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Summary: 2500 years old art of living in the now
Review: Mr Tolle presents his take on one of the oldest and arguably the best philosophies of this world; it is a pity he does not recommend any readings that obviously gave him so much and should be contained in the final section of any contemporary book on this subject. I've read some 20 books on living in the now starting from records of Buddha teachings and other ancient masters like Dogen, to the contemporary instructors. Of the XX century "living in the now" teachers I wholeheartedly recommend you Sokei-an, a Japanese who as the first taught this art in North America, in very modest circumstances, more than 50 years ago, no tv or internet shopping, and left us teachings that are most complete and inspirational. A side note - it is a pity no western "History of Philosophy" presents the philosophy of living in the now, thus condemning newer and newer generations (top small fractions of these generations in fact) to "discover" the art of living in the now as an art unknown and alternative, as if the mind-centered western philosophy started by Plato and Aristoteles was the only way.
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Summary: the best of the best
Review: The book, "The Power of Now" by Ekhart Tolle is one of my most treasured favorites. I cannot recall words of such stinging clarity in the spiritual books of my generation (and I have read many of them). Tolle's simple words have amazing depth. Here, the most esoteric, mystical concepts are highly accessible and (surprise!) practical. The ideas in this book have truly transformed my awareness. In the pile of books on this topic, this one alone shines with a glowing aura. Highly recommended!!
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Summary: For those who are ready
Review: As many people have said, the conscious realization of the power of the moment occurs only when we are at an appropriate time in life. As you can see from many of the reviews, the people who were ready, found this book helpful but for those who did not, it only made partial sense. This is a fabulous book but in order to find it so, we must be ready ourselves. As Toru Sato says in "The Ever-Transcending Spirit", we grow when we are ready and only when we are ready.
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Summary: Setting the Record Straight
Review: Let me first say I have the audio tapes to both, this and Practicing the Power of NOW. I have read the comments by those who do not seem to grasp or understand the practical use of this book, or how to achieve the results it promises. Many feel the book makes tall claims and repeats them ad infinitum without much in the way of practical, down to Earth utility. The last reviewer even commented that one of the premises of the book, that time is a delusion of the mind, is flawed at its core. Do not be misled, swayed or otherwise put off by these comments as they stem from a lack of understanding. How do I know? Because these concepts have revolutionized my state of being. The truths in this book stand on their own, independent of those who deny their relevance or existence.As a matter of background, I have read and listened to myriad self-help books, from Anthony Robbins and Stephen Covey to Shannon Duncan and the like. I spent fifteen years of my life searching for the secret to happiness and joy. Although many of the books and tapes I've read and listened to provided great benefit to my state of mind, none has penetrated my state of being so deeply as this. This is what I had been searching for. Some will read (or listen) to this book and feel it is potentially nothing more than mystical mumbo jumbo without much practical merit, or puzzle over how to actually get from where they are to where Tolle claims they can be. Some may feel he states the same affirmations over and over, just in different ways, hence rendering the book relatively useless or feeling it to be an exercise in redundancy. Let me address these individuals by saying the problem does not lie in the book/audio but in your own perception. Firstly, Tolle does, in fact, repeat many of the same concepts and personal perceptions at length, in a variety of ways. For, what he is doing is describing what success in using the concepts feels like from myriad angles. Far from being unnecessarily repetitive, it is essential for those who require a criteria for determining if they are applying the concepts correctly. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. While listening, somewhere along the way, many people will "get it" simply because Tolle repeated a concept from an angle the person finally understood. Again, this repetition isn't for those who already understand, but rather those who are still trying to find the right angle of understanding. Some may deny the concepts within, such as time is a delusion of the mind, but reality doesn't always conform to our expectations. It is this denial that keeps these individuals chained to their discomfort, and it is certainly their choice to make. For those who've actually experienced what Tolle is describing, he couldn't be more accurate in his statements; experience is the ultimate determinant. In a nutshell, to experience what Tolle is describing one must focus on things around them at the present moment and keep their focus there. Observe and don't judge what you're observing. The act of becoming intensely aware of that which is around you right where you are (without judgement) is the key, as doing this slowly and eventually draws focus away from the ongoing background noise of the mind; the incessant chattering. How do you know if you're actually making progress? Focus internally on your body and emotions and see how you feel. If you feel calm, joy and happiness, then you're on the right path. If not, then the contrary. In short, this program will transform your life if understood and used as Tolle intended. Otherwise, one may relegate it as useless and repetitive. Let me say this program receives my highest recommendation for those in emotional pain.
