The Power of Now: Cure for All Problems :)

[Dulma]

I would like to spread the light. Eckhart Tolle's books (The Power of Now and A New Earth) have been quite literally the most important investments of time and money I've ever made because they've opened my eyes to the correct way to deal with all and any problems that may arise in my life. This is because they address the very mechanism of the mind that creates problems and creates suffering for us.

Now I could go on and on trying to rephrase his words as eloquently as he but I think it would suffice if even one person saw this thread and decided to give the book a try. Not to sound like a fanatic But his words have opened a box of inner wisdom in me that continue to bring more joy and light into my life. I would really love for others to have a taste of that, too.

If you have questions or comments or things you'd like to share about the books, Eckhart Tolle, how they've been affected, or about presence and awareness in general, feel free!

[Asten]

I ordered it and it arrived today--it's sitting right next to me! I'm very interested to read it, since so many people report how great it is.

I have read occasional reviews of people who disagree with the way he states or approaches things, but I always take the positive out of every book, so I have no doubt I'll learn a lot from it regardless.

[Dulma]

I'm excited for you.

[Firefly55555]

I just found some site of Eckhart Tolle, but you probably know it already.
Eckhart Tolle TV | Free Content

[Peterw]

I just read this on holiday, was the perfect book for lying doing nothing in the sun for a week because I got to really practice it

Then our plane almost crashed on the way back and managed to accept and 'surrender' to the situation (couldn't change it, couldn't get out of it). Luckily it didn't so I'm now a fully paid up member of Eckharttolletv.com

[AngelPsychic444]

I'm a big Tolle fan too. I read most of his books, and loved "Stillness Speaks". I try to "practice presence" as much as I can....it's also great for helping someone be more intuitive.

[Andrew Gubb]

Eckhart Tolle was one of the most important influences in my life. Only Steve and Erin Pavlina compare

[Dulma]

Originally Posted by Firefly55555

I just found some site of Eckhart Tolle, but you probably know it already.
Eckhart Tolle TV | Free Content

I do Thank you, that's sweet of you!

[Dulma]

Originally Posted by Andrew Gubb

Eckhart Tolle was one of the most important influences in my life. Only Steve and Erin Pavlina compare

Hehe, I'm with you on that one. Osho also opens my eyes tons. I'd recommend his talks and books if you haven't checked them out already!

[Andrew Gubb]

Yeah, I like his stuff. He doesn't draw me though for reading much of him - I guess Eckhart Tolle got to me first

[geniegal]

Someone lent me the power of now recently. I started it but have given up after a few pages - maybe his style is putting me off. I'm so used to reading Steve and others like Stuart Wilde who have a more modern way of writing.

I know that style is secondary to content - so can you whet my appetite? what are the main ideas that appeal to you

cheers

[Dulma]

Originally Posted by geniegal

Someone lent me the power of now recently. I started it but have given up after a few pages - maybe his style is putting me off. I'm so used to reading Steve and others like Stuart Wilde who have a more modern way of writing.

I know that style is secondary to content - so can you whet my appetite? what are the main ideas that appeal to you

cheers

I simply agree with the content of what he's saying; it resonates with me strongly. To each his own, though. I know some people who can't get enough and read and reread his books and I know others who are put off by The Power of Now.

[Asten]

I'm 50 or so pages through the book now (pun not intended).

I'm 50/50 on this book. I was expecting a lot more, so I'm surprised it's not resonates more with me, but like I said in my first post, I don't let the bad of a book ruin the good and this book has a lot of good still. I've had some realizations, and I do think what he's said is helping me be more present.

I do have resistance to his style in some parts (it isn't because it isn't modern, so I'm not sure what it is) and some of what he says though. I think it's part resistance because I don't want to accept it and part resistance because I simply disagree, which is fine. There are many paths up the mountain.

What stands out the most to me is his use of the word "insane." It's driving me... well, insane. I would never use the word insane to describe what he's describing. I would always use "unconsciousness." He talks about how there are no problems, because problems are a product of the mind, and yet the word insanity is a mind-based concept he's using to describe unconsciousness--effectively making it a problem, which keeps you identifying with the mind instead of being. Counterproductive to me, so it throws me off when I come across it.

But I just replace the word with the word "unconscious" and keep reading.

