Kim's review
A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose
by Eckhart Tolle
The "theories" you mention, those that he doesn't cite, although he claims they are fact? (Such as evolution, being made up of matter that has been around longer than we have, etc.) Those facts he doesn't cite because they are a part of the modern scientific understanding of the world. Writers, journalists, authors don't cite sources when the statements are understood to be true by the general populace (like gravity, or that the world is round.) Even Christian leaders understand that evolution has no qualms with Christianity. Whoever wrote genesis didn't cite his sources when he described the formation of the planet, either.
I can't help but think that this review is based on views that were held by the reviewer prior to even reading the first few words of the book. Tolle's book speaks a lot about the ego attaching itself to thought-structures, including Christian doctrine, which can appear harmless (unless you consider the abuse and fear created by the Hell-doctrine) all the way to the extremes of the various Totalitarian regimes throughout history. When the mind/ego stops attaching itself to objects (whether that be physical, thought or emotions) we can connect with the source, or experience Christ-consciousness - true freedom indeed! This book points to a message that is universal and truly transformative!
I have 3 words for Kim and her 'review': Is that so?
Exactly! :-)
well said and i agree and couldn't have said it better myself. maybe shorter like: "To each his/her own" or something like that but...anyway, again, i agree.
Life is the dancer and you are the dance.
Well I put that there because its a quote that is 'quoted' in the book "A New Earth" so i kinda thought it was humorous and appropriate.
I thought it was very clever! In in fact, I thought "is that so" would be my response to all the mean emails I'm going to get b/c of my review. I guess I'm arousing some people's 'pain-bodies'. :-)
I had written something else there... just went and edited it. You're right Adam, "Is that so" is all that needs to be said.
I thought so. and not just here and not just about this. If more people said that and thought 'like' that the world would tend to be a better place. For example, you're on the train (i live in NYC so by train i mean the subway) and someone, (crazy, mad at the world in general or otherwise) says "You know...you're a real fuckin' asshole!" If I were to respond to that with an equally angry or hateful remark not only would he (or his ego for that matter) get what he wanted or was looking for, I WOULD end up on the losing end as well by being JUST like him and that could either end in him saying something else or,worst case, swinging at me OR I could, again, say "Is that so?" and/or 'Well, you ARE entitled to your opinion." 'Live and let live' and 'Do Unto Others and You Would Have Them Do Unto You.' At least that is how i try to live my life; by those golden 'rules'.
Ok, here's an example of a real life thing that happened to us and when I was reading this book and putting our situation in context using Tolle's suggestions it just seemed warped to me...my father in law was attacked and killed in a road rage incident a few years ago--it was a long and very painful year. If we just numbed-out and went around in situations that upset us and said, "is that so" we would not have received justice b/c we had to fight big time to get this guy to serve time (it was his 3rd such incident--but this time he killed someone). In life dialogue needs to happen, laws can get changed, awareness is brought about, consequences are sought... "Is that so is fine in many situations but there's a lot of not so small stuff that we can't just go around saying "is that so" to. We are a forgiving family and so we don't carry that anger around any longer but "is that so" just didn't cut it. I felt like in the book he was really teaching people to think that that was the solution--just numb-out, don't let your 'pain body' get aroused --and move on and see the moment for what it is. Well, that's just not reality and I just thought it was teaching people to block out natural emotions because if we ALL do that, wouldn't life on this earth be great? Did I misunderstand him?
I can understand what you're saying, but I feel that you misunderstand it somewhat. The monk who said "Is that so" in Tolle's story wouldn't have had the luxury of a DNA test to prove he wasn't the father of the baby. If so, he may have calmly (without ego) stated is that so, applied for a DNA test and proved beyond any doubt that he was not the father. He accepted that that was the situation, and then moved from there. Even Jesus accepted that he was on the cross - he was free of the psychological pain that billions around the world struggle with yet it makes the situation worse. Surrender is not weakness - there is great strength and spiritual power in it. It is where powerful solutions can be found... I recall that there were a few of Oprah's webcasts that dealt with the issue - and Eckhart answered them really well. The question from an Environmental campaigner from a Californian bookshop comes to mind. Hope this helps. :o)
I agree with what you're saying(see, I am a somewhat reasonable person!) :-)
I'll have to google that webcast and see the question/answer.
Ok, gotta run...many other good books to be read and discussed (but for some reason this book is getting all the attention....haha!)
