April 14th, 2008 - Feature: “A New Earth” — A new religion?
After reading The Power of Now, a gift from actress Meg Ryan, Oprah became a fan of German writerEckhart Tolle. Tolle found the inspiration for his novel in the hotel room, and wrote the first chapter of The Power of Now on a sticky note pad. German born Tolle speaks his native language, English and Spanish. Tolle has found a new spot on Oprah Winfrey’s best book list as well as, what she feels will inspire a nation to change. According to Tolle, by the 6th page either you don’t understand or “you begin to feel the shift.”
Oprah felt the “shift” and decided to share her enlightment in an online “class”. A New Earth Web event allows Oprah members to view live discussions between herself and Tolle. However, these live web casts are set to answer the questions visitors may have. Which includes instant emailing to the show and following along through each chapter with an online workbook.
What is this “New Earth” and why should you care?
Tolle was a proclaimed spiritual teacher in England, leading workshops with no more than 10 or 12 people in their homes. Spiritual – like God? — asked Oprah during the first classroom session. “No,” replied Tolle, “consciousness.”
“In order to awaken to your life’s purpose one of the key things we must do is not try to tell life what our purpose is…not try to define ourselves.” According to Tolle, life has to define it. One of the ways to do so would be to invite stillness into your life.
Theory of stillness and quiet has pervaded new age christians as well as traditional pentecostals. John Orzechowski, a English and Intercultural Studies major at Southeastern University believes that, “Silence and tranquility are for good reason.” While attending college, John noticed that silence has become a rarity. “We are constantly bombarded with stimulation, noise, distraction from all directions.”
Is this media bombardment blocking humanity from hearing life’s true calling?
According to Tolle, finding stillness is vital if you want to get to a place where the answers are potentially. While spiritually teaching, he told Life he was ready. Answers did not come for several years and when it came, Tolle says it told him to “move.”
The book did go on to publish and is doing fantastically well thanks to Oprah and that sticky pad that held the contents of a bestseller. In his book Tolle encourages all to awaken to their life’s purpose.
What’s the difference between this book and The Purpose Driven Life or any other self-help book for that matter? Though not Jesuit based or Christian encouraging, the book does zoom in on key aspects of ministry and teachings of Jesus (and other great minds) like PDL. Unlike most other self-help books, Tolle seeks to alleviate the egocentric base of human nature.
However, listening the “conscious” could easily be the holy spirit for christians. And “life” could just as well be a substitute for God which for Christians is the giver of life. I have yet to read this book, but I’m always distracted from books that recieve too much attention. Popularity doesn’t make it a universal awe-inspiring message, it makes it common and over-referenced. I’d read this book with caution, if you are Christian these principles fall into place like puzzle pieces — on the other hand to Tolle there is no God-head, just consciousness and Life.
The work is worth looking into, whether you agree or disagree with the philosophy of Eckhart Tolle. The main thing of A New Earth is to be present with the perception of the now. Start with nature, don’t name according to reference or scientifical explanation. Don’t lose knowledge, but set aside the basic human nature to assign labels to flowers, trees and stereotype people.
The online classes with Tolle and Winfrey will run on a 10-week feed on Oprah.com on Monday nights.
Check it out: http://event.oprah.com/videochannel/archive/archive_player.html