The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment

Rating:
Summary: The Title Says it All...
Review: Before you see my rating of two stars and vote that my review was unhelpful; let me explain. I enjoy spiritual teachings; I really do. I feel that it allows me to enrich my life and see things in a different light. Naturally, then, learning to enjoy the present moment would be something that I really have a desire to do. The implications of being able to put all your worries and fears away (or, should I say, bring them to the surface and then deal with them) would be tremendous. I guess I should also say that I am someone who has trouble accepting the present moment for what it is; I tend to worry too much about what the future is going to hold. That said, I honestly hoped that this book would provide me with a way of achieving that.

I realize that in any spiritual teaching, certain concepts are going to be repeated. This is necessary, especially since the concepts presented are probably going to seem new to most readers. However, I felt that the whole book was nothing but a repetition of this general idea: the mind is the root of all problems, because it has taken us over (meaning that we can't control it, but rather, it controls us). However, we can free ourselves from this by becoming totally present.

The author then elaborates on this statement using many different phrases, such as, "Feel the power of this moment and the fullness of Being. Feel your presence" (pg. 70). He also uses the typically vague promises that tend to accompany books like this, such as, "...You can be at peace. There may be sadness and tears, but provided you have relinquished resistance, underneath the sadness you will feel a deep serenity, a stillness, a sacred presence" (pg. 148). To me, it seemed as if the author was simply repeating the same basic idea over and over again; which, again, is not necessarily a bad thing. However, it begins to become annoying when the book has as many pages as this does; and after reading all of them you feel as though you could have just read the title and received all the information from that.

As I said previously, the idea of this book was very promising. Even the techniques contained within the book, though inspiring, were never very well explained. After reading this book a couple times, I still don't really know how to get to that spot of inner peace. I don't know, either, how to feel the "...still, observing presence itself behind the content of your mind, the silent watcher" (pg. 46). I don't even think there was a technique telling you how to achieve that, actually. Sure, the author has included some meditations, but they're nothing new. The same old "Direct your attention into the body. Feel it from within" (pg. 93) type meditations, which can be found almost anywhere else, even on web pages (for free, no less) are included in this book.

Overall, this book did not live up to it's hype. I found it to be long and rambling; the author took the title of the book and expanded it into 191 pages full of the same idea phrased with different words. He attempts to tackle some other subjects too, of course, such as relationships. However, he basically uses the same "power of NOW" approach to these as well; meaning that he suggested a relationship would evolve into true love when both partners had eliminated their respective egos and become completely immersed in the now. That's the solution for EVERY problem, it seems. So he's just using the same message for different problems, which seems to be more of a "pie in the sky" promise to me.

Rating:
Summary: This book saved me.
Review: I don't know what other people think about this book, and I think people will always have different feeling and thoughts about things. It totally depends on how you relate to the book. For myself, this book really touched me, and I can easily relate to Tolle's words. And it really did save me from one of the most terrible time of my life. I did get out of my own created pains and misery by stop dwelling into the past and not thinking about the future, which creates the fear and worries. I'm only living for the present moment and focus on it.

Rating:
Summary: My experience
Review: This is the most profound, life-changing book I have ever read, and I have read plenty. I am saddened but not surprised by the negative reviews here. Some people are not ready to hear Eckhart's message. It is paradoxical, really, because the reason they cannot hear it is that they are run by their minds, which is what the book aims to address.

Nevertheless, that's just the way it is. And so it is perfect. What is is always perfect.

When I recommend this book to friends - and I have done so frequently - I offer to buy the book from them if they are not glad they bought it. So far, I haven't had to buy a copy. Enough said (except that the audio version is a must-have as well).

Rating:
Summary: Practical tips for joyous living
Review: Philosophers like Krishnamurti say that the path of spiritual enlightenment starts with being aware of one's own thoughts. Commentators (of Upanishads and Gita) such as Swami Chinmayananda suggest that spiritual enlightenment is attained when the mind quietens. I have great respect for the above authors. However, I was frustrated for a long time as "watching my thoughts" and "quietening the mind" seemed impossible to achieve.

In this book, Tolle gives very practical advice on how we can watch our thoughts - the idea is to simply live in the present, in the Now. "...Make it your practice to withdraw attention from past and future whenever they are not needed. Step out of the time dimension as much as possible in everyday life. If you find it hard to enter the Now directly, start by observing the habitual tendency of your mind to want to escape from the Now..." is a brilliant piece of advice from the book.

The book is organised in a question-and-answer format and it is easy to read.

