I watched the second in the ten-part series of online classes that Oprah and Eckhart Tolle are doing on his book, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose.

I had a chat with myself as the class began, reminding myself that I wasn't doing this to try to discover where Tolle is wrong and Abraham is right so that I could somehow feel more knowledgeable and superior in my Abrahamic-ness. Ha! I told myself that I wasn't there to push against Tolle (or feel jealous of Oprah's vibrant red dress) but rather to see where Tolle's teachings would be found congruent with those of our beloved Abe.

I so want to become a selective sifter. I so want to find the aspects of all experiences that please me and simply shrug off the rest.

With that approach, I especially appreciated the interchange with a woman named Victoria in Maui who appeared on the screen via Skype. She had been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus and had given up her business as a result. She'd had an "aha" moment when she read on p. 51 of Tolle's book about the tendency for ill people to make their illness into their identity. She realized, she said, that she had clung to her illness in certain ways, making it the most important part of her.

Tolle applauded Victorial's realization and then offered great advice. He told her to no longer talk about her illness to friends and family. If people ask, she could tell them, "I'm doing all I can to find healing and I'm making good progress."

Tolle further advised her to refrain from thinking of illness and focus instead on well-being. "See well-being around you in nature," he strongly recommended. "Put your attention on to well-being."

I'll drink to that! Carrot juice, of course, or (I'll admit) a Diet Coke.

Other parts of the Tolle class weren't as congruent with Abraham, and yet other parts are in my noggin right now, filed under "Food for Thought."

At any rate, I'm "getting it" that analyzing someone else's belief system - whether it's a high-profile spiritual teacher or Joe Schmoe next door - to see where it's like mine and where it differs doesn't necessarily serve me well. I want to notice the parts that feel good to notice and let it go at that. Finding commonality feels a lot better than feeling sharp edges of discord.

I guess that's what it's all about - this brilliant, comprehensive clarity called Abraham.


 It feels good to let go of the sharp edges of discord.