Eckhart Tolle: Essential Teachings

In this podcast Eckhart talks about the importance of remaining what he calls ‘teachable.’ He cautions us to be aware of the stories, concepts and labels we use to interpret the world. He encourages us to ask ourselves: when we meet someone new, do we give ourselves space to just be, to perceive? Or do we instantly judge and manufacture stories about this person? He ponders when we travel, do we experience awe? Or do we compare it to other places we’ve been? He points out that when we never experience anything new, the sense of aliveness is gone from our lives. Eckhart says we must ask ourselves - who are we without the old narrative, the mental and emotional conditioning which is the result of our self-centered thinking. He points out the world will always challenge us. He says it’s not here to make us happy; it’s here to help us awaken.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   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this podcast Eckhart talks about suffering and how to transcend it. He says suffering is everyone’s spiritual teacher because it drives us to a kind of willingness. He believes it cracks open the hard shell of the ego, suddenly allowing the light to shine through. Eckhart mentions thelegendary singer Leonard Cohen who wrote a song about this universal experience. He sings: “There’s a crack… a crack in everything... That’s how the light gets in.” Eckhart also uses the example of Buddha who suffered by becoming obsessed with doing and attaining enlightenment. Eckhart explains how Buddha put himself through extreme practices and nearly died until one day he decided he had suffered enough. This is the moment Eckhart says Buddha’s ego cracked open and enlightenment poured in. Eckhart says we all will suffer until we realize we don’t need it anymore to grow spiritually. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this podcast Eckhart talks to a live audience in Hawaii. He says ‘Aloha’ to the crowd and then explains the spiritual meaning of the word. He also mentions stillness which he says is the essence of who we are. He defines stillness as the absence of internal noise and the incessant stream of self-centered, harmful thinking that keeps us from realizing our being. He says looking into the eyes of a baby is a spiritual experience. The baby looks back and the light of pure consciousness shines through. He says all who hold the baby are moved and something deeper awakens. Eckhart believes we’re born connected to being, but we're not fully aware of it yet.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   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Eckhart discusses our deeper purpose. He emphasizes how important it is for humans to be connected to the kind of higher intelligence that comes from presence. While our careers matter, he says what we do in our work life is secondary to our state of consciousness. He explains there is a vast intelligence underlying the world that we perceive with our senses and our job is to connect to it. Eckhart believes we are all manifestations of the one great consciousness, emanating like rays of sunlight.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   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.