Reflections On The Power Of NOW

I wear a NOW Watch, which is a watch with the word NOW boldly displayed on the face. It is a dramatic reminder when I check the time, that it is always NOW. Wearing the watch has also been an interesting conversation starter on the Power Of Now, a popular book written by Eckhart Tolle. A New Earth, Mr Tolle’s most recent book has been promoted by Oprah to the masses. People I have talked to, have so many mixed opinions about Eckhart Tolle’s books. In my opinion, Eckhart Tolle and Oprah are performing a great service by bringing this information to the general public, especially at a time when people are hungering for answers. The world is ready for this information and although its form has been deeply criticized by spiritual purists, I congratulate Mr.Tolle for extracting the deep truths of the traditional mystical philosophies and presenting them to a wider audience. He does so without the isms which might be offensive for some people who adhere to a particular religious sect.

In his acclaimed book “The Power of Now” Mr Tolle writes in simple language, introducing some basic spiritual concepts to an audience who may or may not be interested in furthering their studies of the key lessons in living that are presented. If these simple truths are put into practice, its reach can be a transformational tool to shift our consciousness and begin a process of  awakening. I commend Mr Tolle’s efforts in deciphering deeper esoteric teachings and explaining them in simple terms. Many people lead busy lives; the office executive who just wants to know how to be more effective at his work; the working parents of young children who struggle to maintain a balance between the responsibilities of home and work. These people do not have the time or commitment that is involved in undertaking formal studies of an esoteric nature, such as Buddhism. It is an almost impossible challenge for parents of young children, to find the time or space, to sit for a half hour of meditation in their busy schedule. Practicing the simple exercises taught by Mr Tolle in “The Power of Now” is a way for anyone to include a spiritual practice in their daily lives, without making any changes in their routines.

Some of the concepts that are introduced:

• The Power of Now is none other than the power of your presence, your consciousness liberated from thought forms.
• The present moment is all you ever have. Make the Now the primary focus of your life.
• The more you are focused on the past and future, the more you miss the Now.
• The eternal present is the space within which your whole life unfolds.
• The present moment holds the key to liberation. But you cannot find the present moment as long as you are your mind.
• The greatest obstacle to experiencing the reality of your connectedness is identification with your mind.
• The moment you start watching the thinker, a higher level of consciousness becomes activated.
• The body will always give you a truthful reflection if you want to know your mind, so feel the emotions in your body.
• Discontent and tension arise within you through unnecessary judgment, resistance to what is, and denial of the Now.
• Body awareness keeps you present. It anchors you in the Now.
• The pain-body is life energy from  unresolved past experiences that are trapped in your inner space.
• Realizing your identification with the pain-body breaks the attachment to emotional pain.
• When you surrender to what is and so become fully present, the past ceases to have any power.

My main criticism of the book is the way in which Mr Tolle writes of the pain-body. It seems as if he is referring to a separate entity in some parts of the book, although that is not how he defines it. People of a religious background who are familiar with the concept of a devil, an evil force outside of themselves, can inadvertently become more fully engaged in a mind-body split . The concept of the devil in my opinion, is an externalization of the dark shadow side of our own psyches; the pain-body if perceived in a similar way as a separate entity, emphasizes a disconnect.

The book in general is well worth reading, although it is a bit repetitive and wordy in places. You may want to do what I did, first read the synopsis, Practicing the Power of Now and then if you want to, read the original text. I used the synopsis as a daily meditative reading practice. I would open the book randomly and read a page and contemplate the lesson during the rest of the day.

Practicing The Power of Now is a tool that anyone of any religious persuasion can use to experience higher consciousness and live fuller lives while accessing the joy, clarity, peace and connectedness available in being focused in the present moment.