[Dulma]

Originally Posted by Asten

I'm 50 or so pages through the book now (pun not intended).
What stands out the most to me is his use of the word "insane." It's driving me... well, insane. I would never use the word insane to describe what he's describing. I would always use "unconsciousness." He talks about how there are no problems, because problems are a product of the mind, and yet the word insanity is a mind-based concept he's using to describe unconsciousness--effectively making it a problem, which keeps you identifying with the mind instead of being. Counterproductive to me, so it throws me off when I come across it.

But I just replace the word with the word "unconscious" and keep reading.

By calling unconsciousness "insane," he does not turn it into a "problem," but rather simply acknowledges that it needs to be replaced with consciousness. This is because his use of the word "problem" refers to the human being's tendency to create unnecessary suffering for themselves when faced with a situation they are quick to judge as "bad." And in using the term "insane," he's saying that the problem-creating mechanism of the mind is utterly irrational to the point of absurdity. He doesn't make a judgment call but rather is pointing out how futile the egoic mind's efforts are.

[alexplatups]

The Power of Now, and his other books are great, and I like Tolle as the
character that he plays. But, his content is NOT a cure for all problems.

In fact, there is no such thing.

It is a short-term strategy, and once the effect wears off, the mind will be
doing its thing once again.

It is similar to starting a low-protein diet when you are obese. The results
come quickly, but then you hit the brick wall. It's not only Tolle obviously,
it is all information.

Your mind has a certain structure. This structure is invisible to almost everyone.
But this is what forms the foundation, and the perspective that you have in
life and on life. Most people live in structural conflict, where they repeat
the same mistakes over and over and over.

The details change, but the pattern is repeated again and again.

Getting out of this structure is the most difficult thing a human can accomplish.
The majority don't even know about it, which obviously leaves them jumping
from one GURU to another

...but the end-result is always the same.

...success, followed by oscillation, followed by failure.

[Dulma]

Originally Posted by alexplatups

The Power of Now, and his other books are great, and I like Tolle as the
character that he plays. But, his content is NOT a cure for all problems.

In fact, there is no such thing.

It is a short-term strategy, and once the effect wears off, the mind will be
doing its thing once again.

It is similar to starting a low-protein diet when you are obese. The results
come quickly, but then you hit the brick wall. It's not only Tolle obviously,
it is all information.

Your mind has a certain structure. This structure is invisible to almost everyone.
But this is what forms the foundation, and the perspective that you have in
life and on life. Most people live in structural conflict, where they repeat
the same mistakes over and over and over.

The details change, but the pattern is repeated again and again.

Getting out of this structure is the most difficult thing a human can accomplish.
The majority don't even know about it, which obviously leaves them jumping
from one GURU to another

...but the end-result is always the same.

...success, followed by oscillation, followed by failure.

I respectfully disagree.

He points out that problems arise from the egoic mind, which can be transcended with the practice of presence. According to the book, then, once one practices awareness with increasing regularity, the effects become more lasting and deeper until one effectively manages to go beyond the problem-loving ego. Of course, in practice, this isn't quite so easy. It's simple but difficult, which is why it may not seem like a "cure" or something permanent by any means but I have to disagree with the notion that the end result for any such endeavor is inevitably failure.

[alexplatups]

Originally Posted by Dulma

I respectfully disagree.

He points out that problems arise from the egoic mind, which can be transcended with the practice of presence. According to the book, then, once one practices awareness with increasing regularity, the effects become more lasting and deeper until one effectively manages to go beyond the problem-loving ego. Of course, in practice, this isn't quite so easy. It's simple but difficult, which is why it may not seem like a "cure" or something permanent by any means but I have to disagree with the notion that the end result for any such endeavor is inevitably failure.

Your current state does not allow you to accurately observe current reality.

I have read his books a few times and I understand what you're going
through, or at least have some idea.

One thing that you have to realize is that you are NOT going to go beyond
the problem-loving ego permanently. This mechanism (ego) is a program that
consciousness has set up, and it serves a very important purpose: SURVIVAL

So, no matter how hard you try, it is only going to be a matter of time that
you will return to your present state and will continue to live your life through
the perspective of what you are calling "problem loving ego."

What he talks about (but I think never actually experienced) can be accomplished
by very few people. Not because its complicated, but because it's very
hard and take enormous DISCIPLINE.

