A New Earth: Oprah's Book Club: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose

Great book. Bought one for my mum as well.

I found it hard to pick up this book initially believing it would be a poor sequel to The Power of Now. How wrong I was. It takes the central message of its predecessor and expands it. Oh my how Eckhart expands it. This book is liking taking your own mind through an almost endless vortex of conscious self discovery. Like The Power of Now, it is hard to read at times. And again, not because the information is hard to understand. The information is easy to understand, which is the problem. The hardness, once again, is the acceptance of said information. Everyone I spoke to who read The Power of Now, which includes fellow counsellors like myself and including myself, could not read a relatively short book within days or a week. Everyone, including myself, had to stop reading it part of the way through. Which is what I did 20 perfect of the way through before I picked it up again a year later and finished it. And then read the whole book again twice more. This book however, A New Earth, had me willing and able to read it over the course of a weekend and I feel so much better for it. A simple concept that Eckhart expertly espouses, the acceptance of one's simple truths. Simple, yet extremely difficult. Even if you accept that it's your own unconsciousness or ego getting in the way. It's so hard to wake fully after sleep walking for a long period of time. And once again, this book will do just that. A mind awakening. And like Power of Now, I will read again and again. As the information never gets old. Simple truths that endlessly assimilate with endless time.

Alright, lemme break it down for you. This. Book. Changed. My. LIFE! On a serious note, the change in perspective that came with reading this book is real. I honestly felt like I made a spiritual breakthrough that allowed me to really take control of my life. Reading this book answered so many questions for me and a lot of things finally started to make sense and seem clear. If you feel lost and require a bit of guidance, I would highly recommend this book. This book offers insight to those who are ready for an awakening, and if you don't feel anything from this book, it's most likely you're not ready.

I admit... I had my reservations about Tolle and his material. When I first saw the man, he talked way too slowly for my liking and I could have sworn he was half-mole. And after reading the book description and some of the reviews; I had an uneasy feeling that this was going to be a lot of spiritual hokum that tells me that my discomfort was due to my furniture in the wrong place or that I don't cuddle enough fluffy animals, and that the path to happiness is paved with daily 5-hour meditations where I admire my feet, so that one day I can shoot laser beams from my hands. Anyhoo... I'm glad my close friend persisted in his recommendations. I won't lie: This book can be abstract in places and is very spiritually-centred, so will not be for everyone... however, the spiritual element is incredibly practical. As much as my head imploded in some of the later chapters, his explanation of the ego and pain body are utterly brilliant. (In short: The ego is the "individualistic" element that seeks superiority/being unique, be it by showing off, playing the "hard-done-by-victim" or actions that purposefully make us 'different'. The pain body is a network of emotions that help to 'fuel' the ego. How lovely). What I really admire is how much Tolle talks you through the process of weakening their influences. With most self-help books, the tutor will generally explain their solution and just leave it at that... here, Tolle almost has a built-in FAQ, and explains a lot of the mistakes, potential problems and general things to expect when starting out. If I'm honest, I've found this a lot more practical than the majority of other self-help tactics out there... things like affirmations (the art of saying nice things about yourself) seem like short-term fixes that don't hold water when the going gets tough. Here, I'm seeing a lot more strength. (For anyone else who's read the book, I've found the phrase "The ego feels/thinks..." to be very useful. Of course I don't say this out loud...) In terms of whether this book is for "you"... hmm... Personally, if you're in a situation where you seem to be "losing sense of who you are", and fluctuate between highs and lows almost like a minor form of bi-polar depression (one minute you're a hero, next thing you know you're nothing), and can feel that you can handle a decent level of abstract psychological/spiritual ideas... then you're probably ready and should give this a spin! Peace

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I bought this for someone else.

