A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose

by Eckhart Tolle

book data

7,999 ratings, 3.89 average rating, 2,779 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		40%
4		27%
3		17%
2		7%
1		6%

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published

August 11th 2006 (first published 2005) by Plume

binding

Paperback, 316 pages

isbn

0452287588 (isbn13: 9780452287587)

description

"A New Earth" encourages a collective sense of commitment to changing the way we live, for people who want to make a difference. With the kn...more

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03/03/08

Kim rated it:

Read in April, 2008

recommended to Kim by: Kristin, Oprah

Well...where do I start? I have written a lot about my thoughts on this book (and dare I say 'new age movement') and I have a list of pros and cons further in my 'book report' if you want to read further--sorry, it's long! I read this book because I am an Oprah fan--love her book club-- and also a Christian and I wanted to know what all the hubbub was about. I'm not going to bash the book-- although the first 4 chapters were VERY hard to understand but it was just a bunch of off the wall new-a...more Well...where do I start? I have written a lot about my thoughts on this book (and dare I say 'new age movement') and I have a list of pros and cons further in my 'book report' if you want to read further--sorry, it's long! I read this book because I am an Oprah fan--love her book club-- and also a Christian and I wanted to know what all the hubbub was about. I'm not going to bash the book-- although the first 4 chapters were VERY hard to understand but it was just a bunch of off the wall new-age babble to me. Then chapters 5 and on had some good points that I was able to take and apply.

Unfortunately, we know from the bible (and yes, I'm going to quote scripture because Tolle quotes the bible, specifically Jesus, about 20 times in the book-- so it is relevant)--the bible tells us that, unfortunately, things are going to get worse throughout the years. It doesn't mean we shouldn't strive to realize our purpose and live the best life we can, but to think that everyone on earth will read this book and be enlightened and conscious--nope. Read 2 Timothy chapter 3. Wouldn't it be great for the terrorists in the middle east, the repressive Chinese, the warlords in the Sudan and around Africa, child abusers, and the porn industry to all read this book (or better yet, the bible) and get enlightened--WOW-- then maybe we'd have that 'new earth'. Yeah. Right. Now back to my review:

Pros: I like the reminders to live for NOW--cherish each moment of this wonderful life I've been given. I am better aware of my ego and the things that feed it--materialism, what others think, perpetuating past problems in my thoughts, realizing when I role-play in my mind what I'm 'going to say' to someone--something that may or may not even happen-- therefore clouding up my mind and forgetting to live for NOW. That was all good and helpful stuff. I'm more 'aware' that I do that and am more 'conscious' of it when I do it so I can stop and replace those thoughts with things that are positive. But all that's already been said in the bible. I like that Tolle refers to the biblical teachings of "This too shall pass" and "turning the other cheek" reminding us that we need to not fret about problems, but to deal with them now, accept them for what they are, do something about it now, and move on. Biblically we are taught not to worry about today or tomorrow (Matthew 6:34) and to treat others as we would want them to treat us and we Christians do forget that a lot which is why we need to be reading and hearing those scriptures frequently--and then live it.

Now for the cons: I thought the book was a bit boring and very repetitive--the first 4 chapters--seemed wacko to me. I think too many people are making Tolle's ideas a 'new religion' and putting their hope in a fallible human that THIS is the only way to have a peaceful, non-neurotic earth--it's as easy as destroying the ego.
A BIG problem I had with this book is that he states 'facts' and quotes all over the place with no footnoting whatsoever--none. Yes, at the end of the book he has a bibliography but it is mostly for the scriptures (which are not cited in the text) and other quotes with no footnotes from the Tao, Zen masters, Einstein and various writers) and nothing for the scientific data he claims to be fact. Is anyone else curious about this information and/or would like to look these quotes and 'facts' up and read them in context? Tolle is an evolutionist in the sense that he believes we are made up of energy and cells from stars (p. 197), the earth was created 114 million years ago (p. 1), some animals grew feathers and wings and turned into birds (p. 3) light from Andromeda takes 2.4 million years to reach us (p. 251) but sites no scientific references for those 'facts'--probably because they aren't facts, they are theory. Tolle does not believe in a literal Heaven and he even mentions in the last chapter that all energy, when it dies, goes somewhere in a new form--"it's reincarnated" (p.292). Yes, it would be great to have Heaven on earth, but according to scripture--especially in Revelation, it is a literal place. "A new heaven and a new earth" is actually found twice in the bible--in 2 Peter and Revelation if you want to read what it says.