If you don't have this discipline already, it is the most difficult thing to
evolve. Plus your ego is MUCH smarter than your awareness, and it uses
your intellect to convince you that what it thinks is RIGHT.

You have a very slim chance of out-smarting your ego and your intellect
that have been running your life from day one, and the most you can
accomplish is to ACCURATELY observe current reality and become aware
that there are MANY things you don't and can't control.

And by YOU, I do mean your current awareness/individuated consciousness.

[Dulma]

Originally Posted by alexplatups

Your current state does not allow you to accurately observe current reality.

One thing that you have to realize is that you are NOT going to go beyond
the problem-loving ego permanently. This mechanism (ego) is a program that
consciousness has set up, and it serves a very important purpose: SURVIVAL

So, no matter how hard you try, it is only going to be a matter of time that
you will return to your present state and will continue to live your life through
the perspective of what you are calling "problem loving ego."

What he talks about (but I think never actually experienced) can be accomplished
by very few people. Not because its complicated, but because it's very
hard and take enormous DISCIPLINE.

If you don't have this discipline already, it is the most difficult thing to
evolve. Plus your ego is MUCH smarter than your awareness, and it uses
your intellect to convince you that what it thinks is RIGHT.

You have a very slim chance of out-smarting your ego and your intellect
that have been running your life from day one, and the most you can
accomplish is to ACCURATELY observe current reality and become aware
that there are MANY things you don't and can't control.

And by YOU, I do mean your current awareness/individuated consciousness.

1. The very point of his teaching (guidance) is permanent liberation from the ego.

2. I think with awareness, life increasingly is lived through higher consciousness rather than the ego-dominated perspective. So I don't believe in the oscillation effect you refer to.

3. Theoretically, he says that it takes the opposite of discipline: one must let go, surrender. But I understand what you mean by discipline. Remembering to be aware on a daily basis, practicing presence, etc. And in theory, it can be accomplished by anyone. In practice? Who knows, because not many people have made the effort. And to brush off the cultivation of awareness with the justification that so few people manage to find that peace anyway is, I think, the wrong and defeatist approach.

4. The awareness is pure intelligence and the ego is clever. The awareness is much smarter than the ego. The reason the ego tends to prevail in our thinking is because we give in to its demands and give it more attention than we do to the realized, aware aspects of ourselves. Anything you feed grows stronger, so I'd attribute the ego's current prevalence to the time and attention it's received from us, not to it being smarter than awareness.

5. I think bringing "chance" and probability into it is the wrong approach. It turns enlightenment, as Tolle says, into some superhuman task when it's really not such a distant, unattainable thing.

[Peterw]

My interpretation and experience so far is to accept that my ego/mind is there and to see it for what it is - not actually me. That in itself is very liberating and I'm finding it's making some incredibly positive differences in my life as well is giving me a 'happy place' to go to on demand.

I believe the notion that it works for a while then stops when the ego wins the battle is only true for anyone who doesn't find the above mentioned happy place and overall benefits. Why would anyone who has learnt to become present want to go back to the 'insanity' that is a whirring mind that won't rest?

However - I will say that I read the Power of Now after reading Hawkin's "Power vs Force" and I see what you mean about very few people having the discipline to attain the highest levels of conciousness. The word enlightenment for Hawkins means calibrating at 1000 and only experienced by the likes of Christ, Bhuddas and Krishna. However Tolle uses it frequently to describe "The Now" that is reachable by any average Joe.

It would be interesting to see a Hawkins kineasiology experiment on a cross section of people who have benefited from Tolle's taching to see where they calibrate in the 17 levels of conciousness.

I don't see anything impermanent about Tolle's teaching because he's taken the most enlightened common ground messages from the most concious people in history, added in his own experience and interpretation and packaged it for the 21st century with no attachment to any particular established religion. The result is genuine spiritual experience and awareness of being for anyone who chooses to take it and apply it to their lives.

Some will some won't - but that's the same with all those people who join the gym in January as a new year resolution then 2 months later have given up after their quick fix hasn't brought on quick enough results.

[alexplatups]

Originally Posted by Dulma

1. The very point of his teaching (guidance) is permanent liberation from the ego.

This is impossible, at least permanently. The ego is a mechanism that is
necessary for human survival, so one CAN'T get rid of it permanently.

