Eckhart Tolle in Cartoonland: Guardians of Being

August 27, 2009 · Filed under Book Reviews · Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

By Eckhart Tolle, Art by Patrick McDonnell

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Published October 2009 (Hardcover) by New World Library

More Info: Eckhart Tolle

Before I opened Eckhart Tolle’s Guardians of Being, I heard my cat Jasmine meow softly at the door, and I let her in.  I returned to sit on my big blue ball, and I pet my cat Jet, who curled up onto the glass desk near me.  In this perfect and lovely book, Tolle writes, “I have lived with many Zen masters, all of them cats.”

Last night, as I was about to fall asleep, I sensed within me a nuance of feeling upset, but I wasn’t aware of it until I acknowledged my surprise that Jazz nestled along the curves of my body.  She rarely climbs into bed with me.  She knew.  And, because she knew, I knew. Then, the feeling got absorbed by her furry warmth.  And vanished.

He writes “It’s so wonderful to watch an animal, because an animal has no opinion about itself.  It is.”  And, there, Patrick McDonnell, draws a cartoon of a cat sitting in a window.  There are four frames, each showing a cat in the sill, with a window demonstrating a different day-part.   At night’s end, the cat says “Another perfect day.”

Tolle reminds us that our pets don’t think, that if we just become aware of nature around us — just as our pets do — we will be alert, aware, present.

I think — that word, again, think — about my dog Java.  Another black animal.  Another J name.  Java was always smiling.  And, because she was smiling, I smiled.  When I took her for walks, Jasmine would appear out of nowhere and go on walks with us.  Neighbors would drive up, saying, “You cat is walking with you!”  That would make Java and me smile all the more.

“Beyond the sounds,” Tolle writes, “there is something greater: a sacredness that cannot be understood through thought.” And, McDonnell’s illustration gives us a quiet dog, gazing at a single star in the black sky.

“Because dogs and cats still live in the original state of connectedness with Being, they can help us regain it.  When we do so, however, that original state deepens and turns into awareness.   We don’t fall below thinking, we rise above it.”

This book, you fall into, tumbling into your very core, that soft, divine space that you share with every other Being on this planet.

And beyond.


7 Responses so far »

  1. 1

    Frank Del Bagno said,

    September 14, 2009 @ 11:08 pm

    I enjoyed your review of the new Eckhart Tolle and Mcdonnells book about cats and dogs. These simple thoughts are very profound yet they are there for everyone.It cuts across all cultures and religious preference. A great book, you can read it each day and help you see your simple purpose which lowers ego concentration.
    Thank you

    Reply
    • 2

      Diana Page Jordan said,

      September 15, 2009 @ 6:57 am

      Thanks, Frank, for writing. Cool that you enjoyed my blog. Your comments about the book by Tolle and McDonnell are absolutely right on. I’m finding lately that petting my cats feels much like quenching a deep thirst.
      All the best,
      Diana

      Reply
  2. 3

    Lynn Pierson said,

    September 18, 2009 @ 12:27 am

    Eckhart Tolle is a very profound teacher, and I heartily agree with his views on dogs and cats. I often wonder about my dog’s apparent gift of telepathy to read my mind when I’m considering taking him on a walk. Even though I’ll be sitting in another room with my back turned, he’ll come running up to me with tail wagging ready to accompany me outside. While practicing some classwork to do with detecting bodily energy fields while utilizing copper diving rods, I was surprised to find out that my dog’s energy field extended out much farther than the average human’s. (I have a related article posted on my blog at: http://bit.ly/1fASt

    I will have to read Eckhart Tolle’s book and thanks for the fascinating review.

    FYI, I’m also a writer and love books with a spiritual emphasis. I have a spiritual thriller currently in galley form, “The Great Awakening” launching 1/18/2010

    Reply
    • 4

      Diana Page Jordan said,

      September 18, 2009 @ 6:46 am

      Hello Lynn,
      Thank you for your wonderful comments. Yes, read Tolle’s book. It is sweet and profound. A book to be kept nearby.
      I read your blog — very interesting! I am anticipating the day when what is now amazing and sometimes suspect — is the norm, and we have a new kind of magic.
      Good luck on your book! Please let me know more, near the pub date.
      Best,
      Diana

      Reply
  3. 5

    Lynn Pierson said,

    September 18, 2009 @ 5:58 pm

    Hi Diana:

    Thanks for checking out my blog, and I look forward to meeting you when you speak on Oct. 6th at the Willamette Writers. I will definitely keep in touch regarding my book as well.

    Lynn

    Reply
  4. 6

    Darmadi said,

    November 26, 2009 @ 7:44 am

    ………….
    dear mrs. diana.
    i’m darmadi from indonesia.

    may i know how much does this book costs ?!?!?

    Reply

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