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Summary: worth its weight in gold
Review: This is a wonderful book, worth its weight in gold. I came back here to buy this book for my friends, but after reading some reviews I was compelled to write my own review. This is the first book I read which explains the universal concepts in such a plane language which made me not only understand the concepts but taught me how to implement it in real life. Krishnamurti, Roshi Philip Kapleau, Dalai Lama and Osho and many other said the same thing, but no one comes close to the simplicity of this book. I did not heed the advice of Krishnamurti of not to read much, as I was restless and felt the lack of my understanding of his teachings. If your journey started with Krishnamurti then it may finish here with Eckhart.
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Summary: Stop reviewing your own beliefs, but the book itself!
Review: The book in and of itself is excellent. Of course what he says will be similar to some things you have read-- there a variety of paths for different people! That is no surprise-- so much of spirituality overlaps! (duh!) I know people who have never had any background in any spiritual context read it-- and the excellent part of the book is that he does not focus from ANY certain type of dogma or religious standpoint. He lets the words speak for themselves. However, I believe the message he presents is timeless (pun intended). Some say they don't know how to start or what to do after reading the book. Listen to yourself. Trust yourself. That's the biggest step. I have been in chronic pain for over a year, where I have had problems even standing up, walking and so on, and I am only 25 years old. This book has helped me reshape my view of my experience. This book is not for everyone-- it will require self reflection, honesty about self and even make you start listening to your intuition. If you're not willing to do those things, don't get the book. Bottom line? I say read it, and if there's something you don't agree with, leave it for someone else to look at. This book is a tool for self discovery, reflection, and ultimately, changing your life, moment by moment. Take the wisdom you can get from it. Don't agree with everything? Big deal! That's okay! Get the wisdom you CAN from it! If you're ready, here is a book that will be able to help you on your path, and a definite classic to add to your spiritual or helpful library.
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Summary: Great Way to JumpStart Your New Year
Review: This time of year is the perfect time to look over the past 12 months and ask ourselves, did I do something that really count? Did I grow spiritually, spending time in reading and stimulating conversations, continuing to answer the questions that really matter? Did I share what I knew with others, to encourage and promote love and understanding? If your answer is one where you wish to do more, jumpstart your personal advancement this year by reading this book! The author captures the reader very well, and my excitement compelled me to finish this book within a few days. I live in the San Diego area, and would invite you to also read the books of three local authors, all of which I have heard at various speaking engagements, and were extremely impressed with, and subsequently bought their books. If you haven't read their books this past year, I would recommend them for your New Year, to help create a new, more powerful and intuitive New You in 2004:
- Deepak Chopra: The Spontaneous Fulfilment of Desire
- Jack Canfield/ Mark Hansen: Chicken Soup for the Soul: Living Your Dreams (Not Local, but excellent, uplifting stories)
- Tiffany Snow: Psychic Gifts in the Christian Life - Tools to Connect
- Marie Jones: Looking for God in All the Wrong Places
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Summary: I wish there was a 10 star rating.
Review: I've read many books on spirituality but Eckhart's books had the biggest impact on me.
So far I've recommended The Power of Now to two of my friends and they were very thankful.
This book is loaded with many 'Aha' moments.
