ECKHART TOLLE
Eckhart Tolle is a spiritual teacher and author. He was born in Germany in 1948 and studied at the Universities of London and Cambridge.
One night in 1977, at the age of 29, after having suffered from long periods of suicidal depression,Tolle says he experienced an "inner transformation." Going out for a walk in London the next morning, he found that “everything was miraculous, deeply peaceful. Even the traffic." The feeling continued, and he began to feel a strong underlying sense of peace in any situation.
Tolle stopped studying for his doctorate, and for a period of two years or so spent much of his time sitting, “in a state of deep bliss," on public benches in Central London, "watching the world go by.” He stayed with friends, stayed in a Buddhist monastery, or otherwise "slept rough" on Hampstead Heath, a large, ancient London park. His family thought him “irresponsible, even insane."
Tolle changed his first name from Ulrich to Eckhart, by some reports in homage to Meister Eckhart, the German philosopher and mystic. By other reports he was drawn to that name coincidentally.
Later, as a counselor and spiritual teacher, he began to work with individuals and small groups. In 1995, he moved from London to Vancouver, Canada, where he now resides.
Tolle is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller The Power of Now (translated into 33 languages) and the highly acclaimed follow-up A New Earth, which are widely regarded as two of the most influential spiritual books of modern times.
At the core of Tolle's teachings lies the transformation of consciousness, a spiritual awakening that he sees as the next step in human evolution. A central aspect of this awakening consists in transcending the ego-based state of consciousness. This is a prerequisite not only for personal happiness but also for the ending of violence on the planet.
One night in 1977, at the age of 29, after having suffered from long periods of suicidal depression,Tolle says he experienced an "inner transformation." Going out for a walk in London the next morning, he found that “everything was miraculous, deeply peaceful. Even the traffic." The feeling continued, and he began to feel a strong underlying sense of peace in any situation.
Tolle stopped studying for his doctorate, and for a period of two years or so spent much of his time sitting, “in a state of deep bliss," on public benches in Central London, "watching the world go by.” He stayed with friends, stayed in a Buddhist monastery, or otherwise "slept rough" on Hampstead Heath, a large, ancient London park. His family thought him “irresponsible, even insane."
Tolle changed his first name from Ulrich to Eckhart, by some reports in homage to Meister Eckhart, the German philosopher and mystic. By other reports he was drawn to that name coincidentally.
Later, as a counselor and spiritual teacher, he began to work with individuals and small groups. In 1995, he moved from London to Vancouver, Canada, where he now resides.
Tolle is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller The Power of Now (translated into 33 languages) and the highly acclaimed follow-up A New Earth, which are widely regarded as two of the most influential spiritual books of modern times.
At the core of Tolle's teachings lies the transformation of consciousness, a spiritual awakening that he sees as the next step in human evolution. A central aspect of this awakening consists in transcending the ego-based state of consciousness. This is a prerequisite not only for personal happiness but also for the ending of violence on the planet.
posted by Donald L. Simons at
3:35 PM
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