Hello, I picked up the power of now in a yuppie bookstore around fourth and Alma in Vancouver, he lived somewhere near me at the time and I just thought it was the least inspirational book I had ever read. It was in Banyen books, new age bookstore of bookstores and I am happy to say I just skimmed the book and walked out in disgust. He is Just dumbing down thought, his writing's could be comfort for a pap smear if anything. There a certain type of writer and media person, The Deepak Chopra's, The Eckhart Tolle's, The Russell Brand's, The Joe Rogan's, they make all sorts of money, make political or spiritual, or cultural commentary and they end up being about the equivalent of putting on miles on an 80's exercycle. It's going nowhere. It seems to be their purpose in popular culture, to hijack spiritual, social and cultural progress by presenting an open mind with no destination but more self satisfaction. Just a bunch of Tony Robbins. He disgusts me. I wish I had not lived in the same neighborhood as him.
Hello, and thank you for your long and interesting comment. Yes, I know. Sometimes, I cannot believe my eyes, seeing what is going on online and why people are so hungry of spiritual/motivational scam. When millions of dollars are being transferred, spirituality is becoming a farce. It is so good to see somebody responding to my little writing. Thank you so much and all the best with your writing.
I have to admit that I didn't read any of his books, practically can't remember reading much of the self-help apart from some philosophy texts which in general way touched on the subject.
I don't believe there is a actual ultimate, tested way to enlightenment (Marcin says there is, but we have to try hard enough ☺️), but I think the process of searching for it is interesting and can be helpful. Of course people want to believe there is "the way" and even better some shortcuts, hence the popularity of the "enlightened" ones.
I had kind of natural suspicion towards this kind of personalities which helps not to get pulled into orbit of their fantasies and at the same time knowing a long list of rather curious and smart personalities through the history I understood that no one has a real clue, just speculation build on the findings of previous thinkers.
Good thing to learn always, but why not to dig in as here Marcin did to find out for yourself, must be way more fun no?
Teachers... are probably needed to fast track and avoid some stupid waste of time, but nonetheless coming from the state of ignorance, whom one supposed to trust? There is always a risk of being used by a guru even if we think we are smart enough not to get fooled...
I remember one encounter with a quite well known buddist guru, I think he was called Ollie, an American guy, driving on motorcycle , cool, modern guy... He was passing by a town where I was on vacation in early 90s. I get close by to have a look at him and one thing I spotted. He got this very expensive watch... It instantly made me think... Ok he needs a watch, must have many appointments, so nothing wrong with that, but it could be a watch not the watch. The kind of watch that states to anyone "you know I am not just a guy, I am someone who can afford watch like that..." in this time and place it might be worth someones yearly salary... It just stricken me then and stayed in my memory. He really was like someone out of this world to many people around him then. Exotic, cool and having this message of liberation... how not to fall for that?
In the world of the Antichrist, in these interesting and cursed times the seduction of the negative is beyond all imaginings. All our incredible technology and development is negative like the electrical system to humanity’s energy and it’s phantom is highly seductive. Like the Guru with the watch, he likely had many peoples inner light that they were built in inside that watch. He was likely a sex phantom as well having many partners in his secret life. In my mind true enlightenment has to happen to all beings so while one may achieve detachment, a bird’s eye view, a vision beyond all others enlightenment is when all of humanity glows. In this world at the present time enlightenment is a suffering, a solipsism until true enlightenment can happen in my mind. Anyhow a few thoughts. Tolle is assuredly an ashhole. Sniveling away in false respect. Your photo is it of the westcoast? It looks like the shore of a gulf island that was logged in the last 20-30 years?
I don't really know what happened to that guy, probably he is still around. He definitely had some knowledge and made enough money. I don't know if he was any good or bad, someone recently tald me something about him, but I don't remember. The fact was that he used his aura of cool and unknown knowledge to attract people, what were his reasons I can't tell. The fact for me was the valuable item which has its own power of material value. For a guy like that, I would thought he might have some more awareness which contrasted with his rather ascetic to an extent message.
Its like catholic church, preaches powerty as virtue at the same time drips gold at every step.
Antichrist era... I did imagine it differently, seems kitschy, fake and embarrassingly stupid. The bad guys seem like some kind of clamsy clowns. The atrocities are and are very real, but no that many people care or are actually able to do anything about it... it just rolls from one wow to another wow moment. Not much of glorious monumental events, just the same banal predictable stupidity... Enlightenment? Maybe some individual awaking to this bs state out of stupor of daily efforts to sustain existence or run in fulfilment of some imaginary ambitions , or bubble of just a good life which should not be distributed.
