A New Earth... Book and Eckhart/Oprah Class - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

Brae · 10-15-2009, 12:18 AM

By Eckhart Tolle

Amazing book. I am rereading it now and also watching the classes online that Eckhart did with Oprah.

For me this is just the right time for another look at all this. I would love to discuss with others some of the ideas of the book.

A few quotes to maybe start some discussion....

"You do not become good by trying to be good, but by finding the goodness that is already within you, and allowing that goodness to emerge. But it can only emerge if something fundamental changes in your state of consciousness." - Page 13

# "The quicker you are in attaching verbal or mental labels to things, people, or situations, the more shallow and lifeless your reality becomes, and the more deadened you become to reality" - Page 26

"How do you let go of attachment to things? Don't even try. It's impossible. Attachment to things drops away by itself when you no longer seek to find yourself in them" - Page 45

~namaste

EvilBunny · 10-15-2009, 01:11 AM

I loved the book. The quotes you listed are really just Zen Buddhism ideas phrased for Westerners. The idea that we are all already awakened, we just don't know it.

Have you gotten to the part in the Oprah class where he talks a little about alcohol? He says that mindfulness will raise one's consciousness and as a result the desire to drink excessively will dissipate. It's the Buddhist idea that attention burns up mental fetters.

Brae · 10-16-2009, 12:17 AM

Evil~ its funny that you mentioned Buddhism...I was talking with someone the other day about all of the different ways in which the same idea comes packaged. Its great to get different perspectives. It makes me wonder though how can so many have the same knowledge and not realize that they are indeed talking about the same thing?

I had an amazing walk today. When leaving my house I realized I forgot my camera...I was about a block away. I thought well I do have some photography homework, I could go back and get it. I decided not to, although was having some unsettling thoughts about not getting to my homework. I then turned my attention to driving. After my appointment I decided that since it was balmy out I would walk along the river. It had been some time since I had taken a walk alone, without a camera, without incessant thought. I walked noticing all the beautiful colors...the raging water....and I for the most part refrained from labeling things. At various points in my walk, there were a few thoughts here and there, some that even made me laugh out loud. (I am sure I appeared nutty lmao) Then, I just felt this calm, warm, loving, surety. I felt at home, at peace, one, whole, satisfied, full, loved, cared for, comforted.... It had been years since I had felt that way. I smiled to myself and just continued walking. The one thought that kept creeping in as I was walking after that was...Everything is just as it should be.

stone · 10-16-2009, 12:56 AM

I really like Tolle but couldn't get into this book, or some parts put me off it. He seems to take the whole thing too far with the evolution of the planet idea and makes assumptioms that just don't sit right with me.

I much preferred The Power Of Now, the whole book just rang true, like I already knew what he was talking about but hadn't known that I knew it. I get that when I listen to his talks too, I have lots of them on audio and video. I listen/watch periodically and he puts me in a state of "presence" no matter what he is saying or if i have heard it before. He basically just says the same thing in different ways anyway.

At the end of one talk he answered some questions, one of them was on the lines of, "when you talk of formless presence, isn't that just the same as the Buddhist concept of emptiness?". He just laughed and said "yes".
He doesn't ever try and suggest he is saying something new...I think he is the real deal, a genuinely enlightened person.

Brae · 10-16-2009, 08:17 AM

Stone~ I actually tried to read The Power of Now and just couldnt get into it...so thats interesting. I may try and give it another go at some point. Yeah...there is something about Tolle that makes me relax lol. and his giggle lol enough to make me laugh out loud. I too think he is very genuine. I really enjoy watching the classes. They (Oprah and Tolle) discuss each chapter for like an hour and half while they take questions via skype and email.

I was thinking yesterday, since I had an amazing dream the night before. I was wondering where Tolle would think that dreams come from? The ego? the pain body? the stillness?
Any ideas?

EvilBunny · 10-16-2009, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brae

I was thinking yesterday, since I had an amazing dream the night before. I was wondering where Tolle would think that dreams come from? The ego? the pain body? the stillness?
Any ideas?

