Eckhart Tolle on The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos

[@BretHart049]

I've always been fascinated with this and thought I've read every book in this subject a decade ago until my friend said you haven't read The Power of Now. He said you'll thank me in the end. I kept putting it off and thought no way I will thank him. But then I read it just to get him to stop asking and long story short, I thanked him.

[@ncf1]

When I first read the Power of Now (after buying on impulse), it made no sense to me at all; I was one of those who even got angry.. years later as I suppose I matured spiritually I felt compelled to pick it up again and it suddenly made complete sense. It amazes me (and frightens me to be honest) how this can be; how our perspectives can change radically and how we can perceive things so differently as we grow.

[@BayviewFinch]

E.T. doesn't say to give up those desires and thoughts. He just says to disidentify with them. They still come and go, but when you're not attached to them, you don't suffer. You're not "daring to be 'boring'", and no work is required except for your attention put on the present moment. And there's no "there" that you're trying to get to. You're already there/here. And regarding age too. I'm in my late 30's. It's rare that anyone even thinks I'm out of my 20's.

[@relaxed.relations]

Wow, George has an amazing array of such interesting guests and Eckhart Tolle is up there with the Best of them.

[@PsiKidPower]

I picked Tolle's book up when I was 17, just as I was getting out of depression.... I was surprised that I was even ready for his message FULLY. Now its been 3 years, and i never felt so much at peace.

[@alexandersideris]

how are you doing now?

[@wlrobinson5022]

Wow a lot of negative comments here. Why knock it till you try it? Try staying present for one day...or even one hour...it’s not that easy. But once you’ve experienced it, it’s amazing. Changed my life totally. I’m very grateful to Mr. Tolle for sharing this teaching. Yes it’s true it’s based on ancient teachings. He fully admits this and never claimed it’s new information. He has explained it in a new way to bring it to the modern world.

[@massimoterra]

Thank you Mr. Tolle...it's been a few years since I stumbled onto your book and since then, the unfoldment of my life has taken me past my identity and into a stillness that fills me with beautiful space where presence swims in a beautiful fullness of energy. Be blessed :)

[@Delorian82]

To reach peak performance the key is to act and focus in the present moment to achieve those goals. Focusing on the goals will take your energy away from the present moment where all progress is made.

[@thumb023]

wow, too wonderful to be true, finally a true message on tv, I love you Eckhart!

[@zzzzzzzzzzzz22222222]

This is Awesome ! ET explains what is awakening, self realization and what a wonderful experience he had ! He is freeing the humanity from institutionalized religions and all the books they are holding so tightly and bringing in essence of true spirituality to the world ! If you listen to his talks carefully you get the message but for that you need to go with clean slate ! He is bringing wisdom of Adwaita, upanishads, His holiness Ramana Maharshi to the world!!!

[@dbige23]

Eckhart is so cool. Really everyone is when you tap into go you are. But I want more people in my life like him . Everyone is so concerned with tomorrow.

[@godscardioscar]

The only important question is how can you become conscious. If Tolle's books are helping you get there, that's great.

[@BulentBasaran]

So many ideas and strong feelings about what is going on out there... Is it not more important to observe the self? Observe the thoughts in your brain and feelings in your body... What do you need? Really.. Now. Not in 10 minutes, or an hour or a day or a week or a month or a year, or ten years later... Are all these negative thoughts any good? Are they making you happy?

[@ourlucidream]

I wouldnt say he is a guru but he seems to be an alright guy and wants to make the world a better place. A lot of people need things like this. It helps that what he is saying is not a religion. The best thing he has done is shown the connection between religions. If you wanna talk more pm me.

[@sunrisebend]

Tolle seems like a nice guy. Nothing new in his thinking but he makes it more presentable for the masses. Nothing wrong if it helps some people to find inner peace in their lives. It does worry me though when some people so totally embrace one idea that it closes their minds to any other possibilities.

