Transforming Suffering into Awakening.

In this episode, Eckhart talks with a live audience about the paradox of suffering and awakening.

He says the ego in its attempt to strengthen itself, creates distress and eventually brings about its destruction.

For many, this cycle can be the catalyst to awaken.

If we had not suffered, we would not find transformation.

Eckhart says, the paradox is a good thing.

People have told me that they were given a book,

like Power of Now or New Earth by a friend

or relative 10 years ago, and they looked at it and say, what is that stuff?

Who writes this thing?

And they put it on the shelf.

And then they got on with their lives and then they suffered a bit more.

They had another failed marriage and then they lost their job and then they suffered a bit more. They had another failed marriage,

and then they lost their job,

and then the stock market crashed,

and then they developed an illness.

And suddenly the pressure of suffering

created a crack in the shell of ego.

It became so much, and then a day came when suddenly they were,

oh God, and they picked up the book again.

And then they were, oh my God, now I understand it.

That is the first spiritual awakening.

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