Reading Eckhart Tolle

Lake Superior McClane Park

I’m currently reading Eckhart Tolle’s, A New Earth. Like most spiritual books, it is not an easy read. It may take several readings to gain an understanding of his message.

Tolle was born in postwar Germany, and grew up among bombed out buildings, despair and defeat. He did not get along well with his peers, and spent the better part of his childhood and early adulthood depressed and suicidal. At the age of 29 he went through an awakening.

He teaches the ego controls the actions of most people, but the ego is not the true self. It is a false powerful self that is difficult to overcome. It is only by overcoming the sham self through which awakening can occur, and true happiness obtained.

While some of what he says makes sense, I’m not sure I agree with everything. It makes sense that being in the now or the present, and not worrying about the next thing would reduce stress. Because the next thing never comes, it is always a new next thing.

However when you jump out of bed at 5 am, and your bare foot hits a pile of cat barf you’re definitely in the now and not worrying about the next thing. However, you aren’t happy. Tolle would say, do away with the negative thoughts associated with the event. Stepping in cat barf is just stepping in cat barf, and no need to attach negative emotion to the incident.

So I’ll keep reading, and attempt to not think negative thoughts.