Rating: 
Summary: Hippy-Dippy wisdom
Review: "When you claim well documented prior spiritual thoughts to be your own it only diminishes your credibility. I wish Tolle provided appropriate references - such as the Upanishads, the Gita, the Kashmir Shaivism, the Dhammapada and the Vigyana Bhairava Tantra. Enlightenment means complete dissolution of the ego -not the refinement of it -- so when I see Tolle trying to pass this stuff as his own - it just takes away of his claim of being enlightened. Tolle regurgitates in verbally articulate manner spiritual gossip or as another reviewer put it a rather funny manner superficial "Hippy-Dippy wisdom". "Ultimately there are many religions but spirituality is only one and the essence of it is documented in the Upanishads.
Rating: 
Summary: Another way to think about repetition...
Review: "When you claim well documented prior spiritual thoughts to be your own it only diminishes your credibility. I wish Tolle provided appropriate references - such as the Upanishads, the Gita, the Kashmir Shaivism, the Dhammapada and the Vigyana Bhairava Tantra. Enlightenment means complete dissolution of the ego -not the refinement of it -- so when I see Tolle trying to pass this stuff as his own - it just takes away of his claim of being enlightened. Tolle regurgitates in verbally articulate manner spiritual gossip or as another reviewer put it a rather funny manner superficial "Hippy-Dippy wisdom". " Ultimately there are many religions but spirituality is only one and the essence of it is documented in the Upanishads.
Rating: 
Summary: The Power of Now Squared
Review: After reading Eckhart Tolle's first book: "The Power of Now" I, too, wanted to be able to live in the present as he suggests. But, how does one do this? What is the recipé? His new book: "Practicing The Power of Now" gives a prescription for those seeking to put his teachings into practice. Though his idea of living in the now is found in the New Testament: ". . .take no thought for tomorrow. . ." and in other religious traditions, what Tolle has written in the first book is an engaging story of how he lived through a personal crisis and discovered the principle of living in the "NOW". Practicing The Power of Now takes the reader one step further, showing how an individual can live in the now with simple exercises, teachings, meditations and practices. There is nothing new in this book that wasn't in the original; just a more logical framework and a step-by-step approach. Like many recent best-sellers (see "Chicken Soup For the Soul"), Tolle's NOW books seem like they're headed for the production of many, similar titles. I'm looking for "Teenagers Living In The Now" book soon, as well as "Grampa and Grandma Living In The Now"and the baby book, "Baby's Now Book." Read the first book and pass on the sequels. They're the publisher's idea to increase profits. Five stars for the original. Two for the new one.
Rating:
Summary: The Power of Now Squared
Review: After reading Eckhart Tolle's first book: "The Power of Now" I, too, wanted to be able to live in the present as he suggests. But, how does one do this? What is the recipé? His new book: "Practicing The Power of Now" gives a prescription for those seeking to put his teachings into practice. Though his idea of living in the now is found in the New Testament: ". . .take no thought for tomorrow. . ." and in other religious traditions, what Tolle has written in the first book is an engaging story of how he lived through a personal crisis and discovered the principle of living in the "NOW". Practicing The Power of Now takes the reader one step further, showing how an individual can live in the now with simple exercises, teachings, meditations and practices. There is nothing new in this book that wasn't in the original; just a more logical framework and a step-by-step approach. Like many recent best-sellers (see "Chicken Soup For the Soul"), Tolle's NOW books seem like they're headed for the production of many, similar titles. I'm looking for "Teenagers Living In The Now" book soon, as well as "Grampa and Grandma Living In The Now"and the baby book, "Baby's Now Book." Read the first book and pass on the sequels. They're the publisher's idea to increase profits. Five stars for the original. Two for the new one.
Rating:
Summary: All spiritual practices are worth something
Review: All spiritual practices are meant (in part) to help people deal with troublesome human emotions -- like anger, resentment, and frustration. Some readers have expressed a lot of anger in their reviews. A recent review on "The Four Agreements" for example likens the philosophy in that book to Hitler. Other reviewers are upset about the money authors are making from their books; some even see a plot by publishers and authors to merely make more money. At first glance, then, it seems as if readers aren't getting the help they need with anger from spiritual books -- or these attacks wouldn't be occurring (and they wouldn't be so vicious!). But no spiritual practice is wasted. Everything we learn about spirituality helps us learn how to do the thing spirituality is meant to do: to manifest the aspirations, the ideas, the hopes and dreams in our hearts. When we manifest our dreams, we put more love into the world -- for what else are our dreams but representations of love in physical form? Not going for our dreams, well, not going for our dreams causes the kind of frustration that goes into some of the reviews posted about spiritual books. Learn more about how to manifest your dreams! If the spiritual practices you've learned thus far don't seem to go far enough, look harder. There is a new wave of spiritual teachers emerging with more information about manifestation than has been offered before. These new teachers know that it isn't enough to know how our "thoughts" become part of the real world. They understand the vital role that "feeings" play in the manifestation of dreams -- and their work will take you to the finish line of spirituality. Without books like Eckhart Tolle's "The Power of Now," though, this new wave of teachers would not exist. Tolle points out the importance of getting out of our minds. That may not seem like an important spiritual point, but it is. It may not go far enough, but it is the starting gate -- and until you find the starting gate, you can't get to the finish line. Review by Mary Anne Thomas, author of "Ask and You Shall Receive," email Mindletters@aol.com.