Humanity has no chance to follow any bright ideas which they couldn't come up with already. XX century was the graveyard of the "great ideas". I am not even sure why anyone would try to self-help or improve? Isn't that kind of problem in all of this? The obsession with being better, the imperative of improvement where enough would be just trying not to get worse and get by? The self-help is in need for people who think something is broken, imperfect, unhappy about how things are. If one think life is just a ok and would be pretty bad if it get worse then why to make effort to make it better? Who said it has always get better, have to have some sense or purpose?
The drive to "improvement" is part of all this mania. Nature makes change and adoption when things are bad otherwise keeps going as it is and balance itself out, without much of an effort, just do.
Anyways... I am in pretty weird unexpected part of my life and had this worry for not being in control for a while, kind of pulled by life events and suddenly got this state of drifting aimless, then I thought, why would that be a problem? Maybe this the place I should get to and should let things to emerge on their own. Naturally there is thsi worry about uncertainty of the future but I thought "you know what? I don't care and what?" 😄
"I truly believe this is possible if you’re willing to follow his steps. I dare you."
I referenced to your believe that there is a particular method, we just need to try hard enough.
I believe method like that doesn't exist, in sense as an universal way to get "there". More likely anyone could get there in many different ways or that is not possible at all.
It is possible that some people got to places mentality that gave them some level of insight (if we talk here about in reference to transcendental realms) and is possible that they might not even ever share it with anyone... It might be very individual experience. One of the reasons why Buddha become the Buddha was that he already "found the way" but decided to stay around and share his knowledge. The story tells that there were many buddas who got there on their own and there is very little known about it. I treat it as just another believe and a cultural system with its mythology.
I came across The Power of Now at a time in my life when I needed its teachings and it worked for me. This was over 15 years ago now when Mr Tolle seemed more humble than he is now. It seemed more innocent and genuine back then. If I came across him now the impact would not be as great, as you said he is lost in a sea of so called gurus making money off people who can’t afford it and who are looking for a miracle to change their life.
Hello, I picked up the power of now in a yuppie bookstore around fourth and Alma in Vancouver, he lived somewhere near me at the time and I just thought it was the least inspirational book I had ever read. It was in Banyen books, new age bookstore of bookstores and I am happy to say I just skimmed the book and walked out in disgust. He is Just dumbing down thought, his writing's could be comfort for a pap smear if anything. There a certain type of writer and media person, The Deepak Chopra's, The Eckhart Tolle's, The Russell Brand's, The Joe Rogan's, they make all sorts of money, make political or spiritual, or cultural commentary and they end up being about the equivalent of putting on miles on an 80's exercycle. It's going nowhere. It seems to be their purpose in popular culture, to hijack spiritual, social and cultural progress by presenting an open mind with no destination but more self satisfaction. Just a bunch of Tony Robbins. He disgusts me. I wish I had not lived in the same neighborhood as him.
https://holographiclife.substack.com/
Hello, and thank you for your long and interesting comment. Yes, I know. Sometimes, I cannot believe my eyes, seeing what is going on online and why people are so hungry of spiritual/motivational scam. When millions of dollars are being transferred, spirituality is becoming a farce. It is so good to see somebody responding to my little writing. Thank you so much and all the best with your writing.
I have to admit that I didn't read any of his books, practically can't remember reading much of the self-help apart from some philosophy texts which in general way touched on the subject.
I don't believe there is a actual ultimate, tested way to enlightenment (Marcin says there is, but we have to try hard enough ☺️), but I think the process of searching for it is interesting and can be helpful. Of course people want to believe there is "the way" and even better some shortcuts, hence the popularity of the "enlightened" ones.
I had kind of natural suspicion towards this kind of personalities which helps not to get pulled into orbit of their fantasies and at the same time knowing a long list of rather curious and smart personalities through the history I understood that no one has a real clue, just speculation build on the findings of previous thinkers.
Good thing to learn always, but why not to dig in as here Marcin did to find out for yourself, must be way more fun no?
Teachers... are probably needed to fast track and avoid some stupid waste of time, but nonetheless coming from the state of ignorance, whom one supposed to trust? There is always a risk of being used by a guru even if we think we are smart enough not to get fooled...
