Eckhart Tolle: Essential Teachings

In this podcast, Eckhart begins with a few thoughts on meditation. He talks about the Chinese philosophy of Taoism (dow-ism). He says one of its key principles is Wu Wei (woo way) which he explains loosely translated, means non-action or “to sit quietly and do nothing.” Eckhart follows up with a quote from French philosopher Pascal who said, “All the troubles of humanity can be traced back to a person's inability to sit quietly in a room.” Eckhart says we’re so immersed in the outer world that we don’t even think to look inward. He reveals it’s our job to rescue our awareness from this hostage-like-state of unconsciousness. Eckhart says to start by taking small steps in our daily lives and that all of life’s crises big and small are meant to be opportunities for surrender. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPodsYou can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN 

In this podcast, Eckhart answers questions from a live audience including a father who says he wants to help bring presence into the lives of his active and unconscious teenagers who spend too much time on their devices, computers and cell phones.  A woman in the audience says she is interested in manifesting her purpose, but also wonders if it’s necessary to be very specific in the process of manifesting her goals. Another woman asks about identity at what Eckhart calls the “Deep I” level and asks if we are all really the same? Eckhart uses a movie metaphor to explain the “Deep I” by saying in a movie, as individual images appear on a screen, they all come from the same light pouring through the projector. He says the essence of the “Deep I” is like that - it’s pure light. With his signature wisdom and humor, Eckhart brings his unique perspective to these questions and others.Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPodsYou can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN  

In this podcast, Eckhart talks about the “Deep I” and the “Surface I” - two ideas he uses to teach spiritual development. Eckhart says the “Surface I” is our personality and is connected to the horizontal dimension, the realm of our everyday lives. He explains when things start to break down, we see how unstable life can be. All that looks solid one day can begin to crumble… like losing a job, going through a divorce, getting older or losing a loved one. Eckhart says in those moments, our lives are suddenly full of loss and suffering.  Eckhart explains why this is the perfect opportunity to get in touch with the aspect of ourselves that he calls the “Deep I” or the vertical dimension. He says life’s crises are meant to push us towards transcendence, where he says we will find “a peace that surpasses all understanding.”Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPodsYou can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN  

In this episode, Eckhart talks about human unconsciousness by telling the story of his father who he says had profound anger issues. Eckhart compares his father to a volcano, often brimming over with red hot rage. For years Eckhart says he resented his father and despaired whenever he had to brace himself for the next blow up. However, Eckhart reveals after he experienced his awakening, he realized his father was not capable of acting differently. Eckhart states that he finally understood his father – like so many people - suffered during childhood and was stuck in dysfunctional patterns from the past, resulting in his father’s anger and an unconscious life. Once Eckhart realized this, he says he was able to accept his father unconditionally and released the expectation that his dad could or should be someone else. Eckhart explains why we must refrain from labeling others because of their lack of awareness and that no person can act beyond their level of consciousness. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPodsYou can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN 

In this episode, Eckhart talks to a live audience in Arizona. He begins by saying the mind can be a wonderful thing – we can think, speak languages and engage in creativity. Eckhart also explains when we get too caught up in the mind, we lose touch with awareness. He cites moments in history such as Nazi Germany which he describes as a virus of the mind which took over and resulted in destruction on a mass scale. Eckhart warns when we create mind-made concepts about others, different from ourselves, we become desensitized to their inherent aliveness. We cannot see that in our deepest essence, we are all the same. Eckhart encourages us to learn from history, so we don’t have to make the same mistakes going forward. Eckhart says looking back at yesterday is the perfect catalyst to help us awaken today.Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPodsYou can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN   

Eckhart Tolle provides guidance on managing fearful thoughts, navigating the end of a long-term relationship, and overcoming addiction to technology. He discusses awakening experiences, cultivating presence, finding growth in relationships, and the power of presence in overcoming destructive impulses.

Eckhart talks about how critical it is we balance being with doing. He says without it we will not reach the deeper dimension of consciousness which is our legacy. Eckart explains when we’re obsessed with doing and achieving, we cannot appreciate whatever is here in the present moment, much less attain enlightenment. He states the world is already overrun with doing and the result is chaos. He believes the solution to many of our problems, both individual and collective, start with seeking stillness. Eckhart reveals we are never more ourselves than when we are still.Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPodsYou can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN  

In this podcast, Eckhart talks about self-seeking. He says many people who are unawakened look for an identity in self-centered thinking. Eckhart explains these people may define themselves through social status, good looks or the accumulation of wealth. Eckhart draws a parallel with the ancient Greek myth of narcissus… a beautiful man who fell in love with himself gazing into a pool of water. Eckhart jokes that this was humanity’s first selfie. He explains this myth is also where the word narcissism comes from. He says the human ego has existed for thousands of years and continues to wreak havoc today. He also warns that technology and social media strengthen the ego. Eckhart advises that whatever identity we have created for ourselves that we wear it loosely, don’t become lost like narcissus. Make a practice of releasing our self-centered delusions.Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPodsYou can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN  

In this episode, Eckhart talks about the importance of finding balance between Being and Doing. He explains, so many of us get lost in the doing because we’re so focused on external achievements, getting ahead and chasing after what we think constitutes the perfect life. Eckhart adds that when we get lost in doing we’re also propelled by thinking. Eckhart teaches us that thinking is not voluntary. Instead, he says thinking is something that actually happens to us and the movement of thought quickly takes on a life of its own. Eckhart says the unfortunate result is that we’re rendered semi-conscious and living a half-life… as if in a dream. Eckart reveals there is a deeper part of us beyond the dream and also an alert brilliant state of consciousness just waiting to be realized. Miraculously, Eckhart states that the consciousness that is you is the same consciousness that underlies the entire universe.Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPodsYou can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN  

In this podcast, Eckhart talks about the life-changing wisdom we acquire when we stopcompulsive thinking. He says wisdom is very different from intelligence and that true wisdom arises from a place beyond the kind of intelligence that is generated by the mind. Eckhart explains that even though thinking is a necessary function, we’re too dependent on it. He says most of us learn at an early age to memorize, dissect and label everything. Eckhart explains this fragmented sense of knowing robs us of a more profound understanding of the world and stops us from honoring what is sacred. He says wisdom cannot be measured by IQ tests and that the world will not be saved by more knowledge. Instead, he reveals that what the world truly needs is wisdom.Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPodsYou can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN