A New Earth - or - The Eckhart and Oprah Show (just kidding)

Is anybody else reading the book, or participating in the online course, or watching the video podcasts?

I've been reading and watching. It was all great until Chapter 7, which I struggled with reading, and I couldn't watch the entire podcast and didn't want to. I moved on to Chapter 8. I watched the podcast late last night and I Saw the Light. It was dizzying. I've been struggling with my career for a long time, struggling in my roles as a mother and wife and not-writing writer, struggling with my social experiences, and the wisdom that Tolle is sharing via this book and his work with Oprah really is life changing. It is changing how I do my job, how I interact with my husband, how I parent, how I feel about myself.

I'm curious to know what other people's experiences have been while reading/watching Tolle.

I don't watch Oprah.

http://www.amazon.com/New-Earth-Awakening-Purpose-Selection/dp/0452289963/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1209055042&sr=1-1


Book Description

With his bestselling spiritual guide The Power of Now, Eckhart Tolle inspired millions of readers to discover the freedom and joy of a life lived "in the now." In A New Earth, Tolle expands on these powerful ideas to show how transcending our ego-based state of consciousness is not only essential to personal happiness, but also the key to ending conflict and suffering throughout the world. Tolle describes how our attachment to the ego creates the dysfunction that leads to anger, jealousy, and unhappiness, and shows readers how to awaken to a new state of consciousness and follow the path to a truly fulfilling existence.

The Power of Now was a question-and-answer handbook. A New Earth has been written as a traditional narrative, offering anecdotes and philosophies in a way that is accessible to all. Illuminating, enlightening, and uplifting, A New Earth is a profoundly spiritual manifesto for a better way of life—and for building a better world.

About the Author

ECKHART TOLLE is a contemporary spiritual teacher who is not aligned with any particular religion or tradition. In his writing and seminars, he conveys a simple yet profound message with the timeless and uncomplicated clarity of the ancient spiritual masters: There is a way out of suffering and into peace. Eckhart travels extensively, taking his teachings throughout the world.

and was going to participate in the webcast, but it comes on too late for me. If I ever have time, I'll go watch the podcasts.

To tell the truth, I hadn't found much in the book that was new to me, just a reaffirming of what I had read, but maybe in a different way.

I was hoping this webcast would be a huge upliftment of humanity's consciousness - perhaps it has, I'll not give up hope.

I've had a few big "ahhhhhhhh" moments.

I've been saying I understand the ego, and I understand silence, and I understand detachment, etc... but it's one thing to understand these varied manifestations of our selves, and another thing to accept, release, etc. My understanding had become a prison of ideas.

It's the difference between the mind/ego and the experience. It initially took me awhile to 'get' that too. My mind would tell me I 'knew' what it meant, so I could dismiss it and go on. But the mind IS indeed a prison.

I watched a few of the webcasts. I don't get good reception during the webcast so, even though that would be a convenient time, I must watch them later. That got me behind. There's also the local meeting, which I've attended a few times. ;)

I'm *behind*. I've struggled with chapter 7 too. Since I was late getting the book, I started reading from the front and from chapter 4 or 5, wherever the group was. I don't recommend that.

When I watched my first webcast (4?), it didn't seem profound much at all. But the next day, I could not stop thinking about it, but not in an obsessive way. The message just settled in, and yes, made profound changes in how I go about being myself. I love it!

Unfortunately, since my job finished up, I don't take a lot of time to read during the day.

I think Tolle relaxes each week more and more into this format of teaching - especially as he gets closer to the crux of his message. Last night was reeeally good - I kept giggling, but I'm not sure why. I was amused by how well coordinated they were - he was in pale yellow, Oprah in corn yellow, and the set is in warm hues as well. I tend to notice colors though, and I'm always curious to see who I encounter through my day who is wearing the same colors as I, or who among my colleagues are color-sharing, so to speak.

Anyhow, Tolle seemed really relaxed and I enjoyed the callers more than in previous webcasts. I feel a little silly about how much I anticipate the next one - it's good to feel excited, I have to remind myself.

I'm watching the iTunes podcasts, and the picture/sound quality is perfect - like a dvd. Highly recommend.

Does it require some gadget or do you watch through regular computer? I'm trying to figure out if it's something I could enjoy with just my dial up PC? Maybe this is a way around the computer bandwidth and speed issue?

Once you have iTunes software on your computer, you can watch the iTunes podcasts on your computer (or on your video iPod if you have one).

If you don't want to download the iTunes software, I think the Oprah site has them in other video formats: one would certainly be compatible with your system.

I often feel close to giddy when I am watching the podcasts. It's been an interesting experience.

Not sure what the giddiness means, but sounds like a really positive response or release.
I guess I'm a little 'giddy' too that so many are entering into this process because of my own experiences with it so far.

My favorite reminder and the essence of Tolle's message is Psalm 46:

Be still and know that I am God...

I wonder how many have read the context for that line?
Here is the whole psalm, which talks about the river of the Divine, the still place into which we can enter into this flow even amidst great upheaval.





1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.


2 Therefore will not we fear,
though the earth be removed,
and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;


3 though the waters thereof roar and be troubled,
though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.
Selah.


4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God,
the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High.


5 God is in the midst of her;
she shall not be moved:
God shall help her, and that right early.


6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved:
he uttered his voice, the earth melted.


7 The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.
Selah.


8 Come, behold the works of the LORD,
what desolations he hath made in the earth.


9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth;
he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder;
he burneth the chariot in the fire.


10 Be still, and know that I am God:
I will be exalted among the heathen,
I will be exalted in the earth.


11 The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Quite prescient. Really a beautiful passage.

Who/what is Selah?

because it's power is in its sound...and so must be felt.

If you say it aloud as you read/sing the Psalm you begin to feel its significance and the weight it gives the preceding words.

