Change in schedule

Our first meeting will be March 6 -- Thursday -- because our group has grown to around 20 (a wonderful problem to have). The fellowship hall at church is used by the choir on Wednesday nights, so we would not have the fellowship hall available for our large group. I hope this does not present a problem with any of you. Our March 30th meeting remains the same. I look forward to meeting each of you in a week.

Donna

Questions to Consider

Chapter 1 -- The Flowering of Human Consciousness
1-A. When do you remember feeling an affinity with someone or something living that was not "logical" or was not connected to thought: thought being that which we now know as ego? What was your reaction to that "illogical" feeling?

1-B. How did your religious upbringing mold your perception of heaven? How do you perceive heaven now?

Chapter 2 -- Ego: The Current State of Humanity
2-A. What have you been taught about miracles? How have you experienced miracles in your life?

2-B. With what labels and roles does the "voice in your head" identify?

2-C. Are you a resister or a yielder in tragedy? If you have changed from one to the other, what was the impetus for that change?

Chapter 3 -- The Core of Ego
3-A. On page 71, Tolle writes, "When you find that Truth, your actions will be in alignment with it. Human action can reflect the Truth, or it can reflect illusion." On page 72, he writes, "When you are in touch with that dimension within yourself -- and being in touch with it in your natural state, not some miraculous achievement -- all your actions and relationships will reflect the oneness with all life that you sense deep within. This is love. Laws, commandments, rules, and regulations are necessary for those who are cut off from who they are, the Truth within." React to these related statements.

3-B. On page 79, Tolle writes what I perceive as a key to awakening consciousness: "Can I sense my essential Beingness, the I Am, in the background of my life at all times? To be more accurate, can I sense the I Am that I Am at this moment? Can I sense my essential identity as consciousness itself? Or am I losing myself in what happens, losing myself in the mind, in the world?" What is your understanding about this quote? Do you agree?

Chapter 4 -- Role-Playing: The Many Faces of the Ego
4-A. What life problems can arise when we identify with the villain, victim, and/or lover roles?

4-B. Much of chapter four addresses the roles of parent and child. What is your experience with each of these roles? How would it have been different if your ego had been minimalized?

Hello, friends,
I hope you are getting much from A New Earth and are getting anxious to actively participate in our March discussions. I am putting together a pre-discussion guide to Chapters 1-5 for you to consider. Let me know if you prefer to have it emailed to you as well as posted here. I should have it posted by tomorrow afternoon. Remember it is just a guide and new questions are welcome for our discussions. We have 18 people who have expressed interest in the club and several who are definitely attending at least one of the March meetings. We should have great participation.

Have an awareness week! -- Donna

meaningful quote

"What is spiritual realization? . . . is to see clearly that what I perceive, experience, think, or feel is ultimately not who I am, that I cannot find myself in all those things that continuously pass away. . . . when Jesus said, 'Deny thyself,' what he meant was: negate (and thus undo) the illusion of self. If the self -- ego -- were truly who I am, it would be absurd to "deny" it." --- A New Earth, pp. 78-79.

Wow! This is what I have been journeying toward in my spiritual life. This is the meaning of John's gospel, of my religious upbringing, of my progressive religion, and my emerging sense of social justice. And I don't have to leave my faith to practice it. It is what my chosen savior meant with his teachings. Wow! I truly can "love" my neighbor and not feel guilty about. Wow!

-- Donna

suggested schedule for discussion

Good afternoon, beautiful people,

I am slowly but steadily getting through Tolle's book and am still finding it compatible with my spirituality, for the most part. I am suggesting the following reading schedule for us. I see the discussion naturally divided into 2 sessions: Chapters 1-5 focusing on the ego versus awareness, Chapters 6-10 focusing on how to process this information and making the change to being less ego-oriented. Let's start with Chapters 1-5 for the March meetings and Chapters 6-10 for the April meetings which we will set. Does this sound like a workable plan?

Hi, beautiful people,

Here is the link to our confirmed location for our March meetings. Please send me your comments and inspiring quotes as you read Tolle's book.



http://maps.google.com/maps?f=l&hl=en&geocode=&q=Ashland+Terrace+Christian+Church&near=&sll=35.130228,-85.266094&sspn=0.02134,0.038624&ie=UTF8&ll=35.104883,-85.265236&spn=0.042693,0.077248&z=13

Have a joyful day,
Donna

March 5th meeting location

Hi, group, we are now over thirteen members strong! Good for us. The March 5th meeting will be held at Ashland Terrace Christian Church, 915 Ashland Terrace, 37415, at 7 pm. It will last approximately 2 hours, but, of course, you can come and go at will.

The March 30th meeting is on Sunday, so I moved the time to 5 pm, if that is okay with anyone planning to attend that meeting, same location.

I am getting much that is compatible with my spiritual/daily life from the book. Each day finds me looking forward to the discussions, especially so I can expand my understanding of human nature and the capacity to grow. Isn't life grand! Let me know if you need directions to the church and I will post a map.

Donna

Group Organized

Four interested, and interesting, people met this afternoon to chat and plan for our first book reading. We will read Eckhard Tolle's A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose. We will participate in Oprah's online classes, starting March 3rd, and meet again to talk about the book on Wednesday, March 5th. We tentatively plan to meet at Ashland Terrace Christian Church, 915 Ashland Terrace, at 7 pm., but that could change since the choir is practicing for the Easter Cantata. I will post if that changes.

Another March discussion will take place Sunday, March 30, with the location to be determined soon. Twice a month meetings will be scheduled so that those needing to meet during the week and those needing to meet on a weekend will be accommodated. All those interested have a Christian background, but we are hoping that people with other faith backgrounds join us soon.