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Summary: Valuable but simplistic message
Review: This book is a good introduction to the concept of living in the spacious present. It is written in a question-and-answer format and essentially says the same thing over and over again throughout the book, which can get old but is on the other hand useful for its continual emphasis. I like some of the new ways in which he presents old ideas, for instance, thinking as an addiction, which helps me to relate it to my many other addictions. I also particularly like the concept of the pain-body. Tolle describes the pain-body as the accumulated pain from your past, which almost literally forms an invisible entity that feeds on your body and mind, which stimulates you to think and feel painful things. (This is quite similar to the concept of the Parasite in don Miguel Ruiz's The Four Agreements, a book with a similar quality and style.) Thus the pain-body is, in a sense, an objective being that feeds off of negative thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and behaviors. Dealing with the pain-body means not to struggle with it, but instead to pay attention to it and accept it. Awareness and attention shine like a light in the darkness, dissolving the pain, quickly or slowly but surely. The ideas are of course old ideas, though dressed in interesting contemporary language and addressed to modern readers. The book repeats the same concept over and over throughout, from different angles, which may appeal to some who need a lot of explanation and may turn others off if they already have a sense of it. I do have some criticisms, which keep me from giving this five stars: First of all, on occasion Tolle makes subtly patronizing statements toward things or people that are not fully "enlightened." For instance, on p. 81, he writes, "Because we live in such a mind-dominated culture, most modern art, architecture, music, and literature are devoid of beauty, of inner essence, with very few exceptions. The reason is that the people who create those things cannot -- even for a moment -- free themselves from their mind. So they are never in touch with that place within where true creativity and beauty arise." Elsewhere he similarly dismisses physicists' search for "dark matter" and critiques our culture as being "almost totally ignorant of anything that truly matters." I truly cannot see a reason for vague, inaccurate, and judgmental overgeneralizations in a book about attention and acceptance. I also find his sections on women and homosexuals odd. He maintains that it is somewhat easier for a woman to become enlightened because women are more in tune with their bodies. Does that mean athletes have a better chance than couch potatotes? He also asserts that it may be easier for homosexuals to be enlightened because: "Being an outsider to some extent, someone who does not "fit in" with others or is rejected by them for whatever reason, makes life difficult, but it also places you at an advantage as far as enlightenment is concerned. It takes you out of unconsciousness almost by force" (p. 144). So does that mean all social misfits and outcasts are further ahead? The homeless? Ethnic minorities? Disabled people? Why single out homosexuals? But my main criticism of the book is that he emphasizes "being in the Now" as both the path and the goal, thus neatly avoiding a lot of hairy questions. His response to every question is simply that you have to let go of the mind and be in the present. Certainly that is the way things should be in an ideal world, if enlightenment were really easy. But as another reviewer said, this is like 0 to 100 mph in ten seconds. There are many problems in most people's lives and selves. Tolle's book doesn't do much in the way of guiding people through their issues. Although he pays lip service to the proper use of the mind, he does not explain where it or the ego belong. Nor does he make clear exactly what you do when the "pay-attention-and-it-will-go-away" formula doesn't work, i.e. when the issues you are facing are a good bit thornier than that. There are also a number of "mental" questions that aren't really discussed but would have contributed to my overall understanding. For instance, if you are paying attention to an intense emotion that is occurring right now, you are definitely not paying as much attention to your physical surroundings. Which one is more in the Now? A seeming contradiction; never addressed. Indeed, his maddening response to a similar question was: "You haven't yet grasped the essence of what I am saying because you are trying to understand it mentally. The mind cannot understand this. Only YOU can. Please just listen." Which was then followed by several paragraphs of repetitive explanation. Overall, I think Tolle is rather simplistic in his presentation. To a large extent, this simplicity works because the emphasis on living in the present is so important, and everyone could use a large dose of it. But readers should be aware that his treatment of the topic is incomplete and in some instances very unhelpful. But the message is still extremely valuable. For the emphasis on the Now alone, I recommend this book. I would say, read the parts that speak to you. The core of what he's saying is really just, PAY ATTENTION, and he never stops saying this. For a more thorough and compassionate book about the spiritual path, try "A Path With Heart" by Jack Kornfield.
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Summary: Eckhart
Review: I LOVED the Power of Now. No book has changed my life as deeply as Tolle's book. Move from "mind" to Peace/Presence/Being effortlessly, with no criticism and truly Understand the ancient teachings and actually how it could be that we "know not what we do". Tolle is one of the greatest spiritual teachers. All the self help type books do not compare. With Tolle, I truly entered the Now and Being and saw how I had been unsuccessful time and time again. Tolle gave me true inner Confidence and the ability to Be Myself in situations where I never could before. I am unable to express my gratitude for this blessing. With Tolle, in the Now, You Are...no more mind wanderings...Peace/God/Love/Joy/Christ are all Here Now.
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