“Happiness Now”, by Jack Groverland is week four in the talk series “The Alternative Universe”.
What enlightened masters want us to know is that “happiness now” is a conscious choice.
All personal problems result from allowing the mind to contemplate negative thoughts and images from the past or to anticipate negative outcomes in the future.
According to modern day master, Ekhart Tolle, “all negativity is caused by an accumulation of psychological time and denial of the present. Unease, anxiety, tension, stress, worry – all forms of fear – are caused by too much future and not enough presence. Guilt, regret resentment, grievances, sadness, bitterness, and all forms of non-forgiveness are caused by too much past and not enough presence.” (The Power of Now, Page 50)
Thus, returning the mind to the present moment is the supreme spiritual practice, the most rewarding yoga. It would be peachy indeed if we could just order the mind to get with the present moment and stay there, but that doesn’t even work for Eckhart Tolle.
The master claims that the mind needs to learn that “pasting” and “futuring” always creates problems, and problems cause all manner of negative emotions and pain, not only for the “thinker” but for everyone involved with the anxiety driven thinker.
In this sermon, I relate how to regain the “now awareness” according to Tolle and Jesus.