I have not read The Secret but from what I have been told it sounds more geared towards Self and Tolles book is more about being Selfless. Definitely contrasting messages. One is about having and one is about letting go. I believe Tolle is closer to the truth that will heal and start a change in this world. Just my humble opinions = )

Exactly!!! Tolle's message is about waiting for purpose to come to you and "The Secret" is about creating your own reality. Oprah says she 'lives' by the secret, but also profoundly supports Tolle. Thus - the confusion???

Perhaps this will help: Tolle is speaking of changing the way that we interact, the way that we connect. We are all spirtual beings having a human experience, and this is what he wants us to realize and awaken to. Our life's purpose is to remember that we are the ALL.

Alternately, in The Secret, we are taught virtually the same thing, that we are all connected, we are all bits of Source energy. As such, we are able to create our reality and the "things" which make it more comfortable and enjoyable while still in these physical bodies.

Both, however, stress that having these physical things is not the source of true happiness and joy, that is only attained through the realization that we are made of "God stuff"! Being awakened and/or enlightened is truly joyous and beautiful and magnificent! Being able to know that all our physical needs and desires will be met and are within our control to create is also joyous and beautiful and magnificent!

Yes, the message is different and on some very fundamental levels, but they are both valid and true! Eckhart focuses on detatching from our egoic form and material things in order to attain a true understanding and awareness. I doubt that Eckhart is a poor man who lives a monks life without any modern conveniences, and I also doubt that he did not realize that through his connection and understanding that he brought all of his "things" into his experience.

Both "The Secret" and Eckhart Tolle are correct. The balance of these (what appear to be) conflicting ideas is intention. If you intend to grasp for power and material possession through greed then you shall have it but there will be the greed and envy of others attach to it. Not Good! However if your vision is alturistic and to the benefit all "LIFE" then you will not be greedy and your perspective will be broad rather than narrow, therefore, many benefit from you vision. You can ACQUIRE SELFISH ENDS, but not without the CONSEQUENCE of those intentions and motivations. Become Love, Hope, generosity and give freely and receive those gifts in return. The law of compensation rewards you accordingly. "Judge not, that you may not be judged." And "Do unto other as you would have done unto you." This is about intention. You can get material possessions through greed, envy, jelousy, hatred, domination, superiority and the crushing demeaning insult of others but you too will experience that which you create, if not now then in the future. Energy is NEVER destroyed, but transformed. That's free will, your choice.

I feel like these to message are not confusing to me. If you are trying to find an ideologyto live by than this is conflicting information. to me all these message lead to the fact of being aware of what is happening around you. If the present moment is inviting you to respond and use the energy to manifest something that you want than use it for that. if the moment is saying sit still and experience what is happening right now than do that. You basic learning is to know when to do which one and that becomes easier to recognize when you are more aware.

You have to remember these messages should not be used as some doctrine that you put on autopilot to live your life they each should be used when necessary to respond to each situation as it comes.

Regine

I too was confused when I first starting reading Tolle's book because I am also practice the Secret. But wait until you get to the last chapter, especially the last paragraph. He sums it up quit nicely and it is completely aligned with the Secret! Trust me. I don't want to ruin it for you if you haven't finished reading the book yet, but allow me to say that it is the Spiritual perspective on the Secret. Thank Tolle!

I've been trying to reconcile this myself. What I keep coming back to is what Tolle said about how your desire to truly let God work through you, w/out ego, will manifest things you can't explain. Oprah also said it's okay to have nice things as long at they aren't what you focus on. Maybe it's a balance of saying, yes, I'd like to live in that house someday if it comes with God's pupose, and then getting out of the way.