Eckhart Tolle Quotes on Lucid Living: Discover What It Means to Live in a State of Freedom

Last week, Eckhart Tolle’s website unexpectedly popped up in my feed, prompting me to subscribe and listen to his recent discussion on ‘lucid living.’ To my surprise, by the end of it, I found myself captivated by many profound Eckhart Tolle quotes that resonated deeply, elevating my sense of self-awareness and understanding.

• “Your life consists of thoughts, memories — the narrative of life, the conditioned entity. Thoughts, sense perceptions, and emotions. They absorb your attention.”
• “There is the possibility of arising this deeper dimension within yourself -which looks like no thing or nothing in particular. You can’t say much about it. It’s always there. So you don’t need to create it, or achieve it, or bring it about.”
• “Lucid living is when you become aware of what many philosophers and poets and spiritual teachers have described as the dream-like nature of ordinary existence. Dreamlike in the sense that nothing lasts for very long. Every experience arises and subsides and is gone. The past — everything dissolves. It’s a memory of the present moment in the now.”
• “You can reach a point of resistance with a client. They don’t want to let go of the patterns. Why — if they create suffering and unhappiness? Because they are identified with it. It’s part of their egoic self.”
• “The important thing to observe in yourself is: Do you have an antagonistic relationship with what’s happening? Are you making the present moment into your enemy? You always feel a sense of discontent… you don’t want to be where you are. You would rather be somewhere else. Cultivating present moment awareness can help alleviate this discontent.”
• “Every meditation exercise is to help you recognize the dimension of being that is already within you. In this present moment, you do not need to remember your personal history. In this moment, you don’t need to remember what might come in the so- called future. Who or what are you now? What does it feel like to be you in this moment without reference to the historical person, but with conscious presence.”
• My favorite Eckhart Tolle quote: “Your realization of the timeless dimension deepens and you can sense it’s power. There is an underlying vast power behind it all. It’s the power of life itself. It’s the Tao. You can sense it in yourself and around yourself. It is within, and without. To realize deeply is to connect with this power.”
• “Ancient cultures, ancient European cultures — they all had a deep sense of embodied presence. And everything in the universe is more than what you perceive with your senses.”
• “There is an underlying vast intelligence that gives rise to the billions of life forms that are gradually evolving.”
• “It’s a beautiful gift to connect with the presence of the other. You can overlook the strange ways the other person behaves according to their conditioning.”
• My experience with these Eckhart Tolle quotes:

Here are some of my favorites that I’m sharing with you today:

“Your life consists of thoughts, memories — the narrative of life, the conditioned entity. Thoughts, sense perceptions, and emotions. They absorb your attention.”

It’s unbelievable to think about how often and how long we can be lost in our thoughts. Days, months, or even years can go by while we’re caught up in an internal story or drama, missing the conscious presence of being fully aware and engaged in the present moment.

Eckhart Tolle’s teachings can help people find greater inner peace by choosing to live in the present moment and to release negative thoughts and emotions.

Through his work, Eckhart Tolle gets us thinking… Who are we behind these thoughts? Who is the observer?

** What is the story you’re telling yourself? What are some of your most repetitive thoughts? What are your conditioned emotions and responses?

“There is the possibility of arising this deeper dimension within yourself -which looks like no thing or nothing in particular. You can’t say much about it. It’s always there. So you don’t need to create it, or achieve it, or bring it about.”

The Eckhart Tolle quote reminds us that our inner purpose is to rise above our thinking mind and to experience a transcendent dimension within ourselves.

We don’t have to work to create this dimension. It’s always there, just underneath the surface, and can only be realized in the present moment.

Have you ever felt a connection to this sense of knowing? What words or visuals can you use to symbolize this all-knowing, deeper dimension?

He refers to this presence as the Tao. Learn more about this universal life force here.

“Lucid living is when you become aware of what many philosophers and poets and spiritual teachers have described as the dream-like nature of ordinary existence. Dreamlike in the sense that nothing lasts for very long. Every experience arises and subsides and is gone. The past — everything dissolves. It’s a memory of the present moment in the now.”

