Today, most people’s—and certainly the alcoholic’s—identity consists almost entirely of thought. The thought-based mind has become separated from awareness or consciousness. Most individuals are enslaved by their attachment to this false identity—also called the egoic self.
This identity is driven by fear and desire: fear of losing something and desire to add more and more. The egoic self is never at rest and sees no value in awareness, the present moment, or acceptance of what is.
The egoic identity dwells entirely in the past and future. It treats the present either as a place to relive the past or as an obstacle to some just-out-of-reach future where fulfillment can be realized. Tolle’s books show us that since the present moment is all that is, this way of seeing oneself is insane.
What differentiates the alcoholic or addict from the rest of the population is that they are unable to sustain the insanity of living a life based on a set of thoughts—except through the use of a mind-altering substance. For this susceptible portion of the population, this usually results in addiction to the substance.
It does not matter to the egoic self that the consumption of the substance will eventually result in the death of the host. For the sufferer, the recognition of this inevitable outcome represents both an ending and a beginning. As an ending, it is the last gasp of the thought-based self to maintain the lie. As a beginning, it contains the potential for relief and then transformation.
Do you still think that alcoholism is a sickness not a choice?
ReplyDeleteYou must not be an alcoholic, which needless to say, is a good thing. No alcoholic wants to be an alcoholic. I am an alcoholic in recovery. The 12 steps of AA saved my life. But, I'd do anything to be able to drink like the non-alcoholic I used to be. If that were possible, I'd be the first one to sign up! I started drinking alcoholically in my early 40's due to major increased stress in my life. I eventually "crossed the line" and developed an allergy to alcohol and now simply CANNOT drink like a normal person. I cannot process alcohol like a non-alcoholic now. If I pick up one drink, I truly cannot stop without medical assistance/Detox treatment with temporary medication (anti-anxiety, high blood pressure medication). I wish I could though! It is certainly not by choice. Incredible blog site. Thank you. I love AA and Eckhart Tolle. :)
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