I was really taken by the Oprah web casts of A New Earth and Eckhart Tolle.It certainly added a lot to my spiritual journey, and gave me some great perspectives that I am using with others while coaching them through a process to help them awaken spiritually.
I have continued to watch Oprah and her “Soul Series” and have watched the web casts with Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor. Dr. Jill wrote a book entitled “My Stroke of Insight” whose title means what it says. Dr. Taylor is a leading Harvard brain researcher who had a stroke and lost the entire use of her left brain for a period, yet she lived and lived with her right brain only functioning. This put her in a state of bliss, Nirvana as she describes it. When asked by Oprah whether, in this state she felt close to god, Dr. Taylor answered that she became god, at one with god. What an experience.
The 4 part series is available on oprah.com.
The listening to her experience was another huge piece of insight.
Her experience was very much in keeping with many of the things Tolle talked about in A New Earth. She uses slightly different terms, but Oprah connects the dots.
She described losing her left brain as putting her in a state of bliss, a state where brain clutter was gone. Since recovery, she equates the left brain as being the home of ego, and since left brain functionality has returned, she openly talks about the left brain (ego) yelling at the right brain- the innocence and presence in all of us. Wow!
She talks about people who were part of her care, the huge benefit that people who gave care and were “present”- open; full of positive energy- gave to her.
It was a great reminder that each of us must take responsibility for the energy we bring to people contact; we must be living in a Conscious present state of mind and be present for those we are conversing with. We must be a source of love, peace and compassion. We must have an “attitude of gratitude” for being alive and having the ability to live in the moment in harmony with all that is around and in us. New Earth type thoughts!
I was fascinated at the way Tolle talked about “duality” in ANE.Dr. Taylor certainly stressed the importance of listening to what you say to yourself and you will hear the left brain talking to the right. Upon reflection, I know it is true for me and I will pay even closer attention to what I say to myself i.e. After a bad golf shot I ask quietly, what kind of an idiot would do that?
Another piece of great knowledge gleaned from a true brain scientist. The whole time for the internal processing of negative thought like fear and anger to be processed by the brain is 90 seconds. If we can take 90 seconds without reacting, the infamous “this too shall pass” will in fact be a reality!
I was once again reminded that I am not my thoughts. With soul searching, awakening and conscious thought, I am what my creator designed. And that is good.
As with every thing, the story teller who observed cannot do full justice to the story told by the person who lived it.
If you’re interested in deepening your spiritual life, then listen to a trained brain scientist that lived through an experience that few will ever have.
This reaffirms some of the simple truths learned from A New Earth!

Author's Bio: 

Keith is a Life Transformation Coach and Addiction Mentor practising in Markham,Ontario.