Comments on: Is Eckhart Tolle Trying to Be God? http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/10/28/is-eckhart-tolle-trying-to-be-god/ Online travel magazine dedicated to exploring travel in the 21st century. Offering travel news, compelling interviews, online travel tools, and more. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 23:59:50 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: steve http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/10/28/is-eckhart-tolle-trying-to-be-god/comment-page-1/#comment-97163 steve Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:12:28 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=6363#comment-97163 I am a former cult member, and there is something about his videos that make me feel uncomfortable. His message is fine but nothing new that I haven't heard or read many times in a variety of spiritual books. Many of these so called "enlightened" teachers are very charismatic and masters of mass hypnosis - and before you realize what's going on, it's too late. If he's your guy, cool - just be careful and keep your eyes and ears open for the warning signs of a cult leader. I am a former cult member, and there is something about his videos that make me feel uncomfortable. His message is fine but nothing new that I haven’t heard or read many times in a variety of spiritual books.

Many of these so called “enlightened” teachers are very charismatic and masters of mass hypnosis – and before you realize what’s going on, it’s too late.

If he’s your guy, cool – just be careful and keep your eyes and ears open for the warning signs of a cult leader.

(Report comment)

]]> By: Dana http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/10/28/is-eckhart-tolle-trying-to-be-god/comment-page-1/#comment-97124 Dana Tue, 02 Mar 2010 09:24:38 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=6363#comment-97124 He has the only merit to have written a easy to read manual with a mix of Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity ( with vague concepts of spirituality and religion) He compiled "his findings" in fast and easy to read books, just what he knew would be marketable in this country. Mr. Tolle did not get famous or rich in Europe, but here. He will be forgotten soon when some other "Tolle" (whilst sitting on a bench) will" get enlightened" with a new way to get rich with marketing ancient philosophies to Americans. There is so much ignorance around, the "power of now" is not a new concept is a thousand years old Buddhist concept it is written in the bible, in any ancient book of religion, it was made famous in America more than 30 years ago by Baba Ram Dass, wrote " Be here now" and was quite famous for "his" message. Tolle just made a good practical manual of "techniques" to achieve inner peace , with a mix of ancient religions. He is not telling anything new. It is people that is trying to find somewhere else what they have the answer just living life deeply. Answers to life are not written in short manuals promoted by USA celebrities. It is people who does not pause to live who make men like Tolle Millionaire expressing he is telling something new, the power of "now" t is not a Tolle's idea. He himself writes that " f you go to a church, you may hear readings from the Gospels, such as, "Take no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for things of itself" or "Nobody who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of heaven". Or you may hear the passage about the beautiful flowers who are not anxious about tomorrow, but live with ease in the timeless now and are provided for abundantly by God. The true nature of these teachings is not recognized. No one seems to realize that they were meant to be lived and thereby bring about profound inner transformation. So we really need Tolle, to save ourselves?Is he authentic? Are you so "distracted" that you can say you never heard that concepts before?Common! He has the only merit to have written a easy to read manual with a mix of Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity ( with vague concepts of spirituality and religion) He compiled “his findings” in fast and easy to read books, just what he knew would be marketable in this country. Mr. Tolle did not get famous or rich in Europe, but here. He will be forgotten soon when some other “Tolle” (whilst sitting on a bench) will” get enlightened” with a new way to get rich with marketing ancient philosophies to Americans.
There is so much ignorance around, the “power of now” is not a new concept is a thousand years old Buddhist concept it is written in the bible, in any ancient book of religion, it was made famous in America more than 30 years ago by Baba Ram Dass, wrote ” Be here now” and was quite famous for “his” message.
Tolle just made a good practical manual of “techniques” to achieve inner peace , with a mix of ancient religions. He is not telling anything new. It is people that is trying to find somewhere else what they have the answer just living life deeply. Answers to life are not written in short manuals promoted by USA celebrities. It is people who does not pause to live who make men like Tolle Millionaire expressing he is telling something new, the power of “now” t is not a Tolle’s idea. He himself writes that ”

f you go to a church, you may hear readings from the Gospels, such as, “Take no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for things of itself” or “Nobody who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of heaven”. Or you may hear the passage about the beautiful flowers who are not anxious about tomorrow, but live with ease in the timeless now and are provided for abundantly by God. The true nature of these teachings is not recognized. No one seems to realize that they were meant to be lived and thereby bring about profound inner transformation.

