The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment

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

Product Description
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.

I realize that in any spiritual teaching, certain concepts are going to be repeated. This is necessary, especially since the concepts presented are probably going to seem new to most readers. However, I felt that the whole book was nothing but a repetition of this general idea: the mind is the root of all problems, because it has taken us over (meaning that we can't control it, but rather, it controls us). However, we can free ourselves from this by becoming totally present.

The author then elaborates on this statement using many different phrases, such as, "Feel the power of this moment and the fullness of Being. Feel your presence" (pg. 70). He also uses the typically vague promises that tend to accompany books like this, such as, "...You can be at peace. There may be sadness and tears, but provided you have relinquished resistance, underneath the sadness you will feel a deep serenity, a stillness, a sacred presence" (pg. 148). To me, it seemed as if the author was simply repeating the same basic idea over and over again; which, again, is not necessarily a bad thing. However, it begins to become annoying when the book has as many pages as this does; and after reading all of them you feel as though you could have just read the title and received all the information from that.

As I said previously, the idea of this book was very promising. Even the techniques contained within the book, though inspiring, were never very well explained. After reading this book a couple times, I still don't really know how to get to that spot of inner peace. I don't know, either, how to feel the "...still, observing presence itself behind the content of your mind, the silent watcher" (pg. 46). I don't even think there was a technique telling you how to achieve that, actually. Sure, the author has included some meditations, but they're nothing new. The same old "Direct your attention into the body. Feel it from within" (pg. 93) type meditations, which can be found almost anywhere else, even on web pages (for free, no less) are included in this book.

Overall, this book did not live up to it's hype. I found it to be long and rambling; the author took the title of the book and expanded it into 191 pages full of the same idea phrased with different words. He attempts to tackle some other subjects too, of course, such as relationships. However, he basically uses the same "power of NOW" approach to these as well; meaning that he suggested a relationship would evolve into true love when both partners had eliminated their respective egos and become completely immersed in the now. That's the solution for EVERY problem, it seems. So he's just using the same message for different problems, which seems to be more of a "pie in the sky" promise to me.


For Whom the Bell Tolles   May 14, 2003
 1056 out of 1486 found this review helpful

...Tolle's teaching is in places insightful, mystical, yet with strong under currents of New Age mumbo jumbo followed by periods that are absurd, eccentric and falling into gibberish. I believe Tolle has had some genuinely mystical experiences in his life. He is a very sincere and well intentioned fellow. However, his problems arise once he has attempted to interpret that mystical experience; to reduce it to a psychological formula for enlightenment. Tolle is a perfect example of the delusions that arise from an intellectual interpretation of the mystical. A classic pitfall.Here are a few of the core errors Tolle has made:

1) The core of Tolle's teachings centers around being present in the moment in order to free oneself of suffering. Tolle sees the past and future as time, and the present as timeless. This is a fundamental and foundational mistake which, unfortunately, skews the rest of his teachings. Why? The truth is that past, present, and future are all of time. The present, the now in that sense, is not outside of time. By mentally drawing your attention to the present, you are merely focusing on a different aspect of time. This does not bring about freedom, but rather simply shifts one's attention. ***The now, the state of timelessness referred to by the mystics over the centuries is *beyond* past, present, and future. It enters into realms which extends far beyond mental games.

2) The core of Tolle's ***partial*** mystical realization, which I believe is genuine, took place during a time of suicidal crisis. Tolle experienced a profound act of Grace which led him to the spiritual life. It was given freely, not based on any doing by Tolle. Yet Eckhart ignores this fact in his teachings to you which are all about do this, do that, free yourself. This is a grave oversight on his part.

3) Tolle has grossly, and with grandiosity, over estimated the potential benefits of focusing on oneself in the moment via a mental technique. There are many other mistakes made by Tolle, yet there's simply no more room in this review to go into them.

Now we come to the just plain eccentric:

1) Tolle believes that women and gays are inherently more able to realize enlightenment than heterosexual men. I can assure you, God holds no such prejudice.

2) Eckhart says that the discomfort of a women's menstrual cycle is caused by centuries of poor treatment by men. This is way off the map.

3) He believes all animals are completely free of negativity in any form unless they've spent time with humans. Just silly. Dolphins at times have violent battles with other dolphins. Grizzly bears will kill a mother's cubs in order to mate with her. The list goes on and on.

Tolle's book is ok. It certainly, in PLACES, rises above the general absurdity of New Age literature. When compared to that lot, Tolle's book is ok. However, that is setting a rather low standard. Check out J. Krishnamurti, the Dalai Lama, the later years of Thomas Merton or any of the great spiritual texts of the world for a much more solid and grounded teaching.


and Now...   January 25, 2002
 377 out of 444 found this review helpful

I picked up "The Power of Now" in the "New Age" section of the bookstore. I was determined to make the reading about "spirituality" a short episode in my life... and I was probably right, as far as the reading goes, that is.