[@godscardioscar]

I used to enjoy reading Krishnamurti, Osho and Thich Nhat Hanh, long time ago. But if possible, I would recommend you to try being your own teacher, learn from your own experience. Just look inside and be aware of what you are paying attention to. Is your attention pointing to a thought? Is it pointing to a feeling? Or is it maybe with yourself, right here, in this very moment?

[@kyldo007]

George, or Eckhart? If you mean George, he's a smart dude and the Hour is a good program. If you mean Eckhart, it's because if you can embrace his teachings you will gain inner peace and joy. My life has improved exponentially since first reading Tolle's books.

[@Velasca]

Perhaps it has already been mentioned in these comments, but notice how they stuck the 'England' sign in Scotland at 00:33?

[@mrpentium]

This guy is really fortunate that he had a psychic split, before he killed himself. I believe God intervened, because he was genuine. What he calls the consciousness behind the thoughts is The Spirit ...there IS a name for it.

[@ourliberty]

Thank you!! Amazing it changed our lives

[@xrotarebil]

This is what Buddhism is about. There is an awareness of suffering, but then the focus is quickly on overcoming that suffering. What is the cause? When you find the cause, and stop it, then the suffering stops.

[@ourlucidream]

Icono; The relevance is that he is an author and spiritual teacher lol...in that area the main point is to help people(even though in some it is to control them), and he has certainly done that. If you get down to the core of everything all people need is food water air and maybe shelter. Anything else is either accessory or a desire for more. Im simply stating an opinion, like you. I believe what he is writing is a positive thing. Thats all.

[@MrsJakas]

You said it!! The ego onparade. Love that. Thanks!

[@bobfrombcII]

love this guy !!

[@DustinBajer]

I think he's arguing that you're not your mind; but a consciousness behind it. No one can argue that the mind is a powerful tool and very useful at times... I think it's easy to argue though, that so much of our thoughts are needless, repetitious, self (ego) serving, conditioned, and I believe that Mr. Tolle is calling for the conscious observation of our reactive thoughts. Unless you can step back from the mental chatter how would you know when a thought is useful or merely self serving.

[@RobertWadlow292]

This guy has some good points. You must live in your body rather than your head.

[@DiamondMind]

how does anyone dislike this???

[@ourlucidream]

Where credit is due? In just my life Ive seen a person go from a drug addicted nihilist to a person that loves each day and respects the people around him because of the book I gave him which was from this man. For me I give him credit.

[@Real19821]

FREE BEER TOMORROW - LOVE THAT STATEMENT

[@MrsJakas]

I can't believe the comments. Does the man's teaching resonate with you? Has it changed your life in any meaningful way? Do his words give you comfort? Well, they do me, and that is the only thing that matters. I am so thankful for this teacher. There is nothing but ego-analyzing here. Please listen to the MESSAGE.

[@Imightberiding]

It's the dude from the first Raiders of the Ark movie who burnt the palm of his hand trying to retrieve the pendant from the fire in the road house/tavern.

[@theirlinator]

cool. it makes sense since it pretty much dissolves stress and in the process kills your emotional craving for unhealtlhy foods and bad habits. How long have you been practicing presence? Do you get to a point where you dissolve a lot of your negative beliefs and bad feelings so that its very easy to stay present most of the day, almost automatic, without having the judging voice pop up.. or does watching these negative beliefs and feelings coming up stays just as frequent over time?

[@StevenBancarz]

your mind wants to give everything a label and a shape. It wants everything to have a formula and a name so it can understand it conceptually. How can the mind and its thoughts understand consciousness when consciousness itself is the ground and subject of all thought? Studying the brain would not give us the cause of enlightenment. It would give us the mechanical effect that a certain sense of being has on nerve firings. Not everything can be reduced down to a blackboard formula or an equation

[@jeanneadele]

someone else i know also seems to feel critical of mother theresa. i've wondered why but haven't asked. so why "the monster of calcutta"? please know i am not trying to get into an argument, just an honest question.

