Kwimper. thanks for your post. What Tolle is saying has nothing to do with organized religion of any kind. He makes that plain in the book and he stated it very clearly in the first class. If you remember, Tolle states that there have been others in history that have had awakenings about their inner being and when they attempted to tell others about it the hearers took the information and created a new religion with it. The information was never meant to be religious and certainly never meant to become a religion. This information is meant to bring awareness to us. That's all. Nothing more, nothing less. For those of us who are able to take the step and become awakened to the role of the ego, the information will help us in our journey to know our inner being; our true spiritual self. That's all there is.

Please folks, let's try to talk about this in a way for all of us to be a part of it. What has enlightenment meant for you....outside of any religious connection....how are you applying it in your everyday life? Have people noticed a difference in you? Have you been able to step back and see the ego working in your friends or family?

We all have such different religious backgrounds. How can we really discuss this information if we are trying to bend it to fit into a religious belief system? Can we separate the two for the sake of discussion?

As I said in another post, I've been researching this new found self help stuff for the past six years as I have family members that are into it, and I don't see where they are any better off now than when they started. In fact, a couple have bad health issues, along with spouses, and I don't see where this new enlightenment has made them any happier, richer or in control. And trust me, they're into big time... You all go for it, and please, in a couple of years from now, I'd like to see a message board out here again with any changes happening in everyones lives for the better....I mean, better than what you have it in this present time/moment... I've been there searching too, and I've came back to Trusting God, and I am better off now (peace of mind, happy, etc.) than when I was searching for something more...little did I know, what I needed all along was the Bible I had sitting on the shelf! God in His infinite mercy and love, allowed me to stray only to prove to me that He is all I need...I don't belong to an "organized religion", but I do have a beautiful "relationship" with our Heavenly Father through the reading and studying of His Word. Again, been there, done that, and I came back to the only One that Is Worthy and can be Trusted...

"...which never changes" is the bible..." EXCUSE ME - do you know how many different 'versions' of the bible there are?

"...let's try to talk about this in a way for all of us to be a part of it. What has enlightenment meant for you...outside of the religious connection...how are you applying it in everyday life? Have people noticed a difference in you? Have you been able to step back and see the ego working in your friends or family? We all have such different backgrounds. How can we really discuss this informaton if we are trying to bend it to fit into a religious belief system? Can we seperate the two for the sake of discussion?"


YES - lets try to talk.


I came here today from a bad place. I fear my past controling my future, and my future being lost to my past. Two days ago I purchased the book I was hoping to discuss; instead I found countless sites that have 'mini wars' going on. At first it was amusing and took me out of my pain, then some peoples thoughts and opinions really struck a note with me and I began to note those that I 'felt' something about, got annoyed with others, and started to wonder where the discussion of the book was. I wanted to thank those that placed a thought in my ear or clearly stated how I felt in a way I could not.

Now Sabbaday, I will use my reply to you, to say thank you to everyone, with all of their opinions and beliefs. Yes, I have witnessed ego at work -- here -- and on almost every site I've looked at -- loud and clear; and in the process of reading every entry (many hours of reading) I let go of my own ego a little more and somewhere in there I 'lost' my desire to enter 'the war'.

As I said, I purchased the book two days ago; I have been experiencing a lot of outside forces that are pushing very hard against me and all of my core beliefs, for many months, resulting in me trying to 'prove' a multitude of things, while trying to 'explain' and make others aware of 'the truth' as I believe it to be; all for not as my words fall on deaf ears that have their own beliefs; both sides stubbornly refusing to budge. After begining to read the book I decided that I would no longer try to explain; justify; or, change others beliefs; that I would try to understand their point of view, and express my truth as calmly as I could. The result was that, first, I actually got the literal 'dropped jaw' of disbelief from one of my 'attackers' at my change of behaviour/attitude; and secondly, although not a perfect conversation, it was civilized(a first) and 'They' actually listened to me(another first). Yes - these people obviously saw a difference in me.

I will continue to read the book with enthusiasm and anticipation of new knowledge; check for conversation about the book, and discussions about how others are applying the knowledge they gather to their everyday lives.
And, from what little I have read, I also choose to try to be aware of the NOW, leaving my past in the past and not worrying about the future until it is the NOW.
"I AM' - so much said with three little letters - now that I know I AM, I am setting out on a journey to find out WHO I AM!

