Paperback ISBN: 978 0 340 73350 9

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Introduction

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Eckhart Tolle is recognised internationally as one of the leading spiritual teachers in the world today.  He has written a number of books, has his own online community, and has many lessons available on YouTube.  He also appears and presents at many events internationally and is well received wherever he goes.

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As suggested is the title of this book, the key message is that we should live our lives in the Now.  This is a very important message and lesson for all of us but how can we do this whilst living in the real world?

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Dwelling in the Past

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Dwelling in the Past does not serve us well and often leads to feelings of anger, guilt, regret, disappointment and other negative emotions.  As Eckhart Tolle says, by doing so we allow such emotions to define us, which impacts how we live in the Present and in the Future.  In fact, we can become so “attached” to such emotions that we are fearful of letting go and therefore never move on. 

 

Living in the Now

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Being able to live in and spend time in the Now is a very powerful, enriching and growth-enabling practice.  It is key to finding a sense of peace, a sense of stillness.  This is wonderful and something that we all should strive to achieve.  Personally, I also believe that the Now can also, and must also, be used as a time of reflection, planning and decision-making, to allow us to have a better future, and to allow us to determine what we must do in the Now to achieve our goals and to move forward.  Eckhart Tolle does say that focussing on the Future, rather than the Now, can result in anxiety, fear, and stress.  This can be true but if we use the “observer” practice we can reflect upon and understand these emotions, and draw ourselves back into the Now.

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The ”pain-body”

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Eckhart Tolle speaks extensively about the “pain-body”.  This is where we bring pain from our Past into our Now, by letting the pain be part of who we are and, therefore, allowing it to define us.  I feel that we must embrace our “pain”, and I would include in this anything, any person, any event, or any emotion that is not “good”, so that we can reflect on it, understand it, learn from it, and move on.  If we just block it out and live in the Now without confronting it then it will stay with us or return in the future, and we will not be able to move on.  However, if we “observe” it as Eckhart Tolle says, reflect on it, and learn from it then, I believe, two very powerful things can happen.  Firstly, we can determine what, if anything, we can do in the Now and in the Future to remove the pain.  Secondly, whether there is something that we can do or not, we can use our reflection on the pain to realise and appreciate even more the good elsewhere in our lives, the extraordinary in our lives, and that we have so much for which to be grateful.  This may, or may not, remove the pain but it does contextualise it, park it, and stop it from defining us.

 

​Observing

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Eckhart Tolle consistently speaks of being the “observer” of our emotions, our feelings, and our thoughts.  This is a most powerful practice and it can be life-changing in our search for contentment and inner peace.  “Stepping back” and observing our emotions, feelings, and thoughts, allows us to understand them, reflect on them, and realise that they do not define us.  We can separate ourselves from them, process them, and move on.  If you read this book and this is the only message that you take from it, and you practice the “observer” role, then you will have gained a tremendous attribute to help you on your search for contentment and inner peace.

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Conclusion

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In summary, Eckhart Tolle’s messages are very strong and powerful.  While we need to reflect on the past to develop as humans, and while we need to consider the future in order to live and to find purpose in our lives, the more time that we can spend in the Now the better.  Being the “observer” is key.  Practice being the “observer”.

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So, the Power of Now is real.  We must embrace it, tap into it, and use it

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Footnote

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In Eckhart Tolles’s books and videos, there are so many messages, so much new terminology, and so many new concepts to consider that they may appear overwhelming, on first reading or viewing.  However, it is worth persevering.  For me, I found it useful to read his books at a slow pace and select a relatively small number of messages or practices that resonated with me.  I found it useful to read his books along with someone else and to share thoughts and notes every so often.  I also find that when I re-read all or part of his books that I gain a clearer understanding of his messages and other sections of the books resonate with me.