These material things make up the content of the ego-- our roles, our stuff, etc. Advertising convinces us that things will add value to our lives—in other words add something to our sense of self. For Tolle each thing has its own beingness and should be honored on those terms. Not just for its utilitarian value or what it can do for the owner. We need not find ourselves through things. We are trapped in the hamster cage. We are running alone on the hamster wheel that wants more. Eckhart says, “The unchurched striving for more, for endless growth is a dysfunction and a disease.” (p. 37)
Tolle suggests as a spiritual practice that we investigate our relationship to the world of things. Each of us could ask the question—am I bound up in the things I possess?
The Christian Church teaches tithing and giving as a spiritual practice. When we give/tithe we are reminded that God owns it all and we are just managers of what we have. It all ultimately belongs to God. We are only “stewards” of it. Being able to let things go from our hands, is an act of power.
Here Tolle gives a great quote:
“Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness.” (p. 41)
The ego is a program in the mind. We have programmed it by what we take in and save. Once we hit the save button it stays there waiting for the retrieve button. We are creating the story by which we live.
Once again, Eckhart expresses a teaching of Jesus to explain his point about the ego. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Eckhart interprets the quote to mean—the poor in spirit have no ego, no inner baggage and no identification. The kingdom of heaven for Eckhart is the “simple but profound joy of Being that is there when you let go of identification and so become “poor in spirit”. (p. 43) He goes further to explain—“This is why renouncing all possessions has been an ancient spiritual practice in both East and West”. (p. 43).
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