The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment Reviews

• The Title Says it All...

  
  By A3K197FMG9JYGV on 2003-08-26
  Before you see my rating of two stars and vote that my review was unhelpful; let me explain. I enjoy spiritual teachings; I really do. I feel that it allows me to enrich my life and see things in a different light. Naturally, then, learning to enjoy the present moment would be something that I really have a desire to do. The implications of being able to put all your worries and fears away (or, should I say, bring them to the surface and then deal with them) would be tremendous. I guess I should also say that I am someone who has trouble accepting the present moment for what it is; I tend to worry too much about what the future is going to hold. That said, I honestly hoped that this book would provide me with a way of achieving that.

  I realize that in any spiritual teaching, certain concepts are going to be repeated. This is necessary, especially since the concepts presented are probably going to seem new to most readers. However, I felt that the whole book was nothing but a repetition of this general idea: the mind is the root of all problems, because it has taken us over (meaning that we can't control it, but rather, it controls us). However, we can free ourselves from this by becoming totally present.

  The author then elaborates on this statement using many different phrases, such as, "Feel the power of this moment and the fullness of Being. Feel your presence" (pg. 70). He also uses the typically vague promises that tend to accompany books like this, such as, "...You can be at peace. There may be sadness and tears, but provided you have relinquished resistance, underneath the sadness you will feel a deep serenity, a stillness, a sacred presence" (pg. 148). To me, it seemed as if the author was simply repeating the same basic idea over and over again; which, again, is not necessarily a bad thing. However, it begins to become annoying when the book has as many pages as this does; and after reading all of them you feel as though you could have just read the title and received all the information from that.

  As I said previously, the idea of this book was very promising. Even the techniques contained within the book, though inspiring, were never very well explained. After reading this book a couple times, I still don't really know how to get to that spot of inner peace. I don't know, either, how to feel the "...still, observing presence itself behind the content of your mind, the silent watcher" (pg. 46). I don't even think there was a technique telling you how to achieve that, actually. Sure, the author has included some meditations, but they're nothing new. The same old "Direct your attention into the body. Feel it from within" (pg. 93) type meditations, which can be found almost anywhere else, even on web pages (for free, no less) are included in this book.

  Overall, this book did not live up to it's hype. I found it to be long and rambling; the author took the title of the book and expanded it into 191 pages full of the same idea phrased with different words. He attempts to tackle some other subjects too, of course, such as relationships. However, he basically uses the same "power of NOW" approach to these as well; meaning that he suggested a relationship would evolve into true love when both partners had eliminated their respective egos and become completely immersed in the now. That's the solution for EVERY problem, it seems. So he's just using the same message for different problems, which seems to be more of a "pie in the sky" promise to me.
  
  

• For Whom the Bell Tolles

  
  By A3A5XNAM3ZW7Z6 on 2003-05-14
  ...Tolle's teaching is in places insightful, mystical, yet with strong under currents of New Age mumbo jumbo followed by periods that are absurd, eccentric and falling into gibberish. I believe Tolle has had some genuinely mystical experiences in his life. He is a very sincere and well intentioned fellow. However, his problems arise once he has attempted to interpret that mystical experience; to reduce it to a psychological formula for enlightenment. Tolle is a perfect example of the delusions that arise from an intellectual interpretation of the mystical. A classic pitfall.Here are a few of the core errors Tolle has made:
  
  1) The core of Tolle's teachings centers around being present in the moment in order to free oneself of suffering. Tolle sees the past and future as time, and the present as timeless. This is a fundamental and foundational mistake which, unfortunately, skews the rest of his teachings. Why? The truth is that past, present, and future are all of time. The present, the now in that sense, is not outside of time. By mentally drawing your attention to the present, you are merely focusing on a different aspect of time. This does not bring about freedom, but rather simply shifts one's attention. ***The now, the state of timelessness referred to by the mystics over the centuries is *beyond* past, present, and future. It enters into realms which extends far beyond mental games.
  
  2) The core of Tolle's ***partial*** mystical realization, which I believe is genuine, took place during a time of suicidal crisis. Tolle experienced a profound act of Grace which led him to the spiritual life. It was given freely, not based on any doing by Tolle. Yet Eckhart ignores this fact in his teachings to you which are all about do this, do that, free yourself. This is a grave oversight on his part.
  
  3) Tolle has grossly, and with grandiosity, over estimated the potential benefits of focusing on oneself in the moment via a mental technique. There are many other mistakes made by Tolle, yet there's simply no more room in this review to go into them.
  
  Now we come to the just plain eccentric:
  
  1) Tolle believes that women and gays are inherently more able to realize enlightenment than heterosexual men. I can assure you, God holds no such prejudice.
  
  2) Eckhart says that the discomfort of a women's menstrual cycle is caused by centuries of poor treatment by men. This is way off the map.
  
  3) He believes all animals are completely free of negativity in any form unless they've spent time with humans. Just silly. Dolphins at times have violent battles with other dolphins. Grizzly bears will kill a mother's cubs in order to mate with her. The list goes on and on.
  
  Tolle's book is ok. It certainly, in PLACES, rises above the general absurdity of New Age literature. When compared to that lot, Tolle's book is ok. However, that is setting a rather low standard. Check out J. Krishnamurti, the Dalai Lama, the later years of Thomas Merton or any of the great spiritual texts of the world for a much more solid and grounded teaching.
  
  

• and Now...