I doubt he would get that esoteric about it. Dreams are just mental phenomena. He probably only experiences lucid dreams. I've read that people who meditate a great deal develop the ability to stay conscious farther down the brain wave frequencies. Some of them claim to be able to stay conscious even in deep sleep. I don't know if these claims have been tested.

You should check out The Joy of Living by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche. It talks about the science behind mindfulness, meditation and enlightenment.

Brae · 10-16-2009, 05:21 PM

~Evil..thanks for the recommendation...my list of books to read grows longer lol. I think he would have opinion on the subject of dreaming. I wonder if I do a search if I would find anything. hmm that would be a no lol.

Looking forward to watching tonight. I think I am on to Chapter 7 Finding Who You Truly Are...should be interesting.

stone · 10-17-2009, 04:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brae

Stone~ I actually tried to read The Power of Now and just couldnt get into it...so thats interesting. I may try and give it another go at some point. Yeah...there is something about Tolle that makes me relax lol. and his giggle lol enough to make me laugh out loud. I too think he is very genuine. I really enjoy watching the classes. They (Oprah and Tolle) discuss each chapter for like an hour and half while they take questions via skype and email.

I was thinking yesterday, since I had an amazing dream the night before. I was wondering where Tolle would think that dreams come from? The ego? the pain body? the stillness?
Any ideas?

It's funny that we have the opposite experiance with the books, lol.

I love his laugh too, he is like a little imp, childlike when he laughs. He has a good sense of humour and doesn't take himself too seriously.

Talking of dreams, I had a dream last night that I met Tolle and his girlfriend. We ate noodles with egg, lol. At some point we did like a Vulcan mind-meld and he gave me some of his peace. Weird!

.

Brae · 10-18-2009, 05:30 PM

LMAO Stone lol noodles eh? lol

All this new knowledge certainly takes practice. Yesterday was blah..but I think could have been worse had I not been practicing being present. I think since I am almost done with this book I may reread Stoic Serenity. It was such a great class and I think there are a few more layers I could dig into.

On to chapter 8..

10-15-2009, 12:18 AM	#1 (permalink)
Brae Bent not broken.... Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Eugene OR Posts: 91	A New Earth... Book and Eckhart/Oprah Class By Eckhart Tolle Amazing book. I am rereading it now and also watching the classes online that Eckhart did with Oprah. For me this is just the right time for another look at all this. I would love to discuss with others some of the ideas of the book. A few quotes to maybe start some discussion.... "You do not become good by trying to be good, but by finding the goodness that is already within you, and allowing that goodness to emerge. But it can only emerge if something fundamental changes in your state of consciousness." - Page 13 # "The quicker you are in attaching verbal or mental labels to things, people, or situations, the more shallow and lifeless your reality becomes, and the more deadened you become to reality" - Page 26 "How do you let go of attachment to things? Don't even try. It's impossible. Attachment to things drops away by itself when you no longer seek to find yourself in them" - Page 45 ~namaste __________________ "There was once a man who became unstuck in the world – he took the wind for a map, he took the sky for a clock, and he set off with no destination. He was never lost." ~ Castles in the Sky

10-16-2009, 12:17 AM	#3 (permalink)
Brae Bent not broken.... Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Eugene OR Posts: 91	Evil~ its funny that you mentioned Buddhism...I was talking with someone the other day about all of the different ways in which the same idea comes packaged. Its great to get different perspectives. It makes me wonder though how can so many have the same knowledge and not realize that they are indeed talking about the same thing? I had an amazing walk today. When leaving my house I realized I forgot my camera...I was about a block away. I thought well I do have some photography homework, I could go back and get it. I decided not to, although was having some unsettling thoughts about not getting to my homework. I then turned my attention to driving. After my appointment I decided that since it was balmy out I would walk along the river. It had been some time since I had taken a walk alone, without a camera, without incessant thought. I walked noticing all the beautiful colors...the raging water....and I for the most part refrained from labeling things. At various points in my walk, there were a few thoughts here and there, some that even made me laugh out loud. (I am sure I appeared nutty lmao) Then, I just felt this calm, warm, loving, surety. I felt at home, at peace, one, whole, satisfied, full, loved, cared for, comforted.... It had been years since I had felt that way. I smiled to myself and just continued walking. The one thought that kept creeping in as I was walking after that was...Everything is just as it should be. __________________ "There was once a man who became unstuck in the world – he took the wind for a map, he took the sky for a clock, and he set off with no destination. He was never lost." ~ Castles in the Sky