Tolle believes that God ('the Source, the Universe) created the universe but his 'God' is just energy of the power of life, God is "being conscious", and "aware" and what we, misinformed, religious people "traditionally call 'God'" (page 220, 267) is just a concept. He also says that if you turn away from it (being unconscious and unaware), God ceases to be a reality in your life (p. 267). The bible says that God is a reality in your life whether you believe in Him or not. Tolle teaches that we can, through awareness, have that same enlightenment, power, and intelligence by allowing God to flow through us--putting us on the same level as God. God does live in us (1 John 4:12-16) but we are not equal to God (read Genesis). Also, another thing that gave me the creeps was Tolle says on page 106 "It is said that God is love but that is not absolutely correct." (by the way...God is the one who said it to John). 1 John 4:16 says, "God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God and God in him." It goes on to say in verse 19 that we are capable of love because God first loved us. And Jesus, who he quotes a lot, is reduced to another brilliant philosophical teacher who was 'enlightened'.

Tolle, in my opinion, is a new-age philosopher (Col. 2:8, Jeremiah 14:14, and Matthew 7:15) that takes many things he likes from the bible but doesn't believe it all to be truth inspired by the actual God, the One and Only, whose image we were created in. In fact he says many times in the first 4 chapters that there is no real truth. (nope--read psalm 26:3; Romans 15:8, or Titus 1:1) In fairness to Tolle, I believe many of the quotes from the bible were in context but a few of them rubbed me the wrong way because Tolle would say, "what Jesus really meant was..." So that's where I say, "buyer beware" and if it inspires people to read the bible themselves for God's truth and God's enlightenment that would be great! Now that's TRUE enlightenment! (less)

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23 comments

03/08/08

Michelle rated it:

Okay so I had high expectations for this book. Normally I don't really go for Oprah selections but I heard so many great things about it plus I am totally into new agey type things, I thought it would be right up my alley.

My problem with this book was twofold. First, a lot of the ideas weren't new to me. Living in the present (you are not walking across the room to get a book, you are walking across the room), not letting your ego attach itself to things (that is not "my car"...more

Like this review? yes (19 people liked it)

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02/02/08

Lain rated it:

I opened this book, hoping to find something inspiring, eye-opening, and life-changing. Instead, it appears to be filled with the same old New Age babble about self-actualization and "each being the part of the one." It's not that I disagree -- it's just that I don't think there's anything particularly new or different. The same old, same old about non-judgment, embracing all things, blah blah blah. Call me crazy, but I think I've read this about 100 times before in every issue of New ...more

Like this review? yes (13 people liked it)

4 comments

04/29/08

Madeline rated it:

(review of isbn 0452289963)

Read in May, 2008

ok, i'm about half way through. first thing i notice is this guy is pretty long-winded. it took him 127 pages to tell me that the ego is the source of all the earths problems. Anything you feel or think or say comes from the ego. and thats a bad thing. we all need to be "enlighted" and gain "awareness" of our "presence."

heres a nice quote from the book: "Enlightened collectives will fulfill an important function in the arising of the new conscious...more

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02/28/08

Liz E rated it:

recommended to Liz E by: Oprah
recommends it for: everyone

Oprahmercial. Well if you can over look that aspect I highly recommend this book. Tolle's penmanship allows difficult philosophical, psychological principles to come together simplified. This book simplifies complex notions of western approaches with an eastern point of view on metaphysics. I think it is a helpful tool for those cynical about the current state of humanity. I also believe it could be a great entry book into Eastern philosophy. He seems to Americanize complex metaphysical approach...more Oprahmercial. Well if you can over look that aspect I highly recommend this book. Tolle's penmanship allows difficult philosophical, psychological principles to come together simplified. This book simplifies complex notions of western approaches with an eastern point of view on metaphysics. I think it is a helpful tool for those cynical about the current state of humanity. I also believe it could be a great entry book into Eastern philosophy. He seems to Americanize complex metaphysical approaches of being thereby creating access. Oprah is a maverick bookseller and I can say that this is one of her greatest gifts to her audiences. She has found a tool to help readers enable their greater selves. I am deeply grateful that this book is available to the masses. Tolle brilliantly takes many philosophical backbones to task by incorporating them in layman’s terms. The more philosophy, Western and Eastern is accessible to the masses the better off we will all be. This book is trying to do just that and I can say Tolle accomplishes the goals set for in the writings. If one is familiar with eastern concepts of spirituality this book will reinforce the ideas, if one is familiar with basic psychology and western philosophy one will be pleasantly reminded of the insights into human nature. I would buy this book and give it to everyone who comes to me with existenal anxiety and seeking answers about the purpose of their life. One notion reinforced in this book is that these answers are not out side of you but are within yourself. This is a difficult concept to practice, especially for Americans in that our culture reinforces the notion that acquisition of external means will lead to internal gratification. It brings me great joy to know that Tolle’s efforts are reaching millions, which Oprah is trying to teach this enlightenment and that for once someone is using their media means for the greater good.
Sometimes the best books state concepts that you are unable to articulate. This book does this for me. At the end of my philosophy studies I wanted to seek out reconciliation between eastern ideas and western ideologies this book successfully does this with an amazing ease. Tolle is an enlightened man and even more impressive is when he said he didn’t want to be, or become a guru. This made me respect his mind even more. He is a gifted intellect and is doing a great service for humanity by this text.
If one wants more than a self help book, tired of Zen lyrics that seem to dissipate after reading them and wants a breath of fresh air to challenge your cynicism in the current state of humanity this book will satisfy. This book is soul food.
I like reading what is extremely popular becuase it seems to let you believe you are connecting with many minds at once. Instead of being locked in your own consciousness. This book creates the bridge towards the path of connecting to the (less)