I don't suppose you guys want to talk about Angry Housewives Eating Bon-Bons?--now THAT was a great book! LOL
I'm sorry to here that that happened to you and your family, Kim. And, no, that, in my opinion is not a situation where you should just 'numb' yourself..and I really doubt that anyone with feelings and emotions COULD be without grief in a situation such as that. I mean, it is only a book and books, along with the opinions in them, are always going to be open to interpretation and aren't always going to be a way to simply explain something or be a panacea for life and all its ups and downs and what have you. Anywa, is that REALLY the name of a book!?!?!?! JeeZ! OH, and is the title really 'spot on' about what a normal, fairly educated person would think it 'could' be about? just wondering.
Hi Kim!
I just saw the comment you posted on my review. I'm very sorry for your family's loss. I can't even imagine how horrible it must have been.
However I do understand what you are talking about when your family is was trying to bring this criminal to justice. That is the main problem I too had with the book. As a soon to be lawyer (and a current law clerk in civil litigation) can you imagine what would happen if a client walked into my office, ready to pay me $200/hr for my work, stated their problem and I just said "Is that so? Maybe you should read Tolle's 'A New Earth' before you think about filing a claim." I'd get fired from my firm and never work in law again!!!
Further, I felt Tolle was trying to tell us - or rather the subtext of the book - was not to have opinions... which is okay for all these freak Oprah drones. Not have opinions!? Come on!!! We live in AMERICA!!! We are lucky enough to live in a democracy where we can voice our opinions about politics and any other matter we wish, even if the "church" or the government doesn't agree with us.
In theory, if everybody read 'A New Earth' and adhered to it's principles, it could work. However, when can anyone thing of a time when everyone on earth was all on the same page and agreed, "okay, this is how we are all going to act - like decent human beings." Sure, it's great being a good person, and I try to life a judgement free, generally happy life. But as Kim says and I reiterate, there is a time to defend your position - the squeaky wheel gets the oil - and if you have a truly sincere and good issue you want to advocate, then go ahead! Don't just accept your horrible situation like Tolle suggests! Be proactive and change your life for the better!
And Kim, I'm unsure why you are getting so many replies by people who claim to be Tolle followers but obviously aren't just accepting your review for what it is, but maybe it's because you add some thought to your review and mine was more just a cautionary review? I'm not sure.
Good luck and good reads!
Brittany
Thanks for your comments on that--yeah, we shouldn't allow other people's opinions to hold so much validity--it is just a book. And the Angry Housewives book--actually it is really a book--just a girlie novel--great title, huh? haha! I just wrote that as a joke b/c I really did like it and no one seems to want to discuss it--the only one getting all the attention is the Tolle book. But i was just kidding around of course.
Thank you Brittany! You are awesome!
I'm gonna try and make this the last 'comment' I post regarding "A New Earth". I agree with you Brittany...about 50/50 or so. The book IS NOT GOSPEL!! and yes if people (every literate person) read and adhered to its principles we would have, I think, a 'better' world. I'm not saying a perfect utopia but it would be a lot nicer. As to the 'Oprah Empire'...well, a friend of mine used to work at Barnes and Noble and used to always tell me the stories about the 'raving Oprah watchers, fans and her book club members who, after watching whatever episode in which she mentioned, praised and/or otherwise 'deified' an author and his or her book how the bookstore would be a madhouse of, sorry the sterotyping here, raving-lunatic-housewives and other freaks looking for the newest book club recommendation. I mean, come on, I really think if Oprah put "Mein Kompf" (sic?), you know, Hitlers manifesto about ethnic cleansing, on her 'to-read' list I think the booksellers would have the goddamn thing backordered for 8 months. I was always a little wary of Oprahs book club thing and her 'fans, watchers' and others remind me of so many sheep following and idolizing their messiah. I mean, REALLY NOW!! Dont these people have brains it their heads to make their own choices about who or what to read!?!!? Again, I'm not trying to say ALL of Oprahs loyal fans are mindless zombies but as in the afformentioned little B&N bookstore-Oprah-book-club melee suggests....she has quite a hold on this country's populace or at least a very large demographic of it and I don't think they are all idiots either. Well thats my 2-cents about that and hopefully my last cuz I gotta budget:)
I read "A New Earth" 2 years before Oprah picked it, and I have to say I was wary when I discovered that she had - however, the webcasts were excellent. I can see that Adam's criticism is not of Oprah but her followers (and only some at that). Not to compare her in any way, but you could say the same thing about Jesus and his followers. I live across the Atlantic in Scotland, and we just hold our heads with despair when we see the most powerful nation led by Jesus' followers and who they vote for. Bring on November - we'll be happy to see your country select either candidate. It can't get much worse, that's for sure!
