This has been one of the most transformative books I've ever read. It is AMAZING! It basically teaches you to become one with your true self, to not worry about the future and the past...only visit them when you absolutely need to...and to live in the NOW! Don't think, just BE. I wish everyone on earth practiced this...imagine what a beautiful place this world would be. Tolle has taught me to delve deep into my true being...I know it sounds like gibberish but this is the most amazing revelation I've ever gone through. I'm almost done with The Power Of Now and then I'm gonna start A New Earth. Tonight I had a true spiritual experience while exploring my true inner self listening to Enya's Boadicea...it was unearthly! Basically alot of the themes in this book are very Buddhist-like...but it's very easy to get into for the common person. I don't think I've ever been this touched, ever...at least not since I was a small child. I've dealt with depression, severe anxiety and just overall pessimism for much of my 26 (almost 27) years, and this has helped so much. Definitely checkout Mr. Eckhart Tolle. I wasn't sure where to post this, but since this is very much a LIFE issue...I decided to post it here.

I haven't read this author, but I do love Enya's music. Have you ever listened to Yanni or Karunesh? Karunesh has a good back story as well, he was injured in a motorcycle accident that changed his life, and then went into his music. Check on Wikipedia about him.

This knowledge has been around for centuries in India. Meditate!

IDJ, I haven't read the Tolle books but I have been practicing living in the now for some while, on my own initiative. What I notice is it induces an almost childlike state of encountering each thing that you do or that happens with interest and wonder. A side effect, however, is that for a person who has grown up in Western society and learned to be goal-oriented to survive, a nagging guilt for not "planning ahead" can haunt one. I've been trying to get over that guilty feeling that I "should" be doing this or that. Does Tolle touch upon that issue?

Forgive me if my comment is in any way inappropriate to the subject because as mentioned above, I'm responding generally to the ideas you put forth, not to the specific works.

His theories, although I have not read them, seem to me to be ZEN! One of my favorite classes in college was Comparative Religion. We went to a Zen Buddhist Temple as a field project and it was my favorite. I loved their simplicity and their way of living 'in the now'.

5oaks...I think Tolle pretty much says you can visit the past or future when absolutely necessary, which planning ahead is oftentimes necessary. I think the overall gist of what he's saying is live in the now most of the time. I'm still a newbie at this. I believe honestly, that living in the now, and not thinking all the time will actually make people age slower...it sure wipes out all stress. I mean you can do three things when you're in a bad situation...remove yourself from the situation, change it...or accept it totally. Worrying, anxiety, depression, guilt, regret, hate, sadness are all caused by too much past and not enough living in the NOW. Why worry about yesterday...what matters is right now, because that's what creates the future!

IDJ, thank you for elaborating. I just dealt with clearing out a lot of the past by disposing of a whole lot of items I've been carrying around with me for decades, from place to place, things I was going to use again "someday." Well, I looked at those things and thought they are dragging me down. Getting rid of the past can be physical, emotional and spiritual. And of course there are things from the past that we treasure, that can be incorporated as a useful part of the "now" through continual use and enjoyment. It's not always easy to keep focused on the now but it is worth trying for sure.

It definitely is worth trying. Tolle says it can be hard at first, but after weeks and months of practicing it becomes natural. So whenever you are in a stressful situation, you won't worry about it...you'll remove yourself, change it or accept it...all while keeping a completely clear head. I really believe this can work totally if you practice every day. It's ok to mess up and don't get mad at yourself...the fact that you realized you messed up is presence. I highly recommend his books. I mean he's in his 60's and he still looks so peaceful and full of youth.

I read his books and found them interesting. As an inveterate thinker/worrier, I often have a hard time turning off the noise inside my head. What works for me is taking a few very deep breaths and saying to myself, "Be here now."

I also remind myself that worrying about something will not change the outcome... but that's a hard habit to break. Fortunately I'm doing pretty well with the financial catastrophe going on - I am accepting it and deciding not to worry. Retirement is 25 years away, and I have faith that things will all come out okay eventually.

Cazaubon- Yes it definitely takes practice. It gets easier everyday.

"Wherever you go, there you are."

That's always been my theory..........

Rasputin, it was this thought that led me to feel I didn't need to travel as much as I had thought. After a few trips I realized I was just as happy and the same person at home as I was in other parts of the world. In fact, at home I could sit back and put my feet up whenever I wanted to. It's a great feeling.

I did a fair amount of traveling when I was younger, don't feel the need to do it any more... I can see pictures of places that interest me, don't need to actually go there to enjoy them. It's much less expensive and tiring.

I love to travel, despite the airlines. If I had more money, I'd do more of it. I like experiencing foreign cultures and seeing new scenery.

Love Enya's music. It immediately transports me to other worlds. Or out of the immediate one.

About 7 years ago, I read "Practicing The Power of Now", which is a distillation of Tolle's larger book, "The Power of Now". I was going through the death of a loved one compunded by dysfunctional relatives. This book was the one thing that helped me keep my sanity throughout that very painful experience. Even though I thought I already knew and understood the concepts, the words used to articulate the concepts, and the way they were used, were remarkably healing and transformative. I should just go ahead and buy a copy and write down passages on sticky notes and put them all over the house to help me find my peace when the going gets rough. Amazing book!