Like this review? yes (7 people liked it)

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03/07/08

Carrie rated it:

bookshelves: all-time-favorites

Read in March, 2008

recommended to Carrie by: Oprah's Book Club
recommends it for: Self-help seekers

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

I was a skeptic at first glance. It was only moments after i read about "feeling my inner-body" that i was feeling my pillow and sleeping soundly (and this is no small feat.)
However, the further i got into the book, the more i enjoyed it.

The self-help author, highlights the benefits of life spent "in the moment" and gives concrete exercises to help 'transcend our ego-based consciousness'. This he argues, is the key to personal happiness and fulfillment.
...more

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02/28/08

Michael rated it:

bookshelves: all, deadtree, philosophy, self-help, spirituality

Read in February, 2008

recommended to Michael by: Mom

Practically: spot-on treatment of the ego as problem source. Lots of advice that would be beneficial for most people.

Philosophically: not rigorous, despite an implicit claim to be the next step following the path from Descartes through Sartre. Equivocal vocabulary lets him subtly draw questionable logical connections. Some metaphysical foundations are implicitly assumed. Notably missing is any treatment of ethics, or much in the way of implications at all. All in all, I am probably giv...more

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08/17/08

Sarah rated it:

I think that because I have what I feel is a strong faith, this book just didn't make a big impression. I feel like a lot of the ego stuff he was talking about is basically morals and values, of which if you already have a high regard for and were taught about them, then a new awakening to being good is sort of insulting.
Anyone can be mindful for an instant, staying mindful, though, can be the work of a lifetime. I feel like Tolle has reduced himself to a shell of a person with no ego, no ...more

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05/18/08

Jenell rated it:

(review of isbn 0452289963)

bookshelves: philosophy-spirituality

Read in May, 2006

In A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose, Eckhart Tolle simply and beautifully employs spiritual parables from many traditions to distill and illuminate the One truth to which they point: God in me; me in God. Form (the material world) is interpenetrated by nothingness (space, quantum possibilities, consciousness, spirit, God). If so many cultures can agree that we, as form, are permeated with spirit, why do we experience so much separation and suffering?

Tolle states th...more In A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose, Eckhart Tolle simply and beautifully employs spiritual parables from many traditions to distill and illuminate the One truth to which they point: God in me; me in God. Form (the material world) is interpenetrated by nothingness (space, quantum possibilities, consciousness, spirit, God). If so many cultures can agree that we, as form, are permeated with spirit, why do we experience so much separation and suffering?

Tolle states that suffering is created when the ego identifies completely with form:

