Eckhart Tolle was born in Germany in 1948.He graduated from University of London in Philosophy,Psychology and literature in his early twenties, and then decided to do post graduation research in Cambridge University. in 1977.But he dropped out soon after , because he experienced"inner transformation" on one night.Then he started working as a spiritual teacher and Counsellor.The Power of Now was first published in 1997.Oprah Winfrey recommended this book in her magazine.It was on New York Times Best seller list for over two years.It was translated into 33 languages.It has sold over 3 million copies by now.He lives in Vancouver since 1995.
The book says that our past and our future are created by our thoughts and our mind.
The book has ten chapters:
1.You are not your mind.
2.Consciousness:The way out of pain.
3.Moving deeply into the Now.
4Mind strategies for avoiding the Now.
5.The state of presence.
6.The inner body.
7.Portals into the Unmanifested.
8.Enlightened Relationships.
9.Beyond happiness and unhappiness,there is Peace.
10.The meaning of Surrender.
The book has 190 pages and I read it very slowly so that I could understand it.It says that we should free ourselves from enslavement to the mind.Our being is blocked by our thoughts .Thoughts also block beauty , love , creativity, joy , inner peace and our relationships.Be alert and aware but do not focus on thoughts.Pay attention to what you do .When you walk,pay attention to every step, and your breathing .Pain is inevitable as long as you identify yourself with your mind.
Mind controls us through time , through past and future.Live in the Now .Pay very brief visits to past and future when required.It is habitual tendency of mind to want to escape from the Now.Setting a goal for future is fine but do not do it excessively , because it will take you away from Now.Present moment is all you have .Live in the present.
Mind can not forgive.Only you can..Most human relationships consist mainly of minds interacting with each other ,not being in communication.We can enter the Unmanifested by being in the Now, by cessation of thought and by Surrender.Surrender means acceptance , non-resistance and being without ego.Most of relationships become hollow because they are through mind and not through conscious self.Be present in your relationships.
Be yourself.Do not have a relationship with your self.All non-physical suffering is created due to resistance , non acceptance,non surrender.Surrender gives you peace.Surrender does not mean not taking action . It means taking action but refusing to resist in the Now.
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