Books: The Power of Now
The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle (New World Library, 1999). Books were a major part of my gift giving this year and, being slightly amazon.com obsessive, I used their gift guides to inform my purchases. The guides provided by magazine editors were especially helpful and despite myself, I bought a hell of a lot of the suggestions from O. When I received the box in the mail, I realized that all of the items I had purchased had intended recipients except for one: The Power of Now.
I cracked the binding and read the first line of the introduction:
I have little use for the past and rarely think about it.
Whoa. In most conversations I have that are about life and how to live it, my lack of interest in the past is a common theme. Matter of factly, I thought to myself, "Hmmm, I guess I bought this for me." I don't consider myself new age-y at all and struggle with the terminology Tolle uses -- it's hard for me to get down with the "pain-body" and "portals" -- but I do understand the interconnectedness of all things. That this book about the Now found it's way to me now didn't seem "special". It just was.
The book itself is okay. It's significance for me has been in it's ability to get me to focus more on the spiritual concepts I already believe in even if I don't cotton to the namby pamby language. It affirmed some things. It provided some tools for staying in the moment which, as my work life has changed and become more challenging this year, has been a struggle. I'm not usually one for stress but have found myself stressing more as I adjust to new demands. The Power of Now (and my vacation) have helped calm those tendencies.
I'm not a self-help guy and I doubt you will find me grabbing up tomes of spiritual enlightenment often in the future but for the serenity I felt as I closed this book today, I'm grateful.
I recommend this if you're willing to check your cynicism at the door. I know. It was difficult for me, too. But, just for this following "Eureka!" quote, it is worth it:
...change the situation by taking action or by speaking out if necessary or possible; leave the situation or accept it. All else is madness.
Namaste.
Comments
I didn't think I'd make it through these books either, what with their mystical metaphysical language and oversimplifications. But like you, they turned me onto new mental pathways that have done wonders in changing the way I deal with stress and anger. Like you, what caught me was the sense of the interconnectedness of everything that infused the words of both of these books, as I've always felt as such, but never talked with or read anything that affirmed that feeling.
Also, the biggest change that these and other books started in me was an openness to new ideas, be they from people I think are (probably) idiots, or from books with covers that make me scoff. Hearing words from people like you who are into this openness as well as have a deep sense of the interconnectedness of all things inspires me. So thank you for sharing your experience with this book.