Although I had been dismissive of him early on (perhaps because of the whole Oprah vibe that surrounded him), reading interviews with Eckhart Tolle has convinced me he is the real deal. See, for example, the following: http://www.inner-growth.info/power_of_now_tolle/eckhart_tolle_interview_parker.htm
His discussion of the whole awakening process is one of the most lucid I have come across. What’s intriguing, to me, about his case is the total lack of preparation. In AYP, as in yoga and Tantra generally, awakening is seen as a gradual process of purification in which “impurities” (samskaras) are removed through daily practice. This purification results in the gradual rise of the “witness” and the other symptoms of purification - rising bliss, sensations of heat, etc. However, in his case, there is no “daily practice”; moreover, he does not mentioned that, prior to the awakening, he noticed any of the symptoms we would attribute to advancing purification. On the contrary, he was in a state of despair on the night before his transition. In fact, one of the things that makes his case fascinating is that he does not understand what’s happening:
“I woke up in a state of incredible inner peace, bliss in fact. With my eyes still closed, I heard the sound of a bird and realized how precious that was. And then I opened my eyes and saw the sunlight coming through the curtains and felt: There is far more to that than we realize. It felt like love coming through the curtains. And then as I walked around the old familiar objects in the room I realized I had never really seen them before. It was as if I had just been born into this world; a state of wonder. And then I went for a walk in the city. I was still in London. Everything was miraculous, deeply peaceful. Even the traffic. [Chuckle]
I knew something incredible had happened, although I didn’t understand it. I even started writing down in a diary, “Something incredible has happened. I just want to write this down,” I said, “in case it leaves me again or I lose it.” And only later did I realize (that my thought processes after waking up that morning had been reduced by about eighty to ninety percent. So a lot of the time I was walking around in a state of inner stillness, and perceiving the world through inner stillness.”
So, what are we to make of a case like his? Perhaps in his previous lives he was a yogi of some stature, and his awakening was the culmination of those efforts. However, then I would think that, prior to his awakening, you would expect him to have a strong foretaste of what was to come – rising bliss, kundalini symptoms of some sort, etc. I would be interested to hear other’s thoughts on a case like his.
In Eckhart’s case I think it’s worth noting as well that for years after the transformation he went through other types of changes. For example he says he went very deeply into the stillness, much like Ramana Maharshi, he sais (but not to that extreme). He was “doing just enough to survive” (From one of his talks - I forget which). Perhaps he was somewhat bewildered by the change and felt like he had to stabilize in the new state.
I think his ego kind of exploded, from the pressure of resistance. I imagine the ego to be under similar or same laws as the physical universe. In the case of a huge star once it reaches a certain point it can no longer support itself and collapses in a massive explosion. It happens to huge ego’s occasionally - they can’t keep going and explode! And what’s left in the case of a star is a beautiful nebula stretching across the cosmos. What’s left after the ego explosion is a beautiful human being.
Namaste
Hi Swami , I’ve been thinking on this from some time , I feel there is something really important hidden in this case . Tolle has incredible gift to touch with words I can listen to him with hours but many question arise about how valid are his methods to other people .
I think Joseph is right .What happened to Eckhart is that the ego just died all at once - no resistance , no long process of surrender by installments 
He mentioned his last thought was " I don’t want to live like this anymore " . I suspect long time that what we call purification in yoga is actually killing the ego.
He describes so good how to go in witness - to observe the parts of your body , the interaction with other objects , the sounds coming out of this interaction , the surroundings . I tried that and it works immediately ,the witness state is coming on waves like tide… the problem is that soon after that strong energy symptoms and blockages occur in my body .
So I think once on the yogic path one must keep with it and avoid any other quick realization method as it will lead to overload . It is interesting what will happen if a random person (who know nothing about yoga and enlightenment) practices Tolle’s methods .
One thing you have to be careful with when it comes to teachers like Eckhart Tolle is: the illusion of attainment (“I have arrived.”). Basically, it’s clinging to the witness condition too fervently. But the witness is just the beginning. It’s how you manifest stillness that matters.
One common thing with teachers like Tolle is to portray the mind as villainous, and the ego as well. Since they have a sense of distance from ego and mind, much of their teaching platform is spent cleverly describing that distance, and using self-inquiry as a means of maintaining the distance.
For me, the teachers I admire are demonsrating the miracle of life through arts, crafts, sciences, or some form of expression beyond the non-duality language of detachment. Detachment isn’t much really. Detachment with re-engagement, re-immersion, and manifestation is much more inspiring and revealing of the Divine.
Practices like Spinal Breathing and Samyama are more active and leaning towards engagement and energy balance.
It’s about going from kindergarten (the witness) to grade school (witness in action).
Action without desiring the fruits of action whilst still acting .bodhi thankyou you answered a question posed by an audio book I’ve just listened to by Elkhart. 