Lucid living is living entirely in the present moment, where you can witness the ever-changing nature of all things.

I like this quote because it highlights the transient, ephemeral nature of life. So often, we try to hold on to the past and struggle to keep it alive. We may even be addicted to the past, and to the emotional landscape, we are used to.

But focusing too much on the past can completely remove us from the present moment and lead to emotions like guilt, resentment, regret, and sadness.

In reality, we are living in a dream, where everything is in constant flux. This moment’s snapshot will never be exactly the same again. We have the power to shape our reality in every moment, but only if we are fully present and aware.

Lucid living is about embracing impermanence and letting go of attachment to outcomes. It’s about being open to change and adapting to whatever comes our way. By being fully present, we can appreciate the beauty in each passing moment and find gratitude for all that surrounds us.

Think of how much peace we could feel if we let go and allow ourselves to enjoy the experience.

“You can reach a point of resistance with a client. They don’t want to let go of the patterns. Why — if they create suffering and unhappiness? Because they are identified with it. It’s part of their egoic self.”

Ugh… here it is-our story. We hang onto our story — because what would we be without it?

It’s hard to let go and start something new.

Sometimes, people choose to remain stuck in emotional pain. This pain fuels compulsive thinking that holds us hostage, keeping us from experiencing the present moment as it is. To truly transform, we must explore the pain underneath our suffering, acknowledging the root cause and underlying emotions.

Tolle refers to this collective pain as our pain body. He teaches us that when we recognize the pain body for what it is and allow it to be, it will begin to diminish.

** What is your story? Are you happy with the details? Or would you be willing to change it? We have authority over the narrative arc of our story, and we can choose to write a new story if we choose.

“The important thing to observe in yourself is: Do you have an antagonistic relationship with what’s happening? Are you making the present moment into your enemy? You always feel a sense of discontent… you don’t want to be where you are. You would rather be somewhere else. Cultivating present moment awareness can help alleviate this discontent.”

How often do you resist the present moment? Focusing too much on the future can lead to anxiety, stress, and various forms of fear. I’m guessing we all do this at some point. It’s hard to surrender and have the capacity to relax and enjoy the moment for what it is.

We’re focused on too much future and not enough presence.

This Eckhart Tolle quote encourages us to consider, ‘Why do we do this? Maybe it’s a habit or even addictive?’

Ironically, fully allowing the present moment to be exactly what it is is the key to joy. Being present means being fully engaged and aware of the current moment, without any external distractions or internal chatter. It’s a state of complete acceptance and peace.

But how do we cultivate this presence in our daily lives?

First, start by acknowledging your resistance to the present moment. When you find yourself constantly thinking about the future or wishing you were somewhere else, take a step back and recognize that you’re resisting the current moment.

Then, try to shift your focus to your breath. Take deep breaths and bring your attention to the physical sensations of breathing. This helps ground you in the present and brings awareness to your body.

Next, practice gratitude for what is in front of you. Even if it may not be exactly what you desire, there is something to learn from it now.

In many pieces of his work, Tolle encourages his readers to say ‘yes’ to the present moment — no matter its form.

“Every meditation exercise is to help you recognize the dimension of being that is already within you. In this present moment, you do not need to remember your personal history. In this moment, you don’t need to remember what might come in the so- called future. Who or what are you now? What does it feel like to be you in this moment without reference to the historical person, but with conscious presence.”

Meditation isn’t about achieving a goal or reaching a state within ourselves that only few can access.

It’s about coming home to a place within ourselves that is always there.

Letting go of our personal history in those few moments of meditation can lead to amazing freedom. It allows us to let go of the limitations we have placed on ourselves and tap into our true potential.

By being present with ourselves without any expectations or judgments, we can begin to see things in a new light, shift our perspective, and see the world through fresh new eyes.

But it takes practice. Just like any skill, meditation requires consistency and dedication.