[@Iconoclastithon]

Yeah, I did'nt think so, but was'nt sure. Thanks

[@Coop111]

I have to agree with many of the comments I have read on Eckhart Tolle. The same comment suits many of the other "new-age spiritual teachers" of our time, such as Deepak Chopra, Wayne Dyer, Rhonda Byrne, etc. Most of the ideas they are bringing to the public are simply a rehashing of ideas that have been around for upwards to thousands of years in many other texts and from other people. I do think it is nice that they are bringing them to the public, but give the credit where it is due.

[@Biancatasso]

Love it!

[@Tails7212]

That's very true, do you recommend any other spiritual teachers?

[@johnnny49]

i don't think Echart claims to be special or have something "new" to say. He merely offers what he calls a "signpost" l one of many that exist that point to the same thing, inner peace and enlightenment. There are thousands of these.

[@yacontrolalterdelete]

ego is the same thing as a mind - as in a brain that has continuous thinking activity. It goes without saying that ego will enable u to achieve things in life

[@WhatSayestThou]

@ElleDrake Welcome to KZbin.

[@Onlylovesaves]

@quinsedlethorpid I don't question the teachings, friend, I care for truth. God bless Barry Long, and long live ET.

[@Alphonzen]

Whilst you are right, Eckhart writes in a way that is accessible to people who wouldn't pick up a zen book.

[@zzzzzzzzzzzz22222222]

And thats why all the institutionalized religions are getting upset because they are losing followers !!! People are tired of hearing that you are sinful and you need to repent and forgiven ! There is no heven! no Hell ! no Devil! Everything comes through your mind ! What ET Teaches that you are THAT ! One Life! One Consciousness ! Not form ! Not thought ! AMAZING !!!

[@sotthapana]

@BlazeBros420 : You wish, bro... There's more than one cause of red eyes! I used to smoke a lot of pot, but looking back it was a complete waste of time. Life is so precious! Living in the moment is a far greater high!

[@Iconoclastithon]

...CONT; ...has written some stuff exposing theresa. Can't recall her name right now. But perhaps you'll come across her and her stuff in your googling.

[@PurpleLava]

If you re-read my comment I think you'll see that we're arguing different points. The actual ideas (ie. nature and importance of the present, the nature of thoughts, the need to detach oneself from body and mind) are ideas from Indian meditation. The actual ideas are not his. So when people (... like Oprah) claim that Tolle has 'created' a new-age philosophy, that is incredibly false. I'm truly happy that Tolle's book helped your friend, but that doesn't these ideas his....

[@PurpleLava]

PS. I have nothing against the man personally. He seems like a really nice guy. But I believe in giving credit where credit is due.

[@PurpleLava]

There's a BIG difference between creating a philosophy and writing a book about a philosophy. I can write a book explaining the theory of evolution.... but it doesn't mean I came up with it...

[@mutantchinchilla]

This man ages well. He looks like he could be in his 40's

[@sh0rtandhungry]

Jesus did say, "I Am the way, the truth, the life, no one comes to the Father but through Me." according to popular belief. Now who do who refer to when you use the words I or me?

[@Iconoclastithon]

"The point Tolle and many others make is that most people waste their lives battling away in self created delusions that they accept as reality. The danger is in not seeing this for what it is, not in questoining it. " Then they'd be rationalists if they were the case

[@devlinian]

George says he's not "some kind of a Buddha," but I think he is! Being Buddha doesn't mean he's a god. Buddha just means awakened one. If Ekhart practices what he preaches he is a Buddha.

[@Iconoclastithon]

Medittaions and so on are fine. Mysticism is fine an an allegory or a metaphor. It's all in the brain though{at least we have no reason or evidence to believe otherwise; it all explained by the science of the physical- chemical/electrical interactions brain and the five senses}. People can control their reality, their suffering or joy, yes, but only to a certain extent. They can only control how they react to circumstances{to a fair degree}, but not the reality/suffering or it's opposite.

[@talkinghead22]

It is not possible to posses an amount of context. It is possible for people to be aware of the context from which they live their lives and you are not. At all. Because if you saw it, you would knock it off.