Hello
I have had the blessing to be in Master Eckhart Tolles retreats. During one such retreat I realized the Oneness of Being, just from him looking in my eyes as he drove by. He is the real deal for sure. When he spoke, it was as if I were in the presence of the Great Mystery, and the reverence and peace that held the room was a slice of Heaven.
His teachings and just hearing his voice is a gift to Humanity at this critical stage However I have been frustrated in keeping my level of consciousness at a higher lever, deliberatly and have found the AYP teachings to be the other side of the coin needed to evolve consciously.
So ET on one sid of the coin, AYP on the other
how blessed I am to live in such a time to find these things
Thank you
Sat Nam
I learned so much from reading his books. He is a very wise man. He also mentions that his “awakening” came out of a dark place. He was about to kill himself and had many suicidal thoughts. He was able to find his way out of the darkness, into the light, and “awakened”.
Hes very straight on the fact too that he just wants to share this, and he’s not looking to be a guru or anything like that. Amazing man.
I feel that I owe my awakening to Eckhart Tolle. I read The Power of Now and it completely changed my life. I had severe phobias to the point where I could barely leave my house. I was suicidal. The voice in my head was driving me insane. He taught me how to cut the inner chatter and how to live in the now. I will be forever grateful to him.
I know that his teachings set my spiritual growth in motion. I just did what he said to do and amazing things started to happen. I had no idea what was in store for me when I first read his books. I was just trying to survive at that point. Kundalini was the result. Wow!!
Thank you Eckhart Tolle!
“A New Earth” from Eckhart Tolle was the first book I read, after my K awakening and my sudden interest in spirituality. My life changed after that in so many ways that I am grateful to him as one of the first of my teachers about life in all dimensions.
How and why he came to his enlightenment ? Things happen, it looks like an “out of the blue” Kundalini awakening but sometimes you can see much later, that it was not “out of the blue” and mend to be. This life is a short moment in all times, I suppose…
With respect, I think you also have to be careful with assumptions about a teacher when you aren’t clear on where they’re coming from and what they actually have to say on various topics and themselves.
As far as:
- Illusion of attainment: A distinction is made between awakening which is the end of the false identification with mind/body/ego, and what may seem paradoxical which is an ongoing deepening, unfolding, opening, learning, experiencing, releasing. The difference post awakening being that whatever needs to unfold/evolve does so without the illusion of a “doer” at the wheel.
- Mind/ego as villainous: I don’t find this is the case on the whole with him. He simply doesn’t hold punches on what they are and what needs to happen for true freedom. And it’s not that mind/ego dies with awakening, although there are inevitably changes that take place. It is that the illusion that I am mind/ego is dissolved. They still remain and have their functions in the world, but they are no longer a problem in an absolute sense.
- Using self-enquiry to maintain the distance: Self-inquiry is certainly one tool, but not the only one by any means. And while there is a sense of doing/maintaining in this unfolding process, it becomes effortless Being with awakening. It would not be true freedom after all, if it was a state which needed to be maintained by a me.
- Miracle of life through {arts} vs cold detachment (my take on your words): Again you are assuming that freedom must look a certain way, and also that he is some cold detached, disembodied, uncreative person. I don’t get that sense at all.
I think you have created a contrast/division here which doesn’t exist in reality.
Exactly.
I must admit that I have been hearing a lot from him (a french radio named “Ici et Maintenant” or “Here and Now” if you prefer) and that I was not fond of him till I read his book “The Power of Now”.
But whaou… it is enlightening a lot and helps me understanding the day-to-day effects/results of AYP.
I have not observed overloading but just began to look in me more seriously during the day.
But it seems I had already gained significant inner silence as I may experience numerous and long periods with no thoughts (which is kind of creepy for me as I have always been a mentally hyperactive person).
Well just to say it is good to read from my perspective even though you practice AYP.
However, as Yogani already said if I remember well, I also doubt this to be effective for most people with no yoga or similar practice at all.
Hi I find myself wondering just what is the point of discussing this individual in the first place?
From what I have read so far he is a personality some find of interest but what good comes of buying books other than to fatten his wallet?
Seriously does he instruct on anything at all or is he just another talking head?
so hi have you really listened to eckhart
Hi Kumar because you asked listening on utube right now.
Here’s a direct quote from Tolle’s writing on Oprah’s website (http://www.oprah.com/oprahs-lifeclass/Eckhart-Tolle-on-How-to-Free-Yourself-from-Your-Ego-Armor)
“For example, when you’re in a long line at the supermarket, your mind might start complaining how slow the checkout person is, how he should be doing this or doing that, or he failed to do anything at all—including packing the bag of the person ahead of you correctly. When this happens, the ego has you in its grip.”
So, there’s a classic example of spinning “the ego” as a villain. If something can get you in “its grip”, it surely is not a friend. If a real-life person came out of the shadows and gripped me around the neck with insidious intent, that person would be a threat to me, i.e. a villain.