  
  By A1CBEKQRPQUK40 on 2002-01-25
  I picked up "The Power of Now" in the "New Age" section of the bookstore. I was determined to make the reading about "spirituality" a short episode in my life... and I was probably right, as far as the reading goes, that is.

  I got the book and continued reading at home, and, as I often do with study guides and textbooks, started underlining what seemed most important. Soon it became harder to separate the important from the unimportant, because it all seemed important! Then, I stopped, put down the pencil and said: "Wow!"

  Where did this book come from? Why aren't we hearing about it on CNN? Reading it felt strange at first, as it demanded my total attention: either I was drawn deep into it, or not at all. Do you like to eat while reading? Well, this book will make you feel ridiculous if you try to eat and read at the same time!

  The book showed me that I have a pretty thick mold of the mind to break through, and it took me very far on the first day, even farther after that. The message went beyond what I would probably recognize on my own. After all, I was (and still am but to a lesser degree) one of those constant thinkers who mistakenly believe that it's good to think all the time but almost never stop to see, hear and feel the essence of being. Although the message in the book seems familiar and simple, in the end it provided exhaustive answers to the few questions that I had and also those that I wouldn't have thought of before. Amazingly, it also managed not to raise new ones. What it did was grab me by lapels and put me into the present moment. Over and over again, it told me what it means, how to enter it, offered a few different methods, and suggested that with practice many opportunities exist to enter it.

  Another point is that once I finished the book, its message lingered (may I say "in my mind" here?). The author's obvious and at the same time subtly effective, repetitive approach somehow kept reassuring me that I was absorbing and remembering the material. The text never strayed far from the core of the message, which seemed to stick with vivid clarity.

  I soon began to practice shifting myself into this state of intense concentration, and it feels strange and alluring at the same time, this detachment from the mind. At first, I could only do it while being completely relaxed, just before falling asleep. Later, it became easier to do along with other daily activities. Don't worry; you will not get hit by a truck while crossing the street and trying to focus into the Now! Also, the people at work will not laugh at you because you look weird trying to focus, but they may notice a difference in you: that you are relaxed, focused and less confrontational (because you are surrendered to the present moment). The most immediate effect for me was that focusing into the present moment helped me communicate better. I began to listen more intensely, meaningfully and less judgmentally than before.

  However, I feel that this is only the tip of an iceberg. Trying to be in the Now has inspired me more than any miracle. At the same time, it's clear that learning to live in the Now is a skill, and like any skill it can be enhanced with practice. The more you work at it, the better and more natural you get doing it.

  In short, I don't need to search for the truth anymore. I got lucky on the first try, by becoming a little curious with the book that seemed unassuming and light in physical weight. Thank you, Eckhart. NOW, I can be at peace, knowing how much I can look forward to in this life, and beyond.
  
  

• The Power of Tolle's message

  
  By A26OV70QH1SPDE on 2000-06-01
  In the past 25 years I have read spiritual books ranging from the works of Gurdjieff and his followers to the discourses and satsangs with Maharaj, Poonjaji, and Gangaji. These have helped me and probably thousands of other seekers. They were the best written accounts available to all of us on the Path who refused to swallow the sugar pills of superficial knowledge of spirituality and enlightenment offered by many. NOW comes Eckhart Tolle with an unbelievably clear, powerful and succinct account of how and why our mind-based ego consciousness runs us, robs us of our birthright as humans, and why our society, at every turn, supports this process. His message is exquisitely eloquent and direct: Learn, through endless practice (unbending intent as Don Juan would say) to observe your mind without judgement. See where this leads you again and again as your sense of who you are escapes psychological time and the vastness, wholeness, and beauty of Creation opens before you. I have read only the first 50 pages and already I know that it will be THE ONE BOOK that goes with me everywhere as I read and reread it until it is part of me.
  
  

• Not worth the paper it is printed on.

  
  By A1CUJDMCZD6A3R on 2002-12-09
  I sensed I was in trouble with this book when I read an endorsement from Deepak Chopra, the Martha Stewart of enlightenment. In writing this review I have no delusion about changing the minds of any true believers, those seekers of the truth. There are enough of you to keep this author prosperous for years.

  Instead, I am hoping to stop those readers who are earnestly looking for more out of life from wasting their money. This may be the worst book of its type I have ever read. It goes nowhere. It offers no new insight, nor does it take existing ideas and present them in a new, creative way. One critic refered to his writing as gibberish. I think that's being kind. I actually got angry reading this book. OH! I was very much in the "Now" when I had this reaction.

  You could read this book a hundred times and not find anything useful. Here is the gist of what I think he's saying. Don't spend time worrying about things you can't control or change. It leads to frustration and in extreme cases to serious illness. Take the energy you would spend worrying and apply it towards positive, constructive thoughts and actions in everything you do.

  There are so many authors who say it more precisely, more insightfully and more creatively. Invest your money in them.

  Eckhart is a charlatan. He has figured out one of our modern era's greatest shames; you'll never go broke preying on the needs of others. Mr. Tolle is to serious insight into life as John Tesh is to serious music.
  
  

• Beside the mark
  By A1HB9YW2T4JMNL on 2005-05-19
  Many years ago I went through a spell of compulsive thinking that was particularly acute and painful. One day, while I was in the grip of these tormenting thoughts, I walked into my garden. Suddenly I saw my cat jump on a small rodent. I immediately rushed to the rescue of the tiny animal. After I had delivered it and given my cat a good but useless scolding, I remembered my previous painful engagement with thought. To my utter astonishment, the problem and the thinking that went with it-- or rather had created it--had totally disappeared!
  
