The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment

I picked up The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle out of curiosity, and it turned out to be a surprisingly impactful read. The writing is simple, but the ideas really make you pause and reflect on how much time we spend stuck in the past or worrying about the future. It’s not a book you rush through—it’s better to read slowly and let the concepts sink in. Some parts feel a bit repetitive, but that actually helps reinforce the message. Overall, it’s a good reminder to be more present and less caught up in overthinking. Definitely worth reading if you’re looking for a different perspective on mindset and stress.

I used to think I had the "truth," for that is what you are raised to think in the "restored" Church of Jesus Christ (aka Mormonism), where the fullness of Christ’s teachings and life’s “big secrets” are all revealed and available through devoutly living the faith. In spite of my former devoutly sincere living of the restored gospel as taught in LDS culture, I was more often than not in a living hell state of mind, which affected my heart with intense energy that I can only explain in words as a powerful pain body. I pleaded with the Lord for help, so naively unconcious, like a child in their 1st year of life, especially since my 17th year of absolute depression and anxiety—to depths of hell I am surprised I came out alive from. My brain had created such powerful neuropathways of belief, where I was so unconsciously naïve that even the very word consciousness was taboo and scary. Words like Empath, might have well been witchcraft. I felt so unworthy, so worthless, that just existing, as a very clean, very kind, scincere young man, was hard, for I was to repent of just being alive (no thanks to my Mormon upbringing). Everything I understood was filtered—masked by ego, and even worse, a religious ego (more dangerous than the already difficult ego) trained by false tradintions of religion (Mormonism, in my case), where men take a truth and twist it with their own "righteous" ego, which perverts the simpleness of the way to the literal Christ, Kingdom of God within, here and now, not just some future date of achieved worthiness. It wasn’t until I reached a point where I was genuinely ready to end my life, in my 35th year, after my wife left with the kids (not for infidelity or lack of my own desire, but both our own, unresolved, formerly Mormon egoes, which dominated our marriage in ways we would find out together later on), that I was left with me, myself, and I. At that point, the book had already been introduced to me, by my wife, but I was in a state of mind where I wasn't ready for it, or better said, my ego scoffed that a book (as I had tried others) could help me find true joy outside the scriptures (bible/book of mormon). It wasn't until I was alone, filled with high attachment anxiety (losing what I loved most and was completely attached to, my children/family), having left religion, that I first went through this book. The power within me, for the first time, shot past my mind, to my pain-body within my heart, in such a way that I literally experienced the portal of light I had once experienced in my youth—a literal portal of light (a story for another day). Then, each time I read the book, a layer of the thick and painful untruths began to be unlearned (unlearning is harder than learning, for you are literally forming new neuropathways in the brain). I listened to The Power of Now over 16 times within a few months—yes, it was that delicious to my soul, it kept showing me how to simply allow my true essence to surface, peaceful and powerful, even though I could not comprehend most of it in my then unconcious ego-mind. My brain could not make sense of it all quickly enough, but my heart—something shifted enough to let the depth of my soul surface, while I sank into the depth of my true essence, away from the surface waves of drama, circumstance, and ego. Here’s the key insight, and it’s everything: it wasn’t Eckhart, and it wasn’t the book. It was me. Sounds selfish, but the true you inside is the Christ. Literally, Jesus brings us to the Christ—our true identity within—to be healed fully. The Christ brings us to the Kingdom of Heaven within, ultimately to the Father, which is all symbolic of the reality that each of our soul-bodies is a Kingdom of Heaven, here and now. No book or teacher can save you—only you can awaken you. The Holy Spirit (your spirit) leads you (your true self leads you) to the Christ, which points you to Heaven, for today is literally the day of your salvation—but for reals, not just in religious speak and belief—for NO BELIEF IS REQUIRED. Just be still and know that I am God. This book pointed me toward the door, and for the first time, I stepped through it—for reals. For decades, I chased the “easy yoke” and “light burden” Christ spoke of—honestly, 35 years of searching—and it always felt just out of reach. Then one day, it became real. Tangible. Living. Because the peace, the freedom, the salvation I’d been waiting—taught to climb for (in Mormon theology, it’s twisted to mean worthiness in tithe-required gaudy temples)—wasn’t hiding in some future heaven. It was right here, right now, within. The “Kingdom of Heaven” really is inside you, and once you glimpse it—once it surfaces (because it’s already there)—you’ll wonder how you ever missed it. To those who claim this book is “anti-Christ,” I say this with love: that’s the ego talking, wearing religious clothing. Be still. Do one of the many exercises—especially the body scan—the author invites you to practice. The irony couldn’t be thicker. I’ve never known Christ more intimately than when I finally allowed myself to meet Him directly—without the conditioning, the fear, and the image of a punitive “god” (lowercase g) I grew up with, the false traditions of the fathers of religion clouding the simplicity of the way, the straightness of the path, the easy yoke and light burden of Christ, absent the false requirements of "worthiness" interviews, tithings, etc. Everything that is real naturally arises when we are in our true Kingdom of Heaven within. Christ walks with you, for you become like Him (“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in Heaven is perfect”). This book belongs in every school library—not as a sermon, but as a mirror. It should be discussed, debated, and wrestled with—because belief isn’t required to access what’s already within you. Read it not as doctrine, but as a pointer—a whisper back to the stillness that Christ Himself described: the living presence of “I Am.” The irony in just that statement—“I Am”—has the “become as little children” laughing at its simplicity. No, The Power of Now isn’t an end in itself. It’s evidence that there is a higher, loving intelligence—call it God, Source, Being—that flows through everything and everyone. That power isn’t mocked, and it doesn’t play favorites. All are loved. All are light. All are already whole, even beneath our human pain, conditioning, or perceived flaws. Now I see clearly how cult-like certain religious systems can become—not because the people are bad, but because the structures teach us to look out there for what has always been in here. I’m finally learning what it means to be free, to live awake, and to experience life—not as a test to pass, but as a sacred unfolding. Truly, we can do as Jesus said—“He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do, because I go unto my Father.” (John 14:12) What?! Do more than He has done? That’s not blasphemy—that’s the fullness of the gospel. It’s the living truth of what happens when we awaken to the Christ within. For today—literally today—is the day of our salvation, not someday in a distant afterlife, not when we’ve “earned” worthiness, but right now, in presence. I hope to share my stories in animated form on my channel boxels on YT or come say hi on x with my same justachilldad, and lets move towards the absense of the greed of wall st which is a typification of the ego unchecked, without grace and humility or meekness. The future is bright, but to get there, we must stand on the precipice of the greatest darkness next to the greatest light. The good news is darkness does not comprehend the light, the people of the world (I literally have mingled with people since, of every nation, in one of the darkest spaces of crypto (a story for another day) are waking up, desiring conciousness over unconcious for-profit deadness of our current system.