Here’s more from the same essay:
“Awareness is the beginning of becoming free of the ego because then you realize that your thoughts—and the negative emotions they produce—are dysfunctional and unnecessary.”
That statement is simply untrue. What happens is that pure bliss consciousness (awareness) illuminates BOTH the ego and thoughts from within. Therefore, the inner voice of the ego becomes more aligned with divine love, unity, wisdom, and so forth. Also, negative emotions can be directed to THE ISHTA with positive results. So, negative emotions can be of good use, believe it or not.
When we practice samyama, we use the ego voice on a very subtle level…releasing sutras into silence. If not the ego voice of one’s individual personality, then whose? An alien entity that has taken over your body?–Yikes!
It must be the ego (the inner voice) that cultivates divine love. The ego is the vehicle of enlightenment. The ego is a friend. The ego is not out to get you.
More from the same Tolle essay:
“…the ego doesn’t want to change.”
That statement is also blatantly untrue. The ego does exactly what we want it to do. The ego is a perfect product of conditioning. If we condition the ego to embrace change, the ego will shout with joy when change comes along. That’s the way it works.
With AYP, we just amend and improve the conditioning by first going into silence, then by moving outward from silence, with better programming and purpose in place (like the samyama sutras).
[I post this with all due respect to Tolle and those who enjoy his writings. I am merely providing direct quotations here to show that I’m not pulling my observations and conclusions out of thin air.]
Hi Kumar and everyone I am listening to this guy and honestly all I am hearing is common sense that anyone should already know. He is another one that speaks in a dulcet voice or what I call a drugged voice.
What is this voice act anyway is it something rehearsed by these so called new age wise men to get people to listen carefully to their drivel?
When Yogani speaks he does so as a normal person not with a pretend voice it is one of the things that got my attention right up front and made me think thank goodness someone genuine at last not putting on the dog.
As of now I support what Bodhi has said 110% but I do not do it with respect as so far I have not seen or heard anything to be respectful of.
I have also read some excerpts of his books from Amazon and am really just not impressed.
When I hear Yogani speak I am impressed. When reading Yogani’s writings I am impressed.
When reading Christi and his replies I am often taken aback by his deep insight.
When reading what Bodhi writes I often think he is a younger version of myself and far more passionate a person that expresses his truth just as he sees it and respect him for that.
When reading what Kumar writes I think what a great heart.
When reading what Sunyata and others write I think how sincere how naked and boldly upfront, and refreshing, when reading what Charlie dog writes I think your grasp of English is so good because you really work at it and what a deep understanding this person has.
There are more sorry if I missed names but compared to these people this guy is a wet dish rag.
It seems his whole schtick revolves around mind dramas, scenarios and not much of anything else anyone with a shred of inner silence from Deep Meditation already knows all of this and far, far more.
Because of Kumar I will listen more but not to very much more.
eckhart i am sure has taken many to to the shore of the soul ,i myself have visited this shore many times in my life,leaving the shore is the hardest part knowing you need to leave behind all who taken you to its edge ,from eckhart tolle ,leo tolstoy,gandi ,and many others ,in this regard you also leave behind the sense of seperation you have ,the prejudices the loves and hates and anger .i think i have left the shore but returning at times to put my feet on dry land and once again departing with the ferryman talking with him, slowly being taken across to the other side and like siddhartha trying to listen to what the river is telling me the more i listen there is one word that repeats and its love ,i love eckhart he is neither right or wrong i would listen to him like i listen to any other human being we all have our narrartive ,some with more words some less but all as worthy of our ear without casting judement from our point of separation from them .love and blessings to all on this january morning in the year 2016
Kumar
There are many teachers, not one, for everyone there is a teacher, with words that resonate at that moment…
In stead of comparing teachers and judge them by our own perspectives we can let our Light Shine…
and be happy that Eckhart Tolle brings Love & Light in the life of many.
Hi,
With all due respect, I am not sure you actually read any of his books (while myself I have read only one half of the Power of Now till then 
).
Of course, one could extract a sentence and say what is wrong in it by lack of contextualization.
As I said, I had the same bad feeling when hearing him and told myself at these occasions that he was a fake or a sort of new age guru.
Whatever.
My understanding of his teachings is that what he designates as the ego is the bad side of the mind. He’s not saying the mind is bad but that we shall not let it prevail over our true nature.
The presence/Being shall prevail and thus guide our mind in a positive manner.
He also explains that the transformation process is fed by bad emotions/thoughts (so they are somehow valuable) that arise apart from the Source/Being/TrueSelf whatever you name it.
I am pretty aware not being that far on the Path than most of you but still my impression is that it is more valuable than common sense.
Because if it is common sense to you, it is not to 99% of the people I know and that common sense could be greatly useful to those.
Finally, had I to choose between AYP or Eckhart Tolle, I would of course choose Yogani (well, you know why ) but the latter is worth reading as many others I am sure.