The core message of Eckhart Tolle’s “The Power of Now” is a profound transformation of human consciousness through disidentification with the egoic mind and a deep engagement with the present moment – "the Now." The author, through a conversational and experiential approach, guides the reader towards realizing their true nature beyond thought and form.
Or so he claims.
Notwithstanding the known benefits of meditation, many critics consider Tolle’s book to be feel-good pablum. In other words, it is difficult to sit down and not think when you face a blitzkrieg of overwhelming problems.
Here’s a briefing on the primary points:
The Problem of Mind Identification and the Illusion of Time:
The most significant obstacle to enlightenment and inner peace is identification with the mind. The mind, often described as a "superb instrument if used rightly" but destructive if used wrongly, becomes a "possessing entity" when we believe we are our thoughts. This is referred to as a "delusion" and a "disease."
Quote: "To put it more accurately, it is not so much that you use your mind wrongly - you usually don't use it at all. It uses you. This is the disease. You believe that you are your mind. This is the delusion. The instrument has taken you over."
This mind identification is deeply intertwined with the delusion of time. The mind is compulsively preoccupied with the past (which provides identity) and the future (which holds the promise of salvation or fulfillment).
Quote: "To be identified with your mind is to be trapped in time: the compulsion to live almost exclusively through memory and anticipation. This creates an endless preoccupation with past and future and an unwillingness to honor and acknowledge the resent moment and allow it to be."
The past and future are described as having no reality of their own, existing only as "memory trace[s]" or "imagined Now[s]" within the present moment. They are "pale reflections of the light, power, and reality of the eternal present."
The Primacy and Power of the Now:
The present moment, the Now, is the only reality. Nothing has ever happened or will ever happen outside of the Now.
Quote: "Nothing ever happened in the past; it happened in the Now. Nothing will ever happen in the future; it will happen in the Now."
The Now is described as "precious indeed" because "it is the only thing. It's all there is."
The Now is the "key to liberation" and the "only point of access into the timeless and formless realm of Being."
Moving deeply into the Now can be achieved by becoming "intensely conscious of the present moment." This is the "essence of meditation."
Practical ways to enter the Now include bringing full attention to routine activities, observing the breath, and simply being present.
Accessing Being: The Deeper Self Beyond Mind and Form:
The core of the teaching revolves around Being, the "eternal, ever-present One Life beyond the myriad forms of life." It is described as the "innermost invisible and indestructible essence" within every form.
Being is accessible now as your "own deepest self, your true nature." It cannot be grasped by the mind but can be felt when the mind is still and attention is fully in the Now.
Quote: "To regain awareness of Being and to abide in that state of 'feeling-realization' is enlightenment."
Being is also linked to the concept of Christ as the "indwelling divinity" or "awakened divinity," which is the "God-essence."
The feeling of "Being" is connected to a "vibrant peace and stillness" and a subtle emanation of "joy of Being."
Dissolving the Pain-Body:
Emotional pain leaves behind a "residue of pain" that accumulates in the mind and body, forming a "negative energy field" called the pain-body.
The pain-body can be dormant or active and "feeds on any experience that resonates with its own kind of energy, anything that creates further pain."
The pain-body can "take you over" and lead to unconscious identification, causing negative thoughts and behaviors.
Dissolving the pain-body involves becoming the "watcher," observing the pain-body's energy directly without letting it control thinking.
Quote: "Through sustained attention and thus acceptance, there comes transmutation. The pain-body becomes transformed into radiant consciousness..."
This process is likened to alchemy, "the transmutation of base metal into gold, of suffering into consciousness."
Relationships as Spiritual Practice:
Relationships, particularly intimate ones, are seen as potential catalysts for awakening but also often manifest addictive patterns stemming from the ego's "search for wholeness" through another.
Enlightened relationships are characterized by complete acceptance of the partner as they are, without the need to judge or change them. This transcends ego.
Quote: "The greatest catalyst for change in a relationship is complete acceptance of your partner as he or she is, without needing to judge or change them in any way. That immediately takes you beyond ego."
True communication in relationships is described as "communion - the realization of oneness, which is love." Love is a "state of Being," not dependent on external forms.
