The Power of Now

byMikeRoetker

63 followers

Updated 5 years ago

From “The Power Of Now” by Echart Tolle

A beggar had been sitting by the side of a road for over thirty years. One day a stranger walked by. "Spare some change?" mumbled the beggar, mechanically holding out his old baseball cap. "I have nothing to give you," said the stranger. Then he asked: "What's that you are sitting on?" "Nothing," replied the beggar. "Just an old box. I have been sitting on it for as long as I can remember." "Ever looked inside?" "No,” said the beggar. “What’s the point? There’s nothing in there.” “Have a look inside,” insisted the stranger. The beggar managed to pry open the lid. With astonishment, disbelief, and elation, he saw that the box was filled with gold.

I am that stranger who has nothing to give you and who is telling you to look inside. Not inside any box, as in the parable, but somewhere even closer: inside yourself.

“But I am not a beggar,” I can hear you say.

Those who have not found their true wealth, which is the radiant joy of Being and the deep, unshakeable peace that comes with it, are beggars, even if they have great material wealth. They are looking outside for scraps of pleasure or fulfillment, for validation, security, or love, while they have a treasure within that not only includes all those things but is infinitely greater than anything the world can offer

Do you know that the suicide rate among the most affluent in our society is among the highest? Drug abuse, alcoholism and every other form of “escapism” is desperately sought out by those who seemingly have everything one could ever dream of having in terms of material possessions. What is it that these people have seen…or not seen that causes them to desire to end life itself in the midst of a life that almost anyone else would “die to have?” Yet we often find ourselves yearning for “the day when.” The day when... we make x amount of money each year…we meet our soul-mate…we get that new car, new house, new boat, new clothes, new furniture…the day when we can finally retire from working…and so on.

Although I believe there is nothing at all wrong with desiring any of these possessions, the illusion comes when we believe that once we acquire them they will make us happy. The reality we find is that although we may find happiness in the attainment of possessions and yes, even relationships, that happiness is short lived for one primary reason: true happiness and fulfillment must first come from within.

If you look at many of the people who suddenly come into a lot of money overnight such as lottery winners, professional athletes, inheritances and so on, almost all of them spend or lose their money and possessions immediately. Some people would say, “What a fool…they did not learn how to manage their money properly…If I had been given all that money I would not have been such a fool as they were!” Although the “overnight wealthy” might have greatly benefited from some financial education, I believe the problem is deeper still and revolves around the fact that “to whom much is given, much is expected.”

People who have very little financial resources often have the false belief that once you receive an abundance of wealth then everything would be easy. What they don’t realize is that what comes with all of the wealth is a whole new boat load of challenges, responsibilities, opportunities and difficulties. I know…I know…you’re thinking “just give me that set of problems instead of my own!”J If the individual does not change, learn, grow and develop into the kind of person who can handle everything else that comes with wealth then their destiny is certainly sealed with failure. It is the same with everything else in life. This is why the “overnight success” often fails: it is because although their external life changed, their internal life did not…they did not grow to be able to handle and enjoy the added “abundance.”

When we believe that something outside of ourselves is going to bring us true happiness, value, success, wealth, honor, self worth, belonging, sense of purpose then I am afraid we are setting ourselves up for true disappointment. Granted our society constantly bombards us advertising and messaging everywhere showing us in full detail how we will be happy once we go here, get this, and have that. But rarely is the message shared that when you BE…and what you become as a person is what brings true and lasting sustenance…regardless of where you are, what you have or who you happen to be with.

Please don’t get me wrong…I don’t have anything at all against having nice things, more money, or especially great relationships! The only thing I am trying to point out is that….IT IS WHAT WE BRING TO THE TABLE THAT IS OF MOST IMPORTANCE! Once we find our true happiness, value, success, wealth, etc. from within then everything else is topping on the cake! Consequently, everything else can come and go but we will still be ok because we will always have the cake!

I realize that much more can be said on this especially regarding the value in relationships themselves but please don’t miss the point. Everything you need, everything you desire is already there for the taking. The delusion is that it will be found “out there” somewhere…or that I will find it “one day when I finally have such and such.” Nothing could be further from the truth.

Often in life it is the simple things that become the most profound. What we all seek is already within our grasp, right under our own noses and as long as we keep looking “out there” for it we will continually miss it. We will keep placing false hope on the next thing “out there” that will surely bring us happiness.

Please let me make one thing perfectly clear. The things I share with you I share in humility meaning that I do not at all propose that I have in any way attained anything at all. I am not making myself out to be above anything, let alone anyone. I am prone to failure and mistakes, false hopes and misplaced desires as much as anyone. I am in no way saying that I am a perfect example to be followed. NO, I am still learning and have a long way to go. The truth is I believe we never “arrive” but are always still on the journey to arriving. I believe our place though is to illuminate the path for each other as best we can and that is my only desire. I only hope to encourage you in some small way lay aside the things that hold you back from true life, true happiness.

So go for it…grab what is already there for the taking…and be happy! :-)