So you can sense it's meaning...and this may not be exactly a good definition but is how I always have interpreted it. It's like a pregnant pause in music (but the space is not empty..it is full with a sound that receives and carries the fullness of His word) in order to fully allow what has just been said to resonate fully within a sacred space. I imagine it to be like a single gentle gong or cymbal at the end of a phrase that emphasizes and continues to resonate after the initial sound is played. Some teachers of meditation use a similar sound to begin and end a session.

Maybe someone else will interpret or explain it differently, but I think that's pretty close.

Selah.

most of the way through the book. I enjoyed Stillness Speaks much more.

Thanks for your reply. How is Stillness Speaks different, what did you enjoy about it?

I think he's reaching a bit on this one. I also think SS is more mantra-ish. Highly recommended.:)

I've only watched the first webinar online, but want to catch up. It's great stuff.

:thumbsup: A lot of this stuff isn't new to me, but I'm still gaining a lot of wisdom from being reminded in a new way.

I'm reading about the Pain Body now. Interesting.

I strive to be the "awareness behing the thought", but it's damn hard! LOL! I've gotten better at stopping the negative chatter that goes on in my head, though.

I do not have a daily spiritual practice of sitting quietly in meditation, but I do try to bring as much awareness and presence to my activities as possible.

Some of my highest spiritual moments of bliss happen when I'm outside, in nature, riding my bicycle. I am fully present and not thinking of anything else.

That's as close to "meditation" as I get. :D

It was my only transportation for a couple of years. It was a completely urban riding experience - I've rarely ridden "in nature." Indeed, there is something about bicycling through the world that enables a perspective of presence.

Every breath is a meditation. What a gift!

I've been enjoying this book through and through. And, as you say, It's not really new material but, just presented in a way that gives you a new perspective.

I really crack up reading the chat on Oprah's site.

Somehow, the way Eckert presents it all allows me to live it moment-to-moment. The application to my daily life is amazing!

And, you just reminded me of one of my funniest bicycling experiences:

I once road 14 miles for an interview in 114 degree F(Arizona), in a skirt! Needless to say, I did NOT get the job!;-)

it was announced earlier this month and is about 20 light years from here.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/technology/technology.html?in_article_id=450467&in_page_id=1965

Congratulations on your breakthrough, Dora!!

I feel bad for that poor planet and any current life forms on it. if we destroy Earth because of our carelessness and greed, humanity will do the same thing to this planet without batting an eye. (At least humanity at its current vibratory rate would; I hope that we'll be beyond such things as our vibratory rate rises.)

:(

Time is relative, I know, but WOW!

My primary shifts regarding Tolle's teachings (major ahas!) came several years ago when I read Power Of Now, but I find this book much more accessible. Or maybe its just that I've been integrating these practices and progressively experienced their affects in my life so that now I am appreciating his teachings on a deeper level than I did initially...so it's easier. It was tough to 'get it' at first because I kept trying to accomplish that through my mind/ego. So the experience and practice is the real doorway...

And I gotta say I'm just thrilled to discover Tolle's message is reaching so many worldwide and that there is this opportunity to process it together through Oprah's 'classroom'. Though I've not been a big watcher of her t.v. show (due mainly to my lack of interest in t.v. in general) I am so impressed to discover her depths and honesty and think she and Tolle's styles of teaching and delivery are so complimentary, which is something I'd never have guessed would work. Unfortunately, due to my computer limitations, I can't join in the live show, but have been reading the transcripts and occassionally taking the time (hours!) to download the audio.

I loved chapt. 9, and want to share a couple of passages that struck a chord with me.

The first is on page 262:



I hope they will talk more about this awkward stage and how to move through it. Many people find any form of isolation or disconnect from culture to be so threatening and scary. And yet, through the inner alignment with the Divine that is developed the connections to others in general becomes MUCH deeper and infinitely more meaningful than a limited cultural identification could ever provide.

And the second passage (p. 263-5) has to do with what I feel many people confuse with being spiritual. They still are in the ego world of form, however, and trying to 'be good' rather than experiencing 'being' and its inherent goodness. I recall it took me quite some time to truly understand what it meant to say someone is "not what they do".

----



----


This also reminds me of the message of Peter Kingsley's article I posted here some time ago entitled, As Far As Longing Can Reach.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=245&topic_id=45711

Although I believe I already know what m primary purpose is, I enjoy this clarification; so I am headed to the bookstore as soon as husband gets home.

I think that I'd like the Schaum's Outline or Reader's Digest condensed version of the book. I know that this book is amazingly powerful and life-changing, but I've had trouble reading Tolle's work before; I just couldn't make myself continue to read it. (I think that I've got a rather lazy, undisciplined mind. I'll blame it on the lack of air in my astrological chart. ;))

Let me at 'em! :hide:

:grr:

My chart's just full of mud. :)

Sometimes that fire can be a bit pesky. ;) .. You are perfect just as you are.

than off-line, where I get to make a decision as to whether I really want to click the 'Post message' button. Just ask ricochetastroman, Metta or my manager! :D As I'm sure you know, water in a chart can involve emotions, so, with all of the water in my chart, when I'm emotional, I have difficulty staying calm. I do try to stay in balance though, which usually helps me to not lose control emotionally.

Thank you for your kind words. :hug:

But not too late! I finally discovered this series on iTunes in time to catch the last webcast thiscoming Monday. I'm glad I listened to the shows (just the audio) before reading the book, because the book makes more sense to me now that I heard Tolle explain it ahead of time.

I experienced an awakening (I called it an epiphany) in the early 1990s, and wished I had someone like Tolle around back then to help explain what I was experiencing.

I would like to hear them now that I have some time.

You can get them from Oprah's website, or download them through iTunes.

They're good. :)