1. Physical Forms: personal, socio and spiritual conditioning from the past
(such as gender, social status and race),

2. Feeling Forms: accumulated emotional pain, and

3. Thought Forms: beliefs, expectations and judgments.

“This results in total unawareness of my connectedness with the whole, my intrinsic oneness with every “other” as well as the Source. This forgetfulness is original sin, suffering and delusion.” Tolle posits that this forgetfulness creates a schism between what we perceive and the realm of possibilities—or spirit. This schism is the result of an outmoded egoic consciousness.
Does that mean that ego is bad? We use this ego consciousness as a vehicle to identify with form. It’s how we experience and engage the world! It’s in this identification and mastery of form, that we find our security, certainty and power. Look at the vast possibilities we’ve created in our world: technological convenience, accessibility of information, sanitation, medical science, culture, etcetera. Tolle does not say that ego is bad, but suggests, however, that it’s no longer a necessary vehicle.
Eckhart Tolle believes that it is imperative that our ego consciousness evolves. He doesn’t urge us to stop thinking—but to stop identifying with our thinking. Nor does he urge us to stop suffering, but to recognize it as a messenger to be conscious. How can we do that when we are suffering? Tolle offers an alternative to identifying and defending our old physical, feeling and thought forms. He calls this Awakened Doing and defines three modalities: acceptance, enjoyment and enthusiasm. If you are not in the state of at least one of them, no matter what you are doing, you are creating suffering for yourself or others.

1. Acceptance is to assume responsibility for your identification with beliefs, expectations and judgments. If you are living an old situation over and over in your thinking, you are not in the present. Bring your consciousness here. This is what you have control of. If you’ve relinquished your thoughts and still cannot accept what you’re doing—if it’s causing you suffering—stop.

2. To experience Enjoyment is to find the joy of conscious Presence in whatever you are doing. Instead of identifying with your feeling, obsessively wanting something or expecting joy to come from a certain activity, you bring yourself to the present moment. Perhaps in this moment, no matter how small, you are alive and alert. Practice this, and each moment will expand so that you begin to experience connection to the universal creative power. Joy flows from there into activities that were once tedious or painful, because a new consciousness is awakened in you.

3. Enthusiasm is the spiritual will or vision manifesting through you. To find your relationship to enthusiasm you must recognize how you are connected to the spirit. You are not your gender, title, cultural conditioning, or race.

The result is the Earthly manifestation of Heaven. Awakening now is your life’s purpose! Eckhart Tolle is an articulate writer, and his ideas flow logically. The stories he chooses enliven the concepts he presents. I have two minor critiques of this book: 1) I wish the end-notes contained source references to all the stories—not just the Biblical references, and 2) It would have allowed me greater contemplation if he included pauses in his writing for personal discovery and practical applications. But, all-in-all, I thoroughly enjoyed A New Earth.
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05/13/08

Brittany rated it:

Read in May, 2008

recommended to Brittany by: Oprah
recommends it for: No one

This book is completely awful. Don't feed in to the Oprah hype. It's abstract and somewhat hard to follow, even for me, a third year law student. Not entertaining at all. There are some tidbits of useful information, but if your mother taught you anything, you probably have already heard the useful parts. There are also a lot of contradictions in Tolle's writing/thought process. Don't go on the message boards on Oprah's website because the people on there are crazy nutjobs and can't provide any ...more

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03/31/08

Martha rated it:

Read in January, 2008

What is so powerful about this book is not that there is much new material here. We’ve all heard about how the ego keeps us chained to our judgements, fears, and desires. The difference is in how the author explains his points. Finally, we understand! Wouldn’t you love it if all the stuff you’ve read about enlightenment suddenly became crystal clear? (I see you all nodding!) This is it.

Throughout the entire book, he reiterates the same points. He does not offer ‘instructions...more What is so powerful about this book is not that there is much new material here. We’ve all heard about how the ego keeps us chained to our judgements, fears, and desires. The difference is in how the author explains his points. Finally, we understand! Wouldn’t you love it if all the stuff you’ve read about enlightenment suddenly became crystal clear? (I see you all nodding!) This is it.

Throughout the entire book, he reiterates the same points. He does not offer ‘instructions’. Here’s a great example-how to let go of attachment. “Don’t even try. It’s impossible. Attachment to things drops away by itself when you no longer seek to find yourself in them.”

My copy is frilled with flags (the best Christmas present I got last year was a flag dispenser!). There is so much you’ll want to remember that once you have finished it, you will find yourself picking it up at odd times and leafing through it. You’ll find a page and read something, and <wow> it will resonate.

Here’s the author’s summary: “Enjoyment of what you are doing, combined with a goal or vision that you work toward, becomes enthusiasm. Even though you have a goal, what you are doing in the present moment needs to remain the focal point of your attention; otherwise, you will fall out of alignment with universal purpose. Make sure your vision or goal is not an inflated image of yourself and therefore a concealed form of ego, such as wanting to become a movie star, a famous writer, or a wealthy entrepreneur. Also make sure your goal is not focused on having this or that, such as a mansion by the sea, your own company, or ten million dollars in the bank. An enlarged image of yourself or a vision of yourself having this or that are all static goals and therefore don’t empower you. Instead, make sure your goals are dynamic, that is to say, point toward an activity that you are engaged in and through which you are connected to other human beings as well as to the whole. Instead of seeing yourself as a famous actor and writer and so on, see yourself inspiring countless people with your work and enriching their lives. Feel how that activity enriches or deepens not only your life but that of countless others. Feel yourself being an opening through which energy flows from the unmanifested Source of all life through you for the benefit of all.