I love Eckhart Tolle, thus below my comments reflect my passion for his teachings. As you know everything is relative, in this case, my review is relative to my personal experience. The most profound book I have ever read. Finally I have touched the depth of consciousness. When you are ready, you may understand it. Otherwise, it may be a heavy book. It's like giving a computer book to a technology savvy versus someone that is not familiar with computers. I have also read every other book of this author. I find this book to be the starting book into the author philosophy. This book will help you understand other books that may be more difficult without this base knowledge such as The New Earth. There are several other spiritual teachers, but this Author is the only one that is truly effective that contains substance making a difference in my life. Other authors always leave me with nothing, lot's of words that don't lead anywhere. This book was given to me from a friend and it was the best experience ever that changed my life. I am glad she pushed me to start reading it, because I kept it on my bookshelf for weeks. Once I started reading it I was astonished and since then my life changed, my eyes were opened. However, not everyone is ready to understand. I have tried sharing it with some other people, but not everyone was able to read it. Since my background of meditation, spirituality, and introspection, this book came easy to read and understand. For me this book was the missing block from my spiritual path. Thanks Eckhart Tolle for helping humans make it to the next stage of consciousness. Good luck and I hope that anyone coming across this book is ready to discover the realm of non-thinking, non-judging, non-labeling. I would say, this is a non-mystical, clear understanding of what's behind religions. This can help any person to understand more their religious/spiritual path. The book is neutral, it doesn't favor any religion over another. It brings everything together into one as it should be. My message to everyone: Gaining more knowledge doesn't make people wise. Wisdom should be developed in pair with knowledge. Too much thinking stresses you out. Practice meditation. Discover the ego in you (we all have it), but you don't have to listen to it. The mind wants to think taking you away from what you are currently doing. Be aware of compulsive-recurring thoughts that are draining your energy. You should be able to stop the flow of thoughts, regain energy, feel at peace, in between daily tasks. This will bring wisdom in your actions. Otherwise, stress can only led you to poor results, poor performance, poor outcome. Empower yourself with gaps of non-thinking, which will make you experience FREEDOM. That's were you can find freedom, in your head only. It's nice to stop the mind flow of thoughts. You'll feel light, free, happy, and worry-free. Otherwise, your mind keeps generating thoughts causing you to be slave of recurring/compulsive thinking. That's why people drinks or get drugs (legal and illegal), to experience freedom from your mind that never stop stressing you out. Alcohol causes more issues than benefits, same as some drugs. Learn how to become free from your mind and from addictions. Then you can start enjoy life and express yourself at your full potential. This book is a pointer to freedom. Here is the door, can you open it and discover what's in it?