Rating:
Summary: A Timeless Classic ¿ 10 Stars!
Review: As a fellow spiritual/self-help author, I stand by and salute the magnificence and impact that Eckhart Tolle has gifted humanity with in this profound book. He does not yet know me personally, however, his words went right through my heart, and into my soul, creating one A-Ha! Moment after another. If you have the opportunity to listen to any of his audiocassettes, the messages sink deep. This is one of my favorite books. I recommend it on my Website, as there can never be enough people to help uplift humanity to our highest heights. This book is a must own, and definitely a must read. Absolutely Superb! From my heart. Barbara Rose, author, Individual Power: Reclaiming Your Core, your Truth, and Your Life.
Rating:
Summary: Do not be naive...
Review: As some readers have already pointed out, Mr Tolle has to be congratulated for helping in sending a message of a possible higher and more rewarding life.
But let's not be naive: No book in the world will ever be able to take the place of a living and genuine master helping one to achieve higher consciouness, and that is what we are looking for, isn't it?
To live in the present more is required than certain "how to" books, and unfortunatly, we humans have crystalized the absurd idea that we can get somethingh for nothing. "There is no such a thingh as a free lunch". Real work to change ones "level of being" has to be conducted in a "School", under the guidence of someone who has already awakened, otherwise it is simply the blind leading the blind. A suggestion of a literary work (that will not awaken you as well but is a good help to show the way) is a book called Self Remebering, by Robert Earl Burton (available here at Amazon).
Sorry if I am not so enthusiastic about Mr Tolle works, but in my experience we have to be practical about what matter's most in our life, and that subject is as serious as it can get (altough it needs not to be tense).
Rating:
Summary: Even More Pretentiousness And Repetition
Review: At the suggestion of my grief counselor, I bought "The Power of Now." It was stuffy, pretentious, and repetitive, laying out the basic idea of Zen living in the most convoluted way. I told my counselor the book was just a re-hash of what I'd started studying thirty-five years ago, so she suggested the "little book," meaning "Practicing the Power of Now." It's just more of the same. Tolle takes a chapter to tell the reader what can be summed up clearly in one paragraph. It's frustrating reading. Zen is supposed to be a simple concept. Tolle makes it as confusing and convoluted as possible. There are so many superior books on the subject, please don't waste your time and money on this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Deep and meaningful
Review: Eckhard Tolle's companion book is spiritually focused and keeps us in the now. This is important for those who are afraid to be with themselves. Although his teachings are not new, his writing touches the heart and are profound. For those of you who wish to OPTIMIZE the now (rather than improve, manage or be with it), I recommend Dr. Rosalene Glickman's "Optimal Thinking: How to Be Your Best Self." She shows you how to embrace all reality as an expression of our humanity, and optimize the suboptimal. She has a roadmap for optimizing disturbing emotions which is truly unique and totally fulfilling. Keep both books on hand.
Rating:
Summary: The Power of Now and Negative Thinking
Review: First I read the review blurb: "Tolle leads readers into a new form of thinking (or actually not thinking) that erases the consuming habits of waiting, worrying, and being in fear." Since negative thinking is my issue, I decided to read both the "Now" book and the "Practicing" companion guide -- and this turned out to be a good choice. I recommend these books to all who are troubled by negative thinking, worry, anxiety, and pessimism. The meditative approach to "not thinking" really helps to lessen negative thinking. Along the same lines is the new book by Karen Salmansohn, "How To Change Your Entire Life By Doing Absolutely Nothing." Another strategy, when you are thinking, is to understand the psychological approach in the book "The Positive Power of Negative Thinking." That book helped me too. Whether "not thinking" or "constructive thinking" works best is probably a matter of individual differences, or temperament or culture. My advice: Try both for yourself.
|