  This simple anecdote may serve to illustrate the main error of Eckhart Tolle's teachings. The mournful round of thoughts had come to an abrupt end not because I had tried to stop it, but because there was a sudden, unpremeditated gap in it, caused by an unexpected incident that had required all my attention. Now what Eckhart wants you to do is to bring about this change through effort, and he gives you tricks to achieve it. All this obviously implies a motive (putting an end to an unpleasant state), compulsion and time, all of which indicate that thought--the cause of all the mischief and misery--is still active. Instead of identifying with thought or resisting the now, what one is now doing is trying to disidentify oneself from it or to say "yes" to the now. This is another game by exactly the same actor.
  
  Therefore this path is not going to lead you very far. It is as simple as that.
  
  The book itself is written in very simple English and in a question and answer format. I noted that the author claims that his words, specially the repetitive parts of the book, can draw you into the nothingness from which they came. Maybe. What I have found is that the Power of Now is mostly very vapid prose full of cheap and hackneyed notions spiced up with a few Gospel and Zen quotes. The aim seems to be the "end of suffering", which makes enlightenment a kind of Ultimate Prozac. The author insists that it is something that is "felt" and speaks of the unending bliss resulting from residing in Being. All this seems too superficial, too epidermic to be true. And creates tremendous expectation. No wonder people start making superhuman efforts to be awake after reading the book. Unfortunately, when you try to force thinking to stop, it comes back at your throat with a vengeance. Remember the anecdote at the beginning of this review.
  
  If you are a serious spiritual seeker, I recommend J.Krishnamurti instead of E.T. See my own review of "Total freedom" for more information.
  
  Finally, let me tell you something: Eckhart Tolle sells photographs of his uninspiring face on his website. Five dollars for a view of his congested face absorbed in meditation or smiling at the disciple/customer. Isn't that enough to show the vulgarity of the whole thing?
  
  Move on, truth is not to be found here.
  
  
• The Truth is in the Power of Now
  By AA1B7MY7RMH7J on 2000-12-14
  This book is so filled with truth, so powerful, so crystal clear that I was compelled to write this review and share it with other people. THE POWER OF NOW and WORKING ON YOURSELF DOESN'T WORK by Ariel and Shya Kane are the two most powerful and insightful books on self-awareness I've ever had the pleasure to read. Reading both of these books is like working with Zen masters, compassionate spiritual teachers who can free us from the torture that our minds and our judgments inflict on us constantly. I am not exaggerating when I say that THE POWER OF NOW was like a breath of fresh air. Tolle gets right to the point and explains so much about inner peace and how our minds actually work that I found myself wanting to share what he and the Kanes have discovered. If THE POWER OF NOW is the technical manual for reaching fulfillment (because it is mostly explanations about awareness rather than illustrative examples), then WORKING ON YOURSELF DOESN'T WORK is the practical guide with real world examples and insights that describe exactly how satisfaction is possible in everyday life. You'll want both of these books. I've found what I was looking for thanks to these wonderful authors.
  
  
• The Power of Taking People's Money
  By A16YE7BV8ALJ4D on 2006-05-12
  Like most of the folks who did not give this book high marks, I had high hopes for this book. Unfortunately, this book did not offer any new insights despite it's repeating "stay in the present" mantra.
  
  To say that the book is repetitious is an understatement. You can probably read about the first 1/3 of the book and pretty much read what it has to offer. Now I am not hear to judge the validity of Mr. Tolle's experience (nor am I qualified to). I am glad that something happened that brought him back from the edge. However, this book is just a bad commentary on what thousands of other yoga, hindu, and buddhist writings say, except that his book is not as well written.
  
  I agree with all of the statements regarding his philosophical errors that were listed in prior reviews so I am not going to repeat them here. However, Mr. Tolle makes the erroneous statement that the present is 'timeless'. Unfortunately this is not true. Anyone who has done any amount of reading on eastern thought and philosophy knows that the present is fleeting. The present time is subject to the same cycle of birth and death as we are. So when we are focused on the present, we are actually focusing on a succession of fleeting moments rather than one 'instance' in time. Understanding this impermanence of the present and accepting it is a very important part of our spiritual development. I feel this is an important concept that Mr. Tolle has failed to realize.
  
  I hate to say it, but this book just smacks of something that was put out to make a buck. I am not saying that this is true, but that is my impression from reading it. Obviously this book has helped many people, but really I would strongly recommend avoiding this book for two reasons:
  
  1) Many of his conclusions are not only vague, but oftentimes based on incorrect assumptions and completely wrong! See prior reviews for examples.
  
  2) Mr. Tolle does not break any new ground here. He is not saying anything new that isn't said better elswhere. He pretty much just borrows ideas from other sources and repeats them over and over.
  
  If curiosity gets the best of you (like it did me), I strongly warn you to read carefully and be prepared to be disappointed. However, if you find any value from this book in your life, I am am happy for you.
  
