This review comes from Lesley, a very close friend of mine who has devoured everything available by Eckhart Tolle - Peter

Eckhart is well known for his book The Power of Now. However, what I enjoy even more are his audio-recordings of talks in front of audiences. Somehow his voice and words come to life when he presents to a live audience.

One of the fundamental principles that runs through all his talks and books is how to find peace by living in the present moment. The content of what he says is nothing new and of course, if you only half-listen to his words they are almost meaningless. If you tune into what he is saying though, his words have the capacity to bring about the state that he is talking about.

It is strange but it is often the space between his words and not the actual words that helps bring this about. Eckhart suggests that it is not our own minds that are the enemy but rather the fact that we have identified with the chatter that goes on in our heads that we are removed from what we really are. We tend to focus on the future or the past which implies we are not satisfied with what is, right here and now. If we are not satisfied with what we have now, how can we possibly become satisfied in the next moment? And our culture is set up to encourage that dissatisfaction since this state tends to produce consumers that try to fill the hole with products and services. Kind of like a huge conspiracy with no one conspiring except our own lack of awareness.

Eckhart says that if we lived with someone who tortured us and criticised us as much as our own minds do, we would move out. For me, my mind and my thoughts have always been a place I could retreat to and trust. However as I have got older I have realised I have been sleeping with the enemy to a degree. Your thoughts alter your perception and in a sense create their own reality. If you can change your thoughts or even if you can give yourself the space to understand that you are not your thoughts – they are like an old software program clicking over - then you can get a glimpse of potential freedom from a prison of our own making.

Let’s face it, the planet and human existence must change as a form of evolution, or we will face our own demise. Enemies and wars and territorial disputes that go on are an externalisation of the human condition.

You will thoroughly enjoy Eckhart’s words and I hope they bring you as much peace as they did for me. They are available on his website http://www.eckharttolle.com/home.php and at audible.com.

Tags: Recommended Books //