Dr. DowningCollege Composition

Spiritual Teacher and author was born in Germany and educated at the Universities of London and Cambridge. 

At the age of twenty-nine a profound inner transformation radically changed the course of his life. 

The next few years were devoted to understanding, integrating and deepening that transformation, which marked the beginning of an intense inward journey. 

The Power of Now A New Earth He also lectures

Tolle claims: “You are not your mind.” What does he mean by this? (9)

Accepting the idea that you are not the mind is a great step toward mental mastery, better concentration and meditation, and the attainment of inner peace.

Being able to direct your mind according to your will is a proof that you are not your mind, but something higher and above it.

Concentration and meditation require the ability to focus the mind, otherwise you will be constantly distracted and your mind will move from one thought to another, and that is neither concentration nor meditation.

Tolle argues: “Thinking has become a disease.” What does he mean by this? (13)

What is the greatest obstacle to experiencing the reality of Being?

Identification with your mind, which causes thought to become compulsive. Not to be able to stop thinking is a dreadful affliction, but we don't realize this because almost everybody is suffering from it, so it is considered normal. This incessant mental noise prevents you from finding that realm of inner stillness that is inseparable from Being

Tolle argues: “Nothing exists outside of the now.” Do you agree? Why or why not? (41)

What about the past? What about the future?

First of all, there is no such thing as time. Time is a fabrication we construct to make our lives seem more linear and therefore more in control.

Dwelling on what we perceive to be past mistakes only exacerbates their hold over us.

You can do NOTHING about whatever has happened in the past. It is done. There is only now. There is only to decide and to do in the here and now.

Decision. Action. Or nothing.

He claims: “There are no problems, only situations—to be dealt with.”

Really? There are no problems? Is this guy insane? Can you defend his position? (53)

From Leslie [October 19, 2006 at 2:33 pm]: “I would define a problem as anything that makes me worry or anxious. A problem to me is a source of great concern or distress. I discovered that by adjusting my attitude, I am able to better manage my feelings and reactions to situations. I like myself better and I think I will be easier to be around. Some people here in the United States may define this attitude as uncaring but I see it as a smarter way to live.”

He writes: “So within, without”…what on Earth does that mean?

Can you defend this argument? (65)

Earth is a place of learning where our lessons are presented to us by making our outside world an exact reflection of our inner world.

If you are angry inside, even though you may have buried the anger so deeply you are unaware of it, you will find angry people in your life. They are mirroring your denied anger back to you.

If you have a deep sense of abandonment, which may well have originated in another life, people will reflect that back to you. They may leave you, withdraw emotionally or even die.

If you are self critical and constantly beat yourself up with your thoughts, you will attract people who will reflect this by putting you down or even physically hitting you.

Tolle closes his book by arguing that we need to surrender to life. Do you agree? Aren’t we taught to fight for what we want? This guy is completely whacky, right? (171)

For most of us, the word surrender has a negative connotation.  We think surrendering means waving the white flag and giving up.  We’re taught from childhood that quitters never win and winners never quit.  Surrender is the last thing we want to do.

But the notion of Spiritual Surrender is quite different.  

 It’s not about defeat.  Spiritual Surrender is empowering.

It is about consciously choosing a way of life that embraces acceptance, joy, and faith…about dealing with situation as they arise, without prejudging them or constantly fretting over them

“As within, so without.” SpiritualAndPsychic.com. September 23, 2009. http://spiritualandpsychic.com/spiritual-laws/as-within-so-without/

“Biography.” EckhartTolle.com. September 23, 2009. http://eckharttolle.com/eckhart_biography

Tolle, Eckhart. The Power of Now. New World Library: Novato, CA. 1997.

“What is Spiritual Surrender?” SpiritualSurrender.com. September 23, 2009. http://spiritualsurrender.com/