Limitation Becomes Space

Eckhart Tolle
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Allowing this moment to be as it is, just this moment, no more. Just this moment.

Suddenly there’s an inner space around it which frees you from the limitation of the form.

The greatest image of that is the crucifixion, which you may not be fond of; some people don’t like it because it’s very negative, but I believe it’s a deep symbol of a truth that perhaps at that time could not be expressed in any other way. [...]

There’s this man nailed to the cross – a great limitation – but the cross is also the symbol of the divine and there’s deep wisdom in that.

How is it that a torture instrument is also a symbol of the divine?

… It’s about surrendering to the limitation of form, and the cross is an extreme example of that. The crucifixion means not my but thy will be done, which refers to the totality of what is.

If you surrender to what is, the extreme limitation becomes an opening into space.

That’s the deepest rule really that there is for human beings to realize that. Even the worst thing that happens to you can become the doorway then … will become the doorway into transcendence. Limitation becomes space.

That’s where human suffering comes in. There’s a grace hiding behind every form of suffering. There’s always the possibility of transcendence, which comes from not resisting the present moment. [...]

The one thing humans need to learn so they can live a different way, so that there’s an inner freedom, is the complete transcendence of the conditioning of the past.”

The above is an excerpt from Eckhart Tolle’s interview with Common Ground, titled Just Now.

SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How do you relate to the notion that even the worst thing to happen to us can become a doorway into transcendence? Can you share a personal story of a time when you found grace behind suffering? What helps you deepen in inner freedom without falling into the trap of passivity?

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9 Past Reflections

On Dec 31, 2023 Judy Carran wrote :

When there is no visible alternative, nailed to a cross of pain and suffering may be an appropriate metaphor even if one many of us do not relish. I have felt nailed to the cross: trapped in physical weakness, financial devastation and emotional cruelty with no one to help and no where to go. And the opening was a miracle. I hopped in my car to escape, with no money and no destination. I felt I had no one to help. While I was driving a long-lost friend phoned, and I learned her sister had fallen and needed someone to help her for a few weeks. The sky opened and I sang gratitude. I had a safe, quiet space and a purpose.

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On Dec 26, 2023 Patty de Llosa wrote :

The most important meaning of the symbol of a cross is missed by this article. It has a line upward and downward to connect heaven and earth, and a line from side to side, which represents time or the life of man, or all of us going about our business. The up-and-down line represents now, becoming present to this moment, and the horizontal line is from here to eternity.

1 reply: Judy | Post Your Reply

On Dec 26, 2023 Stephanie Mulinos wrote :

The one belief I have hel for my entire life is that I'm not enough. And I have lived a life driven by fear of that others believe it too. Fear of being judged, rejected, abandoned because of my utter lack of worth. I have a complex and tense relationship with most of my siblings - one more than others. Some years ago we had an encounter that did not end well - we both demonstrated some pretty unsavory behavior. I attempted to talk through it, to resolve it but their hurt and rage came out in a lengthy text detailing all of the ways that I was the problem (ie. all of the ways I wasn't enough) followed by a severing of contact. My greatest fear had come true. I was rejected for not being enough. It was painful, heartbreaking, and cathartic. I knew I could not let this belief define me any longer and I turned down a path toward healing. It opened me to a world of inner beauty I never knew existed.

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On Dec 25, 2023 Laura Shaw wrote :

My mother died from cancer right after I turned 14. My father died from cancer when I was 17. I am now 71 years old. A husband 3 grown sons and a grandson and a long carer as a teacher a state park employee. My loss of family early on in life taught me to be independent, to depend on myself and finally to gracefully except help the it is offered. I baked cookie all morning and fed the hungry and homeless at the clocktower in downtown Santa Cruz CA today. I was once hungry and alone at Christmas. Giving to others and hoping for peace in the world is how I celebrate Jesus, who was a great teacher-as were many others. I will never forget having a broken-down car in a storage city at Christmas and the great kindness that was given to me by strangers.

1 reply: David | Post Your Reply

On Dec 23, 2023 David Doane wrote :

Not only can a big problem become a doorway into transcendence, it is a doorway of transcendence. The issue is whether or not I go through it. Transcendence is in going through it gracefully. Grace is the attributes or gifts that are part of me that I can use to suffer problems efficiently. Suffering is the way a person carries and deals with a difficulty or pain. In dealing with difficult realities, grace I found is ability to be in the present, persistence and courage. Thoughts, worries, and problems constantly come and go, and what helps me deepen in inner freedom is to be in the present and to remind myself to stay present. Also, when I feel passive, down, troubled, what helps me is to hear those as signals and incentives to be present which is to be free and active.

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On Dec 22, 2023 Hareshwar wrote :

Recently, a close relative of mine was furiously shouting at me for suggesting a solution contrary to the idea of the person. Since I was not in a position of answering back though each harsh word angrily thrown at me was bitingly painful, hurting my self-pride, my mind was resisting that and I was badly trying to mentally escape from that unpleasant situation. Just then I remembered the words of J Krishnamurti telling us not to resist 'what is' but face it with total attention. I was also reminded of Osho's words: "This too will pass." I did not react at all, and to my surprise, within minutes that person calmed down.

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On Dec 21, 2023 Jagdish P Dave wrote :

This passage authored by Eckhart Tolle reminds me the wise teachings of the Buddha. We all suffer. This is the noble truth. Suffering arises in our mind and heart by remining attached to and bound by the past. Awareness of sufferring becomes the doorway into transcnding sufferring. Awareness of what binds us and follwing the light of awareness makes us free. This is the noble way of living. It's a journey from darkness to light, from bondage to freedom. We as human beings go through self-created darkness. We create our own suffering by clinging on to the past. I was in deep loving relationship with a person whom I loved very deeply and dearly. When she passed away I felt emptiness in my life. I deeply suffered emotionally. I felt like doing nothing and stay in the cave of darkness. My staying in the dark nights of the soul lasted for along time. Practicing midfulness meditation woke me up and helped me to see the light. My suffering became a doorway to inner feedom. Facing it mind... [View Full Comment]