Here is a small segment of our dialogue with Eckhart which appears in its entirety in our book "Dialogues With Emerging Spiritual Teachers."

Q.  Surrendering to "what is" or "the Now" seems to be an important aspect of your teaching.  Is there a distinction between "surrendering to what is," and the use of the popular cliche, "go with the flow of life, where ever it takes us"?

A.  Surrendering only refers to this moment, whatever "is" at this moment - to accept unconditionally and fully whatever arises at this moment.  "Going with the flow" is a more general term.  For some people it is an excuse for not taking action and it refers usually to one's life situation.  Let's say you are in a particular job and that is the flow, you stay in it. 

Surrender is only in reference to Now.  So "going with the flow" is not necessarily true surrender and may lead to passivity, lethargy and inaction.  Surrender to the Now is something very different because it only concerns accepting the reality of this moment.  Whatever action is needed will then rise out of that state of complete acceptance.  The most powerful state for a human to be in is the state of embracing completely the reality of what is - Now.  It is to say "Yes" to life, which is now and always now.  There is a vast power in that "Yes," that state of inner non-resistance to what is.  Action arises out of that if it's needed, as a spontaneous response to the situation. 

For more information on Eckhart, go to www.eckharttolle.com or www.namastepublishing.com

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