All this implies that your goal or vision is then already a reality within you, on the level of mind and of feeling. Enthusiasm is the power that transfers the mental blueprint into the physical dimension. That is the creative use of mind, and that is why there is no wanting involved. You cannot manifest what you want; you can only manifest what you already have. You many get what you want through hard work and stress, but that is not the way of the new earth.”

All I can say is read it, and watch your life change!

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03/06/08

Rogier rated it:

(review of isbn 0452289963)

bookshelves: spirituality

Read in March, 2008

This is a wonderful and very helpful book. Coming from a ACIM vantage point, it takes a little bit to adjust to his terminology, because Tolle uses words in a different way. His Consciousness is ACIM's Spirit and Mind, and ACIM's consciousness (and the thoughts you think you think) is Tolle's "thoughts." Likewise ACIM's "guilt" equates to Tolle's pain body, so in a way it's simply the "wrong mind." His biblical " New Earth" is the Course's " Real Worl...more This is a wonderful and very helpful book. Coming from a ACIM vantage point, it takes a little bit to adjust to his terminology, because Tolle uses words in a different way. His Consciousness is ACIM's Spirit and Mind, and ACIM's consciousness (and the thoughts you think you think) is Tolle's "thoughts." Likewise ACIM's "guilt" equates to Tolle's pain body, so in a way it's simply the "wrong mind." His biblical " New Earth" is the Course's " Real World." On and on. So, once you adjust for those variations of terminology, his message is very helpful, though it's different. The way Tolle addresses the "why" is more in line with Advaita Vedanta, and therefore he does not have a clear cause for the dynamics of guilt, as the Course offers in the notion that the world was made as an attack on God, and is a projection from the mind, not a creation of God. But he does a lot to clarify the guilt mechanism in ways that nicely complement the picture, and can help you see things you might not have noticed before.

On the whole the book seems very helpful to me, and certainly has a very insightful way of helping us understand our inner workings better, and moreover point the way out of the labyrinth, not deeper into it, which is more than can be said for a lot of materials that are paraded around as spirituality.

To watch his presentations on Oprah's show is delightful, and documents that there is a huge pent up demand for this type of information. It seems curious that on one hand, because of his Vedanta-alike way of looking at the origin of creation, that he gets caught up in this evolutionary thinking, which can easily be an ego cop out, for then we're waiting for everybody else to change their mind. However, he is also crystal clear that the whole idea of a spiritual journey is a perfect ego stalling tactic, when the only question always is, what choice am I making right now, in this moment?

Within the context of Oprah's network it seems funny that Tolle's presentations are happening at the same time as Marianne Williamson, who gives the Course her own spin and seems focused in a more New Age style on fixing up the world, and not the way out of the labyrinth. So in that context Tolle is more closely in-line with the Course in spirit than her presentations, which purport to represent or explain the Course.(less)

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01/03/08

Trudy rated it:

Read in May, 2007

This is a follow up to Tolle's The Power of Now. I read this one first, and got a lot more out of it. This is a book about how what we tell ourselves about our world (experiences, relationships, events) becomes our world, for good or bad. It also gives practical advice (if you're willing to hang in there) about how to transform your thinking so as to improve your life and truly live in the Now. Tolle pulls from every religious system out there, and introduces new (to me) perspectives on biblic...more

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02/29/08

Liz rated it:

bookshelves: spiritual

Read in March, 2008

I just finished and I can't rate this book. Reading it a second time seems like the most logical step in order to give an accurate rating.