  
• Easy to comprehend, hard to live
  By A25VWZTZR8GKMN on 2000-12-04
  I've read this book twice and also saw the author live a few weeks ago in San Francisco. He battled for many years with severe depression, and looked for answers to his life through higher learning before having a complete change of life and finding inner peace and joy through living in the present moment. He encourages the reader to let go of the ego and brain "noise" and be in the now, which is how he says he lives. Most all of the "problems" we have in life don't directly effect us in the moment, yet we are controlled and tortured by them he says. Tolle also makes the case for healing past pain and suffering through simply being fully here now. Making these changes in our materialistic, image possessed, ego driven society is a challenge indeed, but he would say it's our only way out. This is truly life changing stuff.
  
  
• Clear, Intelligent, Gentle
  By on 2001-02-06
  Although I have always felt myself to be vaguely spiritual, I had never bought a book on spirituality before, shunned anything that smacked of religion, and wouldn't be caught dead in the New Age section. However, a friend recommended Tolle's book, and I found myself completely absorbed in it from beginning to end. Tolle himself would probably agree that there is nothing essentially "new" about the ideas in the book; the value lies in the clear, intelligent and gentle way in which they are presented. This book is carefully, thoughtfully and beautifully written. Not only does it illuminate the fundamental, slippery, destructive patterns of the mind or ego which confound one's spiritual and even physical well-being, but it also provides a variety of simple and practical techniques for breaking down and dissolving these various forms of mental pollution. I use Tolle's calming, contemplative techniques every day and throughout the day, and they work wonderfully for me. I've read the book twice so far and have given it to others as a gift. The companion tapes are excellent as well.
  
  
• Find Some Peace Now
  By on 2001-04-23
  This book is about living in the now to find peace and happiness. We all spend so much time consumed with past hurts and the possibility of an unpleasant future that we are unable to live in the now. I have gained progress toward the goal of living in the now by studying this book and the book An Encounter With A Prophet. If you would like to give up bringing emotional garbage into your present and stop worrying about the future I recommend you read both books.
  
  
• A worthy goal, but the wrong path.....
  By A1EU0MJNWK4YVV on 2002-04-19
  First of all I do think the present is very important and is where living takes place. I'm sure the authors are well-intentioned in writing this book. I always enjoy taking 'break time' when reading and during this time I've discovered some concerns I have with 'The Power of Now', please read below.....

  1. While it may be true that living in the 'now' is the truest path to happiness, the 'now' is only meaningful in the context of the past and the future. Without true meaning, purpose, and hope, a meaningful 'now' is illusory.

  2. Do some people live solely in the past or future and thereby ignore the present? Certainly. But that does not mean that a proper time-context for the present should be abandoned? For instance a great amount of satisfaction can and should be taken for past accomplishments and past relationships. Additionally, looking forward to future goals and activities can provide a huge amount of satisfaction.

  3. Our true identity is not merely our moment-to-moment experience, but is substantially shaped by our past and our future hopes. To ignore this or to pretend this is not the case is to invite delusion. Past memories and experiences do shape a person's worldview, and future hopes do affect current decisions. Living as if there is no future is not only hopeless, but it fosters madness.

  4. If the future has no place in a healthy and peaceful existence, then the person who has just won the lottery should be just as content as the person who is sitting on death-row. The now is the now, and the now is not affected by past of future? That smacks in the face of common sense.

  5. If being totally aware of ourselves at each moment means that we need to stop our thoughts, then the pursuit of truth should be abandoned. Why be concerned about discovering the truth in the future if all a person must do is convince oneself that the now is all there is?

  6. It does seem possible to live a pain free existence by living fully in the present. However, is it worth it? Is it worth abandoning one's past, and ignoring one's future? These both are far to valuable to exchange for a pain-free life.

  7. Some people may exclaim with great joy that 'all there is, is now', but is that true? Can it be liberating? Yes. Is it illusory? Yes. Is it worth it? No.

  8. The author claims the humans are being trapped in a constant cycle of emotional illusions. This is exactly what Tolle is doing by promoting the illusion of a monistic view of the present.

  9. While it may be true that some thoughts and emotions get in our way of living in genuine peace, that does not mean that all thoughts and emotions are negative. In fact, many thoughts and emotions contribute significantly to a fulfilling life. Unfortunately the author swipes too broadly and pushes all aside, instead of carefully and intentionally distinguishing the good from the bad.

  10. The author is basically right in the conclusions of this book, provided there is no ultimate purpose in life, and that there is no future in which we can place our hope. However, if these premises are not valid, the conclusions are baseless.

  In conclusion, a worldview that provides a true and good hope in the future, based on the reality of the past is much more effective at securing a true peace in the present. May that hope not be in vain.
  
  

• Your ego will *not* be happy with this book.
  By A2X0GGTH3R5BJL on 2001-05-17
  Okay, so I read a whole bunch of reviews here to see what people were saying so my ego could get validated, or whatever. Having only 5 pages left to read I can say, along with everyone else, that this book is a real gift and bound to change your life for the better. I don't know how many will actually reach the state of enlightenment Tolle has, but I bet everyone who reads it and tries to apply the principles presented will feel a whole lot better. At least you will know why so many people around you are unhappy even though you won't be. I especially like the clear way he describes how the ego tries to maintain its dominance and why and how a big ego causes damage. The concept of the "pain-body" was new and valuable. ("Calling Livia Soprano!") He says up front that he repeats things, but he never says them the same way twice, a sign of a very good teacher. He also keeps religion out of it other than to show how some of the great teachings of the masters (Jesus, Buddha) reflect his point. For many Christians there will be a lot of "Aha!" moments. You'll want to keep a highlighter handy as well as a pen or pencil to index key points like "ego" and "forgiveness". There is a table of contents but you will want to cross-index things like crazy. This is the type of book you shouldn't be afraid of marking up. Buy this book for friends and ask them to do the same. Maybe the human race really is getting to a point where we are ready to stop the murder of the planet and each other. Reading this book is a GIANT step in that direction. Note to editors: Maybe someone will write a children's edition George Bush can read?
  