[@Iconoclastithon]

...CONT; ...if we don't openly question,challenge, and critisize all beliefs unless and until they can be backed up by evidence and reaosn[or at least not contradict all evidence and reason}-we can and will fall prey to anything or to those whom have themselves. Faith must be questioned if we wish to move forward in this world. Beliefs/opinions must be challenged unless they do not contradict moubntains of evidence and rational argument. Some unfounded beliefs worse than others, sliding scale

[@yacontrolalterdelete]

I dunno dude this hasn't been my experience. I'm assuming your talking about being in the zone as they say in sports, and naturally the assumption is that as enlightened people are always in the present, they're always in the zone and therefore in an optimal state for creation. However speaking from experience, I believe that it requires the individual to be in the present and naturally after enlightenment u loose your sense of individuality.

[@adamdrury5556]

yacontrolalterdelete During, not after. If you see it as a time thing then you may be confused by the term 'enlightenment' because it is a deep experience of the present, the calm and peace, joy we experience when doing things we love, without having to change anything physically or externally. A permanent shift has to be maintained and will be if you feel you need it, but many people find help from just experiencing this for 5 or 10 minutes each day.

[@DiamondMind]

The man is awake...

[@Iconoclastithon]

...CONT; ...all that we have evidence for is our material bodies and the brains in then which produce sensations and thoughts{electro-chemical interations and their interaction with our senses},etc. Without which, we would not be. This IS the ego. Without the ego and the mental- we do not even exist. So it is contradictory to call them our enemy, our enemy is non-existence, which is what we would be if there was no mental or ego. Demonization/fear of them is absurd and dangerous.

[@yacontrolalterdelete]

Yea i'm all for a better balance amongst people in this regard i think most people could benefit from some meditation/mindfullness. Its because of this that (amongst other reasons) that i'm against his teachings because he represents the opposite of most people in this regard - he's too unconcerned about tomorrow. He doesn't have a healthy or sane balance in life and he's advocating people to get to the same state as him.

[@adamdrury5556]

yacontrolalterdelete He's at peace and physically healthy. How is that unhealthy?

[@ClassicRockMitch]

cool guy

[@Tails7212]

If you believe Eckhart is unconscious, then who do you believe is conscious?

[@talkinghead22]

It doesn't matter if YOU say he doesn't deserve attention. It doesn't matter what name designation you give him. He has spent a large part of his life giving something extremely valuable to people who like you have no context for it and totally have no appreciation for the value of his teaching. He should be treated well. He's doing great things. And all you can do is try to make yourself look better than him and criticize him. Pretty pathetic.

[@Iconoclastithon]

Hey Coolio; "But what right does anyone have to criticize anothers belief? " Everyone does it. You do it, Tolle does it, people of faith do it, the faithless do it. Except the faithless are the only ones whom are not hypocritical in dooing so. What makes religious beliefs{if they lack AND contradict mountains of evidence and rational argument} so worthy of beeing treated with respect we don't conversationally give other beliefs/opinions{say political,etc}? Nothing. If we don't CONT...

[@AaronDavisonmusic]

What a great teacher. I was so moved by The Power of Now that I wrote a song inspired by the book. Check it out on my channel and let me know what you think!

[@richwfd2002]

Wauzi123, you're right, and I will check out Katie's work. But, I do think that there are many people who think like I do; that religion has been given a free ride for too long and that it has negative impacts on society that affect everyone. It seems very coercive and arrogant to me and its influence in society and government is destructive. I know that anything I say will not change those people, but it's fun to judge them sometimes, so I guess I'm no different from them in a way......

[@sixtiksix]

Seems very happy for a German.

[@BubbaHotepMothership]

We know what Tiger was chasing, NOW.

[@yacontrolalterdelete]

I hate all this wishy washy, mystical, profound talk about enlightenment. I wish science would get its act together and do far more extensive research into the enlightened brain so that we can have discussions about enlightenment as the concrete thing that it, in fact, is.

