Tom Andrew Cronin - The Portal How meditation can save the world

Praise for The Portal

I believe meditation is the portal to everything and in my experience with Tom, hes the man to step you through this journey. A new, better world awaits.

LISA MESSENGER, FOUNDER AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, COLLECTIVE HUB

Perhaps the most important message the world needs to hear.

JACK DELOSA, ENTREPRENEUR, INVESTOR AND CEO OF THE ENTOURAGE

The Portal is a compelling and practical blueprint to realise the potential of human civilisation.

KAT DUNN, CEO OF GRAMEEN AUSTRALIA

With a rare blend of unabashed optimism and deep thoughtfulness, The Portal explores the possibility of partnering technology with human consciousness to envision a sane and sustainable future for humanity.

KAISA PUHAKKA, PHD

Published in 2019 by Murdoch Books, an imprint of Allen & Unwin

Copyright Superhuman International Pty Ltd 2019

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. The Australian Copyright Act 1968 (the Act) allows a maximum of one chapter or 10 per cent of this book, whichever is the greater, to be photocopied by any educational institution for its educational purposes provided that the educational institution (or body that administers it) has given a remuneration notice to the Copyright Agency (Australia) under the Act.

The content presented in this book is meant for inspiration and informational purposes only. The purchaser of this book understands that the authors are not medical professionals, and the information contained within this book is not intended to replace medical advice or to be relied upon to treat, cure or prevent any disease, illness or medical condition. The authors and publisher claim no responsibility to any person or entity for any liability, loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly as a result of the use, application or interpretation of the material in this book.

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A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN 978 1 76052 409 8 Australia

ISBN 978 1 91163 205 4 UK

eISBN 978 1 76087 166 6

Cover and internal design by Madeleine Kane

Photography Superhuman International Pty Ltd except where noted

Cover art by the Trace House

For you: the reader of these words.

Your challenges, your turmoil, your, and our, highs and lows were the inspiration for this book. May we all find that quiet meeting point, amid the turbulence of life, where our unique stories and differences come together and things make sense.

CONTENTS

Its a brilliant gift to be human.

RABBI RONNIE CAHANA

For thousands of years, the question has been asked: How do you get through the turbulence of life?

We are hurtling towards a pivotal moment for humanity, a point in time when what we do next could determine the future of our species. Economic, environmental, technological and humanitarian experts suggest we are nearing an unrecoverable crisis point for life on our planet. Its a situation that historian and cognitive scientist Noam Chomsky describes as a perfect storm, one that could lead to a breakdown of civilisation as we know it unless something changesfast.

On a personal level, it seems that no matter where you travel or who you meet, people are feeling the intensity of modern life, and are struggling to find happiness and focus amid its relentless turbulence. Technology, the internet, the smartphone: they were all going to make our lives simpler, werent they? We have made incredible technological advances, and we in the West have access to more abundance than ever before, but how are we actually feeling right now? Our minds and hearts are taking a battering and, for many people, its hard to tell whether things are getting betteror worse.

So as the media and society push us to find solace in quick fixes and the eternal quest for more (antidotes that many argue have contributed to us being in this mess), what if we could find a more sustainable way to feel the personal benefits of a life well lived? One that didnt result in crippling the planet that supports our very existence? Making the solution personal is what this book is about.

As a transformational coach and meditation teacher, Tom has seen people get caught up time and again in unsustainable patterns of behaviour that usually result from outdated ways of thinking about things. More often than not, it takes some life-changing event or crisisessentially a fork in the roadfor them to even realise this is happening. At this juncture, they either break down into more negative patterns and chaos (sadly, this sometimes means a person even takes their own life), or they break through into a more orderly and progressive way of living, upgrading their mind and its outdated programming.

The Vedas, a large body of sacred texts written in India more than three thousand years ago, talked of a cataclysmic event or force so pervasive and powerful it would be capable of shaking up even the most persistent of situations. This event, referred to in Sanskrit as a rashi, was considered an instrument of evolution. When we face a rashi, we are essentially forced to change. We must either find a new way to move forwards, or we are thrown into such a destructive situation that deterioration occurs on a grand scale: people die, marriages end, companies collapse or countries are thrown into chaos and civil unrest. This book includes personal stories from people who have been through just those sorts of experiences.

Humans are a highly adaptable species, and yet we can be incredibly stubborn and resistant to change. In writing this book, we explore the question: Is society as a whole caught up in outdated patterns of behaviour that have led us to a global crisisa collective fork in the roadthat will see us break down or break through? And if so, is there anything we can do about it?

Toms story

It was my own crisismy rashiand subsequent transformation that became a big inspiration for this book. In February 1996, I had a nervous breakdown. It was the culmination of years of negative thought patterns and excess of every kind: an addiction to success, money and the adrenaline highs of my life as a broker. It didnt occur to me to make a change, yet I felt trapped, mired in spiralling depression and panic, even questioning whether to continue with life. One morning, while getting ready for work, I collapsed on the floor. I thought I was having a heart attack. I thought, This is itand I didnt really care. My severe symptoms eventually landed me in the clinic of a leading psychiatrist, who prescribed medication.

I started to feel less anxious on the drugs, but they also made me feel checked out and numb. Even more numb than before. The sadness and loneliness lingered and, deep inside, I sensed this wasnt the way forwards. It was at that time that I first came across meditation and Eastern philosophy. From then on, everything in my life began to change.

Meditation was like a portal into another realm. Angst and debilitating fear were replaced with an inner peace that I had never felt before. Sleep returned. I could leave the house and be around people again. The rapid change stunned me.