The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment

Eckhart Tolle

Oct 2010 · New World Library

About this ebook

It's no wonder that The Power of Now has sold over 16 million copies worldwide and has been translated into over 30 foreign languages. Much more than simple principles and platitudes, the book takes readers on an inspiring spiritual journey to find their true and deepest self and reach the ultimate in personal growth and spirituality: the discovery of truth and light. In the first chapter, Tolle introduces readers to enlightenment and its natural enemy, the mind. He awakens readers to their role as a creator of pain and shows them how to have a pain-free identity by living fully in the present. The journey is thrilling, and along the way, the author shows how to connect to the indestructible essence of our Being, "the eternal, ever-present One Life beyond the myriad forms of life that are subject to birth and death." Featuring a new preface by the author, this paperback shows that only after regaining awareness of Being, liberated from Mind and intensely in the Now, is there Enlightenment.

Ratings and reviews

I have read many books similar to this, but none are as to the point or as clear in conveying the ideas to the reader. While Carlos Castanedas' books introduced the principles of power in cryptic terms, The Power of Now guides the reader in the same direction and tells the reader exactly what steps are needed to accomplish principles and guidelines introduced in the Castaneda books. It has been a while since I have read The Power of Now, but I opened the book recently and felt a refreshing change of mood and perception from just a few pages. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to achieve a higher state of awareness, or for those who just need a boost from their mood every once in a while.

I can see why readers are giving up after 20-40 pages. I was completely lost at that point too, confused, bewildered and baffled as to what all the fuss was about I had nearly given up; I felt patronised and at the same time dim-witted up to a certain point. So whilst I cannot pinpoint the exact page or message that finally got me hooked and allowed me to wake up to Tolle's message, it must have come at just the right time as I was seriously considering giving up. Well I am so glad I persevered. I'm 28yrs old and recently lost my mother unexpectedly; part way through reading the book I might add. So this book has given me incredible insight and acceptance of all that has gone before, leaving me fully focused on the Now! It doesnt surprise me that so many readers have missed the point. I can only imagine they are either a fair bit older, "wiser" and more conditioned the 'pain body' than I am and as a result unwilling to let go; or too young and inexperienced to be open enough to consider Tolle's theories as anything but the ramblings of a mental person. Well mental he isnt. He is a genius in my opinion and I am just starting the Power of Now for the second time.

This book is a mishmash of ideas taken from a variety of world religions mixed in with some pseudo science and presented as enlightenment. There is a tendency for this kind of “spirituality to encourage a kind of denial and distancing of oneself from necessary emotional stages in dealing with life’s issues and skip onto the light and airy stuff. Its about the denial of reality and living in your head. We need to learn to look at emotions like anger, jealousy, fear, pride and come to terms with them, making peace with ourselves. Denial and the repression of emotions causes a kind of pressure cooking effect over time. This literally explodes at times it is least expected and can be difficult to understand. There is no mention of hard work or commitment. This is the spirituality of the individual. It presents as interconnected but really in this you are God, omnipotent the creator of all things, no guilt, no responsibility, what a load. Things are not black and white, light and dark. Life is in full colour. Beware the presentation of fast food enlightenment and gurus in funny outfits coming from no long standing tradition and presenting themselves as above it all, even or especially when they speak in slow quiet voices with lots of enlightened smiling. There is no quick fix

About the author

Spiritual teacher and author Eckhart Tolle was born in Germany and educated at the Universities of London and Cambridge. At the age of twenty-nine a profound inner transformation radically changed the course of his life. The next few years were devoted to understanding, integrating, and deepening that transformation, which marked the beginning of an intense inward journey. Later, he began to work in London with individuals and small groups as a counselor and spiritual teacher. Since 1995 he has lived in Vancouver, Canada. Eckhart Tolle is the author of the New York Times bestsellers The Power of Now (translated into 33 languages) and A New Earth, which are widely regarded as two of the most influential spiritual books of our time. In 2008, A New Earth became the first spiritual book to be selected for Oprah's Book Club as well as the subject of a ten-week online workshop co-taught by Eckhart and Oprah.