I think you may see the first 210 pages to be depressing because they are about the disfunction of the ego. If you look at these chapters from the perspective of the ego it almost makes it seem that there is no self, but all ideas and mental processes that revolve around an idea of a self are actually ego. So do YOU find these chapters depressing or does your EGO? If you look deep enough into the idea of enlightment it is realy just the total death of the idea of the self. So from that perspective I would assume all of this would just be observation of truth (uncovering of ego) and not a focus on the negative side of self, because if self doesn't exist there can't be a negative side. I strugled with and what helped me out was to think deeply about what we are on all visible levels. I at my body and what it is made of and the conclusion I came to was that we are made out of the earth ie. the food we eat; which is our environment. Also I looked at where our thoughts come from and what I got out of that was that we get all of our thoughts from the ideas that others have built upon which we then build upon; so the basis of all of our thoughts are not original but a reorginizing of the thoughts and experiences that already exist. All I am saying is we are the universe not a person in it, so the first half of the book is just an observation of an internal process based on a false concept of self.

Not only did I find the book depressing because of numerous historical examples of attrocities commited against one another. EX. from paperback PGS.10, 70, 75, 92, 118,120, 142, 156, 158, 159...

BUT Tolle wrote his book from the standpoint that the reader has not yet experienced an awakening. I quote Tolle from p. 184 "Some people may feel, as I did, that they cannot live with themselves anymore."

I love life....I always have. His reasons for living 'an awakened life' are premised by VERY DEPRESSING EXAMPLES.

I choose to learn about my 'inner purpose' by reading books about GOD'S LOVE for me.

However, I advocate anything to create a better world and anything supported by Oprah!

-Angela

Opps, I mean p. 182 from the paperback version (if there is a difference). -Angela

Thank you for your response and I understand where you are coming from. I think my concept of god is just different than yours I see god as something that is inside all of us and not an actual seperate being or even a being that is connected to us. That is why I believe the secret works based on what you are focusing on and not on what you want; like a process is responding to you and not a being, but I know that is just my opinion. That is why I see his examples solely as observation of ego and necessary to point out what ego is and how it functions. How do you point out disfunction without using examples of the results of disfunction? He uses the examples to point to the root cause; you can't make life better if you don't know what is messing it up, which he is just saying all comes from a false sense of self. He is showing that tragedies can be avoided by one simple realization.

Its Just My Opinion....Every one is Awake . some more that others..This doesn't mean some are better than others. We are all equal.


Can You use your (5) senses with out opinion or judgment?

I agree!

Just as I loved the movie: "A Beautiful Life"......it depressed me. I focus on the positive. It works for me. My life is rich with happiness.

My initial post was to offer positive readings to 'awaken one's consciousness'.

With Love,
-Angela

Great question!

YES! By experiencing life in the presence. By watching with detachment.

Refer to Eric Harrison's book listed above.

-Angela

Schindler's List is a better example. It was too painful, too depressing for me to watch.

I can refer to specific 'inner purpose' qualities within my cited Top Ten Books if anyone is interested.

-Angela

Keeping it real (and positive) from Chapter 2.

P. 41 Tolle writes "Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness".

p. 41 "sometimes letting things go is an act of far greater power than defending or hanging on."

p. 52 "If you are not familiar with "inner body" awareness, close your eyes for a moment and find out if there is life inside your hands...." and "Then incorporate other parts of the body- legs, arms, abdomen, chest and so on- into that feeling until you are aware of the inner body as a global sense of aliveness."

p.53 "Body awareness not only anchors you in the present moment..." and "It also stregthens the immune system and the ability to heal itself."

p. 56 "Then suddenly and inexplicably, the anguish or intense fear they initially felt gave way to a sared sense of Presence, a deep peace and serenity and complete freedom from fear." and "That's the peace of God. The ultimate truth of who you are is not I am this or I am that, but I Am."

p.58 "...when you surrender, a new dimension of consciousness opens up." and "You rest in God."

It me, Angela, its easier to study and discover one's inner purpose if it focuses on the positive and on God's love for all his children (every human being).

I don't agree that the book is "depressing", I thought it was eloquently written and I just love the analogy to nature that we are blooming. Since I love nature it allowed me to appreciate everyone - where they are- they may be just germinated and growing roots or reaching for the sun.

