Personal Development for Smart People Forums - View Single Post - Does "The Power of Now" Turn You Into a Boring Zombie?

VacMan · 08-14-2007, 04:44 PM

Hey everyone,

Thanks for your replies!

I agree with the empowerment aspect of "now" and agree that the only time you can truly act, or create, or even think for that matter, is now.

This idea of action, or creation "in the now." is powerful, and I really did like the analogy of the out of tune and in tune instrument, as I do believe focused thought is powerful.

At the same time, I think that the book "The Power of Now" attempts to take the "now" and make it into something even more than just empowerment and action.

Eckhart Tolle (as far as I understand) specifically suggests that people transcend human form, and dis-identify with all form in general. He even states at the beginning of the book that he was on the verge of suicide and then had a "vortex" suck him inside himself and when he awoke, he no longer identified with his human form. He says that this change was permanent for him, and he believes that only a "few" people have been able to achieve this state.

He also goes on to say that the human race is diseased by the mind, and that we must learn to transcend it to basically save the world.

He says that love on a human level is merely satisfying an "egoic" desire to satisfy itself, and an urge to "reunite" with "oneness." Tolle suggests that this type of love on the physical plane is not necessary, and only satisfies your ego. I don't think he is discouraging relationships, but he is certainly minimizing them.

I get the feeling that he would like to see everyone "detach" from themselves and transcend all physical form.

This seems weird and kinda creepy to me.

I like the "now" for more real elements, such as action, empowerment, focus, clarity, and calmness.

Not transcending all that it is to be human.

Even if I am consciousness having a human experience, then why not really experience being human and stop trying to transcend it?

08-14-2007, 04:44 PM	#11 (permalink)
VacMan Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 250	Hey everyone, Thanks for your replies! I agree with the empowerment aspect of "now" and agree that the only time you can truly act, or create, or even think for that matter, is now. This idea of action, or creation "in the now." is powerful, and I really did like the analogy of the out of tune and in tune instrument, as I do believe focused thought is powerful. At the same time, I think that the book "The Power of Now" attempts to take the "now" and make it into something even more than just empowerment and action. Eckhart Tolle (as far as I understand) specifically suggests that people transcend human form, and dis-identify with all form in general. He even states at the beginning of the book that he was on the verge of suicide and then had a "vortex" suck him inside himself and when he awoke, he no longer identified with his human form. He says that this change was permanent for him, and he believes that only a "few" people have been able to achieve this state. He also goes on to say that the human race is diseased by the mind, and that we must learn to transcend it to basically save the world. He says that love on a human level is merely satisfying an "egoic" desire to satisfy itself, and an urge to "reunite" with "oneness." Tolle suggests that this type of love on the physical plane is not necessary, and only satisfies your ego. I don't think he is discouraging relationships, but he is certainly minimizing them. I get the feeling that he would like to see everyone "detach" from themselves and transcend all physical form. This seems weird and kinda creepy to me. I like the "now" for more real elements, such as action, empowerment, focus, clarity, and calmness. Not transcending all that it is to be human. Even if I am consciousness having a human experience, then why not really experience being human and stop trying to transcend it?