The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment

The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment
by Eckhart Tolle

The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment
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Book Summary Information

Author: Eckhart Tolle
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2004-09-29
ISBN: 1577314808
Number of pages: 224
Publisher: New World Library
Product features:

Book Reviews of The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment

Book Review: A struggle to complete
Summary: 1 Stars

There are two things this book reminds me of; the movie Southland Tales and a conversation I once had with a former cult member.

The movie Southland Tales:
This movie was hyped up because of the star-studded cast and the reputation of the director. On the outset, it really appeared to be a great movie. Similarly, this book is fairly hyped up because of the author's reputation, and people's need to show they are intelligent and enlightened. As with was the case with the movie, once I got into this book, it became a random collection of incoherent ideas thrown together to make money. I even caught myself doing the same thing with the book that I did with that movie. I read it a few times thinking I just didn't get something. Then I started talking to a few people and reading some feedback. Just like the movie I realized the people praising it were doing so mostly to prove that they understood. After all, if you don't like the book, you just "don't get it". Which brings me to the next point.....

The cult member:
I knew a woman that was a formerly a cult member. The way she described how the leader and followers of this cult lured her in was remarkably similar to how Tolle and his fans market this book. They create a circle of enlightenment and understanding. If you like the book, you are included, enlightened, intelligent. If you don't, your and idiot and you don't understand. Once you are enlightened, you will love the book. He prays on lonely, weak, downhearted people looking for answers. He does it for money and/or power.

This man is no spiritual teacher. He takes well thought out ideas such as Freud's work in psychology, twits them around and regurgitates them with descriptive words that don't belong. He states plainly in the introduction that the words he uses phrases that sound out of place. Of course, this is because of the difficulties that exist when trying to describe an enlightened state. I'm guessing he picked up on how ridiculous some of the latter passages were and threw that in for cover up. He also mentions in the introduction that he was homeless directly before his 'enlightenment'. It's a good thing this miraculous transformation occurred that made him rich or he might have to do some actual work.

Summary of The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment

It's no wonder that The Power of Now has sold over 2 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.
Ekhart Tolle's message is simple: living in the now is the truest path to happiness and enlightenment. And while this message may not seem stunningly original or fresh, Tolle's clear writing, supportive voice, and enthusiasm make this an excellent manual for anyone who's ever wondered what exactly "living in the now" means. Foremost, Tolle is a world-class teacher, able to explain complicated concepts in concrete language. More importantly, within a chapter of reading this book, readers are already holding the world in a different container--more conscious of how thoughts and emotions get in the way of their ability to live in genuine peace and happiness.

Tolle packs a lot of information and inspirational ideas into The Power of Now. (Topics include the source of Chi, enlightened relationships, creative use of the mind, impermanence, and the cycle of life.) Thankfully, he's added markers that symbolize "break time." This is when readers should close the book and mull over what they just read. As a result, The Power of Now reads like the highly acclaimed A Course in Miracles--a spiritual guidebook that has the potential to inspire just as many study groups and change just as many lives for the better. --Gail Hudson

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