I look forward to .... more.

bye for now folks.

Eckhart Tolles teachings due lead you to God. The book for me was just a way to empty my mind of all conditioned thinking. My mind was so open that after I read the book I felt compelled to read the Bible. The Bible is my book for Life. I can only thank Eckhart Tolle for making me aware that my mind was too full of useless baggage to fully understand and comprehend my True Purpose. Again, I only found my True purpose, God, from the Bible. Thank you Eckhart Tolle.

A Course in Miracles teaches that every encounter with a brother is either an extension of love or a call for love. In either case, the proper response is love. I send you love.

I generally don't read these kinds of posts, but decided to see what you said. My advice, stop reading the offending posts, don't click on them and focus of those that are awakening and enlightening. This particular board seems to be the most read. Stick to the chapter posts! There will always be those that feel compelled to voice their opinion, they feel it is their responsibility. There are some very good Christian people.

How many? But if you would put them side by side, you'll see they all speak the same Truth...

kwimper - Let me assure you that if Jesus was here he would be right in the thick of this conversation --- and it would not be threatening or nagging at people about getting saved -- he would be asking questions like he asked before like "what about the widows ---- are you taking care of orphans ---have you fed the hungry? Have you prayed for the one who thinks of you as enemy? Are you compassionate, as I was compassionate? And --- do you want to hear something funny? (Yes --- Jesus was a master story teller, and he loved to laugh and celebrate, especially with sinners. )
So relax and have some fun my friend! You are helping the doomers and gloomers to feel good about their high degree of righteousnness!

memamma --- you want to be treated kindly? Well ---maybe if you treated us sinners kindly, we would get the idea to return the favour!
Now you relax too and have some fun!

The writings of Eckhart Tolle are NOT Christian. He often uses the teachings of Jesus to make a point. He views Jesus as an enlightened being, no more or less than any other enlightened being.

Thomas Jefferson said that the teachings of Jesus were much more important than his divinity. Tolle would agree.

Thomas Jefferson was a follower of John Locke's philosophy of deism - not a follower of Christ. The underlying issue in all this tension with Christianity is the imposition of naturalism into Jesus' teachings. Jesus taught against trusting in your feelings and inner whatever. Trust in God alone through the HolySpirit. I would welcome you all into a personal relationship with Christ without regard to the path you take to get here.

If you listened to NPR, you may learn about the Jefferson Bible which Jefferson wrote using only what Jesus said..how strange and John Locke...must have had mass communication because I am not sure on this time frame???? Did you know that only 3% of the colonists participated in the Revolutionary War? We were a nation of farmers and luckily for us, some of the founders were illuminati/spiritual. Where are they now to help us?

I don't want a personal relationship with Jesus. I live in the Bible belt and I have a wide variety of churches if I would want to attend, which I do not. What I did want was a book discussion and not a lesson in morality. I am beginning to understand atheists after this onslaught. It is making sense to why now there are so many and why the churches in Europe are empty and the attendance in the US is falling rapidly.

So keep shooting yourself in the foot, you are making the atheists rejoice.

Why would my pastor,Parents and everyone in my past life use "mini-verses" out of context to justify their abusive actions toward me and my sisters and brothers? Is this not blaspheme? I turned my back Not on God or Jesus, I have turned my back on religious addiction and Organized Religion (churches) who claim to be full of God yet show nothing but anger hate and abuse. I choose to worship the True God, he who is loving and kind; unconditionally. If That means I use Mr. Tolle's book to help me look inside of me, because that is where Jesus Lives; inside of me, to find the True God, then that is where I go, I also believe that the bible says something like where two or more are gathered in my name I am there. Which doesn't translate into "You have to go to church and believe this or your going to die and burn." It means That God is everywhere not just in churches. This book is exactly what I needed and this message board has shown me that I am right in regards to the religiously addicted Fundamentalist; Someone once said to me; A soul can be saved but not shine with the Love of Jesus. Today I want to totally experience all God is, and Shine with His love and grace for all. I am thankful for this book, because that is what I am getting from it. When you open your eyes and heart and come out of the darkness of addiction then you can enjoy the full beauty of God as a whole being. Sorry so long. Tyler