May 31 2009
Book Review: The Power of Now
I love the Buddha’s simple definition of enlightenment as “the end of suffering.”
So says Eckhart Tolle in his now classic book, The Power of Now.
Tolle’s book, in fact, is a simple definition of enlightenment:
By living in the NOW of your existence, it says, you are free of the past and of the future, free to realize your eternal spirit, free (at last) to become an enlightened soul.
As a concept, living in the NOW is hardly new. It is, in fact, the major teaching in Zen Buddhism. But Tolle says it better within the 229 pages of his book.
In simple, but beautiful and profound language he tells you how to attain inner peace, happiness, and enlightenment—and it doesn’t involve getting a promotion at work, buying a new car, or “keeping up with the Jones’s.” Rather, keeping your mind on the present moment is the only thing you have to do…the rest follows naturally.
I have read many spiritual/new age books written by many gurus—Marianne Williamson, Deepak Chopra, Wayne Dyer—but none compare to the enlightenment that I felt just by reading The Power of Now.
If you read one spiritual book this year, I heartily recommend that you give Tolle a try. You won’t be disappointed.
Cool, you’re the second person to mention Tolle in the past week or so. I’ve already added A New Earth and The Power of Now to my all-too-long to-read list… one of these days I should ‘order’ one of them from the library - of the two which is a better first exposure to Tolle, in your opinion?
See…this is a sign from the Universe that you’re supposed to read this book!
I have read both “The Power of Now,” and “A New Earth,” and I would recommend that you read “The Power of Now” first. It is a great intro into the concept of living in the now.
Here’s another piece of advice…when you start reading “A New Earth,” you will probably be disappointed because it does not give you the same feeling as “The Power of Now.” (At least, that was my reaction.) But keep reading. It will hook you a few Chapters into the book. “A New Earth,” in my opinion, rivals “The Power of Now,” but it takes awhile to “rev up,” I think.
Let me know what you think when you read them, Lynne. Good luck!
This is just the type of thing that has been on my mind lately! I will put it on my loooooooooong amazon wish list….at the top! Thank you!