In my opinion this book is even better than Eckhart's first book 'The Power of Now'. I just cannot praise this book too highly. For many years I have been reading self-help books in order to understand why I and others do what we do and why it does not always work out the way we intended. Some of these books have been helpful, but they were not ones I wished to read again and again like this book 'A New Earth'. I just cannot put this book down and each time I gain new insights into my own life and that of others too. I now operate on an entirely different wavelength than I used to. I am calmer in that I let go of 'stuff' that I would take the 'bait' for previously. I can now see that the connection between the humans, the earth and the universe and where we all fit in with God. This is powerful writing that can only have been inspired from a spirituality source and not man's mind. I do not consider myself a 'religious freak', but merely someone who wants to make sense of his life; this book, like no others is so powerfully written that it is life changing. Do read this book, because if humanity is to survive it needs humans to re-assess their lives and become awakened and at the same time live a more satisfying life. Everyone gains!

This is one of the most transformational books that I have read for a long time. Highly recommend to all those looking for meaning and purpose in life

Eckhart Tolle says in his life-changing book "A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose" that all suffering is caused by our "ego." The ego is the identification with our thoughts, emotions, memories, interpretations and opinions. It is our involuntary stream of thinking, reactions, stories, resentments and comparisons. Our ego identity can also be our work, possessions, appearance and accomplishments. Tolle says the ego is the identification with a role to protect and enhance ourselves. The ego cannot distinguish between the situation and our interpretation or reaction. The ego is never at peace with the present as satisfaction is always in the future. The ego's negativity and suffering are motivated by self interest and short sightedness. Armed with Tolle's teachings I began observing my ego in action. To my dismay I saw how my ego always wanted the next thing to react against, to feel annoyed, disturbed or outraged. I realized I was addicted to anger and upset. I had no idea my constant reacting against everything strengthened my ego and sense of self importance. Each time I complained it made me right and the other person wrong. As I became more aware I saw there was something in me that took pleasure in negativity. My ego was a master of selective perception and distorted interpretations. The moment I noticed this there was a shift from ego to awareness. I became more aware of the difference between the event and my reaction to the event. In time I discovered the best way to differentiate between fact and opinion was not through my thinking but my awareness. Tolle says I'm not unique. The collective ego of countries keep grievances to fuel their endless cycle of violence. Throughout history many religions believed they were in sole possession of the Truth and killed those that did not believe their story. Their truth was considered more important than human life. When I stopped feeding my ego's illusions I felt a profound joy and connectedness with all of creation. As my victim identity diminished I stopped seeking people's attention and sympathy. I became more accepting of what happens. Instead of waiting for some change in the future I now enjoy the present. The joy does not come from what I do but flows into what I do. My new awareness allowed the world to become a mirror. The more I loved without conditions the more loving the world appeared. The spiritual realization I am not my thoughts, feelings, body or story but pure consciousness set me free. The other Tolle teachings I found helpful include the awareness of how the ego patterns we react to in others are usually the same patterns in ourselves. How the ego constantly tries to protect and enlarge itself by looking at the world as "us" versus "them." How the ego needs enemies to feel right and superior. What we react to in others we strengthen in ourselves. How the ego sees each person as separate and views them as inferior or superior. How all suffering is ego centered. Ego uses our mind to resist life as it is. The more we make our thoughts, beliefs, story and identity the Truth the more we cut ourselves off from the spiritual dimension within. Spirituality has nothing to do with what we believe and everything to do with our state of consciousness. Since consciousness transcends thought it is the dimension within ourselves that is infinitely more vast than thought. The Holy Spirit is the Truth and it is within all of us. This is what Jesus really meant when he said, "I am the way and the truth and the life." Our essence, the Holy Spirit, is the TRUE identity of all humankind and all of creation. When we touch the Christ Within all our actions and relationships reflect the oneness of all life. Our REAL identity is not the voice in our head but our awareness prior to the thoughts, the space in which our thoughts, emotions and sense perceptions happen. Awakening is the realization that who we are is the oneness of life, we are the manifestation of all things, experiences and personalities. It requires a shift of perception from seeing ourselves as an isolated individual to being in everything, everyone and everywhere. It is the realization that we are universal spirit or consciousness. There is no separation anywhere in the the universe. It is a glimpse beyond the veil of duality. When we have no ego we become a conscious Presence, we are not concerned about how others see us, and become one with Life itself. The way to break the ego's negative spell is is to become aware of the ego. Our identity will then shift from ego to awareness. Awareness grows as the ego shrinks. Alertness allows us to detect subtle negativity such as impatience, irritation and nervousness. True self esteem comes when we realize we create our own suffering and rise above the ego's conditioning. Not reacting to our ego is the best way to dissolve our ego. To not react we must see the other person's behavior as coming from their ego. It is not personal. When we look passed the ego to their spiritual essence they too have an opportunity to become more conscious. Non-reaction is forgiveness. It is not a weakness but a strength. Non-reaction does not mean we accept hurtful behavior. There is no ego in informing someone of a mistake so it can be put right. The key is to make a neutral statement, stick to the facts and not complain. Complaining serves the ego not change. Reading a "A New Earth" helped me stop waiting for some change in the future and enjoy the present. The joy does not come from what I do but flows into what I do. My awareness allows the world to become a mirror. The more I love without conditions the more loving the world appears. The spiritual realization I am not my thoughts, feelings, body or story but pure consciousness has set me free.