[@resource112]

joseph82069 - Your jokes are so funny, you make everyone laugh:)

[@skkaskey]

Sin is shame... I am shameless.

[@shiroihana18]

unfortunately, im one of those women who are always on their toughts

[@godscardioscar]

His understanding is profound, but he has not awaken yet. Pay attention to his body language- the unconscious movements of hands and head and facial expressions, or even the way he sometimes blinks uncontrollably-, among other little details. He is probably trapped in this peaceful mind state he calls "stillnes".

[@astephanc]

What?

[@Iconoclastithon]

mdamrenee; I understand the catharsis of this navel gazing stuff, and I have nothing against it. But it always troubles me to hear people demonize the mind, the intellect{which is where our ego/mental are; these are WHAT we are, this and our bodies. If they are our enemies than we are our own enemies and all that's left is the worship of oblivion or non-existence; or in other words- DEATH-WORSHIP}. some ineffable spirit/soul has no evidence; it could exist, but there's no way to know. CONT.

[@Onlylovesaves]

@ChuckNorrisKratosLOL yes,sure, but "the painful body" and other "understandings" and a-ha "concepts" that make this work valuable are Barry Long's teachings. Well, never mind, Chuck... Barry Long probably wouldn't even care, because HE was a real enlightened master. But, since the most beautiful thing in his work was his attachement to truth, I was shocked that his pupil did not corrct this point, no it was magical, one day he woke up and he had no more ego!". Pfffffffff...come on!

[@theirlinator]

wow Eckhart doesnt look 60.

[@yacontrolalterdelete]

He's considerably less awake than the average person actually - from a physiological point of view

[@OcultOprah]

How terrible. And to think I helped to spread this evil error? I realized there might be a "little" problem with my "little" friend here. I started reading other books (beside Et's) and then I started reading all the Bible verses Eckhart Tolle, left out. I then realized this may have all been a terrible money scam. I listened to the KZbin video - The Gospel Accordimg To Oprah's Friends and then listened to - Church Of Oprah #1. I did not like hearing the Truth. But found freedom in it. AHA!

[@Iconoclastithon]

In short, I shall direct you to Christopher Hitchens book "Missionary Position: mother Theresa in theory and practice", and also google "criticism of mother theresa",etc. In short, she was an ideological extremist, a fraud, and more cruel than people think. She worshipped the perverse 'beauty of suffering" idea, she was'nt trying to end suffering she was trying to prolong it to bring the suffering closer to her god through it, she was double-standarded regarding the rich and poor CONT...

[@16bigred]

Weakling. I can see that your very happy in life with the way you view others

[@kamsmumy]

It is called an identity - don't be fooled - it is not YOU - it is just something masquerading as you...

[@Iconoclastithon]

I've read bits and pieces, or scrolled through them. I'm not knocking all that he is saying{some of it is a bit hoaky, but meh} or saying he's an evil monster or something. I'm just saying that he's not the great guru that he is made out to be, nor are his ideas or synthesis's of thought that unique or hard to arrive at on ones own.

[@quinsedlethorpid]

@Onlylovesaves who cares who's teaching it is. it is a teaching, don't be so hung up on the owner of something as broad and valuable as this

[@BayviewFinch]

Negativity may arise for decades, but it doesn't matter because you don't identify with it. The beliefs and feelings aren't "your" beliefs and feelings.

[@skkaskey]

If there weren't mindless tools like you spuing nonsensical drival, then who would I oppose? Keep up the good work Joseph, you make it so obvious that the deification of "god" is so destructive to the mind, and the collective.

[@KakkoiGuy1]

@mos6507 I have no connection with Alex Jones. Thank you for your "kind" words. It truly shows the state of your heart. I pray that you truly come into a saving relationship with the Biblical Jesus. Eckhart is a new ager and teaches a false Jesus. I am not worried about being popular or a people please. I must speak the truth and you hate me because I speak truth. May God save you and bless you.

