50 reviews for The Power of Now

momentummikey
Rated 4 out of 5
September 23, 2024
4.0 out of 5 stars Great additional book for self study, but not by itself... One word summary for the book- “Consciousness“.To be honest, it was a toss-up for the one word summary. The other option was “Heavy”. This was my second or third time through the book in an attempt to grasp more of it. I had started about two years ago, and couldn’t wrap my awareness around some of it, so the book collected some dust. I tried again last month and finally, success in getting through it with a moderate understanding and feeling in resonance of it. (But that only demonstrates where I am in relation to his ideas, you are in a different place on the path, of course.)Tolle covers all the topics that most of us want to understand a little more. Fear is really only a construct of the past or future. The Ego plays tricks on you into thought processes that do not support your NOW moment. The illusionary sense of your thoughts and thinking. Most of all, he discusses how to live with an inner-awareness, that is deeper than what we’ve become trained to see.The emergence of our higher self is the key to enjoying and living in the NOW. We must give up the notion that we are the one doing or watching something. We are the essence of consciousness that is watching the watching or doing. (Heavy, I know.) Your level of happiness rests only on your level of awareness. Who is in between the thoughts that is rushing around in your brain? The idea reminded me of some Buddhist teachings about Illusion and releasing of Self and Mindfulness.Ironically, I think it because of his negative surroundings while growing up, that Tolle’s focus on a “Pain Body” exists in his writing. I definitely picked up a heavy residual experience there, which I had a difficult time connecting to. Maybe I’ll “feel” it the next time I re-read the book.Some real “Enlightments” that really lit up my own path were:“People carry too much residual resistance, too much fear, too much attachment to sensory experience, too much identification with the manifested world.”“Your primary task is not to seek salvation through creating a better world, but to awaken out of identification with form.”on death – “it’s only tragic because you projected a separate self where there was none. You got hold of a fraction of a dynamic process, a molecular dance, and mad a separate entity out of it.”“It is through the world and ultimately through you that the Unmanifested knows itself. You are here to enable the divine purpose of the universe to unfold.”The Power of NOW is an incredibly empowering and “self”-evaluating book. It’s always great to read and learn and interupt the processes that you currently have in your life, and then try a few new ones. Tolle offers plenty of ideas that may help release “perceptions” that are holding you down in fear and attachment to impermanent conditions that your mind shows you. You are not your personal history, you are deeper than that.In Tolle’s own words, “Let me show you how to go more deeply into what you already have.” I believe he does a great job of this, and I definitely appreciate his insights. The book is definitely recommended for anyone seeking a calmer, deeper sense of who you are. 4 people found this helpful
Mohammad (N: Simba)
Rated 4 out of 5
September 23, 2024
4.0 out of 5 stars It is a great book and summarized well in "The Practice of the Power of Now" book. It's been over a year and a half since I read this book and bought the practice book which is just a summarized version: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1577311957/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1Be aware of what you feel and think, watch your thoughts, feelings, and actions.That is what I understood as the theme of the book, but it obviously goes into more depth. From what other people say, I can see where the nonsense and ramblings may be perceived.Here's a little about myself so you can understand who this is coming from:I try to take an observational approach inside and outside my life, exploring and tasting the abundance around me. I wouldn't label myself as a spiritual dude or hippie, I like improving myself and that includes my state of mind. That's not to say that I promote or walk around looking like a coachella concert smoking enlightenment all day, I am a guy who does guy stuff. I talk trash with my friends, I embrace all types of humor including dark humor and what have you. As one who loves life and its inhabitants, I still like to keep a healthy amount of skepticism (an open mind) to what I experience, including what I read or what is said.During my read I found that the author also realized many people would reject the way he thinks and so he even speaks about why one must keep an open mind. Any form of rejection such as judgement, spite, or complete distancing of a subject or situation can happen because the mind will reject anything not comfortable to what is unfamiliar. With my skepticism I still read on and true. There is a lot going on in this book that's easier said (and not understood) than done and can take time to absorb. What I can say to that is just get to the summarized version because that is a lot less wordy and just gets straight to the why you must practice presence and how to become present.The book has a lot to offer around his concept of presence, reality, and other experiences. Some may revel in beautiful harmony from this book, others will willingly move forward trying to practice it, testing the waters (which includes me), and others will just say no. All are fine because self-improvement is an investment, and this is a big one. To that though I would like to say that none of these reviews can really tell you what you need to know. The only experience worth living is the one that is being experienced and so I say to anyone and to you just read it, give it some attention, try it out. There was a quote that said, "Don't be too busy building the ship that you never embrace the sea" That is in my perspective, don't be too busy looking at these reviews and just experience it yourself!Overall, and so if you're also just a casual reader and would like a new perspective or practice to try, this is also it.Wish you all the best, fellow friends and coachello's 20 people found this helpful
Vegan Fazool
Rated 4 out of 5
September 23, 2024
4.0 out of 5 stars Audio book desperately needs to be re-recorded. This is the classic work from Eckhart Tolle and my docking of a star has nothing to do with the content of the book. Content is 5 stars, of course. However, the narrators of the questions (one male and one female reader) are pretty terrible voice actors, which is very distracting. Also the subheadings which are very important to the content, are, for some reason, completely skipped over in the audible version. This actually causes issues with the text and audio syncing up properly in whisper sync, as well as comprehension issues in the transition of the text.Bottom line, I'm aware this will likely never happen, but the book should be re-recorded with Eckhart reading the entire thing, including the subheadings and the questions himself. Also, please remove the high pitched "awareness bells" that randomly occur between section headings. These are distracting and jarring when listening and don't increase present moment awareness, lol. 6 people found this helpful
Raymond L.