10-16-2009, 12:56 AM	#4 (permalink)
stone Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: UK Posts: 18,303	I really like Tolle but couldn't get into this book, or some parts put me off it. He seems to take the whole thing too far with the evolution of the planet idea and makes assumptioms that just don't sit right with me. I much preferred The Power Of Now, the whole book just rang true, like I already knew what he was talking about but hadn't known that I knew it. I get that when I listen to his talks too, I have lots of them on audio and video. I listen/watch periodically and he puts me in a state of "presence" no matter what he is saying or if i have heard it before. He basically just says the same thing in different ways anyway. At the end of one talk he answered some questions, one of them was on the lines of, "when you talk of formless presence, isn't that just the same as the Buddhist concept of emptiness?". He just laughed and said "yes". He doesn't ever try and suggest he is saying something new...I think he is the real deal, a genuinely enlightened person. __________________ . As from a fire aflame thousands of sparks come forth, even so from the Creator an infinity of beings have life and to him return again. -- Maitri Upanishads

10-16-2009, 08:17 AM	#5 (permalink)
Brae Bent not broken.... Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Eugene OR Posts: 91	Stone~ I actually tried to read The Power of Now and just couldnt get into it...so thats interesting. I may try and give it another go at some point. Yeah...there is something about Tolle that makes me relax lol. and his giggle lol enough to make me laugh out loud. I too think he is very genuine. I really enjoy watching the classes. They (Oprah and Tolle) discuss each chapter for like an hour and half while they take questions via skype and email. I was thinking yesterday, since I had an amazing dream the night before. I was wondering where Tolle would think that dreams come from? The ego? the pain body? the stillness? Any ideas? __________________ "There was once a man who became unstuck in the world – he took the wind for a map, he took the sky for a clock, and he set off with no destination. He was never lost." ~ Castles in the Sky

10-16-2009, 05:21 PM	#7 (permalink)
Brae Bent not broken.... Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Eugene OR Posts: 91	~Evil..thanks for the recommendation...my list of books to read grows longer lol. I think he would have opinion on the subject of dreaming. I wonder if I do a search if I would find anything. hmm that would be a no lol. Looking forward to watching tonight. I think I am on to Chapter 7 Finding Who You Truly Are...should be interesting. __________________ "There was once a man who became unstuck in the world – he took the wind for a map, he took the sky for a clock, and he set off with no destination. He was never lost." ~ Castles in the Sky

10-15-2009, 01:11 AM	#2 (permalink)
EvilBunny Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 65	I loved the book. The quotes you listed are really just Zen Buddhism ideas phrased for Westerners. The idea that we are all already awakened, we just don't know it. Have you gotten to the part in the Oprah class where he talks a little about alcohol? He says that mindfulness will raise one's consciousness and as a result the desire to drink excessively will dissipate. It's the Buddhist idea that attention burns up mental fetters.

10-18-2009, 05:30 PM	#9 (permalink)
Brae Bent not broken.... Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Eugene OR Posts: 91	LMAO Stone lol noodles eh? lol All this new knowledge certainly takes practice. Yesterday was blah..but I think could have been worse had I not been practicing being present. I think since I am almost done with this book I may reread Stoic Serenity. It was such a great class and I think there are a few more layers I could dig into. On to chapter 8.. __________________ "There was once a man who became unstuck in the world – he took the wind for a map, he took the sky for a clock, and he set off with no destination. He was never lost." ~ Castles in the Sky

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