A New Earth: Awakening To Your Life's Purpose by Eckhart Tolle
A New Earth: Awakening To Your Life's Purpose is a spiritual book about finding peace and happiness through an inner transformation of consciousness. Eckhart Tolle believes that the power of peace and happiness comes from within oneself, and that humanity is trapped in a “world of thought”, a prison of our egoic mind. Tolle feels that thinking without awareness is the main dilemma of the human existence, and that we must allow our ego to be diminished. When we allow our egoic mind to be diminished, we can find peace and happiness from within.
Throughout the book, Tolle tries to help you, the reader make an individual shift in consciousness by awakening yourself – arising consciousness is awakening. Tolle believes that the key to transform humanity into a peaceful and happy civilization is to undergo a transformation of inner consciousness. Through this inner transformation peace can be achieved. Tolle also goes into detail about how and why we take life too seriously, and that we need to “not mind what happens”. He wants the reader to acknowledge all of the good you already have in your life, because it is the foundation for all abundance. Beyond that, Tolle writes that our individuality is an illusion, and that we must become aware that we are one with all things.
I feel that the book, while having a few inspirational messages, is quite redundant and repetitive, and also quite redundant and repetitive. The majority of Tolle’s beliefs and writings are essentially a rehash of The Secret, and the writings of Jiddu Krishnamurti. I had a hard time staying awake while reading this book, as it did not inspire me – which he admits may be the case for many readers, perhaps I am not ready to be awakened, or perhaps I just did not enjoy his writing. Nonetheless, the portions of the book I found to be inspiring were generally when he was quoting someone else, or he was referring to a particular current or past event.
The book would be appropriate for public library reading, however I would not recommend it to be included in the Living Beyond War Library Project. I do however think that everyone should at least check out some of the book, mainly because I am interested in the opinions of others, not to mention the hype surrounding his teachings. I think that Tolle would turn off many different people who have specific religious faiths – especially Christians. Since Tolle fails to embrace conflict resolution and tends to focus more on essentially emptying one’s mind to a point of non-caring, I would have to disagree with him, I don’t feel that we should turn our backs on the problems of the world by saying “I don’t mind” - I think that we should understand the problems so that we can change them. Although Tolle recognizes the key principle that “We are one on this planet”, I feel that he fails to embrace individuality, which he believes is an illusion. I agree that we need to collectively transform our consciousness into a peaceful way of thinking, but we are different, and we all have our individual identities, we all have strengths and weaknesses, which should be embraced – not erased and forgotten.
Questions For Discussion:
1. Do you believe that the key to happiness and peace lies within?
2. Do you think that Eckhart Tolle is a true guru or a mere businessman?
3. Tolle claims his book is not a “belief system”, do you agree or disagree? Why?
4. If we are “one on this planet”, can we all still maintain our individuality? What about sovereignty? Do these contradict each other? Why?
5. Who or what inspires you spiritually? Why?
Throughout the book, Tolle tries to help you, the reader make an individual shift in consciousness by awakening yourself – arising consciousness is awakening. Tolle believes that the key to transform humanity into a peaceful and happy civilization is to undergo a transformation of inner consciousness. Through this inner transformation peace can be achieved. Tolle also goes into detail about how and why we take life too seriously, and that we need to “not mind what happens”. He wants the reader to acknowledge all of the good you already have in your life, because it is the foundation for all abundance. Beyond that, Tolle writes that our individuality is an illusion, and that we must become aware that we are one with all things.
I feel that the book, while having a few inspirational messages, is quite redundant and repetitive, and also quite redundant and repetitive. The majority of Tolle’s beliefs and writings are essentially a rehash of The Secret, and the writings of Jiddu Krishnamurti. I had a hard time staying awake while reading this book, as it did not inspire me – which he admits may be the case for many readers, perhaps I am not ready to be awakened, or perhaps I just did not enjoy his writing. Nonetheless, the portions of the book I found to be inspiring were generally when he was quoting someone else, or he was referring to a particular current or past event.
The book would be appropriate for public library reading, however I would not recommend it to be included in the Living Beyond War Library Project. I do however think that everyone should at least check out some of the book, mainly because I am interested in the opinions of others, not to mention the hype surrounding his teachings. I think that Tolle would turn off many different people who have specific religious faiths – especially Christians. Since Tolle fails to embrace conflict resolution and tends to focus more on essentially emptying one’s mind to a point of non-caring, I would have to disagree with him, I don’t feel that we should turn our backs on the problems of the world by saying “I don’t mind” - I think that we should understand the problems so that we can change them. Although Tolle recognizes the key principle that “We are one on this planet”, I feel that he fails to embrace individuality, which he believes is an illusion. I agree that we need to collectively transform our consciousness into a peaceful way of thinking, but we are different, and we all have our individual identities, we all have strengths and weaknesses, which should be embraced – not erased and forgotten.
Questions For Discussion:
1. Do you believe that the key to happiness and peace lies within?
2. Do you think that Eckhart Tolle is a true guru or a mere businessman?
3. Tolle claims his book is not a “belief system”, do you agree or disagree? Why?
4. If we are “one on this planet”, can we all still maintain our individuality? What about sovereignty? Do these contradict each other? Why?
5. Who or what inspires you spiritually? Why?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by David Scholten on -
Noah,
Thanks for writing this review. I read some Eckhart Tolle in my twenties and was moved by his writings, but have not picked up his work in awhile. I appreciate the honesty with which you critique his work. About 5 years ago, I watched a video of him teaching and was blown away. I wonder if the teachings of those who take an 'absolute' perspective (emphasizing that everything is already okay, we just don't see it) don't come across better in person. When you speak from that position, there really is very little to say, so I can see why he might have been repeating himself.
I like your questions, especially #2 and #3. I love that you are encouraging people to look within and also that you are asking people to challenge his authority.
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