This book, and its author, Eckhart Tolle, have changed my life for the better! (It's going to be hard to keep this review short.) I started reading this book after I went through a very tough time in my life. In late 2018, I was introduced to a kind of yoga practice. The first step in the practice is to finish an online course and practice a few stretching exercises, basic breathing exercises and chanting. It probably works fine for most people, but in my case, it messed me up big time! I started having trouble controlling my energies, lost sleep (just sleeping 2 or 3 hours a night) and was working like crazy at job... Then I went manic. Though I wanted to stop the yoga practice, I couldn't. It was like a drug at that time! I started talking too much at home and work. People started getting scared of me, since I was pointing out things from their lives that they were themselves only peripherally aware of. I eventually lost my job and almost lost my family too! It took me a few months to realize what had just happened. After that manic phase, I went into severe depression. I had no job, a very strained relationship with my wife, and was blaming myself incessantly. I also stopped the yoga practice around this time. A few months later, when I realized I couldn't handle it myself, with the help and support of my wife, I went to a psychiatrist... and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder... (I now know through this book that all illnesses are just temporary situations to deal with. I have no identity with the situation. The reason I am mentioning the label here is to help others who might have gotten this label, or other such labels. Right now I am on medication (200 mg daily of a mood stabilizer, called lamotrigine). I see that it helps me, for now. But I don't buy my psychiatrist's argument that I have to carry that label for the rest of my life. I was doing just fine for 40 years before the yoga practice... and the situation might change in the future. For now, I am going along with the recommended plan since it is working well and I accept it totally.) The only things that pulled me out of that deep pit was total faith in a Guru (who is not living in His body anymore) and probably, the medicine too. At that time, I had to totally lean on faith, since I had no strength myself. The ego had gotten such a heavy beating that it became extremely scared and depressed. Every moment was torturous and I could do nothing about it. I wanted to commit suicide, but having been raised with strong Hindu spiritual teachings, I knew that suicide would only temporarily postpone the inevitable, and that I would take another life and face the exact same situation. (I don't know if that is true or not; it at least prevented me from committing suicide.) This book was referred to me in December of 2018 (when I was in full blown mania) by someone whom I met at a bookstore. I knew about the book, but had never read it. The next day, I found a used copy of "The New Earth" by Eckhart for $3 in a used book store. I bought it, but couldn't read it since I didn't have any concentration. The moment I read one sentence, my mind took off and I could see where Eckhart was going... (At that time, my mind was telling me there was nothing I didn't know.) Only in November of 2019, after I went through a full cycle of mania and depression, and was slowly recovering, I borrowed a copy of "The Power of Now" from the local library and started reading it. The very first practice of "watching the thinker" was a revelation... Especially the statement Eckhart made about not judging the thoughts and just watching the mind... I was mostly aware of what was going on in my mind, but I was criticizing the mind the moment it produced what I judged as a "wrong" thought. This created a lot of suffering. It was a huge relief to me that all I need is to just watch it and be the witnessing Presence. Later, Eckhart talked about "watching the inner body" to take attention away from the mind when it's not needed. This helped me during my job interviews. I had always felt anxious about job interviews... This practice really helped me through that challenge. (I did fine in the interviews and usually got good offers, but the anxiety was so much that my palms and feet would always sweat.) The book doesn't get into the practical aspects until much later, but its message is very clear here. Separate out life situations from life itself, and deal with situations in a practical manner, doing what you can, one step at a time. And if there are things that you want to change, there are only 3 sane options: 1. walk out if you can, 2. take steps to change it, focusing on what you can do now, or 3. if neither of the above two are possible, accept the situation totally, even if only temporarily. Acceptance itself is a doorway to peace... These teachings are helping me every single time my mind starts to complain or blame. The biggest lesson I learned is to use the mind only when it is necessary, and not follow every single thought that occurs in my mind. The exercise of awareness is the toughest one I have ever done in my life! I still experience mood swings. Unfulfilled desires from the past with respect to my profession keep springing up. (The mind's imagination here is very strong.) But I know, right now, I have to just live a regular life, as a householder, be with my family and continue my current job. My mind isn't stable enough for other pursuits now, since it's constantly changing, going in circles - one day it wants to go back to graduate school, get a PhD and become a professor, next day it wants to go to a tropical island and work as a waiter (getting away from all work that requires my brain), another day it says life is wonderful as it is and how much money I would lose if I went elsewhere... With Eckhart's help, I now know that all these are just narratives of the mind. I know what's practical for my life now and what I need to be doing every hour. Just focusing on that is enough. (Let the morrow take care of itself.) Like Eckhart recommends, I am using my situation as a strong motivation to practice Presence. In my case, the situation is not external; it is extremely close to me, since it is my own mind! The suffering I experience when the mind takes me away from the Now is too much to bear. I have no choice now but to practice Presence. My current practice is to just keep my attention on what I should be doing this moment, and keep checking where my attention is. If my attention has gone astray, I don't condemn myself; I just bring it back to the Now. I find that my job keeps me sufficiently present, but at other times, when mind is not needed, I need to practice this consciously. Due to the force of habit, I frequently fall trap to following useless thoughts, but I am slowly breaking out of that bad habit. I am becoming more aware of my internal state. I also engage myself in helping my son with school work, reading, doing stock investing, writing, spending some time on Facebook, and watching TV shows and movies occasionally. Whatever keeps my mind engaged, or keeps my attention in the present, are all working just fine. Along with this book, Eckhart's videos on YouTube have also brought my attention back to the teaching. The message is the same, but every time I hear it, it's fresh! I conclude with the Zen statement from the book: "What, at this moment, is lacking?"