It's like going on a fast. You can fast for 30 days, but if you don't start
eating, you will die. So while you can fast temporarily, a permanent fast
will destroy the human organism.

This is the same with the ego.

The ego is also necessary because it brings our fears into reality. This forces
the human being to face the fear directly and to transcend it. The intellect
helps the ego in this regard, by convincing a person that the fears are real.

Once the person lives through what she feared in real life, she has an insight
that the fear is false, and based on a fear-based intent.

2. I think with awareness, life increasingly is lived through higher consciousness rather than the ego-dominated perspective. So I don't believe in the oscillation effect you refer to.

It doesn't matter what you believe. An oscillating structure is what you are
in currently. This is obvious because you are advertising Tolle as a permanent
solution to all problems, and if you weren't in this structure you would not
need to solve problems.

Why?

Because problems don't get solved.

Instead of solving problems, a more effective approach is creating.

...know what you want

...know what you have

...take action until you bring into reality what you want

These are the three steps for creating what matters to you in life

What does transcending or permanently being liberated from ego have to
do with this? Why do you want to be liberated, in the first place?

3. Theoretically, he says that it takes the opposite of discipline: one must let go, surrender. But I understand what you mean by discipline. Remembering to be aware on a daily basis, practicing presence, etc. And in theory, it can be accomplished by anyone. In practice? Who knows, because not many people have made the effort. And to brush off the cultivation of awareness with the justification that so few people manage to find that peace anyway is, I think, the wrong and defeatist approach.

I am not brushing off the cultivation of awareness - I'm saying that what
you are doing, and what Tolle teaches (guides) is a waste of time, and
will produce short-term results like FASTING when one is OBESE.

4. The awareness is pure intelligence and the ego is clever. The awareness is much smarter than the ego. The reason the ego tends to prevail in our thinking is because we give in to its demands and give it more attention than we do to the realized, aware aspects of ourselves. Anything you feed grows stronger, so I'd attribute the ego's current prevalence to the time and attention it's received from us, not to it being smarter than awareness.

Awareness is awareness, intelligence is intelligence, they are completely
distinct. And the reason the ego prevail is because SURVIVAL is the basic
instinct, and is PRIMARY. Everything else is secondary.

This is why everything that comes into our awareness, the first questions
the ego asks are "What does this mean for me?" "Should I run from it, or
go and hug it?"

You will automatically ask the questions and perceive everything in relation
to what you consider your "self" to be. It will never be any other way, it is
an exercise in futility to try to escape from this permanently.

5. I think bringing "chance" and probability into it is the wrong approach. It turns enlightenment, as Tolle says, into some superhuman task when it's really not such a distant, unattainable thing.

Enlightenment is a concept, and as all concepts it gets in the way of us
seeing what is actually happening in reality.

In order to observe reality accurately, it is to your advantage to work on
eradicating concepts and false beliefs, instead of creating new ones based
on what some English accented Guru-type writes in his books for
the masses.

In the end, it is all another DIET-PILL for the obese that helps a person to
lose 50 pounds, and then when the reversal comes (oscillating structure)
the person gains back 75 pounds.

This is what you will see in your life in the nearest future.

I want to see what you will say in six months, and for that I will leave this
thread in my Subscriptions, and come back to ask what REALITY has shown
you to be accurate about your current assumptions.

[Peterw]

Originally Posted by alexplatups

In the end, it is all another DIET-PILL for the obese that helps a person to
lose 50 pounds, and then when the reversal comes (oscillating structure)
the person gains back 75 pounds.

This is what you will see in your life in the nearest future.

Would you say the same for the traditional religious teachings that Tolle's message is based upon?

The way I see it is that "The Now" is a modern day interpetation of ideas that have been around for thousands of years. I believe he's teaching us to enjoy the present moment with no attachment to anything impermanent to alleviate ego/mind based suffering (or Dhukka if you're a Bhuddist) as much as possible to get through modern life.

He hasn't invented something new by any stretch of the imagination, it's been around since the Bhudda and maybe before. Is Bhuddism a 'diet pill'?

[alexplatups]

Originally Posted by Peterw

Would you say the same for the traditional religious teachings that Tolle's message is based upon?

yes.

