A New Earth

[Lightkeeper]

A New Earth, Awakening To Your Life's Purpose, by Eckhart Tolle

Would anyone be interested in discussing this book in the Book Club?

[RevKathyV]

If you go to Orah Winfrey's site she is doing a class on line of this book with Eckhart Tolle! I signed up for it. I am going to get the book so I was be interested in joining a discussion on it on here.

[Lightkeeper]

I'm aware of the Oprah classes and I don't think my computer is fast enough to handle the classes.

I am reading the book now and find it fascinating. It mainly deals with the ego and how it stands in the way of us being our true self. The good thiing about the book is that it has solutions to this. Religion has told us for years to get the ego out of the way and hints at solutions, but Eckhart Tolle lays it out in a very understandable way. I would say the book is life changing if your ego will let you read it.

[angeleyes]

Originally Posted by Lightkeeper

I'm aware of the Oprah classes and I don't think my computer is fast enough to handle the classes.

I am reading the book now and find it fascinating. It mainly deals with the ego and how it stands in the way of us being our true self. The good thiing about the book is that it has solutions to this. Religion has told us for years to get the ego out of the way and hints at solutions, but Eckhart Tolle lays it out in a very understandable way. I would say the book is life changing if your ego will let you read it.

I just finished it and agree it's a great book. (It's the basics of ACIM in a nutshell, without the poetry, just clear and simple language).......... I must admit, though, I found The Power of Now to be more magical for me, probably because the New Earth wasn't "new" information for me. It's all good stuff, though, and Eckhart is the real deal, in my opinion.

I regret I haven't signed up for Oprah's class - I'm going to find out if there's still time.

But, yes, I'd love to be in on any discussion of any of Eckhart's books.

[maggie]

I have read the book, in preparation for the classes with Oprah. I found A New Earth to be both useful and sad. There are many ideas in it that I can use to apply in my own spiritual journey and I gladly accept those. However, I found Tolle's writing to come from a very sad place. My sense is that he has at some time in his life been deeply depressed and somehow some of that still seeps into his writing. I may be wrong but that's how I take it.

Here's my problem with the whole thing. I do not believe in 'original sin' as preached by fundamental groups and religions. I think that this is one of the problems with the world...we're never good enough, we couldn't possibly be acceptable without a savior and on and on.

In much the same way I find 'A New Earth' is like that...you have to kill your ego before you can experience God. You have to brow-beat it and make it surrender. Your ego self isn't good...it needs to be tamed.

These are ideas that I find distasteful. I believe that we are made in the image of God. That means ALL of us, including our ego. I am so tired of those who keep telling us we're not good enough, we have to change this or that, fix this or that and on and on.

What I want is to find ways to accept who I am right now and grow from there. I don't want to fix one more thing, I want to grow and learn and evolve, not fix.

Anyway, I plan to attend the classes on Oprah and give Tolle a chance to explain himself further. Maybe I'm reading things into the book that aren't there, I don't know. However, if I am reading what I think I am, I don't find his overall theme especially helpful.

That said, I'll certainly think about being part of a discussion on the book if you start one.

Maggie

[sendy47]

Originally Posted by maggie

I have read the book, in preparation for the classes with Oprah. I found A New Earth to be both useful and sad. There are many ideas in it that I can use to apply in my own spiritual journey and I gladly accept those. However, I found Tolle's writing to come from a very sad place. My sense is that he has at some time in his life been deeply depressed and somehow some of that still seeps into his writing. I may be wrong but that's how I take it.

Here's my problem with the whole thing. I do not believe in 'original sin' as preached by fundamental groups and religions. I think that this is one of the problems with the world...we're never good enough, we couldn't possibly be acceptable without a savior and on and on.

In much the same way I find 'A New Earth' is like that...you have to kill your ego before you can experience God. You have to brow-beat it and make it surrender. Your ego self isn't good...it needs to be tamed.

These are ideas that I find distasteful. I believe that we are made in the image of God. That means ALL of us, including our ego. I am so tired of those who keep telling us we're not good enough, we have to change this or that, fix this or that and on and on.

What I want is to find ways to accept who I am right now and grow from there. I don't want to fix one more thing, I want to grow and learn and evolve, not fix.

Anyway, I plan to attend the classes on Oprah and give Tolle a chance to explain himself further. Maybe I'm reading things into the book that aren't there, I don't know. However, if I am reading what I think I am, I don't find his overall theme especially helpful.

That said, I'll certainly think about being part of a discussion on the book if you start one.

Maggie

hey...WOW...it is indeed amazing how we all walk away with different perceptions...I did not get that sense of saddness you feel from him ...and I dont even get the you have to kill the ego...I just heard how and why and some understanding of why and how we might respond in life...where it stems from...our perceptions seem to come from where we are in our own rung of the ladder of life...and is it possible that it brings up saddness and awakens parts of you that are maybe unpleasant...or that part of us that just wants to keep us in turmoil and not in a place of peace is goating you .. I hear your frustrution...breath your loved...this too will pass...

I enjoyed the book and am signed up for the classes...

[Lightkeeper]

Originally Posted by Maggie

Here's my problem with the whole thing. I do not believe in 'original sin' as preached by fundamental groups and religions. I think that this is one of the problems with the world...we're never good enough, we couldn't possibly be acceptable without a savior and on and on.

In much the same way I find 'A New Earth' is like that...you have to kill your ego before you can experience God. You have to brow-beat it and make it surrender. Your ego self isn't good...it needs to be tamed.

I didn't get this from the book at all. He didn't say to browbeat ego or kill it. He just said be aware of it and it no longer stands in the way of who you truly are. He is teaching nonresistence (this too shall pass) in order to find the stillness and peace deep within you. You don't fight ego or resist it, because that strengthens the ego.

I have made the realization that the churches that preach original sin are ego based.

[vivamis123]

I have not read the book yet, didn't really feel inspired to. But I did sign up for the class on Oprah and would be interested in discussing the book here on this forum. Thanks L.K. for being on top of everything : )

[vivamis123]

I watched the web-class yesterday maybe 1 hour into it, then the connection broke up. I was diappointed (not that the connection broke up) but that Tolle was not teaching enlightenment but metaphysics.

Anyone else here participate in the class?

[angeleyes]

I tried to get in to the website several times last night, just to register, and couldn't get through. I wonder if the internet can handle a free class from Oprah.

Perhaps you should teach Oprah's enlightenment class, Viv!