Tolle

I finished up Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now during the Sedona trip. For the most part, I got a lot of value out of this book. It’s not one that I will quickly forget, and I will almost certainly be reading it again in the next year or two. I particularly liked Tolle’s explanations for how we can stop resisting the Now and live in a state of much greater inner peace. Like most people, I often find myself living in the past (through regret, bitterness, etc.) or in the future (anxiety, anticipation) instead of accepting that this very moment is all that really exists. I am trying to improve at devoting my 100% conscious attention to the moment at hand, which somewhat paradoxically will probably improve the future that we no longer worry about as much.

The one aspect of his work that I’m still unsure of is the topic of ego. Tolle is among those subscribing to the belief that the ego is to blame for personal and societal ills, and as a result believes that enlightenment comes from transcending it. It seems to me though as if the ego mightn’t be a shortcoming we need to overcome, but rather can be used for useful purposes. Sure it’s troublesome to become a materialist maniac and parade around in a BMW in a pathetic attempt to display our self-importance, but what if we use egotistical desires for positive ends? If I make a positive difference in the world, but my motives aren’t purely altruistic (I’ll admit it- I like the attention that is typically received from completing something worthwhile), is this a problem? Perhaps I am missing the crux of Tolle’s argument, but I fail to see why the source of one’s motivation (or identification) should matter in a life that is thoroughly enjoyed, highly conscious, and well-spent on commendable pursuits.