I got the book and continued reading at home, and, as I often do with study guides and textbooks, started underlining what seemed most important. Soon it became harder to separate the important from the unimportant, because it all seemed important! Then, I stopped, put down the pencil and said: "Wow!"

Where did this book come from? Why aren't we hearing about it on CNN? Reading it felt strange at first, as it demanded my total attention: either I was drawn deep into it, or not at all. Do you like to eat while reading? Well, this book will make you feel ridiculous if you try to eat and read at the same time!

The book showed me that I have a pretty thick mold of the mind to break through, and it took me very far on the first day, even farther after that. The message went beyond what I would probably recognize on my own. After all, I was (and still am but to a lesser degree) one of those constant thinkers who mistakenly believe that it's good to think all the time but almost never stop to see, hear and feel the essence of being. Although the message in the book seems familiar and simple, in the end it provided exhaustive answers to the few questions that I had and also those that I wouldn't have thought of before. Amazingly, it also managed not to raise new ones. What it did was grab me by lapels and put me into the present moment. Over and over again, it told me what it means, how to enter it, offered a few different methods, and suggested that with practice many opportunities exist to enter it.

Another point is that once I finished the book, its message lingered (may I say "in my mind" here?). The author's obvious and at the same time subtly effective, repetitive approach somehow kept reassuring me that I was absorbing and remembering the material. The text never strayed far from the core of the message, which seemed to stick with vivid clarity.

I soon began to practice shifting myself into this state of intense concentration, and it feels strange and alluring at the same time, this detachment from the mind. At first, I could only do it while being completely relaxed, just before falling asleep. Later, it became easier to do along with other daily activities. Don't worry; you will not get hit by a truck while crossing the street and trying to focus into the Now! Also, the people at work will not laugh at you because you look weird trying to focus, but they may notice a difference in you: that you are relaxed, focused and less confrontational (because you are surrendered to the present moment). The most immediate effect for me was that focusing into the present moment helped me communicate better. I began to listen more intensely, meaningfully and less judgmentally than before.

However, I feel that this is only the tip of an iceberg. Trying to be in the Now has inspired me more than any miracle. At the same time, it's clear that learning to live in the Now is a skill, and like any skill it can be enhanced with practice. The more you work at it, the better and more natural you get doing it.

In short, I don't need to search for the truth anymore. I got lucky on the first try, by becoming a little curious with the book that seemed unassuming and light in physical weight. Thank you, Eckhart. NOW, I can be at peace, knowing how much I can look forward to in this life, and beyond.


The Power of Tolle's message   June 1, 2000
 168 out of 196 found this review helpful

In the past 25 years I have read spiritual books ranging from the works of Gurdjieff and his followers to the discourses and satsangs with Maharaj, Poonjaji, and Gangaji. These have helped me and probably thousands of other seekers. They were the best written accounts available to all of us on the Path who refused to swallow the sugar pills of superficial knowledge of spirituality and enlightenment offered by many. NOW comes Eckhart Tolle with an unbelievably clear, powerful and succinct account of how and why our mind-based ego consciousness runs us, robs us of our birthright as humans, and why our society, at every turn, supports this process. His message is exquisitely eloquent and direct: Learn, through endless practice (unbending intent as Don Juan would say) to observe your mind without judgement. See where this leads you again and again as your sense of who you are escapes psychological time and the vastness, wholeness, and beauty of Creation opens before you. I have read only the first 50 pages and already I know that it will be THE ONE BOOK that goes with me everywhere as I read and reread it until it is part of me.


Not worth the paper it is printed on.   December 9, 2002
 156 out of 231 found this review helpful

I sensed I was in trouble with this book when I read an endorsement from Deepak Chopra, the Martha Stewart of enlightenment. In writing this review I have no delusion about changing the minds of any true believers, those seekers of the truth. There are enough of you to keep this author prosperous for years.

Instead, I am hoping to stop those readers who are earnestly looking for more out of life from wasting their money. This may be the worst book of its type I have ever read. It goes nowhere. It offers no new insight, nor does it take existing ideas and present them in a new, creative way. One critic refered to his writing as gibberish. I think that's being kind. I actually got angry reading this book. OH! I was very much in the "Now" when I had this reaction.

You could read this book a hundred times and not find anything useful. Here is the gist of what I think he's saying. Don't spend time worrying about things you can't control or change. It leads to frustration and in extreme cases to serious illness. Take the energy you would spend worrying and apply it towards positive, constructive thoughts and actions in everything you do.

There are so many authors who say it more precisely, more insightfully and more creatively. Invest your money in them.

Eckhart is a charlatan. He has figured out one of our modern era's greatest shames; you'll never go broke preying on the needs of others. Mr. Tolle is to serious insight into life as John Tesh is to serious music.