  
• It could be the voice
  By A2VLTJGYLUU2VC on 2006-06-08
  Perhaps the materials would have been better as written words, but I listened to part of this audio CD during my long commutes. The introduction was simultaneously pretentious and unremarkable. Many of the points he makes are at least 1500 years old. I don't mind the repetition, but he barely acknowledges his ancient sources.
  
  Then, there's the voice. His voice is slow, soft, melodic, carefully modulated to suggest wisdom and authority, like that of a man who takes himself far too seriously.
  
  My cult-o-meter was hitting orange alert levels, so I returned the CDs to the store.
  
  
• This is pop-spirituality at its finest
  By A3B0Y9RZMNHY4O on 2006-01-27
  My subversive suggestion is this: Eckhart Tolle did not have an enlightenment experience at all, save for the kind of enlightenment that comes from a thorough reading of spiritual literature. I have this doubt because true enlightenment to me seems mutually exclusive of the kind of condescending tone Tolle uses through-out his book. I think we all expect a more compassionate voice from spiritual leaders, a caring style of communication which empathizes with the frailty of the human condition. But I could be wrong! Perhaps haughtiness is in vogue for today's gurus.
  
  Along that same line, Tolle continually comes across as a big know-it-all. He loves to be Tolle the Physicist, with his multiple references to the "high energy frequency of presence." Then there's Tolle the Geologist: "Even a stone has rudimentary consciousness; otherwise it would not be, and its atoms & molecules would disperse." And we have Tolle the Biologist: "The accumulation of time as the psychological burden of past and future greatly impairs the cell's capacity for self-renewal." If an appendix were included with associated references to scientific research, his statements might have some credibility. But as it is, they don't, and for any reader with a modicum of critical thinking skills, these statements, along with many others, are met with puzzlement or just immediate dismissal.
  
  A third observation from reading this book is that the author likes to make these grand, sweeping, unrealistically pessimistic statements about society which again are met with puzzlement. For example, "Because we live in such a mind-dominated culture, most modern art, architecture, music, and literature are devoid of beauty, of inner essence, with very few exceptions. ...No civilization has ever produced so much ugliness." (p.81) Is that really so? And: "...we live in a culture that is almost totally ignorant of death, as it is almost totally ignorant of anything that truly matters." (p.118) I doubt this is the case for the 12 million health-care workers in the U.S. who give their hearts out to the sick & dying every day, not to mention the countless citizens who are caring for their ageing & dying parents.
  
  I think it's with remarks like these where Tolle's lack of compassion (due in part to his haughtiness and distorted world views) comes across as hurtful or offensive to everyday people who by their actions exhibit deep thoughtfulness about things which truly matter.
  
  
  
• One Power trip
  By AO0U9F6YSROX2 on 2005-04-13
  In all of my 62 years, I have read numerous works on the topic of spirituality. Mr. Tolle's book follows many classics of which I so enjoyed-works by Ram Dass, Deepak Chopra, Andrew Harvey, Matthew Fox, Marianne Williamson, Alan Watts, Krishnamurti, Cayce ..ad infinitum. And though I enjoyed much of Tolle's book when it first appeared five years ago, when I look at it now(couldn't help but comment here on the author's vain and frighteningly egotistical preface to the new paperback edition), I am really wondering just who this teacher is.
  
  I had the misfortune of hearing him speak when I was traveling in England last year, and the pomposity of which he came off -really appalled me. I never saw such an egotist in all my life. (in a so-called spiritual teacher-this is a bit off-putting) Tolle resonated with such vanity-that the spiritual "truths" he was attempting to make rang hollow. To me, those who remain modest and sincere and generous toward others are the real teachers. (Deepak Chopra, to me, is always so gracious and humble when he speaks; I also like Carolyn Myss and Andrew Weil-actually-- many spiritual communicators who come from a medical background-seem to walk their talk).
  
  I can only say to those readers out there: "yes this is a good book-but pay attention to what may lie beneath the surface ". To me, the real spiritual teachers are always humble and helpful toward others. Tolle -in person- is very different from what he appears in his DVDs and books-I have heard he is cut-throat and very competitive when it comes to others' works (unfortunately, a good source of mine knows he has hurt others.) Bottom line? Everything must serve him. And that always says it all. Just be aware and go within and listen to your own inner communication to the divine. Forget this guy.
  
  As one luminous Galilean soul once said: "By their deeds you shall know them".
  
  
  
• Here and Now
  By A2TJXGSF9XQDFQ on 2008-11-02
  After reading happiness books like Finding Happiness in a Frustrating World, I felt like I had a good handle on what science had uncovered about how to live a happy life and have to say that I am MUCH happier for having read them. But, while the field of positive psychology has made some great contributions to my happiness levels, it's books like The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment that come along and let you know there's STILL more you can learn.
  
  A key concept of the book (if I'm explaining it right) is that you will start to experience a certain kind of enlightenment when you learn to leave your analytical mind behind. In other words, instead of "thinking" try just "observing your thinking." And when you do this, you also need to realize that all this "thinking noise" that goes on in your head all day long is not really who you are- an enlightening concept indeed!
  