I agree with you about the election. It really cant get much worse but i'm in Obama's camp for a few different reasons that i'm not gonna get into right now but least of which is picking the 'lesser of two evils'. I mean I believe a voter should be as informed about the candidate he/she plans on pulling the level for BEFORE they vote but I am going on a lot of gut-feeling, intuition and general instinct on my vote. I just feel that we need a democrat in the white house again. I grew up, well i was a teenager that turned 20, in the '90's and from what i remember it was a lot more peaceful and prosperous and the economy was in a hell of a lot better shape. I think it will be interesting as to who he picks as his running mate! (If he were to go with Hilary I think he'd win by a landslide) Not to mention that i am against this war and from what I've heard McCain's preliminarya and/or tentative plan is to, and don't quote me, either have all the troops out of Iraq by 2013 or so OR start to pull them out by then. To me that is ridiculous! They need to be brought home now!! but thats just me and I don't mean to swing this 'forums' writings, opinions and otherwise into a political debate, believe me. I just had a little something to say. well bye guys and thanx for all the great dialogues and opinions and everything...well, i should actually thank Kim since she's the one who 'started it' and it's all HER fault ;-) bye guys.
How did this get into a discussion about current US politics? I thought this was a discussion about Tolle's "spiritual teachings." Let's stay focused here, guys. Spew your political ramblings on the Huffington Post.
The two (spirtuality and politics) shouldn't be separated but go hand-in-hand - otherwise when they are separated horrendous events happen such as the Christian Right voting in two elections running for a war-mongering individual who acts before he thinks (maybe the word "thinks" is being far too generous!). I would have imagined Christians would find candidates with humble and wise qualities like Jesus would be more attractive to them as voters than the arrogant swagger of the current incumbant!
sorry to offend you, brittany. But in regards to stephens post, which i think will appear after this one, I think its true that 'spirituality' hast to and is inevitably GOING to be involved one way or another in politics. I mean like Steve says about the religious 'swagger' of Bush. His religion/spirituality DEFINITELY plays a part in his decisions especially when those decisions involve occupying a region already in 'religious turmoil'. Its so obvious that he thinks of them as backwards infidels and them us. IF more people were MORE 'spiritual', meaning less intrusive and belligerently prejudging other cultures....well then maybe the world would be a little better. END TRANSMISSION
Kim's review
A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose by Eckhart Tolle
Kim's review
rating:
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 wil...more
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 wil...more
The "theories" you mention, those that he doesn't cite, although he claims they are fact? (Such as evolution, being made up of matter that has been around longer than we have, etc.) Those facts he doesn't cite because they are a part of the modern scientific understanding of the world. Writers, journalists, authors don't cite sources when the statements are understood to be true by the general populace (like gravity, or that the world is round.) Even Christian leaders understand that evolution has no qualms with Christianity. Whoever wrote genesis didn't cite his sources when he described the formation of the planet, either.
I can't help but think that this review is based on views that were held by the reviewer prior to even reading the first few words of the book. Tolle's book speaks a lot about the ego attaching itself to thought-structures, including Christian doctrine, which can appear harmless (unless you consider the abuse and fear created by the Hell-doctrine) all the way to the extremes of the various Totalitarian regimes throughout history. When the mind/ego stops attaching itself to objects (whether that be physical, thought or emotions) we can connect with the source, or experience Christ-consciousness - true freedom indeed! This book points to a message that is universal and truly transformative!
I have 3 words for Kim and her 'review': Is that so?
Exactly! :-)
well said and i agree and couldn't have said it better myself. maybe shorter like: "To each his/her own" or something like that but...anyway, again, i agree.
Life is the dancer and you are the dance.
Well I put that there because its a quote that is 'quoted' in the book "A New Earth" so i kinda thought it was humorous and appropriate.
I thought it was very clever! In in fact, I thought "is that so" would be my response to all the mean emails I'm going to get b/c of my review. I guess I'm arousing some people's 'pain-bodies'. :-)
I had written something else there... just went and edited it. You're right Adam, "Is that so" is all that needs to be said.
I thought so. and not just here and not just about this. If more people said that and thought 'like' that the world would tend to be a better place. For example, you're on the train (i live in NYC so by train i mean the subway) and someone, (crazy, mad at the world in general or otherwise) says "You know...you're a real fuckin' asshole!" If I were to respond to that with an equally angry or hateful remark not only would he (or his ego for that matter) get what he wanted or was looking for, I WOULD end up on the losing end as well by being JUST like him and that could either end in him saying something else or,worst case, swinging at me OR I could, again, say "Is that so?" and/or 'Well, you ARE entitled to your opinion." 'Live and let live' and 'Do Unto Others and You Would Have Them Do Unto You.' At least that is how i try to live my life; by those golden 'rules'.