However, I am grateful that you were moved to the opposite extreme - that's the world of duality and polarity- so that I could embrace a wholeness of the event!

I really want to thank you for your reading recommendations - I'm always looking for the next book.

love and blessings
Ann

You just made my day!

FYI- I too am hungry for more...more hapiness....more love....more power....more peace...

I will never stop being a student of life..........NEVER!

-Angela

Keeping It Real....Real Positive from Chapter 3.

Tolle writes:

p.71 "When you are in touch with that dimention (the essence idenity for every man and woman), within yourself - and being in touch with it is your natural state, not some miraculous achievement- all your actions and relationships will reflect the oneness with all life that you sense deep within. This is love."

p. 78 "Awareness is the power that is concealed within the present moment. That is why we may also call it Presence. The ultimate purpose of human existence, which is to say, your purpose, is to bring that power into this world." and "thus (only presence) can transform your state of consciousness."

p. 79 "What remains is the light on consciousness in which perceptions, experiences, thoughts, and feelingscome and go. That is Being, that is the deeper, true I. When I know myself as that, whatever happens in my life is no longer of absolute but only relative importance. I honor it, but it loses its absolute seriousness, its heaviness. The only thing that ultimately matters is this: Can I see my essential Beingness, the I Am, in the background of my life at all times."

P. 81 "Once you realize and accept that all structures (forms) are unstable, even seemingly solid material ones, peace arises in you. THis is because the recognition of the impermanence of all forms awakens you to the dimension of the formless within yourself, that which is beyond death. Jesus called it "eternal life".

p.84 "In a genuine relationship, there is an outward flow of open alert attention toward the other person in which there is no wanting whatsoever. That alert attention is Presence."

Keeping it Real.....Real Positive Chapter 4

Tolle writes:

p.96 "Be aware of the thoughts you are thinking." and "Facing facts is always empowering".

p.99 "Awareness is the greatest agent for change." and "...you can accept your parents' behaviorwith compassion, without needing to react to it, that is to say, without personalizing it."

p.100 "THe relationship with your parents is not only the primordial relationship that sets the tone for all subsequent relationships, it is also a good test for your degree of Presence. THe more shared past there is in a relationship, the more present you need to be; otherwise, you will be forced to relive the past again and again."

p. 104 "As you look at, listen to, touch, or help your child with this or that, you are alert, still, completely present, not wanting anything other than that momentas it is. In this present, you are not a father or a mother. You are the alertness, the stillness, the Presencethat is listening, looking, touching even speaking. You are the Being behind the doing."

p. 107 "Being, those who do not attempt to appear more than they are but are simply thenselves, stand out a remarkable and are the only ones who truly make a difference in the world. They are the bringers of the new consciousness. Whatever tehy do becomes empowered because it is in alignment with the purpose of the whole. Their influence, however, goes far beyond what they do, far beyond their function."

Keeping it Real...REAL POSITIVE (CHapter 4 cont)

p. 109 Tolle writes "You are neither inferior nor superior to anyone. True self-esteem and true humility arise out of that realization."

p. 114 Tolle wrties "Being at peace and being who you are, that is, being yourself, are one.

p. 115 "Once you have made peace with the present moment, see what happens, what you can do or what you can choose to do, or rather what life does through you. There are three words that convey the secret of the art of living, the secret of all success and happiness: ONE WITH LIFE. Being one with life is being one with NOW. You then realize that you don't live your life, but live lives you. Life is the dancer, and you are the dance."

p. 116 "THe moment you become aware of negative state within youself, it does not mean you ahve failed."... and "You sense of self, of who you are, then undergos a shift: Before you were thoughts, emotions and reactions; now you are awareness, the conscious Presence that witnesses those states."

P.117 "Emotions and even thoughts become depersonalized through awareness."

p. 122 "Anyone who is one with what he or she does is building the new earth.

p. 123 "In order to attract success, you need to welcome it wherever you see it."

p. 126 "As the new consciousness emerges, some people will feel called upon to form griuops that reflect the enlightened consciousness." and "Enlightened collectiveness will fulfill an important function in the arising for the new consciousness."