So we really need Tolle, to save ourselves?Is he authentic? Are you so “distracted” that you can say you never heard that concepts before?Common!

(Report comment)

]]> By: duncan http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/10/28/is-eckhart-tolle-trying-to-be-god/comment-page-1/#comment-95497 duncan Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:53:19 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=6363#comment-95497 like your interpretation Christine. to the questioners here, my take is this. Only personal experience!! The ground on which we all stand is the life we experience, why let anything take us away from its beauty. And how else would we know beauty if we did not have ugliness as contrast? Without our senses how would we know either? Is'nt then it somehow a reflection of our inner self we see? Critics What are the critics afraid of ? A loss of their egoic importance? Afraid they are nothing without their given/recieved story? Don't need the message! Maybe you practice being in the now already. I have met a few individuals who are superb farmers. dentists, surgeon who are supremely happy with their situation. Eckhart Tolle's thoughts are not new , only a skilled contemporary account of learning from personal experience and inspired enough to share with others. Accessable to all because he pretends to be nothing other than an ordinary human being. I only hope success does not 'go to his head' and discredit a very timely message for humanity. cheers Duncan like your interpretation Christine.
to the questioners here, my take is this.

Only personal experience!!
The ground on which we all stand is the life we experience, why let anything take us away from its beauty. And how else would we know beauty if we did not have ugliness as contrast? Without our senses how would we know either? Is’nt then it somehow a reflection of our inner self we see?

Critics
What are the critics afraid of ? A loss of their egoic importance? Afraid they are nothing without their given/recieved story?

Don’t need the message! Maybe you practice being in the now already.
I have met a few individuals who are superb farmers. dentists, surgeon who are supremely happy with their situation.

Eckhart Tolle’s thoughts are not new , only a skilled contemporary account of learning from personal experience and inspired enough to share with others. Accessable to all because he pretends to be nothing other than an ordinary human being. I only hope success does not ‘go to his head’ and discredit a very timely message for humanity.

cheers Duncan

(Report comment)

]]> By: polly http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/10/28/is-eckhart-tolle-trying-to-be-god/comment-page-1/#comment-95470 polly Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:48:10 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=6363#comment-95470 who wants to be in the same state as Buddha,Osho,J.Krishnamurti, Gurdjieff, well who doesn't.....but.... who wants to be in the same state as Eckhart Tolle......not me, seems to be some 'enlightened self-hypnosis' going on, as the likes of Gangaji, de Ruiter, etc. ..... i rather be, and stay, a farmer. who wants to be in the same state as Buddha,Osho,J.Krishnamurti, Gurdjieff,
well who doesn’t…..but….
who wants to be in the same state as Eckhart Tolle……not me, seems to be some ‘enlightened self-hypnosis’ going on, as the likes of Gangaji, de Ruiter, etc. ….. i rather be, and stay, a farmer.

(Report comment)

]]> By: Marc Latham http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/10/28/is-eckhart-tolle-trying-to-be-god/comment-page-1/#comment-95323 Marc Latham Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:22:39 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=6363#comment-95323 Thanks for introducing Eckhart Tolle. I haven't read the books but respect ET's right to voice his opinions. Just seems like personal experience and thoughts to me, which some people will relate to and some won't. I agree with him about the buildings, and think people should just worship where they want, inside or outside, and individually or in a group of like-minded people. But I don't agree with just thinking in the now, if that's what he proposes; I believe in using memories and planning for the future. Thanks for introducing Eckhart Tolle.

I haven’t read the books but respect ET’s right to voice his opinions.

Just seems like personal experience and thoughts to me, which some people will relate to and some won’t.

I agree with him about the buildings, and think people should just worship where they want, inside or outside, and individually or in a group of like-minded people.

But I don’t agree with just thinking in the now, if that’s what he proposes; I believe in using memories and planning for the future.

