The Ten Thousand Things

The root of this physical urge is a spiritual one. The longing for an end to duality, a return to the state of wholeness. Sexual union is the closest you can get to this state on the physical level. This is why it is the most deeply satisfying experience the physical realm can offer. But sexual union is no more than a fleeting glimpse of wholeness, an instant of bliss.
As long as it is unconsciously sought as a means of salvation, you are seeking the end of duality. On the level of form where it cannot be found. You were given a tantalizing glimpse of heaven. But you are not allowed to dwell there.
And you find yourself again in a separate body. Eckhart Tolle The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment
This is the fifth in a series of reflections by Joe on quotes he found helpful or striking. He has some good writing over at https://joeloh.substack.com/

Internet Archive has a free version of The Power of Now at https://archive.org/details/ThePowerOfNowEckhartTolle_201806/page/n11/mode/2up

Source:
The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment
presents itself as a discussion about how people interact with themselves and others. The concept of self-reflection and presence in the moment are presented along with simple exercises for the achievement of its principles. Published in the late 1990s,[1] the book was recommended by Oprah Winfrey[2] and has been translated into 33 languages.[3] As of 2009, it was estimated that three million copies had been sold in North America.[4]
Author: Eckhart Tolle, Subjects: Spirituality, Psychology, 1997, Namaste Publishing, 1999 New World Library, 236 pages
About the author:
Eckhart Tolle (/ˈɛkɑːrt ˈtɒlə/ EK-art TOL-ə; German: [ˈɛkhaʁt ˈtɔlə]; born Ulrich Leonard Tölle, 16 February 1948) is a German-born spiritual teacher[1][2] and self-help author. His books include The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment (1997), A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose (2005) and the picture book Guardians of Being (2009).

Tolle came to prominence as a self-help author in the U.S. and internationally beginning in 2000, after Oprah Winfrey promoted his books in 2000 and 2005 and created webinars for him in 2008. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eckhart_Tolle
A longer summary of the book here: https://medium.com/@saadwrkacnt/a-deep-dive-into-the-power-of-now-by-eckhart-tolle-ac6446b0aa7c
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That's from Eckhart Tolle from The Power of Now. I've always had the sense when it comes to sex, that it's more than just a couple of animals, rutting. There always seem to be a lot more going on in that realm for me and I do think it is a sense of oneness. The self dropping away. A merging with another person. A deep connection that I really haven't found in any other way. 
 
But also maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I'm putting too much on sex, and it is just a physical act with no meaning. But when I found this piece of writing, it really spoke to me about my experience of sex. But as he says, it's no more than a fleeting glimpse of wholeness. An instant of bliss. There's a much greater oneness, that's quite hard to talk about, that can be referred to as non-duality. A sense of nothing being separate. A sense of only the world, the entire world, existing in this present moment. Which is really what the book, The Power of Now is all about. And it is a book I've re-read about four times now. He does a good job of talking about something that's very hard to put into words. But I really believe from my own experience that it's duality that is the illusion and it's oneness that is the truth. So all the separateness and loneliness and apartness that I feel, it's actually an illusion. That brief glimpse of heaven that can happen during sex, it's actually a glimpse of reality. It's actually breaking out of the illusion. But I know for myself, it can become obsessive to pursue those moments. And then I head into something which is more like addiction. And at that point, I'm even further away from the oneness that I'm seeking than I ever was before. I think there's an incredible power around sex and love and I think that I'm someone who's been sold a crock in terms of romanticism and the idea that the right person will complete me, make me feel whole and resolve everything. 
 
So it's this tricky balance for me of. Seeing the spirituality in sex. But realizing that for me, It's my spiritual life that's going to give me that sense of wholeness and oneness and connection with the universe. And if I keep trying to find it in fleeting moments of peace I'm only gonna end up unsatisfied. I know what it is to go towards oneness but it's not something that’s easy for me to explain. But I know what it feels like. And for me, it's really about seeing through the illusions and seeing through 150 years of romanticism and seeing through Hollywood and advertising and everything that's led me to believe that the only way to find happiness and contentment is to find the one. But the reality is I'm the one I've always been looking for and home has always been right here. 
 
