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From:Eckhart Tolle , New World Library ,
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User Rating: Amazon Sales Rank:#992 |
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 Important guide, 2008-02-13
I refer to his earlier book which render extensive material and commentary on various topics. I would encourage other Tolle enthusiasts to read the new book first.
5 of 10 customers found the following review helpful:
 Good principles, but less than perfect, 2008-02-08
The reviews on this book, along with Oprah's comments, and my own personal interest in Zen Buddhism made me excited to get my hands on it. I expected to really enjoy it. I had a hard time with it though, which was really disappointing.
Essentially, Eckhart Tolle is a man who had a great spiritual experience/awakening at 29 years old he. He went on to study eastern religions and practices and then build his own philosophy, much of which is based on Zen Buddhism.
The idea of living in the `Now' is a super powerful one. Tolle does a good job of explaining it and his Q&A format is easy to understand. For someone who has never experienced meditation or the teachings of Zen Buddhism, this book can be thought provoking. However, there were a number of things that made me suspicious of Tolle's `philosophy'.
First, at the end of the book I asked myself what I'd learned. The answer was not much. I felt like he'd gone round and round and round his central ideas. It became tiring rather than enlightening, and I kept having to force myself not to skim.
Second, he used the words of historical religious leaders a little too loosely for me. The only religion I know enough about to comment on is Christianity. It was very clear to me that he was taking the teachings of the New Testament way out of context. And if Tolle's teachings are eternal in nature, why wouldn't he use the scriptures as they are?
And okay it really bugged me that he said, "Never personalize Christ. Don't make Christ into a form identity." Isn't the whole message of Jesus Christ about him being the son of God raised to immortality through resurrection after the cross? How do you take the person of Christ out of Him paying the price for mankind's sins? I'm not trying to do promote Christianity by saying that. My point is that he uses the New Testament, but then remakes Jesus into something that fits Tolle's philosophy rather than what is actually taught in the scriptures.
Makes me wonder if he does the same with the other religions.
Third, if Tolle lives what he preaches, I would expect him to be humble, truthful, salt-of-the-earth type person who gives what he has as a gift to mankind. When I looked up his really snazzy, expensive website and see all the products for sale, his touring schedule, testimonials, etc. I'm left with a bad taste in my mouth - tastes like high-end marketing campaign actually. Why is that necessary if he is only in it for helping humanity? I'd expect a true spiritual leader to offer his wisdom with no expectation for compensation (monetary of fame).
Overall, I guess I'd say that Tolle's book is worth taking a look at. It is based on some wonderful truths. But go into reading it with you eyes open. There are some definite clues that Tolle might be promoting his own personal philosophy rather than teaching the wisdom of the ages.
(I'd actually recommend Robert Jackson's podcasts at www.aquietmind.com - He puts the same ideas into practice in a simpler way. And although he takes donations if you feel inclined, it is otherwise free.)
2 of 2 customers found the following review helpful:
 Wonderful, 2008-01-29
Eckhart is not the greatest writer of spirituality, but he is the greatest overall communicator. Get this book on CD. It's simply spectacular when you combine his words with his wonderful voice
14 of 14 customers found the following review helpful:
Another perspective....., 2008-01-08
I agree with the top review that this book is a repackaging of the concepts in the Power of Now. However, I disagree with this reviewer's value assessment of the same concepts presented in a different form. In my opinion, this abridged version is just as valuable as the original book, provides needed repetition which is important for breaking old habits and a structure that helps the reader not only to understand the concepts, but embody them.
I work in the psychology field and have my graduate education in Integral Psychology. I keep up on Eckhart Tolle and other authors from this genre. In my opinion, this is the most concise, eloquent and immediately accessible summary of Tolle's thought or better... direct experience or satori.
On the other hand, I don't think getting this book is a subtitute for reading the POWER OF NOW. Ideally, if you have the time, I would read the POWER OF NOW and also purchase this volume. I have found in myself and working with clients that approaching the same material from different angles very valuable and indeed necessary to bring about lasting change.
In brief, I feel this book merits a 5 star rating. I also trust that Eckhart Tolle knows what he is doing when he presents concepts in different ways that might appeal to different people. I am familiar with the body of his whole work and I see a method to what may appear to others as madness or simple repackaging of content.
A problem with satori experiences is that they are noetic (spiritually charged, capture a type of knowledge)... but often ineffable. Therefore, it seems reasonable to me that the person who had the experience will need to use lyrical language, repitition and alternate metaphors to more closely approximate what they have taken away from the wordless domain of Being. I don't think you can go wrong purchasing this book!
2 of 2 customers found the following review helpful:
Excellent book, 2007-12-11
I have read (and listened) to most of Tolle's work and I find it to be inspirational, soothing and completely in sync with much of contemporary spiritual literature. For me, this book reduced "The power of now" into easily understood meditations and practices which, though elaborated in "The power of Now", needed to be revisited. In this regard, I consider "Practicing the power of Now" to be a companion to "The power of Now", and most benefit would be gained by reading them one after the other, without any regard to which should come first. Both amplify each other.
I must admit however, these books are not for the spiritually faint hearted. Tolle declares that all time is now, and that we need to renounce both physical time and thought to fully harness the power of now. This is easy to say, and is probably the most difficult undertaking I have set out upon. Yet when I manage to stay in the "Now" I find a peace I have only glimpsed of in other texts. It's only in hindsight, I recognize that many books on spirituality have mentioned the power of now.
I guess you can say I see it now. Laughing.
I highly recommend this book and it's companion text, The power of Now.
Peace.
M.
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