(Report comment)

]]> By: Dianne http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/10/28/is-eckhart-tolle-trying-to-be-god/comment-page-1/#comment-95300 Dianne Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:52:18 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=6363#comment-95300 I think it is a great book - but definately needs to be read several times to fully comprehend it and benefit from it. The present is all we ever have, so much dissatisfaction comes from stress and worry, which usually never happens and is the future. I think Eckart Tolle, has a good message and does comes from his own experience. There is always something that can be learned and benefited from these inspirational book. Great Article I think it is a great book – but definately needs to be read several times to fully comprehend it and benefit from it. The present is all we ever have, so much dissatisfaction comes from stress and worry, which usually never happens and is the future. I think Eckart Tolle, has a good message and does comes from his own experience. There is always something that can be learned and benefited from these inspirational book. Great Article

(Report comment)

]]> By: Ekaterina http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/10/28/is-eckhart-tolle-trying-to-be-god/comment-page-1/#comment-95299 Ekaterina Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:44:33 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=6363#comment-95299 Hi Christine, already from the title I thought it must be you:) You always make me laugh and I so much like your thoughts about these subjects. But regarding Tolle, - to be honest, I couldn't last more than ten pages of his book 'The Power of Now'. I found it extremely boring, but it probably just means that I don't live in the now:) Hi Christine,
already from the title I thought it must be you:) You always make me laugh and I so much like your thoughts about these subjects.
But regarding Tolle, – to be honest, I couldn’t last more than ten pages of his book ‘The Power of Now’. I found it extremely boring, but it probably just means that I don’t live in the now:)

(Report comment)

]]> By: Bhaskar Banerji http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/10/28/is-eckhart-tolle-trying-to-be-god/comment-page-1/#comment-95256 Bhaskar Banerji Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:40:01 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=6363#comment-95256 Really interesting article Christine...just sparked an idia...if ET is such a threat to organized religion we should flood Afghanistan & Pakistan with copies of his books translated into Arabic, Pushtun & Urdu. Put the Taliban on the defensive. If I win the lotto this is going to be my gift to the world. Really interesting article Christine…just sparked an idia…if ET is such a threat to organized religion we should flood Afghanistan & Pakistan with copies of his books translated into Arabic, Pushtun & Urdu. Put the Taliban on the defensive. If I win the lotto this is going to be my gift to the world.

(Report comment)

]]> By: Nancy http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/10/28/is-eckhart-tolle-trying-to-be-god/comment-page-1/#comment-95166 Nancy Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:07:17 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=6363#comment-95166 Great piece Christine! It made me outraged, laugh out loud, and ponder. Personally, I am a fan of Tolle and his message. (And to think, before this article I never thought of what it would be like to have sex with him! lol) Mindfulness of the now is what it's all about. I think his message is powerful, simple, and common sense. (Something that makes the dogmatic people of the world cantankerous...) Great piece Christine! It made me outraged, laugh out loud, and ponder. Personally, I am a fan of Tolle and his message. (And to think, before this article I never thought of what it would be like to have sex with him! lol) Mindfulness of the now is what it’s all about. I think his message is powerful, simple, and common sense. (Something that makes the dogmatic people of the world cantankerous…)

(Report comment)

]]> By: Ryan G. http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/10/28/is-eckhart-tolle-trying-to-be-god/comment-page-1/#comment-95159 Ryan G. Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:15:37 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=6363#comment-95159 "start doing something good for a change such as building hospitals and schools instead of useless churches. " I agree with Christine. This guy is not a serious threat to anyone but the most dogmatic. On the other hand, I respectfully disagree with you SEACHILD. Building only hospitals and school will leave you with a very educated, healthy, spiritually empty and depressed population. Some people are fine without any higherpower in their lives and I respect that, but I think calling churches uselss is a stretch. For many people, it's the only time they think about anything higher than themselves. “start doing something good for a change such as building hospitals and schools instead of useless churches. ”

I agree with Christine. This guy is not a serious threat to anyone but the most dogmatic. On the other hand, I respectfully disagree with you SEACHILD. Building only hospitals and school will leave you with a very educated, healthy, spiritually empty and depressed population. Some people are fine without any higherpower in their lives and I respect that, but I think calling churches uselss is a stretch. For many people, it’s the only time they think about anything higher than themselves.

(Report comment)

]]>