Eckhart Tolle: "Even the Sun Will Die"

Founder Tami Simon (SoundsTrue.com, 9/11); Kelly Ani, Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

The Power of Now (Sounds True)

When Eckhart Tolle agreed to be interviewed on September 11, 2001, he could not foresee the historic nature of this date or the suffering that would follow. As the day's events unfolded, in real time, he responded with a calm and clear voice, helping to make sense out of the fear and chaos that will forever define this date. Even the Sun Will Die documents this historic meeting with Eckhart Tolle and the comforting wisdom he revealed that day.

We live in a time, he says, when we define ourselves through our enemies, and science and technology are in the service of human madness. Yet, even in the face of disaster, a miracle happens when we say "yes" to living in this moment and no other. This great opening, he teaches, can serve as nothing less than the beginning of a revolution in human consciousness with the potential to transform our world and everyone in it. Also for the first time on audio, Eckhart Tolle comments on his own awakening, and what he sees as the next step in human evolution.

From insights into the way out of suffering, to evidence that a new consciousness is already rising, Even the Sun Will Die confirms Eckhart Tolle's place among the most important and accessible spiritual teachers of our time. More

Buddhism?

The question to ask is: WHAT CAN I DO TO EXPERIENCE WHAT ECKHART HAS EXPERIENCED?

He has no explicit answer, at least not in this CD package. But the implicit advice Tolle has to offer is the suggestion to "Live in the present" as much as possible.

This is like the Buddhist advice to practice right mindfulness all the time or as much of the time as possible.

Right mindfulness is the way to be present.

What is right mindfulness (samma sati)? It is dispassionately -- free of clinging, aversion/fear, delusion) observing what is. Let it be. See it for what it is. Gain clear knowledge-and-vision (clarity of knowing-and-seeing).

The combination of samadhi (unification of mind, coherence, concentration) and mindfulness (sati) leads to liberating insight, to knowledge and wisdom, freedom and enlightenment. The Buddha explains in detail how this is done and what is needed to develop and what to let go of.

The "power of now" is that we have choice in the present moment. We do not have power in the past or future, which do not exist in the present moment (presence, the eternal present, this moment, and, remember, it's always this moment).

Eckhart Tolle is not a Buddhist any more than his corollary Byron "The Work" Katie is. But both have much to teach that is in line with Buddhism. And both certainly like and speak well of the Dharma.