I remember one encounter with a quite well known buddist guru, I think he was called Ollie, an American guy, driving on motorcycle , cool, modern guy... He was passing by a town where I was on vacation in early 90s. I get close by to have a look at him and one thing I spotted. He got this very expensive watch... It instantly made me think... Ok he needs a watch, must have many appointments, so nothing wrong with that, but it could be a watch not the watch. The kind of watch that states to anyone "you know I am not just a guy, I am someone who can afford watch like that..." in this time and place it might be worth someones yearly salary... It just stricken me then and stayed in my memory. He really was like someone out of this world to many people around him then. Exotic, cool and having this message of liberation... how not to fall for that?
In the world of the Antichrist, in these interesting and cursed times the seduction of the negative is beyond all imaginings. All our incredible technology and development is negative like the electrical system to humanity’s energy and it’s phantom is highly seductive. Like the Guru with the watch, he likely had many peoples inner light that they were built in inside that watch. He was likely a sex phantom as well having many partners in his secret life. In my mind true enlightenment has to happen to all beings so while one may achieve detachment, a bird’s eye view, a vision beyond all others enlightenment is when all of humanity glows. In this world at the present time enlightenment is a suffering, a solipsism until true enlightenment can happen in my mind. Anyhow a few thoughts. Tolle is assuredly an ashhole. Sniveling away in false respect. Your photo is it of the westcoast? It looks like the shore of a gulf island that was logged in the last 20-30 years?
I don't really know what happened to that guy, probably he is still around. He definitely had some knowledge and made enough money. I don't know if he was any good or bad, someone recently tald me something about him, but I don't remember. The fact was that he used his aura of cool and unknown knowledge to attract people, what were his reasons I can't tell. The fact for me was the valuable item which has its own power of material value. For a guy like that, I would thought he might have some more awareness which contrasted with his rather ascetic to an extent message.
Its like catholic church, preaches powerty as virtue at the same time drips gold at every step.
Antichrist era... I did imagine it differently, seems kitschy, fake and embarrassingly stupid. The bad guys seem like some kind of clamsy clowns. The atrocities are and are very real, but no that many people care or are actually able to do anything about it... it just rolls from one wow to another wow moment. Not much of glorious monumental events, just the same banal predictable stupidity... Enlightenment? Maybe some individual awaking to this bs state out of stupor of daily efforts to sustain existence or run in fulfilment of some imaginary ambitions , or bubble of just a good life which should not be distributed.
Humanity has no chance to follow any bright ideas which they couldn't come up with already. XX century was the graveyard of the "great ideas". I am not even sure why anyone would try to self-help or improve? Isn't that kind of problem in all of this? The obsession with being better, the imperative of improvement where enough would be just trying not to get worse and get by? The self-help is in need for people who think something is broken, imperfect, unhappy about how things are. If one think life is just a ok and would be pretty bad if it get worse then why to make effort to make it better? Who said it has always get better, have to have some sense or purpose?
The drive to "improvement" is part of all this mania. Nature makes change and adoption when things are bad otherwise keeps going as it is and balance itself out, without much of an effort, just do.
Anyways... I am in pretty weird unexpected part of my life and had this worry for not being in control for a while, kind of pulled by life events and suddenly got this state of drifting aimless, then I thought, why would that be a problem? Maybe this the place I should get to and should let things to emerge on their own. Naturally there is thsi worry about uncertainty of the future but I thought "you know what? I don't care and what?" 😄
re: avatar, yes it's from Tofino.
Where did I say there is a tested way that leads to englithment?😀
"I truly believe this is possible if you’re willing to follow his steps. I dare you."
I referenced to your believe that there is a particular method, we just need to try hard enough.
I believe method like that doesn't exist, in sense as an universal way to get "there". More likely anyone could get there in many different ways or that is not possible at all.
It is possible that some people got to places mentality that gave them some level of insight (if we talk here about in reference to transcendental realms) and is possible that they might not even ever share it with anyone... It might be very individual experience. One of the reasons why Buddha become the Buddha was that he already "found the way" but decided to stay around and share his knowledge. The story tells that there were many buddas who got there on their own and there is very little known about it. I treat it as just another believe and a cultural system with its mythology.
I came across The Power of Now at a time in my life when I needed its teachings and it worked for me. This was over 15 years ago now when Mr Tolle seemed more humble than he is now. It seemed more innocent and genuine back then. If I came across him now the impact would not be as great, as you said he is lost in a sea of so called gurus making money off people who can’t afford it and who are looking for a miracle to change their life.
Great analysis.
Also great chose of Image. Looks like him, humble chino's or not.