Rated 4 out of 5
September 23, 2024
4.0 out of 5 stars Look inside Good book, makes one think. One person found this helpful
phantom
Rated 4 out of 5
September 23, 2024
4.0 out of 5 stars RIGHT NOW! Basic points in this book:1) Focus your attention to the present moment "Right Now" and Time is an illusion!!-The characteristic of the subconscious mind is the present moment "RIGHT NOW", not the future or the past.!! Whenever things happen good or bad, focus your attention to the "Right Now." Also when there are thoughts/emotions in your head; say to yourself "is this thought/emotion contributing to the "right now." What can I do "right now," do not regret about the past or the future. I am not saying don't plan for the future or think long term, you need to do that too, and in order to do that you need to focus on what you can do "right Now" Always shift back to the "right now"2) Do not react, be neutral.-People are reactive beings and polarized, that likes to lash out and react. be neutral, be de-polarzied. If people insults you or says something bad to you, do not react, ignore and move on. For example: people are very mad that Donald Trump is president. There is no need to be mad or to react. You decide your own future, you make yourself happy or sad, you make yourself poor or rich, you choose your own destiny. you are a corporation and you are the CEO. Donald trump does not dictate your life, Donald Trump does not make you sad or happy. its all on you!3) There is a life cycle and a time for everything-There is birth and death. New - Old. Beginning - ending. Alpha and Omega."A time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace." -Ecclesiastes 3:8-You need to learn to give in, and know when its time to get out and let go. there is natural cycle in the universe!-Most practical example I can give you is: if you have a old car that is a money pit, you need to learn to retire that car and not spend more time and energy into something that is going to end!You create your own REALITY!! One person found this helpful
natalie
Rated 4 out of 5
September 23, 2024
4.0 out of 5 stars A book I’ll read over & over again- requires patience, but worth it! If you’re wanting to grow mentally & emotionally, this is a great book. It’s not something that’s easy to grasp though. It requires practice. Every time I read this book I get something new out of it. It’s one I’ll keep referring back to time & time again 8 people found this helpful
Kaden Yokota
Rated 4 out of 5
September 23, 2024
4.0 out of 5 stars Difficult to read, but you only need to read the first 100 pages This book is particularly difficult to read for a average Joe. It is important that you annotate and remember the core messages but do not stay connected to the words. After the first 100 pages, the author becomes repetitive. However, despite dealing with the 100 or 200 pages after the first 100 I still believe the message of the book was important for me to hear. The author makes the message of the book sound particularly important, because of a contribution to a global awakening, or a global consciousness. The author constantly recites words of religious figures and emphasizes how their lessons are timeless, and they themselves aren’t bound by time. The meaning of the book is to help people stay in the present, where her ego cannot thrive. The author suggests that ego can only exist in the past, and in the future, but not the present. the author emphasizes the use of meditation to bring about a connectedness to one’s body and one’s mind. However, the author wants the reader to not associate with the mind, rather, he wants the reader to look at the mind, and observe its tendencies from afar. Negative emotions, such as fear also thrive in the past, and in the future, but not the present, because it is connected to the ego. it is difficult to explain everything in this review, but I would recommend this book to someone who wants to get into meditating or transcendental meditation, or has trouble reigning in their thoughts. 26 people found this helpful