When we start reading the book, many questions rise in our heads. E.g.
*How can we forget the past? Doesn't past influence on our current situation?
* How can we not think about the future? How do we, then, plan for the future?
*How practical is it to ignore the time (future)?
All these questions and many other questions that come to mind while reading are answered in the book.

If you plan to read this book please think about the following: many of us read books like these and find them 'interesting'. As long as we are reading the book we feel inspired and we live in the Now. A while later, we go back to our routine and forget about living in the Now. To get the true benefit from this book, my suggestion is to create some measures so that you are reminded of the principles regularly. Some things you can do:

*Write down your questions, their answers and your other thoughts that come to mind, while reading the book. Review these regularly.
*Find people who are interested in discussing the issues relating to spiritual enlightenment and discuss.
*Make it a point to read or listen to books that relate to living the Now, on a regular basis.

Rating:
Summary: True Enlightenment BEING in the NOW. 10 Stars!
Review: Eckhart Tolle brings us all powerful and transformative insight to shed the layers of ego that have your mind clinging to either the past or the future, seeking or reminiscing, longing or avoiding, and in its place, bringing you into THIS moment - in the here and now, where ALL reality exists, and gives you the power to change any aspect of your life from this moment, which is where all change comes from.

Surrendering to the now is a fearful process because the domain of the ego is the past, and the emotion of the ego is fear. Love, on the other hand, exists now. One of the most powerful parts of this book teaches you to "become the watcher" of your thoughts. Just step aside and NOTICE what is going through your mind. Once you notice it, you can then be objective about it, rather than be consumed with fear, doubt, anxiety, worry, or anticipation.

This book is a gift to humanity, a classic, and will bring you more conscious awareness of yourself, the dramas (the ego loves drama) and how to rise above it all by pulling yourself deeply into the present moment, fully. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who has much to work through emotionally, because it will teach you exactly how to move beyond pain and suffering, so you can create and live joyfully in the present.
Barbara Rose, author of, 'Individual Power' and 'If God Was Like Man'

Rating:
Summary: life changing
Review: Great book based on Zen philosophy - but with a "western spin". I have the audio version and Eckhart Tolle's voice is calm and soothing! Great book!!

Rating:
Summary: The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment
Review: I have been listening to the CD version of this book in my car. The biggest problem I have is needing to write down either something he says or my reaction to a statement he makes at 70 miles per hour. While that reflects a thoughtful response to a book that encourages you to not think about life, but to experience the moment, it still is the best way I know to express how profound I think the book is. I do a lot of reading in the area of spirituality and self actualization and can say that he does an excellent job of expressing the truths in many religious traditions in a way that complements those essential truths. If you have a mind that wants to race through reality and you want to try and stop it so you can connect with whatever you percieve as the universal force this would be a great read, or if you have the Cassette/CD a great listen. Now that I have just about completed my first pass through I plan on listening to this again in a comfortable place where I am not trying to multi-task so that I can experience his words more fully. I do think there are some advantages to having the spoken version rather than reading the book. First, is that it makes it a little easier to access the work multiple times. Second, is that I think reading engages the mind more than listening. While I haven't done it yet my theory is that experiencing this work in a safe and quiet place will open me up to an even more profound experience than I have gotten on my first more cerebral pass through. I gave this a 4 instead of a 5 it is because I almost never rate anything a 5. In my opinion this work of art is about as good as it gets.

Rating:
Summary: The Power of Now......................
Review: -
This is true beginning to the Spiritual Enlightenment.

This is extract of all Religions teachings.Now,Conciousness,Awareness whatever you want to call it.

I can say this is a 'Book of this Decade'.

Eckhart say I am not teaching you anything,I am just reminding you of Truth because it was always inside you.

You will feel it while reading this book that,You already 'Know' these Things.

We come accross the mad people on the street talking to themselves.Even we are not much different.The only difference is they are doing it loudly.

90% of our thinking is not only repetative,useless but also Harmful.its a leakage of our vital Energy.

We are not using our Mind ,Mind is using us.We can not stop thinking this is proof of it.It keeps on wandering.

This is A time to set our selfs free.We have a powerful tool in our hand.This Book 'The power Of Now'

Know The Truth And It Shall Set You Free....................

Rating:
Summary: what's all these 5 star ratings coming from
Review: goes to show how spiritually starved people are - you could give them sand & they'll drink it as if it were nectar. I've read many spiritual books - and have never seen so little information crammed in so many words.

Rating:
Summary: a deeply helpful book
Review: providing clear guidance along the path to authentic learning.