Ok, here's an example of a real life thing that happened to us and when I was reading this book and putting our situation in context using Tolle's suggestions it just seemed warped to me...my father in law was attacked and killed in a road rage incident a few years ago--it was a long and very painful year. If we just numbed-out and went around in situations that upset us and said, "is that so" we would not have received justice b/c we had to fight big time to get this guy to serve time (it was his 3rd such incident--but this time he killed someone). In life dialogue needs to happen, laws can get changed, awareness is brought about, consequences are sought... "Is that so is fine in many situations but there's a lot of not so small stuff that we can't just go around saying "is that so" to. We are a forgiving family and so we don't carry that anger around any longer but "is that so" just didn't cut it. I felt like in the book he was really teaching people to think that that was the solution--just numb-out, don't let your 'pain body' get aroused --and move on and see the moment for what it is. Well, that's just not reality and I just thought it was teaching people to block out natural emotions because if we ALL do that, wouldn't life on this earth be great? Did I misunderstand him?
I can understand what you're saying, but I feel that you misunderstand it somewhat. The monk who said "Is that so" in Tolle's story wouldn't have had the luxury of a DNA test to prove he wasn't the father of the baby. If so, he may have calmly (without ego) stated is that so, applied for a DNA test and proved beyond any doubt that he was not the father. He accepted that that was the situation, and then moved from there. Even Jesus accepted that he was on the cross - he was free of the psychological pain that billions around the world struggle with yet it makes the situation worse. Surrender is not weakness - there is great strength and spiritual power in it. It is where powerful solutions can be found... I recall that there were a few of Oprah's webcasts that dealt with the issue - and Eckhart answered them really well. The question from an Environmental campaigner from a Californian bookshop comes to mind. Hope this helps. :o)
I agree with what you're saying(see, I am a somewhat reasonable person!) :-) I'll have to google that webcast and see the question/answer.
Ok, gotta run...many other good books to be read and discussed (but for some reason this book is getting all the attention....haha!)
I don't suppose you guys want to talk about Angry Housewives Eating Bon-Bons?--now THAT was a great book! LOL
I'm sorry to here that that happened to you and your family, Kim. And, no, that, in my opinion is not a situation where you should just 'numb' yourself..and I really doubt that anyone with feelings and emotions COULD be without grief in a situation such as that. I mean, it is only a book and books, along with the opinions in them, are always going to be open to interpretation and aren't always going to be a way to simply explain something or be a panacea for life and all its ups and downs and what have you. Anywa, is that REALLY the name of a book!?!?!?! JeeZ! OH, and is the title really 'spot on' about what a normal, fairly educated person would think it 'could' be about? just wondering.
Hi Kim!
I just saw the comment you posted on my review. I'm very sorry for your family's loss. I can't even imagine how horrible it must have been.
However I do understand what you are talking about when your family is was trying to bring this criminal to justice. That is the main problem I too had with the book. As a soon to be lawyer (and a current law clerk in civil litigation) can you imagine what would happen if a client walked into my office, ready to pay me $200/hr for my work, stated their problem and I just said "Is that so? Maybe you should read Tolle's 'A New Earth' before you think about filing a claim." I'd get fired from my firm and never work in law again!!!
Further, I felt Tolle was trying to tell us - or rather the subtext of the book - was not to have opinions... which is okay for all these freak Oprah drones. Not have opinions!? Come on!!! We live in AMERICA!!! We are lucky enough to live in a democracy where we can voice our opinions about politics and any other matter we wish, even if the "church" or the government doesn't agree with us.
In theory, if everybody read 'A New Earth' and adhered to it's principles, it could work. However, when can anyone thing of a time when everyone on earth was all on the same page and agreed, "okay, this is how we are all going to act - like decent human beings." Sure, it's great being a good person, and I try to life a judgement free, generally happy life. But as Kim says and I reiterate, there is a time to defend your position - the squeaky wheel gets the oil - and if you have a truly sincere and good issue you want to advocate, then go ahead! Don't just accept your horrible situation like Tolle suggests! Be proactive and change your life for the better!
And Kim, I'm unsure why you are getting so many replies by people who claim to be Tolle followers but obviously aren't just accepting your review for what it is, but maybe it's because you add some thought to your review and mine was more just a cautionary review? I'm not sure.
Good luck and good reads!
