The Power Of Now by Eckhart Tolle
This book carries two main points. First, to not be identified by our minds. We are asked to listen impartially to our thoughts and to “watch the thinker”. The purpose of this is to step back from our thoughts and feelings and to know that there is a “Being” that is separate from the mind. According to Tolle, it is this “joy of Being” that is the key to true happiness.
Second, to realize deeply that the present moment is all there is. By constantly reliving the past and by worrying about the future - which actually does not exist - we miss the Now. This ultimately goes back to the first point; Being can only be in the Now.
This book is one of those works that is able to generate greatly differing reactions. It might be completely life-changing for some. For others, it contains tips on how to make life a bit better. And some will find it to be just gobbledygook or even pure BS.
From the perspective of a Muslim, the author is off the mark in identifying the source of inner peace. Allah says in the Qur’an:
45:28 … Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured.
The author espouses surrendering to the Now, whereas Muslims surrender (i.e., submit) to Allah:
2:112 Verily, whoever submits his face [i.e., self] in Islam to Allah while being a doer of good will have his reward with his Lord. And no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.
A Muslim is “present” by having his meeting with Allah constantly at the back of his mind:
2:45 [The humbly submissive to Allah are those] who are certain that they will meet their Lord and that they will return to Him.
Eckhart Tolle tries to capture the essence of the soul. The Muslim attitude with regards to this is as follows:
17:85 And they ask you [O Muhammad] about the soul. Say, “The soul is of the affair [i.e., concern] of my Lord. And you [i.e., mankind] have not been given knowledge except a little.”
In conclusion, this is an interesting, well-written book on the most fundamental of subjects. The first five chapters are not too controversial, but the rest of the book discusses, amongst other things, “the source” and “the unmanifested”, which are conjecture.
Comments: