Eckhart Tolle
Eckhart Tolle | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Author, professional speaker |
| Genre | Motivational |
| Website | |
| http://www.eckharttolle.com | |
Eckhart Tolle (born 16 February 1948) is a new age writer.
Biography
Tolle was born Ulrich Tolle in 1948 in Germany. He lived with his father in Spain from about the age of 13 (around 1961) until he moved to England in his early 20s (around 1970).
Tolle did not attend formal schooling after the age of 13.
At the age of 29, Tolle experienced what he considered a spiritual transformation that marked the beginning of his career as a counselor and spiritual teacher.[1]
Since 1996 Tolle has lived in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.[2][3]
Teachings
Tolle claims to have had a radical spiritual awakening at the age of 29 after suffering long periods of depression. His non-fiction bestseller The Power of Now emphasizes the importance of being aware of the present moment as a way of not being lost in thought. In his view, the present is the gateway to a heightened sense of peace. He states that "being in the now" brings about an awareness that is beyond the mind, an awareness which helps in transcending "the pain-body" that is created by the identification of the mind and ego with the body. His later book A New Earth further explores the structure of the human ego and how this acts to distract people from their present experience of the world. He also wrote Stillness Speaks and Practicing the Power of Now.
Influences
Tolle is not aligned with any particular religion or tradition. However, in the book Dialogues with Emerging Spiritual Teachers by John W. Parker, he has acknowledged a strong connection to J Krishnamurti and Ramana Maharshi and stated that his teaching is a coming together of the teachings of both those teachers. In addition, he states that by listening to and speaking with the spiritual teacher Barry Long, he understood things more deeply.[4]
Influences which are alluded to in The Power of Now are the writings of Meister Eckhart, Advaita Vedanta, A Course in Miracles, mystical Islam, Sufism, and Rumi's poetry, as well as Zen Buddhism's Lin-chi (Rinzai) school.
Reception
The first of his four books was The Power of Now, a #1 New York Times best-seller that has been translated into over 33 languages. [1] He has also recorded numerous audio interviews and a video. American talk-show host Oprah Winfrey considers The Power of Now to be one of her favorite books. [5]
Tolle's most recent book, A New Earth, was also the #1 New York Times best-seller in March 2008. [6]
In January 2008, Oprah Winfrey selected A New Earth as her "Oprah's Book Club" selection, accompanied by a 10-week live online seminar (or "webinar") with Tolle, which started on 3 March 2008.[1][7] [8]
Works
Books
- The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment, New World Library, October, 1999 ISBN 1-57731-152-3 (HC) ISBN 1-57731-480-8 (PB)
- Practicing the Power of Now: Essential Teachings, Meditations, and Exercises from The Power of Now, New World Library, October 10 2001 ISBN 1-57731-195-7 (HC)
- Stillness Speaks: Whispers of Now, New World Library, August, 2003 ISBN 1-57731-400-X
- A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose, Dutton, October 11 2005 ISBN 0-525-94802-3
Audio tapes
- What is Meditation?
- Practicing the Power of Now
- Companion to the Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment, June 2001
- Living the Liberated Life and Dealing With the Pain Body, October 2001
- The Realization of Being: A Guide to Experiencing Your True Identity, October 2001
- Know That "I Am", January 1 2002
- Even the Sun Will Die: An Interview With Eckhart Tolle, July 2002
- The Eckhart Tolle Audio Collection, September 2002
- The Essence of Now, 2002
- Choose to Awaken Now, 2002
- In the Presence of a Great Mystery, 2002
- Realizing the Power of Now: An In-Depth Retreat With Eckhart Tolle, June 2003
- Entering the Now, August 2003
- Gateways to Now, September 1 2003
- Whispers, January 1 2004
- The Flowering of Human Consciousness, May 2004
- Living a Life of Inner Peace, October 10 2004
- Practicing Presence: A Guide for the Spiritual Teacher and Health Practitioner, November 1 2004
- Eckhart Tolle's Findhorn Retreat: Stillness Amidst the World, October 10 2005
- Through the Open Door: Journey to the Vastness of Your True Being, January 30 2006
References
- ^ a b c Eckhart Tolle Biography New York Times, Times Topics, March 5, 2008.
- ^ Spreading the Change The Vancouver Sun, February 2, 2008.
- ^ "Eckhart Biography". Retrieved 2008-01-10.
- ^ "Eckhart Tolle Interview". Retrieved 2008-03-07.
- ^ Oprah's Favourite Books
- ^ Best Sellers New York Times, March 2008.
- ^ Oprah Winfrey has made A New Earth.. New York Times, January 31, 2008.
- ^ Tolle's 'Earth www.usatoday.com, March 2008.
External links
