibrant life to every organ and cell?" He recommends beginning with your hands: direct your attention to your hands and let yourself feel the life within, then expand your awareness -- gradually -- to your entire body.
How does this relate to pain management?
Because becoming aware of the inner body takes us out of and away from the mind, which is where we create suffering with worry, fear, upset, judgement and disappointment.
Because using the outer body to become aware of the inner body reduces the importance (I just love this paradox) of the pain-filled outer body.
Because we find that -- having gone beyond our thought-filled and egocentric minds, through our pain-racked bodies, and into awareness of the inner body (Presence) -- we have developed a remarkably effective pain management tool.
I would love to hear from you. Please use the Comment link below, or email me at carold.marsh@gmail.com. Thank you.
When you are in touch with the inner body, you are not in touch with your body any more, nor are you identified with your mind.
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