  To that end, the book is set up in a question and answer format to help you get to understand these kinds of concepts. While it might seem ridiculous to some, it really isn't. Case in point, we all talk to ourselves or have witnessed others talking to themselves at times (maybe during a sporting event perhaps). If you ask someone who they are talking to, they will usually say "I'm talking to myself." And this, by definition, means that there have to be two "selves", an "I" talking to "myself"- and so justifies the idea of two selves (a "you" and a "thinking you" in the book).
  
  Well, if these seem to be the kind of concepts you're ready to explore, this is your book. It raises some good questions and certainly brings up one that you can't argue with: all we have is the here and now. As the book so astutely points out, "Nothing ever happened in the past; it happened in the Now. Nothing ever happened in the future, it will happen in the Now." And learning to live in the now IS the point of the whole book.
  
  
  
• Practical tips for joyous living
  By A197GJ34D4JYJ4 on 2001-09-17
  Philosophers like Krishnamurti say that the path of spiritual enlightenment starts with being aware of one's own thoughts. Commentators (of Upanishads and Gita) such as Swami Chinmayananda suggest that spiritual enlightenment is attained when the mind quietens. I have great respect for the above authors. However, I was frustrated for a long time as "watching my thoughts" and "quietening the mind" seemed impossible to achieve.

  In this book, Tolle gives very practical advice on how we can watch our thoughts - the idea is to simply live in the present, in the Now. "...Make it your practice to withdraw attention from past and future whenever they are not needed. Step out of the time dimension as much as possible in everyday life. If you find it hard to enter the Now directly, start by observing the habitual tendency of your mind to want to escape from the Now..." is a brilliant piece of advice from the book.

  The book is organised in a question-and-answer format and it is easy to read.

  When we start reading the book, many questions rise in our heads. E.g.
  *How can we forget the past? Doesn't past influence on our current situation?
  * How can we not think about the future? How do we, then, plan for the future?
  *How practical is it to ignore the time (future)?
  All these questions and many other questions that come to mind while reading are answered in the book.

  If you plan to read this book please think about the following: many of us read books like these and find them 'interesting'. As long as we are reading the book we feel inspired and we live in the Now. A while later, we go back to our routine and forget about living in the Now. To get the true benefit from this book, my suggestion is to create some measures so that you are reminded of the principles regularly. Some things you can do:

  *Write down your questions, their answers and your other thoughts that come to mind, while reading the book. Review these regularly.
  *Find people who are interested in discussing the issues relating to spiritual enlightenment and discuss.
  *Make it a point to read or listen to books that relate to living the Now, on a regular basis.
  
  

• silence is good
  By A2Q5CUY5NV211D on 2003-06-05
  At one time I was a Jehovahs witness, and they see salvation in the future. They are waiting for god to put things right, they are waiting for a future event to save them.

  As a JW I attended many of there annual assemblies, and listened to talks given by gifted speakers. When a good speaker speaks you become aware of a silent energy which surounds the event. What is of more importance? the meaning of the words being said, or the silent energy that surounds and holds the people there.

  when i go to a resteraunt I do not eat the menu I eat the food ( some places I might prefer to eat the menu though,more tasty). The words point to the food. The food is seperate from menu, the word are just the tools.

  Perhaps this is the greatest error in religeis understanding. We focus to much on the words. The real food is silence.

  Thank you Mr Tolle for helping me see things the right way up.
  
  

• Utterly profound, a book to TRULY change your life.
  By A2GM9GNP2G8HO1 on 2001-08-08
  I was attracted to the title of this book, and when I picked it up and read Eckhart Tolle's first words, a description of waking up in the middle of the night years ago filled with dread and an unnameable fearfulness, I thought: "This is me". When I returned to the bookstore a few days later to buy it, ALL of their multiple copies were sold, as was another bookstore's. Three local libraries had it out on loan, with a waiting list to reserve it. This is a book that connects to people. The premise of "The Power of Now" is that, rather than USING our minds, we have grown into a society that is used BY our minds, trapping us in a neverending cycle of repetitive, negative thinking that totally absorbs us out of ourselves and any awareness about the miraculous moment we are in RIGHT NOW. This is not a new concept, and the author is admitedly influenced by the teachings of the Buddha and "A Course in Miracles". What makes his approach so remarkable (aside from his clear, vital writing style) is a simple question-and-answer format that Tolle has drawn out of years of teaching. Tolle presents probing, often argumentative questions raised by his students, and then answers them with eye-opening truths. The book is also notated throughout for moments to stop reading, put it down, and get a feeling of the message that's been presented. And it's these moments NOT reading, but allowing yourself to be conscious of what you've read, that really opens the ideas for you. "The Power of Now" is so vastly superior to other books of its kind, it is staggering. While I am currently relaxing my way through a third reading, none of the philosophy of "Now" is in any way promotive of obsession or in conflict with ANY religious or spirtual belief, as a previous reviewer seemed to suggest. I will be buying a LOT of these for holiday presents.
  