The way I see it is that "The Now" is a modern day interpetation of ideas that have been around for thousands of years. I believe he's teaching us to enjoy the present moment with no attachment to anything impermanent to alleviate ego/mind based suffering (or Dhukka if you're a Bhuddist) as much as possible to get through modern life.

this is basically manipulation of beliefs, which are nothing but concepts
of reality, and have nothing to do with reality itself.

there are simply sub-personalities that are part of our whole personality,
and these sub-personalities will suffer NO MATTER what one does.

in the short-run these sub-personalities can be disowned, but it is only a
matter of time until they surface, and the suffering comes back.

He hasn't invented something new by any stretch of the imagination, it's been around since the Bhudda and maybe before. Is Bhuddism a 'diet pill'?

yes.

[ZenPhysicist]

This is an interesting conversation. Doesn't this conversation take for granted that the elimination of suffering or attaining a state of bliss is ultimately the best state of being in life? Perhaps that assumption should be challenged in itself no? I agree with Alex to some extent - but maybe for different reasons. I think he is saying is that suffering (problems) is part of the human experience and you can't rid yourself of that by just adopting a new way of thought or seeing the world - because problems find a way to creep into anyworldview.

However, I do think it you are fighting the good fight when you continue to develop yourself and find meaning in your own existence.

[Josee]

Originally Posted by Dulma

I would like to spread the light. Eckhart Tolle's books (The Power of Now and A New Earth) have been quite literally the most important investments of time and money I've ever made because they've opened my eyes to the correct way to deal with all and any problems that may arise in my life. This is because they address the very mechanism of the mind that creates problems and creates suffering for us.

I couldn't agree more. The Power of Now is a practical spiritual teaching.
And Tolle is sublime. I have been to two of his seminars- Amazing!

The most significant part of The Power of Now book is the portals- and practicing them. These are not new techniques, (he does not call them techniques) but they are all one needs to access the power of now.

[veloci]

The Power of Now certainly resonates with me.

[alexplatups]

By the way, I have nothing against Tolle or his content, I even like his writing,
but this does not mean that I will support the idea that it can be a solution
to all problems.

The point I'm trying to make is that religions and other movements based
on religious and spiritual concepts are short-term solutions.

This is why I compare them to diets.

If a person wants to lose weight, and she or he is obese, then proper nutrition
and physical activity is what can produce long-term results.

But, since most people are LAZY, they don't want to use proper nutrition and
physical activity on a regular basis and for the rest of their lives. They want
a diet, or a diet pill, or a million other BS products or services, while the only
thing that a person needs is to eat less and move more.

Same with all these self-development gurus that are full of *****.

They offer concepts that sound good while you read them, and for a while
you walk around feeling inspired because it seems that your problems have
simply vanished into the thin air. But then a reversal comes, and you end up
exactly where you started, and after that it even gets worse, at least most
of the time. After a while you start looking for another FIX, and the cycle
starts all over again.

Everything is so simple in life, I don't know why people complicate
the hell out of it with a million concepts that only cloud their thinking
and get in the way of seeing reality accurately.

----------------------------

If you know what is important to you in life (goal, target, inspiration, primary
objective, or whatever else you call that thing you WANT or TRULY DESIRE).

And, if you know where you are right now in the present moment, in the
current reality.

And, you are willing to take action and hit and knock down your target
in life - why do you want to manipulate the content of your beliefs?

-----------------------------

This is what the majority of people are trying to actually do when they use
self-development techniques, strategies, and tactics. And the funny thing
is that none of that is necessary to create what you want.

Your beliefs and concepts cannot get in the way of you taking action, and
going from where you are now to where you want to be when you reach
your goal. But, if you start manipulating these beliefs, and trying to change
them, you are setting yourself up for failure.

Yes, in the beginning these techniques do produce short-term results, just
like diets, fasting, diet pills, and all the other BS people use to lose weight,
but it is always a matter of time until the REVERSAL comes and throws the
person back to where he started.

But, people don't like to change their minds, so I know I'm wasting my time
writing all this. I'm writing it really for myself, and maybe a few other people
that are really sick and tired of being sick and tired and finally want to get
their head out of the sand, and actually start to observe reality accurately
instead of being steeped in concepts and imposing these concepts on
themselves.