Reading The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle was an interesting experience for me. I’ll be honest - at first, I found parts of it a little pretentious. The language can feel abstract and occasionally mystical, and there were moments where I caught myself thinking, “Okay… we get it.” There’s also a lot of repetition. The central message "come back to the present moment" is delivered again and again in slightly different forms. Initially, that tested my patience. But the more I sat with it, the more I started to wonder whether that repetition was intentional. The mind doesn’t change overnight. We’re wired to loop thoughts about the past and rehearse anxieties about the future. So maybe the repeated return to “now” isn’t over-explaining... maybe it’s practice. What I appreciated most is the core idea that we are not our thoughts. That simple shift, observing thoughts instead of automatically believing or becoming them, felt powerful. It made me more aware of how often I drift into mental noise without realizing it. Whether you interpret Tolle’s ideas spiritually or psychologically, the reminder to detach from compulsive thinking feels genuinely useful. The concept of the “pain-body” was harder for me to fully connect with, but I could still relate to the broader idea: unresolved emotions influence our reactions more than we think. Even if the terminology felt unfamiliar, the insight felt real. This isn’t a book I rushed through. It’s one I paused with. I didn’t agree with everything, and I didn’t love every section, but it did leave me thinking and definitely more aware of how often I’m not fully present. In the end, I wouldn’t describe The Power of Now as a life-changing lightning bolt for me. It was more like a slow nudge. A reminder that peace isn’t something to chase in the future - it’s something that can exist right here, if I allow it.

I greatly enjoyed this book. I sometimes spiral on things that I cannot control, and this book helps me to stay in the moment and appreciate the ever-present now, which is all we ever have, seriously. I recommended it to several friends and family and they also greatly enjoyed the book.

An amazing self development read, that enlightens ir readers of how powerful it is to remain in the present moment and to be mindful of how important it is to do so. I be highly recommend this book to EVERYONE. This is informative and helpful for anyone who wants to learn more about how they can improve their lives.