  
• Know what you believe
  By A12UG55JHTR11U on 2001-05-03
  I read this book and listened to the tape. Tolle is a gifted communicator of spiritual ideas. But Tolle is a man, not God, and remember: he's selling something. His main points, that we are not our minds and we should live in the present, are presented in the most clear and persuasive manner I've ever seen. I've found them enormously helpful. Yet, as a lifelong Lutheran, I am skeptical of the many "spiritual truths" he issues so declaratively. He also endorses "A Course in Miracles," a New Age text supposedly channeled straight from God. It's time to start asking questions about his ideas. A good place to start would be Not Necessarily the New Age: Critical Essays, edited by Robert Basil. Other books about New Age thinking can be found in libraries. Just do a subject search on "New Age movement." Don't just adopt religious ideas because someone states them in a soothing, authoritative way--and various celebrities thought the book was great. Your soul and mind are too important.
  
  
• Lacking in wholeness and balance
  By on 2002-04-30
  I found this book lacking in understanding and compassion for the complexity of human existence. It also lacked a clear understanding of the goodness of a loving creator. For someone claiming to understand the role of "ego" as the author claims he does, he certainly has an interesting way of allowing himself to be portrayed by others in his introductions and forwards. He seems to be tied into the identity of "Spiritual Master". It is easy to claim spiritual experience. It is easy to give out partial truths and then embellish them. It is easy to embellish truths in ways that lead readers into thinking if they disagree or feel uncomfortable, it is the reader's lack of understanding or immaturity on the spiritual path that needs to be looked at. It is easy to get the reader to disregard the possibility of flaws with the author's perceptions and the authors own immaturity. However, it is not always easy to fool all of the people all of the time. Do not waste your money- this is just another book in a long line of guru type books that try to capture a desperate audience. It will have its' adherents who swear by it and pass on all the inconsistencies and uncompassionate views while they pass themselves off as superior "enlightened beings". Unfortunately, they will do little to "enlighten" a society in pain all the while insisting it is the people who are in pain that need to be "enlightened".
  
  
• Boring self-indulgent navel-gazing
  By AFJIVMG6GOVW3 on 2006-02-28
  Hard to read with drifting off to sleep in sheer boredom. My therapist (who recommended I read this) even said the whole book should have been a 15 page pamphlet. He was right. I got about 4 times further than that and realized my nightstand was filled with books to be read far more important, interesting and relevant than this. Tolle covers his own ass by saying at the outset that people with reactions like mine were closeminded and unenlightened. Whatever.
  
  
• Vague and Confusing
  By A2O26G4Z66ZSTM on 2006-06-16
  I bought this book years ago right when it first came out, long before it had reached celebrity status. I happened to be in the small bookstore the day Tolle was present and signing books.
  
  I remember we all lined up carefully, books under our arms, the store in a hush. As each person reached him, Tolle bowed his head, put his hand on the person's shoulder, and mumbled something under his breath. His face was serene, void of emotion, blank. It took all I had not to burst out in laughter as we all carefully took our places at the head of the line waiting for our respective blessings.
  
  In a prior review, someone said that the Tolle, on the CD, sounded as if he were trying to sound ever wise and Christ-like, and that person didn't have any idea how correct he was. Although I felt Tolle was harmless, I did also feel that he was as confused about himself as his words are confusing in the book.
  
  His words are so vague, lack anything concrete that I found it impossible to try to incorporate his "teachings" into my life. I couldn't find a place for them because none of them made sense. He attempts to introduce his work as intensely esoteric, so people of a certain "evolution" will be able to understand his wise words, and those who don't are told to continue trying, that they will eventually understand. However, he's simply either a poor writer, or he knows his words are just BS. Remember in college or high school when you had to write a paper on a topic you either knew nothing about and didn't want to do the research, so you wrote around the topic, wrote all kinds of rhetoric about this and that but basically nothing about the topic? This is what Tolle's work reminds me of: just circuitous, vague, confusing prose that basically says little to nothing, wrapped with such a tone as to present him as some wise, wise man.
  
  And just like some of the teachers I had, too many people are falling for his presentation, and my feeling is, they like how it feels to be in such a wise man's circle, even though they don't know what in the world he's talking about! I get the idea of living in the now, but I don't think Tolle does.
  
  
• You go deeper with each reading
  By on 2001-07-04
  Attracted by exciting reviews, I bought and read the book. I was so impressed that I bought the tapes. I have been listening to them over and over again every morning for several months. Rather than repeat the wonderful comments of previous reviews, I would like to add a few personal insights.

  Eckhart's message is very condensed. He compresses a tremendous amount of meaning into a very few simple words. This makes the book very good value for money. You would have to buy and read several similar books by other authors to derive the same quantity of information - but they would probably not match Eckhart's high quality of delivery.

  Eckhart's messages are deep. A typical sentence has two or three levels of depth that reveal themselves after a number of readings on the conscious level. (On the sub-conscious level you would probably appreciate the deeper meaning immediately). Reflection, and day to day experiences should take you to the deeper levels. However, do not be satisfied with whatever level you have reached. Deeper levels exist. Continue reflecting and seeing day to day events with the new wisdom you have acquired. This will take you deeper still.

  While you may not agree with all of Eckhart's teachings, you will admit that most of them make sense at a very deep level. After reading this book and listening to the tapes, you will be well on your way to higher levels of consciousness.

  Buying this book should not be the main consideration, since it is clearly essential reading for everyone. For me the main consideration is how deep do you want to go? I would urge more than one reading. I think you will be pleasantly surprised as each successive reading takes you to new levels of awareness and serenity.
  
  

• Now - Now
  By AQ201RFKI8BYD on 2000-07-17
  Echkart Tolle's book is a living and powerful vehicle that takes the reader gently by the hand into the Now if they but will allow it.