[@Iconoclastithon]

I don't get the deal surrounding this man and his beliefs. I mean seriously, anyone with even a modicum of knowledge about either Buddhism{or other far eastern religions}, New Ageism or neopaganism, or anyone whose ever actually sat down and thunk about things for more than 30 seconds can and has heard these things in even greater detail than expressed by Tolle, or has arroved at these ideas on their own just be thinking about meaning. All this navel gazing stuff is not new nor hard to CONT.

[@Tommy197910]

Really folks...this guy is a celebrity simply because people think this is something new that eckhart has discovered. The exact same principles are rooted in zen buddhism. "Mush-in" meaning "no mind"

[@ferdinandalexander8053]

I have no problem with him but any so-called teaching that involves "becoming" or "getting there" is simply another comforter or poultice and the apparent history of humankind is littered with such approaches. He talks about entering the now, living in the now or accessing the now. Only now is now. You are now or You have no existence at all. ET is simply monetizing spirituality.

[@MrRaveIndustries]

more like the painbody

[@PsiKidPower]

OMG Joseph, seriously? Is there not one video of tolle that your not in?? its getting annoying and no one here cares about. people would rather have peace and have no religion then suffer and waste a lifetime following what you have to say. I love eckhart, and theirs nothing you can do about it!!!

[@godscardioscar]

Well, neither Tolle nor Long said anything that had not been said before by different people in the last thousands of years. They say nothing new and personally I don't believe they are enlightened. But it's always good that people start paying attention to their inner world. That's all that matters.

[@OcultOprah]

TheVicking: Who is God? And What is Truth? Is God The Source of all Spiritual Truth - as He told Us in The Scriptures He CLAIMED to have left us? Et says: no. The "god" of Et is NOT the same as the GOD of The Bible. Is Jesus Christ, The Son of God, who died on the cross, and was resurrected, The Living Savior? Et says: no! Is God Not a Liar as He claims He is. Is He The Only Perfect Always Existing Triune God? Et says: no again! They do no agree. Each moment is a gift FROM GOD.Not Et=himself=0

[@richwfd2002]

@joseph82069 Do you really care about "lost" people, or are you more concerned with validating your beliefs, willful ignorance and circular reasoning? I would argue it's the latter. Fear is very cunning.........

[@Onlylovesaves]

'HIS' teaching IS the teaching of Barry Long, already passed away, he spent all his life organising these teachings (how to defeat the painful body, the power of now, etc...). Tolle CANNOT say that one day he woke up and he was healed out of nowhere. Is the presence and the method of Long.This is a big lack of GRATITUDE with his blessed teacher, and a terrible lack of honesty!!!!Barry Long never got milliardaire with his little book, "Only fear dies". Sorry folks, that HAS to be said. Namasté.

[@Justfor2day10]

Very few flip like a switch to enlightenment but it happens and I believe it happened to Tolle. Take the Buddhist for example, they’re whole purpose is to become enlightened and practice for hours and hours, years and years. Barry Long is great!

[@Iconoclastithon]

ourlucidedream; allright guy, seemingly wants to make world better place, relevence please? "A lot of people need things like this". Says who? Why do alot of people need things like this. there are no real connections between our religions. At least not some of them. If you eradicate the core absoluteness of at least the 'revealed religions", you've eradicated them alltogether. So why not just simply say so, and simply say how flase those religions are? They can't be redeemed.

[@Iconoclastithon]

Talkinghead I have plenty of context for these ideas. I used to be a fundamentalist christian several years ago, when I apostasized I had picked up on these same notions he has allmost immediately and understood it upon a tiny bit of research. It's not that complex. Dooing great things my left foot! I'm not condemning the man, but lets not kid ourselves he's not greatly enlightened guru. It's regurgitated eastern philosophy, and this man is'nt as deep or enlightened as many credit him for.

[@AlainDee]

Wow, the intro is awful. This is not the show for Eckhart.

[@wlrobinson5022]

Alain Dee I agree. This dude doesn’t get it! Is he even listening??

[@sidthemyth]

he talks like benjamin creme lol??????