What do you make of Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now?

#1 01-12-2021, 05:40 PM

Hi everyone,

What do you make of Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now? Should we really be abandoning our thoughts of the past and future to live in the now?

Thanks in advance for your help :)

BigJohn · #2 01-12-2021, 07:27 PM

The Power of Now appears to be a key aspect of Animism. We probably would be a lot happier flowing with the Universe in the Now.

django · #3 02-12-2021, 05:07 AM

There’s a lot of info here https://forum.culteducation.com/read.php?12,154904
I don’t like what he says at all, but there was another thread on SF where many seemed to think he was enlightened.

ajay00 · #4 02-12-2021, 07:58 AM

Thinking of the past and future can be done for practical reasons , such as for calculation , measuring and so on.

Incessant thinking based on past emotional memories should be avoided however.

You may find this article by spiritual teacher Jan Frasier insightful in this regard...

https://janfrazierteachings.com/2014...ing-conscious/

Quote:

Of course there’s such a thing as useful thought, the kind that has nothing to do with keeping the ego going. Practical thought does not cause emotion. It is applied to a purpose: making a plan for a trip, studying a new language, figuring out how to repair something that’s broken. ~ Jan Frazier

#5 02-12-2021, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajay00

Thinking of the past and future can..https://janfrazierteachings.com/2014...ing-conscious/

Thanks for this

Miss Hepburn · #6 02-12-2021, 11:48 PM

Also, right here on the forum:
https://www.spiritualforums.com/vb/s...ighlight=tolle

#7 03-12-2021, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by django

There’s a lot of info here https://forum.culteducation.com/read.php?12,154904
I don’t like what he says at all, but there was another thread on SF where many seemed to think he was enlightened.

Agree with you. He seems useful for those who need to feel better in one way or another but not inspirational in actual development. I haven't read much of his stuff because it didn't seem to lead anywhere...just my response though.
.

ayar415 · #8 03-12-2021, 02:48 PM

QUOTE Post 1 EXCERPT:

Quote:

Originally Posted by traceyacey12

Should we really be abandoning our thoughts of the past and future to live in the now?

Try it, if you can. We seem to think that life is made up of three discrete parts: the past, the future, and "The NOW" (i.e. present). This is so silly.

The ongoing state of awareness is what we are. What is it to be aware? Isn't it the ability to locate where you are in time and space? Can there be the present without the past and future? Can you know where you are in an empty void?

lemex · #9 03-12-2021, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by traceyacey12

What do you make of Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now? Should we really be abandoning our thoughts of the past and future to live in the now?

Tolle, imo doesn't say anything new because the information is already within existing teaching or what I have been taught and seen and already aligns with teaching. We make our own reality is one such teaching. If what is said already is known but not understood this in the realm of enlightenment.

Authors use (new) words tradition does not. And we think hearing new words means new and rejection but it is not. We think new words change old words but they do not. Simply information. New words does not mean rejecting anything. Of course metaphysics or new ages has no such conflict and merges science and spirituality quite nicely. I was wondering regarding the information of Now above has anyone ever asked teachers about such teaching as part of their (tradition) system using different words. Do words enlighten?

But thought and experience are attached and letting go of the attachment when it is not real but was (now).

iamthat · #10 03-12-2021, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by traceyacey12

What do you make of Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now? Should we really be abandoning our thoughts of the past and future to live in the now?

How useful are all our thoughts of the past and the future?

We may spend a lot of time remembering the past, perhaps with nostalgia or regret. And we may spend a lot of time imagining the future, perhaps with anticipation or fear. Because of this, as ET says, we miss out on the present moment (even though all our thoughts about the past and future occur in the present).

Living in the Now is the only sane way to live. This is the same as living with mindfulness. We live more effectively, responding to the arising needs of each moment.

This does not mean that the lessons of the past are forgotten. We carry these lessons in the present.

And it does not mean that we make no preparation for the future. If we need to buy food for the coming week then that need for food arises in the present and we go shopping in the present.

Living in the Now simply means that we spend less time in our imagination and more time in the real world as it presents itself in each moment. Which actually saves us a lot of regret and worry.

Peace