  Via a question and answer format, he addresses just about every issue, question, and objection that anyone could possible raise on the subject.

  The power that the Now carries is transmitted in his words and seems to "ring true" in the heart of the reader.

  I highly recommend this book for anyone who has read about being in the Now and desired it but somehow has not been able to come close to experiencing it. He writes in his introduction that he hopes that his book will act as a catalyst for a "radical inner transformation" in those who are ready for it. Well, there is no question in my mind that it indeed can cause such a transformation.

  One of the things he said that had a great impact on me was, "The moment you realize you are not present, you are present." So simple.

  This is a book you will want to keep in reach to renew and refresh yourself with anytime you need it.
  
  

• Mostly, if not entirely, Nonsense
  By A1LKSZ9CYJ6829 on 2005-01-06
  The Power of Now is delusional escapism with lots of mumbo-jumbo to shore it up. If you loathe yourself or your other self, as the author claims to have at one time, then try living solely in the joyous Present, or Now, devoid of connections to the past or future. And that means turning off the analytical mind and avoiding virtually all emotions, which arise due to misguided thinking. When the author had his epiphany concerning the Now, he sat around on park benches for two years contemplating the grandeur of trees, and such. How nice for him, but probably not believable.
  
  The entire book gives new meaning to the "ignorance is bliss" maxim. There is no profundity in stating repeatedly that actions and thoughts occur in the present. What is utterly simplistic is to dismiss their context and ramifications. The idea that people will develop fears or anxieties in contemplating the past or imaging the future is exaggerated. Growing up does involve learning to cope with those realities. Suggesting the blissful acceptance of "what is" seems no more than happy ignorance.
  
  The author makes no effort to explain the basis of his depiction of people having a true self and a discordant self that thinks and emotes. He proposes that the true self "watch" the thinking self and thereby transcend that limiting behavior. One wonders if any thought is involved in the watching. It all seems like trite psychobabble or Freudian distortion. Though two hundred pages long, the book endlessly repeats its nonsensical contentions and could easily be reduced to no more than ten pages.
  
  The author finds much of society dysfunctional. He might get no argument there. It's hard to see those withdrawn to an inner, true self, contemplating pure "Being" doing much about it. Thankfully many understand that society is a work in progress that requires much effort and thought in dealing with realities and that is very messy.
  
  This is an easy-way-out book. Operating in a state of delusional nirvana is self-centered, fairy-tale stuff. We should be talking about getting smarter, citizen empowerment, ecological sustainability, reining in corporations, and the like. Living in the escapist Now/Me world is just pathetic.
  
  
  
  
• Quazi-Zen
  By A2BAHTKW0OT7OS on 2006-03-22
  Another adaptation of old ideas of Zen into the modern quazi-spiritual blubber.
  
  The very idea of enlightement is distorted and misunderstood. It's like suddenly getting this state of mind - and that's it, from now on life is just great: you are cool and wise, like a Chinesse sage. No, the idea is in the present moment, not some goal of spiritual liberation that must be achieved.
  
  You want the "now" - start meditating. And if you want guidance, rather read "Hardcore Zen" by Brad Warner or "To Meet the Real Dragon" by Gudo Nishijima. Much less hype and much more substance.
  
  
• new age piffle
  By on 2003-03-22
  I bought this book with high hopes after reading all the glowing reviews, but I didn't find much to recommend it. It's a rehash of typical New Age doctrine in all its reality-contradicting, wishful-thinking, anti-white, anti-Western, I-must-be-enlightened-because-I-speak-on-such-a-high-level-you-can't-understand-me glory. I found it very off-putting and self-contradictory, and it completely doesn't match up with my experience of life. In my opinion, it ridiculously oversimplifies the human condition.
  But here's what I really want to know: during the two years Mr. Tolle "sat on park benches in a state of bliss," as he states early on in the book, with "no job," what the hell did he do for food? Is he a trust fund baby? Did he hit the lottery? Was he independently wealthy long before that? Or was he eating out of dumpsters?
  
  
• An idea whose time has come
  By A1OI026FPBM5J0 on 2002-10-11
  You've heard the old maxim that there is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come. That's what The Power of Now represents to me. I have been in the book business all my adult life and consider myself somewhat jaded when it comes to books on self-help, gurus or enlightenment manuals. In fact, I almost never read them. There is something unique about The Power of Now that makes it stand out in an otherwise crowded field. It may be the clarity of the language, the absence of technical language, or more likely, the fact the author is clearly writing about a place the he authentically inhabits; and that my friends, is rare indeed. When describing this book to others, I compare the concepts and practices to the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, and to the Dzogchen teachings of Tibetan Buddhism, as well as the core instructions of such Zen Masters as Dogen and Hongzhi. The thing that makes this book so magical is that you get all that pith instruction without having to wade through cultural artiface or the barriers of religiosity. This is only the second review I've written, and I'm doing it because I believe this book is fundamentally important. The teachings have had an immediate impact on my life in a way that few books ever have. I agree with the editorial review - within a chapter of reading this book, I was already holding the world in a different container. This is the real deal.
  
  

• A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose (Oprah's Book Club, Selection 61)
• Practicing the Power of Now: Essential Teachings, Meditations, and Exercises from The Power of Now
• Stillness Speaks
• Living a Life of Inner Peace
• Gateways to Now (Inner Life Series)