Eckhart Tolle on What We Can Learn from Betrayal

Since everyone is getting butt-hurt about the way he delivers the message, here it is: Distance yourself from the event and de-dramatize the situation by knowing that humans are stupid and will often act in a way which is unconscious, below their standards and ultimately undesirable even to themselves. Nothing good will come out of a narrative or framing of the situation where you are forever an innocent victim who has been wronged. Try to get the situation down from "I am forever wounded" to "it happened". "Forgive" the other person by understanding their limitations for the sake of your own well being. Let go of the pain they've inflicted and let go of your hate for them. Move on, the other person is potentially a dumb ass and you shouldn't let them have a hold on you any longer. Just as in the first point, you must break free from the weak image you've interpreted for yourself. People are unconscious and some more so than others. It is not necessarily recommended to re-establish a relationship or give the person a second chance. They are the only ones that can help themselves reach a higher level of consciousness and they may re-create the situation a second time.

This is one of the hardest lessons in awakening that I will have to learn.

The best book I've ever read. Timeless.

WE MUST LET BETRAYAL GO!!! AT SOME POINT IT SHOULD ONLY BE A TOOL A STEPPING STONE TO STEP ON OR OVER... TO HAVE LEARNED FROM TO SAY: Okay so this happened!! Now will I let this stop me from doing what is still best for me. Or will I let this make the best version of myself!! We must let go of anything that is not beneficial to our mind, hearts or our situations. And bless those who are being the negative ones because life will teach them if they are willing to learn at their own pace.

I felt betrayed by a few close friends. I have moved on having forgiven them but it took some time. Eckhart Tolle is simply brilliant. Betrayal does not feel like betrayal anymore; if we are conscious that it is just our minds telling us we should feel betrayed. Thanks for this enlightening video.

So true and this video really challenges my feelings of inadequacy and dependency. I too feel betrayed by a close friend who really makes me feel invisible. With all the history of being friends for so long I clung to this friendship. Now I realize its only been hurting me and by disidentifying from the thought process I am free of these feelings. I realize when someone doesn't value your friendship and treats you badly its not a true friend and you are better off without friends then ones who do this.

Yes, Eckhart has written some amazing books, indeed! Glad to hear the gentleman at the beginning say so!

Blessings! Read his book years ago. When I stay in the now moment everything around flows. It is staying in that now moment. Thank you so much for this knowledge Blessings!

Eckert Toole makes light of a serious subject. He is in total denial of the pain. Usually those who spread the pain are not capable of any kind of sensitivity or caring of another being. Get away from them and protect yourself. I think a person is conscious when they take off their pants...yes, you can work to forgive this person but actually, they do not deserve it. Some of these "poor souls enslaved to their unconsciousness" spread venereal diseases. The answer is called self control and people need to accept responsibility and engage the practice.

I would say it's way much more important to talk about betrayal of a friend than romantic betrayal.

In the past I could not convey my story to the person by whom I felt betrayed because I was so in shock and feeling unsafe that I couldn’t believe it myself (But I did convey to someone who would safely listen). I felt dishonest for not telling the betrayer. Now, I’m glad I didn’t because there would have been another layer of baggage for others, and myself, to deal with. At times I have felt like a betrayer when I couldn’t safely hold up my end of the agreement. And sometimes I didn’t have words to express “sanely”. Last night I prayed to learn real forgiveness. It was answered. Thank you, Eckhart.

This was wonderful and much needed. Thank you.

Thanks so much from Ireland 🍀🍀🙏🏻🙏🏻☘️☘️☘️☘️

Tolle seems here to be speaking of "FEELING" betrayed , that is very different than actual deliberate betrayal.

Totally agree with you that the Power of now is a life changing book

GENIUS Thank You for sharing

This is a lesson I've finally learnt after 19 years of feeling betrayed. Any feeling of victimhood merely disempowers us and prevents us living fully in the present, and being "a man who women end up betraying" has been an uncomfortable part of my identity which (I hope !) I've let go of at long last.

To understand is liberating , thank you very much !

I'm reminded of the limerick I read as a child that went like this: "When she was good she was very very good, but when she was bad she was horrid". I think there was a deeper message in that poem that I realized at the time, eh?

Brilliant man. Circumstances change outcomes.