Is That So, Eckhart Tolle?
My mom and I have been talking a lot lately about the book A New Earth. If you haven’t heard of it yet, you soon will. Oprah has fully endorsed its author, Eckhart Tolle, and we all know that what Oprah endorses, sells like crazy. But Tolle is a very humble guy. He claims his ideas were all around him and that he didn’t invent them. Pretty humble for a guy who’s probably going to become the next psychology writer billionairre. More and more people I talk to about the book tell me they have either read it, or want to read it. But this guy isn’t hype, he has great vision in his book. If you haven’t read it yet, you should.
I remember getting a similar feeling about a book when I read M. Scott Peck’s psychology book: The Road Less Traveled. ” When I read great books like these, so full of truth and help, it’s like relaxation comes from he page, into my eyes and throughout my body spreading calm and joy. I’m still on chapter one of A New Earth, but what I have read so far is pure genius. My goal is to write a review of it very soon, so stay tuned to Postcards from the Funny Farm for that. I want to do this to spread the news about this amazing little book. Tolle’s insights on spiritual meaning in the world around us are really revolutionary and life-changing. Whether you are going through something as simple as trying to experience life more or something as serious as working through drug rehab and the like, this book brings out a strength you didn’t know you had.
At any rate, my mom told me a story from his book the other day that really intrigued me. She also watches the author every Monday she can on Oprah’s website where he does a regular video “town hall” style class where people can participate and ask questions. She gave me some good advice from him regarding negative people. Lately I’ve been getting some bad energy from people in all areas of my life and it’s beginning to worry me. Why am I attracting this sort of energy? Is it the way I talk? Is it the things I say? How do you deal with negative people anyway? We’re supposed to stay positive ourselves but what about when we can’t control bad energy around us. As I’ve speculated on here in the past, we should ignore it but as some of you commented, that isn’t always the best option. There is an alternative to ignoring Tolle offers that I prefer. It’s a phrase to have waiting in your back pocket. When negative people spout all sorts of negative things, just tell them this:
Is that so?
You can respond without reacting. Reacting is the “ego” as Tolle calls it. Responding is more of the being who you are inside coming out. There are so many good energies in my life these days now too, but why is it that I allow the bad ones to bring me down? It isn’t even rational to pay the most attention to negativisim. Another book by Tolle is called simply: “Stillness Speaks.” I would agree with that, wouldn’t you?
Anyone coming into your emotional space and saying “blah blah blah (something negative - you fill in the blank here)” should never take your good energy. Simply nod your head and say “is that so?” I love this mantra and I intend to use it from now on. If you tell me the sky is falling, I can say calmly “is that so?” If you tell me something is impossible I will say “WHY?’ Then, if you tell me why I will say: “is that so?” If you make a point on a forum I don’t agree with, there is no need to argue or even debate. All I need to do is consider what you have said and then say: “is that so?” Think about it, for real life or even social internet connections, it’s a pretty good mantra! Revolutionary thoughts like these take meditation. Here is a video I ran across of Tolle talking about getting that into our daily lives.
How are you reacting to bad energy in your life?
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Tags: book, books, commentary, discussion group, Earth, Eckhart, eckhart tolle, energy, genius, joy, life, m scott peck, mantra, Oprah, Psychology, reading, relaxation, spiritual, writer
Dang it! I needed this Monday night. Our goalie in ball hockey is super negative and hard on himself (he gets this stupid attitude from his dad and it makes me so mad to see this kid pulled into the negative and unneeded world). Anyways, he was beating on himself because we weren’t doing so good. “Why should I even be here? What’s the point? We’re just going to lose.” So frustrating!! “Is that so” would have worked perfectly.
Opera promotes all sorts of different books, I’m curious to see what this one is like.
Katelyn’s last blog post..Getting Out There
Thanks for that anecdote Katelyn. I can almost imagine your goalie since I’ve known the type so many times. It might not even work with him to say: “Is that so?” But it would refocus your mind on the positive which is the best place to be all the time. Maybe he’s not ready to get that yet.
I got the book a few days ago. I started to read however with The Power of Now. A little behind things, maybe. Thanks for this great post and idea.
Alban’s last blog post..A Miracle Musical Festival
I’ve read the book, also, and have been keeping up with the weekly classroom lessons on Oprah’s website. The book has deeply resonated with me in a powerful way. I love Eckhart’s suggestion of using the response, “Is that so?”, also. It really helps. Also, he suggests we can think of ourselves as being translucent when negative energies are coming our way, and just let the negative field flow through you and out, kind of like the light going through a glass or crystal. I’m so delighted for the many of millions of people who are all benefitting from his books!
Blessings to you.
Dianes last blog post..Christians are Awakening through Eckhart TolleR...
@Diane: It sounds like you are really benefitting from Tolle’s books. They are remarkable. Thanks for sharing your wisdom in a comment on my blog. I look forward to future ones.
I am so greatful to Eckhart Tolle and Oprah for turning me onto Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor and her beautiful book “”My Stroke of Insight”". Her story is amazing and her gift to all of us is a book purchase away I’m happy to say.
Dr Taylor was a Harvard brain scientist when she had a stroke at age 37. What was amazing was that her left brain was shut down by the stroke - where language and thinking occur - but her right brain was fully functioning. She experienced bliss and nirvana and the way she writes about it (or talks about it in her now famous TED talk) is incredible.
What I took away from Dr. Taylor’s book above all, and why I recommend it so highly, is that you don’t have to have a stroke or take drugs to find the deep inner peace that she talks about. Her book explains how. “”I want what she’s having”", and thanks to this wonderful book, I can! Thank you Dr. Taylor, and thank you Eckhart and Oprah.
Dear Damien
Thank you for “Is that so?”
I have to work on a daily basis with someone who constantly keeps up a barrage of negatives regarding work colleagues, and it had begun to make me a nervous wreck. I have to admit that I have also sadly caught myself playing into it.
I found your website whilst surfing for commentary on “A New Earth” which I find intriguing and so enlightening.
Now instead of dreading going back into work tomorrow after a week’s leave I shall go in armed with the right thing to say.
This will, I hope and trust, protect me from becoming part of the negative energy that has bringing me down and causing terrible depression.
Sincerely
Judith
Wow. Thank you Judith. One of the reasons I make my neck sore writing and keeping up this blog is to offer help that has been given to me. I hope the phrase “Is that so?” will be a boundary against the negative energy this person emanates. Please come back again! If you like you might benefit by subscribing to my newsletter. Either way, keep us all posted. Your situation is shared my many out here in the Funny Farm.
Hi Damien,
Thanks for commenting on my blog post about Eckhart Tolle. I love that ‘Is that so’ comment as well. I have Kabbalah on one side and Eckhart’s teachings on the other side-both very similar. Different writers and wise men translate from the sages in their own way but basically saying the same good words.
You might want to get Elizabeth Lesser’s book, Broken Open. Elizabeth will be on Oprah’s webcast and her XM radio show this coming week. She is a jewel not to be missed.
Love & light,
Myrna