The collective female pain-body, linked to historical suffering of women, is specifically addressed as an opportunity for enlightenment and transmutation through conscious presence.
The Meaning of Surrender and Acceptance:
Surrender is the key to transforming suffering and finding inner peace. It means "Acceptance of the Now."
Quote: "Surrender to what is. Say 'yes' to life - and see how life suddenly starts working for you rather than against you."
Accepting the present moment, even if it is "unacceptable, unpleasant, or awful," involves observing how the mind labels it and creates pain. By stepping out of resistance, one finds "inner freedom from external conditions."
Forgiveness is described as "to relinquish your grievance and so to let go of grief." It happens naturally when one realizes a grievance strengthens a "false sense of self." Forgiveness of the present moment is crucial to prevent the accumulation of resentment.
Surrender does not mean allowing oneself to be used or manipulated, but rather saying "no" from a place of "insight" and "inner nonresistance."
Going Beyond Happiness and Unhappiness to Peace:
True inner peace is distinct from happiness, which depends on positive external conditions. Peace "does not."
Suffering, even "bad" events, can be a "greatest teacher," forcing one to "let go of false self-images" and leading to depth, humility, and compassion.
From a "higher perspective," conditions are "neither positive nor negative. They are as they are."
Accepting "what is" allows for the possibility of finding "a deep serenity, a stillness, a sacred presence" underneath sadness or pain. This is the "emanation of Being," the "good that has no opposite."
Negativity is seen as inner resistance and a "psychic pollutant." It strengthens the ego but does not work to achieve desirable outcomes. It is "totally unnatural" and a sign to "Wake up. Get out of your mind. Be present."
A practical way to deal with negativity is to become "transparent" to its external cause, letting it "pass right through you" without resistance. This is described as "forgiveness" and leads to invulnerability.
Portals into the Unmanifested:
The inner body serves as a primary portal into the realm of Being, the "formless realm," and the "Unmanifested." By directing attention inward and feeling the "subtle energy field" of the body, one becomes "anchored in the Now."
The Unmanifested is described as the "invisible Source of all things, the Being within all beings." It is a realm of "deep stillness and peace, but also of joy and intense aliveness."
Quote: "Whenever you are present, you become 'transparent' to some extent to the light, the pure consciousness that emanates from this Source."
Silence is another portal into the Unmanifested. By paying attention to the silence within and around sounds, the mind becomes still, and one enters the Unmanifested.
Space is also a manifestation of the Unmanifested in the physical universe. By withdrawing attention from objects and becoming aware of empty space, a shift in consciousness occurs, linking external space to the inner "still inner space of no-mind."
The Goal of Enlightenment:
Enlightenment is presented not as a superhuman achievement but as humanity's "natural state of felt oneness with Being."
It is defined by the Buddha as "the end of suffering."
The author emphasizes that enlightenment is available "now - no matter who or where you are."
The text aims to draw the reader into a "timeless state of intense conscious presence in the Now," offering a "taste of enlightenment."
The ultimate effect of suffering is to "force humans into realizing who they are beyond name and form," leading to the "awakening of Being-consciousness."
Important Facts and Concepts Highlighted:
The difference between the "I" (conscious presence) and the "self" (mind-identified ego).
The "watcher" or "witnessing presence" as a means to disidentify from the mind.
The "gap of no-mind" as a state of pure consciousness beyond thought.
The distinction between "clock time" (practical use of time) and "psychological time" (identification with past and future).
The ego as a "false self" created by unconscious identification with the mind, driven by fear and a sense of lack.
"Satori" as a brief flash of no-mind and total presence.
The Unmanifested as the source of "chi," the inner energy field of the body.
The power of acceptance in transforming suffering into inner peace.
The concept of "drama" as self or ego-created suffering arising from unconsciousness and resistance.
The idea that nothing external can provide lasting happiness or fulfillment, which arises from the inner "joy of Being."
The practice of "inhabiting the body" to strengthen the immune system and psychic defense.
The author's emphasis on present-moment awareness, disidentification from the mind and ego, and the power of surrender are recurrent and fundamental to his teaching. The practical suggestions for achieving these states, such as observing the breath and attending to the inner body, are also key takeaways.
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