Do you meditate? What holds you back? Are you able to let go in meditation and fully be present? I’m still working toward this.

** Here are some of my favorite meditations.

My favorite Eckhart Tolle quote: “Your realization of the timeless dimension deepens and you can sense it’s power. There is an underlying vast power behind it all. It’s the power of life itself. It’s the Tao. You can sense it in yourself and around yourself. It is within, and without. To realize deeply is to connect with this power.”

We can appreciate an inner stillness within, which is the essence of our primary reality, focusing on the present moment and our state of consciousness. In contrast, the external world represents the secondary reality, which is considered less important compared to our internal experience.

On the deepest level, we can sense a great intelligence and life force working through us. Tolle compares this to the Tao. We are made of this energy, and this energy guides all of life.

I’m passionate about studying the Tao and reviewing each verse one at a time.

See some of my favorites so far here:

Verse Four on infinite possibilities.

And Verse Nine, about the beauty of enough.

“Ancient cultures, ancient European cultures — they all had a deep sense of embodied presence. And everything in the universe is more than what you perceive with your senses.”

Tolle teaches how ancient cultures refer to this as “Anima mundi” — the soul of the world.

Ancient Romans, Aborigines of Australia, etc., all sensed the aliveness of the universe. He states this is because their egos weren’t as developed earlier in history. And so, they were able to be more connected with the divine source, or the Tao.

This connection with the Tao allows us to tap into infinite possibilities and see the beauty in having just enough. In Verse Four of the Tao Te Ching, it says, “The Tao is like a well: used but never used up.”

This quote also reminds me of Freud and his appreciation of the beauty of flowers. Read more about this here.

“There is an underlying vast intelligence that gives rise to the billions of life forms that are gradually evolving.”

Again, this is so big! I can barely wrap my head around it.

But this vast intelligence is present, and it underlies all beings. It connects us all and gives rise to the beauty and diversity of life on this planet.

It’s easy to get caught up in our own individual lives and problems, but when we zoom out and see the bigger picture, we can begin to understand that everything is connected. Our thoughts, actions, and energy have an impact not only on ourselves but also on those around us and the world as a whole.

When we tap into this underlying intelligence, we can begin to see things from a more compassionate and understanding perspective.

Nature is a great example of this interconnectedness. Each plant, animal, and organism plays a vital role in maintaining balance.

We are all connected, and we are being guided by a greater intelligence.

“It’s a beautiful gift to connect with the presence of the other. You can overlook the strange ways the other person behaves according to their conditioning.”

Connecting is about going deeper than the ego. We connect by seeing past someone’s conditioning, to the true essence of who they are.

This can be a challenge — to say the least! But I do know on some level that this is true.

Can you articulate how it felt to connect with another person in this way?

It may feel like a sense of understanding and empathy that goes beyond words. You can see past their outward behaviors and judgments and instead, see them as unique beings on their own journey-almost like seeing their soul or essence shining through.

It may bring a sense of peace and unity within us. By connecting with someone in this way, we can let go of our egos and insecurities. It reminded me that we are all connected and part of something greater than ourselves.

** Read one of my favorite pieces about connecting with someone energetically here.

My experience with these Eckhart Tolle quotes:

Where do I even begin?

I’ve always been fascinated by the teachings of Eckhart Tolle and consider myself a devoted student.

I was first introduced to his work in A New Earth. I remember reading every chapter and underlining every other sentence. At the time, I was looking for a way out of a very sad and negative storyline I’d been carrying around within myself.

By practicing his teaching, I was able to feel myself rise above the negative emotional patterns and to experience moments of joy that I hadn’t been able to feel before.

His work that has left the greatest impression on me is his discussion of the greater intelligence of this universe. I believe in this wholeheartedly. We are being guided.

This understanding has brought so much peace into my life, and I believe I’ve attracted wonderful things by allowing greater intelligence to lead.

I hope you’ve enjoyed these quotes!

Let me know your favorites in the comments below.

Originally published at https://rosecoloredglasses.com on June 19, 2024.