Review of Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now
A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment
After experiencing his own spiritual awakening around the time of his twenty-ninth birthday, German-born Eckhart Tolle dedicated his life to the study and teaching of spirituality. First published in 1999, the bestselling The Power of Now is a compilation of ten years of work with spiritual seekers. Using a question and answer format, Tolle explains the obstacles to enlightenment, why the Now is the key to consciousness, and how to apply his theories.
Obstacles to Enlightenment
According to Tolle, the greatest obstacle to enlightenment is the thinking mind. Tolle views incessant thought as a disease or addiction, and postulates that personal problems are merely “illusions of the mind”. Because the ego “perceives itself as a separate fragment in a hostile universe,” it creates false drama and unnecessary distance between humans. In addition, Tolle observes the tendency to compulsively fixate on the past and speculate on the future, which obscures the present moment, leading to regret and anxiety.
Tolle recognizes that the mind can be a helpful tool for dealing with the practical aspects of daily life, and acknowledges the importance of learning from the past and setting goals for the future. Otherwise, Tolle believes that the most important move toward enlightenment is learning to disidentify from the mind, and that the key to liberation is the present moment.
The Power of Now
The power of Now refers to being fully conscious of the present moment. Rather than living through memory and anticipation, Tolle advocates focusing all attention on what is currently happening. Tolle assures that when someone is completely present, unhappiness, suffering and struggle dissolve.
Accessing the Power of Now
Tolle offers advice for living in the present and breaking the mind of destructive habits. For example, he suggests, “watching the thinker”: carefully observing one’s own thoughts and emotions, free of judgment. Tolle also promotes “surrender”, or allowing the present moment to be what it is.
However, he clarifies that nonresistance should not be confused with resignation. There is no need to accept an unpleasant situation. Rather, Tolle encourages readers to take a moment to recognize the reality of the situation, and then to act without complaint. Tolle also reveals that disaster, illness, and life-threatening emergencies all provide unique opportunities for surrender and spiritual awakening. Other techniques mentioned are meditation, breathing exercises, and observing silence and space.
Reading The Power of Now
The 2005 edition of The Power of Now opens with a quote, preface, and introduction from the author. Although seemingly self-aggrandizing at times, with Tolle equally concerned with his own success and popularity as with that of his teachings, this should in no way jeopardize the credibility of the book’s content. Tolle’s philosophy is intuitive, logical, and accessible. He clearly explains abstract concepts using neutral terminology, repeating important themes, and suggesting pauses after certain passages.
Perhaps most promising about Tolle’s path to consciousness is that it is available to everybody, right now. There is no need to acquire vast amounts of knowledge or wait for an external event to occur. Although Tolle admits that, “there are as yet few people on the planet who can sustain a state of continuous presence,” and that living in the Now requires practice, he is optimistic that enlightenment is possible for all readers. The Power of Now may not result in an instant spiritual awakening, but it is certainly a step in the right direction.
Eckhart Tolle is also the author of A New Earth. For more information, visit Eckhart Tolle’s profile on the Namaste Publishing website.
The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment. Hodder Mobius, 2005. ISBN: 978-0-340-73350-9. Paperback, 191 pages
The Power of Now
|
What do you think about this article?
More in Reading & Literature
Latest Articles