Stillness Speaks
by Eckhart Tolle
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Book Reviews of Stillness Speaks
Book Review: Enlightened People Have a Bright Flame
Summary: 5 Stars
Enlightened people dispel the darkness around them. They live more prosperously, with less stress, consider every difficulty an opportunity, and are open to new learning. This time of year is the perfect time to look over the past year and ask yourself the important questions: "Did I take time to grow spiritually, bettering myself with reading and stimulating conversations? Am I continuing to answer the questions that really matter? Did I share whatever good things I found with others, to encourage them in their quest?" We are all candles, and sometimes I have felt my flame only softly glowing, instead of brightly radiant. I am now house-bound and not able to get around. If it wasn't for reading and personal growth, and the ability to share and participate with others through the phone and internet about the things I am learning, I would go nuts! For me, books are a key to happiness. There are many people in my situation who feel life is not worth living anymore. I have seen that spiritual health, and being in service to others in some way (even if just by sharing good information) is the key to balancing whatever else is happening in your life. That's why I am sharing some of my personal favorites with you (I'll try to keep you updated as I read new ones), words that helped me heal and fan my flame bright again! I also placed this particular review under one of the books I have read and appreciated.
1. The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom (how even the little things we do can affect changes in people's lives, and by doing them, affects ours too)
2. Psychic Gifts in the Christian Life by Tiffany Snow (tools and training to access our God-Spots for supernatural gifts, has great stories about healing, afterlife, NDEs, helping FBI on 9-11, etc)
3. The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life by Twyla Tharp (helps to ease the fears of facing a blank beginning and opening the mind to new possibilities)
4. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle (accessing the deepest self by living in the present time)
5. 500 Low-Carb Recipes by Dana Carpender (actually good tasting recipes that will help you keep your physical balance, at least after the holidays!)
Book Review: The Power of Slience. Distilled version - The Power of Now
Summary: 5 Stars
I thought Stillness Speaks is a rehash of "The Power of Now" in one sense, but also a distilled version of "The Power of Now". The words Mr. Tolle says are meant to be experienced though it is the same old philosophy as "The Power of Now". That is why this book has lots of white spaces. That is why it is sectioned out with all the small paragraphs. If a book full of words is the one you feel you can get as much money back as you can, this is not the book for you because you are focusing too much on gaining knowledge. You want to adopt the words even before you can pause to see whether it makes sense to you. Your mind wants to be occupied with all the words so you cannot stop and to reflect.
This is a book you are not supposed to rush it through and read all of it in one day (though you can surely speed read it and be done in 2 hours because it is thin without too many words). It is supposed to be a book you read only one chapter a day to pause and to reflect slowly. You feel the words and you taste the words. You experience what he said without the noise that is always talking and judging. Then, you experience love and peace. Then, you are awakened from that voice in your head that is always talking and judging (egoic mind).
Also, when you are reading this book, you are supposed to take Mr. Tolle out of the picture as an identity (meaning the form of a spiritual teacher - does not matter whether you respect him or not). Mr. Tolle's words are just a gateway to our spiritual awareness to be in the presence and stillness. The words are meant to inspire and help us return to our authentic self (inner peace) - which exists in the presence. When we get into the mental position of, "What was he thinking when he was writing the book?" or judging "isn't it just a rehash of The Power of Now", you have already missed the point of the book - which is to stay presence and feel the words to achieve stillness. If you already have the book, why not read it with an open heart rather than complaining the white spaces/thin book? You already have it in your hands. Why can't you read it with gratitude and see what the words have to offer you?