It's a hard book to read. At least it was for me. A lot of content went in one ear and out the other. Not that I wasn't reading but I wasn't able to grasp everything. The first time through, a lot of the book seemed repetitive. Like Tolle had to tell us, the reader, over and over again the same thing in order for us to understand what he was sayin...more

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02/01/08

Mary rated it:

Read in February, 2008

This is basically The Landmark Forum in book form. I'm very curious about the relationship between Tolle and Landmark Education, but I haven't been able to find any info on that so far. I suspect that I find this book so powerful because I've done The Landmark Forum. I suspect it might be a little too theoretical to have much practical impact on my real life if I didn't have that background and training. Read this book if you've ever considered doing the Forum to get a little taste of what t...more

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07/27/07

Alicia added it

Read in December, 2007

recommends it for: those interested in personal/planetary transformation

This book is so amazing, I had to read it slow so I would absorb it all. It moved me to tears many times, so I had to stop a lot! I have not read The Power of Now, but this one really resonated with me and current challenges in personal and planetary transformation. I loved how he snuck in bits from major religions and explained their universal relevance outside the context of their religious context. The personal examples are quite illustrative & help ground the book's meaning.

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01/28/08

Marissa rated it:

Wow. This is a life changing book. My only criticism is that Tolle is a theorist and so doesn't give many applicable examples of how to use the theories in real life. This I've had to do on my own. But this book is well worth the read. Here's the rub: you can read it and do nothing or you can read it and try to alter your way of thinking. When will someone write a book that makes people's lives change that doesn't take work??? :)

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03/26/08

Bell rated it:

bookshelves: heard, religion-sprituality-magical

recommends it for: self-help buffs

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

I could only get the audio version which is 8 cd's. might take a while...
***
No doubt Oprah has had a lot to do with A New Earth’s popularity. However, I think “The Power of Now” is a little better, though the overall message with this new book resonates with me.

I listened to the audio version (twice) and found the pace a little slow and repetitive. Also, it seems that he’s not only rehashing some of the same info in the “power of now” but too often quote...more

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02/16/08

Cheryl rated it:

bookshelves: inspirational

Read in February, 2008

recommends it for: graduates, all adults

5 stars! Uplifting and inspiring!

Having Oprah Winfrey say, "Your book is my book club pick" epitomizes a leap in success. It's certainly the dream of almost every author I know. For one Canadian author it's a dream come true. Vancouver-based author and spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle must feel like he's riding a wave. His book A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose is Oprah's 61st choice for her book club. Oprah is hugely responsible for Tolle's earlier rise in fame ...more

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02/10/08

Laurie rated it:

Read in April, 2008

Loved this book. It has changed how I look at life.
I read a lot of "self-help", "spiritual insight" books and this is one of the best I have ever read. I just finished it and I want to read it again. His writing is very easy to understand --clear and simple and he shares insights that you can use in your life immediately. IT is chock full of fascinating insights on every page.

Some of my favorite points are:

1. The pain-body--a "psychic p...more Loved this book. It has changed how I look at life.
I read a lot of "self-help", "spiritual insight" books and this is one of the best I have ever read. I just finished it and I want to read it again. His writing is very easy to understand --clear and simple and he shares insights that you can use in your life immediately. IT is chock full of fascinating insights on every page.

Some of my favorite points are:

1. The pain-body--a "psychic parasite" inside of us that feeds on drama and enjoys negative thoughts. Once your mind is taken over by the pain-body, your thoughts will become negative. You will believe all the distorted,negative thoughts and you will keep thinking them over and over again. The way to be free of the pain-body is to recognize it for the psychic parasite that it is and realize it is not you.

2. When you are angry or frustrated with people because you believe they are withholding praise or appreciation from you--try giving love and appreciation to them. You cannot receive what you do not give. Outflow determines inflow.

3. Understanding that no matter what is going on in your life--this too, will pass-- and being aware and totally in the present. When you can sense your inner stillness and feel your own Presence, then you are free from ego and can live a better quality life.

4. Recognize patterns that are not working --ie: giving your opinion when no one has asked for it, demanding recognition, being concerned about how someone else sees you, trying to make an impression on others through--knowledge, good looks, status, physical strength, etc., taking things personally, complaining, making yourself right and others wrong. If you notice any of the above patterns in yourself--try letting go of them and see what happens.

5. When doing becomes infused with the timeless quality of Being, that is success. Unless you are present, you lose yourself in what you do.

6. There are three ways you can align your life with the power of the universe: acceptance, enjoyment and enthusiasm.
If you can neither enjoy or bring acceptance to what you do--stop. Otherwise you are not taking responsibility for consciousness which means you are not taking responsibility for life.(less)

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"Even a stone, and more easily a flower or a bird, could show you the way back to God, to the Source, to yourself. When you look at it or hold it & let it be without imposing a word of mental label on it, a sense of awe, of wonder, arises within you. Its essence silently communicates itself to you and reflects your own essence back to you." More quotes...