WHAT YOU DO TO OTHERS YOU DO TO YOURSELF (Eckhart Tolle)

I often wondered about the hidden meaning of that phrase. I had a marriage that, although it lasted thirty years, was the source of profound suffering for me. After the relationship ended in a quick divorce, my then-husband decided to remarry a younger woman who shared his religion. Meanwhile, I moved into an apartment in Miami Beach. In the years that followed, there were many nights when I pondered the truth behind Eckhart Tolle’s famous saying. From the outside, my ex-husband had created a new life for himself, while I was desperately trying to adjust to the solitude of my new home. Fortunately, my apartment offered a beautiful view of the ocean, which made my nights feel less lonely. One day, while walking along Miami Beach boardwalk, I ran into the man who had been my partner for so many years. At first I barely recognized him; his face had changed—he had aged. After a brief greeting and farewell, I headed home, my thoughts returning once again to Tolle’s famous proverb. Although I will never know the full truth, it was obvious that the happiness of his new life was not reflected in my former partner’s aged face. The universe we inhabit is built on energies: a positive energy and a negative energy. If we have the capacity to treat others as we wish to be treated, positive energy will not only fuel our days, but also shine through in our eyes. My ex-husband’s gaze, however, only radiated disillusionment and bewilderment, and now it is to late to change paths.