Brittany
Thanks for your comments on that--yeah, we shouldn't allow other people's opinions to hold so much validity--it is just a book. And the Angry Housewives book--actually it is really a book--just a girlie novel--great title, huh? haha! I just wrote that as a joke b/c I really did like it and no one seems to want to discuss it--the only one getting all the attention is the Tolle book. But i was just kidding around of course.
Thank you Brittany! You are awesome!
I'm gonna try and make this the last 'comment' I post regarding "A New Earth". I agree with you Brittany...about 50/50 or so. The book IS NOT GOSPEL!! and yes if people (every literate person) read and adhered to its principles we would have, I think, a 'better' world. I'm not saying a perfect utopia but it would be a lot nicer. As to the 'Oprah Empire'...well, a friend of mine used to work at Barnes and Noble and used to always tell me the stories about the 'raving Oprah watchers, fans and her book club members who, after watching whatever episode in which she mentioned, praised and/or otherwise 'deified' an author and his or her book how the bookstore would be a madhouse of, sorry the sterotyping here, raving-lunatic-housewives and other freaks looking for the newest book club recommendation. I mean, come on, I really think if Oprah put "Mein Kompf" (sic?), you know, Hitlers manifesto about ethnic cleansing, on her 'to-read' list I think the booksellers would have the goddamn thing backordered for 8 months. I was always a little wary of Oprahs book club thing and her 'fans, watchers' and others remind me of so many sheep following and idolizing their messiah. I mean, REALLY NOW!! Dont these people have brains it their heads to make their own choices about who or what to read!?!!? Again, I'm not trying to say ALL of Oprahs loyal fans are mindless zombies but as in the afformentioned little B&N bookstore-Oprah-book-club melee suggests....she has quite a hold on this country's populace or at least a very large demographic of it and I don't think they are all idiots either. Well thats my 2-cents about that and hopefully my last cuz I gotta budget:)
I read "A New Earth" 2 years before Oprah picked it, and I have to say I was wary when I discovered that she had - however, the webcasts were excellent. I can see that Adam's criticism is not of Oprah but her followers (and only some at that). Not to compare her in any way, but you could say the same thing about Jesus and his followers. I live across the Atlantic in Scotland, and we just hold our heads with despair when we see the most powerful nation led by Jesus' followers and who they vote for. Bring on November - we'll be happy to see your country select either candidate. It can't get much worse, that's for sure!
I agree with you about the election. It really cant get much worse but i'm in Obama's camp for a few different reasons that i'm not gonna get into right now but least of which is picking the 'lesser of two evils'. I mean I believe a voter should be as informed about the candidate he/she plans on pulling the level for BEFORE they vote but I am going on a lot of gut-feeling, intuition and general instinct on my vote. I just feel that we need a democrat in the white house again. I grew up, well i was a teenager that turned 20, in the '90's and from what i remember it was a lot more peaceful and prosperous and the economy was in a hell of a lot better shape. I think it will be interesting as to who he picks as his running mate! (If he were to go with Hilary I think he'd win by a landslide) Not to mention that i am against this war and from what I've heard McCain's preliminarya and/or tentative plan is to, and don't quote me, either have all the troops out of Iraq by 2013 or so OR start to pull them out by then. To me that is ridiculous! They need to be brought home now!! but thats just me and I don't mean to swing this 'forums' writings, opinions and otherwise into a political debate, believe me. I just had a little something to say. well bye guys and thanx for all the great dialogues and opinions and everything...well, i should actually thank Kim since she's the one who 'started it' and it's all HER fault ;-) bye guys.
How did this get into a discussion about current US politics? I thought this was a discussion about Tolle's "spiritual teachings." Let's stay focused here, guys. Spew your political ramblings on the Huffington Post.
The two (spirtuality and politics) shouldn't be separated but go hand-in-hand - otherwise when they are separated horrendous events happen such as the Christian Right voting in two elections running for a war-mongering individual who acts before he thinks (maybe the word "thinks" is being far too generous!). I would have imagined Christians would find candidates with humble and wise qualities like Jesus would be more attractive to them as voters than the arrogant swagger of the current incumbant!
sorry to offend you, brittany. But in regards to stephens post, which i think will appear after this one, I think its true that 'spirituality' hast to and is inevitably GOING to be involved one way or another in politics. I mean like Steve says about the religious 'swagger' of Bush. His religion/spirituality DEFINITELY plays a part in his decisions especially when those decisions involve occupying a region already in 'religious turmoil'. Its so obvious that he thinks of them as backwards infidels and them us. IF more people were MORE 'spiritual', meaning less intrusive and belligerently prejudging other cultures....well then maybe the world would be a little better. END TRANSMISSION