[Dulma]

Originally Posted by Josee

I couldn't agree more. The Power of Now is a practical spiritual teaching.
And Tolle is sublime. I have been to two of his seminars- Amazing!

The most significant part of The Power of Now book is the portals- and practicing them. These are not new techniques, (he does not call them techniques) but they are all one needs to access the power of now.

That's awesome, how were the seminars? I'm thinking of taking a trip to Canada for one but it would be tough with classes and a yoga program I'm doing. Worth it, do you think?

[Dulma]

Originally Posted by ZenPhysicist

This is an interesting conversation. Doesn't this conversation take for granted that the elimination of suffering or attaining a state of bliss is ultimately the best state of being in life? Perhaps that assumption should be challenged in itself no? I agree with Alex to some extent - but maybe for different reasons. I think he is saying is that suffering (problems) is part of the human experience and you can't rid yourself of that by just adopting a new way of thought or seeing the world - because problems find a way to creep into anyworldview.

However, I do think it you are fighting the good fight when you continue to develop yourself and find meaning in your own existence.

You make an interesting point. I do think that it's both possible and desirable to transcend self-created suffering by letting go of the addiction to creating it in the first place. But even if we don't focus on whether or not such efforts would yield permanent results, I think practicing awareness is just a delightful thing in itself, the way it can bring immediate peace.

[Dulma]

Originally Posted by alexplatups

This is impossible, at least permanently. The ego is a mechanism that is
necessary for human survival, so one CAN'T get rid of it permanently.

It's like going on a fast. You can fast for 30 days, but if you don't start
eating, you will die. So while you can fast temporarily, a permanent fast
will destroy the human organism.

This is the same with the ego.

The ego is also necessary because it brings our fears into reality. This forces
the human being to face the fear directly and to transcend it. The intellect
helps the ego in this regard, by convincing a person that the fears are real.

Once the person lives through what she feared in real life, she has an insight
that the fear is false, and based on a fear-based intent.



It doesn't matter what you believe. An oscillating structure is what you are
in currently. This is obvious because you are advertising Tolle as a permanent
solution to all problems, and if you weren't in this structure you would not
need to solve problems.

Why?

Because problems don't get solved.

Instead of solving problems, a more effective approach is creating.

...know what you want

...know what you have

...take action until you bring into reality what you want

These are the three steps for creating what matters to you in life

What does transcending or permanently being liberated from ego have to
do with this? Why do you want to be liberated, in the first place?



I am not brushing off the cultivation of awareness - I'm saying that what
you are doing, and what Tolle teaches (guides) is a waste of time, and
will produce short-term results like FASTING when one is OBESE.



Awareness is awareness, intelligence is intelligence, they are completely
distinct. And the reason the ego prevail is because SURVIVAL is the basic
instinct, and is PRIMARY. Everything else is secondary.

This is why everything that comes into our awareness, the first questions
the ego asks are "What does this mean for me?" "Should I run from it, or
go and hug it?"

You will automatically ask the questions and perceive everything in relation
to what you consider your "self" to be. It will never be any other way, it is
an exercise in futility to try to escape from this permanently.



Enlightenment is a concept, and as all concepts it gets in the way of us
seeing what is actually happening in reality.

In order to observe reality accurately, it is to your advantage to work on
eradicating concepts and false beliefs, instead of creating new ones based
on what some English accented Guru-type writes in his books for
the masses.

In the end, it is all another DIET-PILL for the obese that helps a person to
lose 50 pounds, and then when the reversal comes (oscillating structure)
the person gains back 75 pounds.

This is what you will see in your life in the nearest future.

I want to see what you will say in six months, and for that I will leave this
thread in my Subscriptions, and come back to ask what REALITY has shown
you to be accurate about your current assumptions.

Since we're basing our assertions on completely different philosophical foundations, I'd say this conversation won't really get anywhere, but thanks for your interesting ideas. And as for the six months proposal, I hardly think I'll be permanently enlightened in six months but when I am, I'll send a PM your way. Hehe.

[alexplatups]

Originally Posted by Dulma

Since we're basing our assertions on completely different philosophical foundations, I'd say this conversation won't really get anywhere, but thanks for your interesting ideas. And as for the six months proposal, I hardly think I'll be permanently enlightened in six months but when I am, I'll send a PM your way. Hehe.

Fair enough. I won't hold my breath.