„A New Earth“ is one of the best books I have ever read.

I grew up in a religious home, and have had in interest in theology/philosophy/spirituality most of my life. I've read and listened to this book many many times, and still come back to it regularly. (I now have this in paperback, hardcover, audiobook, and ebook - and use all of them). It's essentially devotional reading for me at this point. Some of the things Tolle writes of may seem a little woo-woo at first, but if you let them sink in, you can see almost everything that he talks about in others (first) and then yourself. I often find myself laughing out loud when I realize that I'm doing something that arises from the Ego or the 'Pain Body.' Once you read this book, and understand it, you cannot fully go back to the unconscious person that you may have been before. You can ignore it. You can fight it, but it will always be there. To say that I've embodied everything that Tolle writes about in this book would be completely untrue in the ten years since I first read it. These are very easy teachings to understand, and very easy to put into practice theoretically, however, there is a constant realization on my part that the Ego doesn't want things to be that way. I, or I should say the Ego, wants to push forth with unconscious living. I think that very few people have the sudden overnight transformation that Tolle had (as described in The Power of Now), but that's okay. I accept that. I know that in the end, I will have to relinquish everything that I hold onto. I am still materialistic, addicted, selfish, greedy, etc. but perhaps less so, and certainly in a different way - I can't be unconscious of these things any longer. Ultimately, I am a better person for having read this book, and will continue to change. Some may argue that Tolle is "just repackaging Buddhism" etc. and that may be the case to some extent, but he does draw upon the texts and teachings of many different religions, and does so in a way that I think makes things more accessible to westerners. If you come across things in the book that you disagree with or don't understand, just ignore them and carry on. Personally, I do not need to believe everything in the book to derive the benefits from it, however, I would say that I believe 90% of it to be true. Tolle excels at pointing out human folly. Highly recommended.

Explains the deeper meaning to life in a wonderful manner. Biggest take ways - 1) present moment is all that matters. 2) living in the present moment by giving up physical forms and ego makes the present moment all the more enjoyable. 3) Ego deals in three ways a means to an end, an enemy, negative thinking... Whenever in a situation ask yourself these three questions and get back to the present if not already there 4) There is no good or bad situation, everything happening is just the way it is for a deeper meaning just accept it the way it is and keep moving on. 3) Three essentials that should be part of evey moment - acceptance, happiness, enthusiasm.

J'ai connu cet écrivain grâce à mon frère. Il avait lu "the power of now" et il m'avait envoyé en audio, j'ai bien aimé. Récemment je faisais des recherches sur la conscience, et c'est comme ça en effet que j'ai retrouvé Ekhart Tolle a New earth. J'ai été assez vite charmé de les premiers pages de ce livre. Après 40 pages lues, déjà je peux dire que je vois le monde d'un autre angle, et ça commence petit à petit à changer ma vie, de mal en bien évidemment. Il y a une connexion rapide qui s'est fait entre moi et ce livre, de que je le prends pour continuer ma lecture je m'en souviens très vite ce que j'avais lu des pages précédentes. Cela ne m'arrive pas à d'autres livres, en plus depuis longtemps j'ai une très mauvaise mémoire mais ce livre est magique, ça améliore ma mémoire, la capacité de concentration. Je suis très très satisfaite de cet achat