I’m 29 and I just have to say this is the best book I’ve ever read. I just happened to start reading this book just weeks before my 29th birthday actually. Ironically enough, on the first page Eckhart starts off with “one night not long after my twenty-ninth birthday...” I’ve been through depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, dealt with undiagnosed adhd all the way up through my 20s and only diagnosed after college, I’ve been through abusive relationships, have become toxic myself in following relationships, have been through ptsd because abuse, have never met my own dad and have dealt with an unstable family life my whole life... basically I felt absolutely lost nearing my 30s and most of the time hopeless. My main emotions were anger and fear. I felt them constantly for as long as I can remember. They overcame me quite often and was exhausting and detrimental to everything in my life. It was holding me back from my true potential and I wallowed in self pity and being a victim. I’ve tried an antidepressant and it only works to an extent, but it doesn’t help change your outlook and detach from your pain. This book has changed my life and has helped me through my own awakening and detaching from my own pain body. It’s truly helped bring me to enlightenment. So, to address the people who are giving this book a one star... all I can say is that these people are still asleep or they have not gone through what they need to go through to understand Tolle’s words. They are in simple terms just not awake. I can’t tell you how many times I read parts of this book and just thought holy crap, I GET it. It’s amazing. I never open this book and put it down without having new revelations. Not only has it brought enlightenment, but it’s also brought me closer to God and understanding of the universal as a whole (I guess that’s what enlightenment is though lol). I think it’s awesome as a Christian that Tolle has implemented God in such a delicate and tactful way. It’s not in an idolizing way and never once undermining Him either. Much respect there. It touches on so many things that we never have answers to or even think of asking these questions and brings about an explanation that just gives so much peace to your mind. It shuts it up and lets you really live in the now and to stop worrying. Just an example, but this week I’ve been dealing with pms and I was struggling a bit with being irritable and snappy. It always happens exactly a week before my period starts and I picked my book up today to read before bed and coincidentally I had been reading through chapter 8 and Tolle just happened to touch on the pain-body and when women deal with pms. It gives tips on how to stay on top of these reactions and to be aware of them, so that you can remain in your consciousness. He also mentioned how a partner can help you stay conscious when this pain body tries take over. I know I’ve dealt with this and my recent ex noticed it as well and always tried to help me through it when he picked up on my cycle, as I’m sure most men have recognized their girlfriend/wife go through. I think it’s awesome that Tolle explained how a partner can help their love through that week. Overall, just get this book if you’re on your spiritual journey. Well.. we all are, but if you’re awakening and looking for some guidance it’s well worth the read! I’m actually tapering off my antidepressant this week, that I’ve been on for a year and a half, and I can say I feel strong enough now and this book is a nice comfort to have during this time.

これを読んでから雑念が大幅に減り、思考がとてもスッキリしました。全ての苦しみは未来と過去からくると説いており、非常に共感しました。今ここにある事だけが全て。大変おすすめです。

A good read

This is the first book I’m reading by Eckhart Tolle and really fully on the subject of Enlightenment. I have been a Christian for 16 years and man did I get a new perspective on things. The book speaks to YOU past your mind and brings in new flood of light and knowledge that shines through the fog and clutter that is the mind. I started reading and I kept reading and barely could put it down. It’s like I’ve gone on a spiritual retreat and I can feel my body within dancing to the knowledge it has received. The book is a bit challenging to get into at the start but the concepts and what is being discussed solidifies as you read and they gain hold. There’s no multiple messages or elaborate plan and step of what you hve to do. The message is simple, repeated and consistent - and that message is NOW. I encourage you to read it or struggle through it if needs be but don’t give up on it. It has potential to change your life. My has already changed- within! And this will ofcourse affect my life situation

Excelente mensaje, lo recomiendo ampliamente. Yo lo leí hace un año y me fascinó, éste lo pedí para regalo de Navidad. En esta edición me gustó que es de portada dura, un diseño bonito, clásico y elegante. El que lo recibió puso una sonrisa al desenvolverlo. Me gustó también que me llegó en caja, no sé si fue por ser envío internacional, pero siento que así no se maltrató, ya que por lo general otros libros me han llegado en bolsa.

Simple, easy to read, and incredibly helpful in understanding the core principles of the mind — how it works and how we can free ourselves from its grip. Even if this is your first contact with the topic, the book brings a sense of clarity and insight. Love the book!