Known By Their Company

I made an attempt to attend what some are calling “Oprah’s Church” last evening. No luck. I think you can’t just “walk” up and get in. Anyway I decided to look up Eckhart Tolle, seemingly the “teacher” at “A New Earth, Awaking To Your Life’s Purpose.”

I am not surprised by what I found. . .

He was born as Ulrich Tolle in Germany. He lived with his father from about age 13 until he moved to England in his early 20s around 1970. Tolle did not attend formal schooling after age 13, although we are told he was educated at the Universities of London and Cambridge. No information is published as to whether he graduated or earned any degrees, which normally means he did not.

At the age of 29, after suffering long periods of depression, Tolle experienced what he considered a “spiritual transformation” that marked the beginning of his function as a counselor and spiritual teacher.

His bestselling book, The Power of Now, emphasizes the importance of being aware of the present moments as a way of “not being lost in thought.” (Thinking is never a good thing with these kinds of folk) In his view, “the present is the gateway to a heightened sense of peace” (one of those statements that means absolutely nothing, but sounds as if it does)

He states that “being in the now” brings about an awareness that is beyond the mind, which awareness helps in transcending “the pain-body” that is created by the identification of the mind and ego with the body. (Say what? Psycho-babble at its best)

Tolle is not aligned with any particular religion or tradition. However he has acknowledged a strong connection to J Krishnamurti and Ramana Marashi ( it figures) and stated that his teaching is a coming together of the teachings of both those teachers.

Influences which are alluded to in The Power of Now are the writings of Meister Eckhart, Advaita Vendanta, Sufism, mystical Islam, Rumi’s poetry, as well as Zen Buddhism’s Lin-Chi (Rinzai) school. The book also interprets sayings of Jesus from the Bible (wonder where he learned that?)

Well, forgive me for being unkind, but you had best avoid this gentleman like the plague. Oprah seems lost in this foolishness. Don’t join her!