Book Review: Very Disappointing
Summary: 1 Stars
Like many, I was eagerly awaiting this book. It wasn't worth the wait. If you have read The Power Of Now, read or listened to other materials by the author, or have even a passing familiarity with advaita/nonduality/awakening/presence, etc. etc. etc., then you've taken in everything that is in this book many times over. It has the feel of something that was quickly slapped together by the author and/or publisher to cash in on the success of The Power of Now. And as such, it lacks the very thing that made that book so fantastic (and an outright publishing sense of Presence! You could feel it flowing from every page of T.P.O.N., but it is nowhere to be found in this small volume. And even taking into consideration the outrageous increase in the cost of books, 17 dollars for this one is way too much. I love Eckhart Tolle and feel that he is an absolutely incredible teacher/author. But you'd never know it by this book. I realize that this type of subject matter doesn't lend itself well to being expressed verbally or through the written word and this book certainly attests to that if nothing else. But Mr. Tolle did a terrific job of writing about this topic in his first book (as have many others), so we know it's possible. He doesn't pull off the same thing in Stillness Speaks. He repeatedly makes the point that stillness and silence are what are important, but unfortunately you end up paying 17 dollars to read a book that points out the fact that words aren't neccessary to this Understanding and can even stand in the way. He should've heeded his own advice and just remained silent this time. Maybe posting the short "reminders" in this book on his website would've been a nice gift to all the readers who bought The Power Of Now and made him a very wealthy man. I certainly don't mean to imply that he's in it for the money. In the world of "spirituality", the author is the real deal... which is rare in itself. But everyone who not only purchased his first book, but did their best to put his teachings into practice in their lives, deserved better than this as a follow up.Book Review: A 'real' approach
Summary: 4 Stars
When I bought 'Stillness Speaks' from my local bookstore, I was not prepared for what I would be getting in return. I have not yet read 'The Power of Now' by Eckhart Tolle but did know that he was in my hometown last year for a brief seminar. Now I feel what a great opportunity I missed out on as I could not make it to the same.'Stillness Speaks' does not ask you or teach you any dogmas or religious practices. Instead it directly leads you to the answer we are all searching for. I like this book especially because Mr. Tolle does not seem to be a loquacious writer yet very beautifully manages to convey the message. I have often felt tempted to put away these kind of books because there is no connection from one part to another. But this book has captured and retained my interest since I laid my hands on it.
There are several distinct entries in this book labeled 'Stillness & Silence' and 'Beyond the Thinking Mind' to "Suffering & the End of Suffering.' Each word in this book is mesmerizing and Real. When I hold a book in my hand, I like to think how the writer must have felt while writing it. I like to visualize the writer's feelings and emotions while I read a book.
This book has given me profound peace and a clearer view of what I am looking for. All though I have still not found what I am looking for, this book surely did help in making me more confident that I am on the right track.
These days my grandma's health is not keeping up with the radiant and beautiful personality that she is; I read to her a few lines from this book and I instantly knew that she felt peace and found great comfort in Mr. Tolle's words. Thank you Eckhart Tolle for this marvellous book and for bringing comfort, calm and peace to my grandma. Without question, this book will always find a special place in my heart and my bookshelf.
Book Review: Now or Never!
Summary: 5 Stars
Spiritual teachers admonish students not to mistake the pointing finger for the moon. Eckhart Tolle admonishes readers not to mistake excessive verbiage for truth. This beautiful book gives us enough words to focus our attention while inviting us to a stillness within which we may come to our own knowing. Surely this is the most precious of gifts!As a longtime student of non-dual teachings in both the Hindu and Buddhist traditions, it took me quite some time to open to what was being offered by this impish looking man who came to truth sitting on a park bench. Yet when I encountered him for the first time, in a video before an audience in Southern California, I was struck by the simplicity and force of his message. As I read "The Power of Now" it was clear to me that Eckhart Tolle is speaking of the perennial philosophy. Most importantly, he embodies the truth of which he speaks.
Yesterday I gave my copy of "Stillness Speaks" to a friend who is facing imminent death from cancer with both courage and grace. I told him that in my opinion embodying the simple message of this book is all that is required to experience the truth of being human. The book offers neither an intellectual framework to lean against, nor practices with which to temporize. It is now, or never! To a person dying, and this means all of us, of course, this is a message to grasp right now.
For those who require more words, in their displeasure with Mr. Tolle's offering, may I suggest Nisargadatta's "I Am That," or "Talks with Ramana Maharshi," or Longchenpa's "The Natural Freedom of Mind," or Poonjaji's "The Truth Is." Perhaps after you've digested these respected tomes you will wish to re-read "Stillness Speaks" and reconsider your assessment.