And when I've looked for it in other places, other than deep down within, it's caused me so much pain. Really the majority of pain I've had in my life has been in this area. But the high’s have been high too. I guess for me, developing a spiritual life is about reassessing everything. Starting from scratch. And a reading like this really makes me question a lot of things that I took for granted. But also explain some things to me. Like, why have always seen sex is so profound and meaningful. When I know to a lot of people, it's just a bit of fun. And it's really no big deal. For me, I have unconsciously seen it as a means of salvation and I really hope that I can start looking somewhere else. Probably deep down within, for that feeling of okayness, connection, oneness and hopefully, peace of mind 

Creators & Guests

Host
Joe Loh
Film crew guy and mental health care worker with aspirations of being a small town intellectual one day.

What is The Ten Thousand Things?

Sometimes deep, often amusing, therapeutic chats touching on philosophy, spirituality, religion, consciousness, culture, music, dating, and life. Join Sam, Joe and Ali as they discuss the 10,000 illusions that make up “reality”.

Musical theme by Ehsan Gelsi - Ephemera (Live at Melbourne Town Hall)

Joe: The root of this physical
urge is a spiritual one.

The longing for an end to duality,
a return to the state of wholeness.

Sexual union is the closest you can get
to this state on the physical level.

This is why it is the most
deeply satisfying experience

the physical realm can offer.

But sexual union is no more
than a fleeting glimpse of

wholeness, an instant of bliss.

As long as it is unconsciously
sought as a means of salvation,

you are seeking the end of duality.

On the level of form
where it cannot be found.

You were given a tantalizing
glimpse of heaven.

But you are not allowed to dwell there.

And you find yourself
again in a separate body.

That's from Eckhart Tolle
from The Power of Now.

I've always had the sense when it
comes to sex, that it's more than just.

A couple of animals, rotting.

They always seem to be
a lot more going on.

In that realm for me.

And I do think.

It is a sense of oneness.

The self dropping away.

a merging with another person.

A deep connection that I really
haven't found in any other way.

But also maybe I'm wrong.

Maybe I'm putting too much on sex, and it
is just a physical act with no meaning.

But when I found this piece of
writing, it really spoke to me.

About.

My experience.

Have sex.

But as he says, it's no more than
a fleeting glimpse of wholeness.

An incident of bliss.

There's a much greater oneness.

That's quite hard to talk about.

The can be referred to as non-duality.

A sense of nothing being separate.

A sense of only the world.

The entire world existing,
in this present moment.

Which is really what the book,
The Power of Now is all about.

And it is a book I've re-read.

About four times now.

He does a good job of
talking about something.

That's very hard to put into words.

But I really believe from
my own experience that.

It's duality.

That is the illusion.

And it's oneness.

That is the truth.

So all the separateness and loneliness.

And apartness that I feel.

It's actually an illusion.

And that brief glimpse of heaven
that can happen during sex.

It's actually a glimpse of reality.

It's actually breaking
out of the illusion.

But I know for myself, it can become
obsessive to pursue those moments.

And then I head into something
which is more like addiction.

And at that point, I'm even
further away from the oneness.

That I'm seeking than I ever was before.

I think there's an incredible power

around sex and love.

And I think that I'm
someone who's been sold.

a crock, in terms of romanticism.

And the idea that.

The right person will complete me.

Make me feel whole.

And resolve everything.

So it's this tricky balance for me of.

Seeing the spirituality in six.

But realizing that for me,
It's my spiritual life.

That's going to give me that
sense of wholeness and oneness

and connection with the universe.

And if I keep trying to find it.

In fleeting moments of place.

I'm only gonna end up.

On satisfied.

I know what it is to go towards oneness.

It's not something.

It's easy for me to explain.

But I know what it feels like.

And for me, it's really about saying
through the illusions and seeing through.

150 years of romanticism.

And seeing through
Hollywood and advertising.

And everything that's.

Gave me to believe that.

The only way to find happiness.

And contentment.

Is to find the one.

But the reality is.

I'm the one pub always been looking for.

And home has always been right here.

And when I've looked for now, the places.

Other than deep down within.

It's caused me.

So much pain.

Really the majority of pain I've had
in my life has been in this area.

But the heart is a bit high too.

I guess for me, developing a spiritual
life is about reassessing everything.

Starting from scratch.

And a rating like this really.

Really makes me question a lot of
things that I took for granted.

But also explain some things to me.

Like, why have always seen sex
is so profound and meaningful.

When I know to a lot of
people, it's just a bit of fun.

And it's really no big deal.

For me, I have unconsciously
sold it as a means of salvation.

And I really hope.

That I can start looking somewhere else.

Probably deep down within.

For that feeling of okayness.

Connection oneness.

And hopefully.

Peace of mind.