April 2008 | Letters to the Editor
Prophet Motive Readers Pinch Back
I pick up the magazine every month and deeply appreciate the work SCC does to facilitate spiritual, cultural and social well being. I am writing to share thoughts on Daniel Pinchbeck’s March column “Old Struggles on New Earth.” I enjoy his work and found his book 2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl very intriguing — adding a new twist to the array of information concerning shamanism, psychedelic experiences and spirituality.
His perspective on Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth, however, is a little off. If he read the whole book, which I trust he did, he must have slightly misinterpreted it (happens to the best of us). But from reading his article, it looks as though he only read the first few chapters and then conveniently fit the book’s message into a little mind-box, or, as he called it, “Vedanta for the masses.” His assessment of its “tendency to ignore the political struggle” oversimplifies its deeper meaning.
It is easy to undervalue the deep wisdom of making “the present moment... the focal point of your life.” Being present doesn’t undermine action or social change — it enlivens it. The present moment is not a place of ignorance or denial, as Pinchbeck seems to suggest — rather (to use my own brand of over-simplification), it’s where it all goes down.
Interestingly enough, in his article, Pinchbeck uses language that is in harmony with A New Earth when he writes, “rather than fretting about what may or may not happen on that date, we should concentrate on the work that needs to be done NOW, on an inner as well as an outer level.”
Consider this similar quote from A New Earth: “Awakened doing is the alignment of your outer purpose with your inner purpose. Through awakened doing, you become one with the outgoing purpose of this universe. Consciousness flows through you into this world. It flows into your thoughts and inspires them. It flows in the what you do and guides and empowers it.”
Where does this leave out using “the awareness gained from spiritual practice to become more effective agents of social change?” Let’s see what kind of creative and sustainable ideas we come up with when we keep the present moment our focal point.
— Evan Flory-Barnes, Seattle
I have to say I have not been a big Pinchbeck fan. Just about the only thing I was not crazy about in the magazine redesign was the inclusion of the somewhat self-righteous, mushroom eating, neo-philosopher, Mayan freak Pinchbeck as a regular contributor. I also realize all voices are worthy of hearing… just not as a daily diet, thank you very much.
However, after reading (and yes I do read it every month anyway) Pinchbeck’s contribution in the March issue of your magazine, I have to ask him to make room for me on his soap box. I thought his analysis of Eckhart Tolle and the spangled light Oprah has cast upon Tolle’s New Earth was right on the money, so to speak. Just a couple of Oprah’s grandstanding webcasts with Tolle was enough to make me want to cash in any hopes for our culture.
The very relevant point that Eastern thought has given Americans a way to continue to exploit corporate gain under the cloud of their own yogic mindfulness is brilliant. Whatever our occupation is not “a vehicle for consciousness.” Enlightenment and conscious living come from the work we do with our families, in our communities, with our peers — and the global implications we bring to the table. If you spend an hour every morning doing yoga, meditate daily, shop eco-wisely for every consumable, and you are the CEO of a company that underpays its employees and does not offer adequate benefits, you are no different than one of the corporate misers of McDonalds. Bravo Pinchbeck!
—Simon LaClede, Chicago, IL
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