As an example of Mr. Tolle's direct style, here is how he states this Good News: "Humankind as a whole has been through such vast suffering that one could almost say that every human has suffered enough now. No further suffering is necessary."

Another book as direct and powerful in its perennial insight as this one is "The Lazy Man's Guide to Enlightenment" by Thaddeus Golas.

Personally, I see such books as valuable documents of the spontaneous experience of awakening. But whether or not such an experience is any more or less contagious via the medium of these books as opposed to any of the more traditional practices - e.g. singing in choir, taking communion, or sitting on a cushion at 5 a.m. - is pretty dubious, it seems to me.

"Frying sesame seeds ... One pops." - Mitsu Suzuki


Power of Now...a MUST Read   May 14, 2001
 3 out of 3 found this review helpful

An awesome book..the author has 'been there & done that' and tells us fellow seekers the secret. I am on my second reading & have passed along several copies to friends who are also on the path. Each has called me to say what a change this book has made in their lives. Eckhart may well become the next Deepak Chopra.


This gem is full of deep yet practical wisdom   May 11, 2001
 24 out of 26 found this review helpful

This book is a real gem, to say the least. Eckhart Tolle is able to explain very deep and fundamental issues about life, ourself (body, mind, pure consciousness), and the universe in simple words, making this universal wisdom surprisingly accessible. For instance, Mr. Tolle brilliantly explains the fascinating concepts of time and space and their relationship to our mind and its processes and pitfalls, in other words, their relationship to the way we experience our life. This practical book contains important portals to disidentify from the mind/ego and to be in touch more deeply with our true inner self by entering the eternal now and, as a result, becoming more and more liberated from the past and the future. The book is written in a captivating format using highly relevant questions and answers. While reading or listening (the unabridged audio book is very inspirational too!) your consciousness will shift profoundly. It is a mind-blowing read/listening experience, even literally speaking ;-) In case you are looking for a meditation practice that perfectly fits in with these pure insights and pragmatic 'exercises/portals' bringing inner peace and joy on a day-to-day basis.


Know what you believe   May 3, 2001
 45 out of 86 found this review helpful

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.