Eckhart Tolle: Essential Teachings

In this podcast Eckhart, reminds us that the world is not here to make us happy, it’s here to make us conscious. He says if we don’t embrace that, then we will be irritated or even outraged when life pushes us to deal with difficulties which he describes as a pitfall of the ego. He says we don’t have to work hard to awaken, rather we can let the awareness shine through us. Eckhart says it takes no...

In this podcast Eckhart talks to an audience in Chicago. He recalls fond memories of traveling to the Windy City to Harpo Studios back in 2008. For 10 weeks Eckhart and I hosted a webinar based on his New York Times bestselling book  A New Earth.  The book had a profound impact on me, and I wanted to share it with a larger audience. Those sessions were groundbreaking. Since then, millions of peopl...

In this podcast, Eckhart talks with an audience in Paris. He contemplates the mysteries of space and the subatomic world. He says the greatest mystery is that the universe is conscious.  He remarks that science has not yet been able to examine consciousness, because it’s not an object and it is not generated by the brain. He says science has not yet discovered its source. However, Eckhart says the...

In this podcast, Eckhart talks about how many of us react when the world doesn’t go our way. He says we either surrender and accept the situation or more often than not, we go into victim mode: victim of circumstance, victim of other people or even God. He goes on to explain if loss is involved then bitterness and anger set in, and the ego becomes more entrenched. Eckhart mentions the ancient wisd...

In this episode, Eckhart discusses excessive thinking as the source of incredible unhappiness for millions of people. He goes on to explain that it’s not the circumstances of one’s life that makes people miserable. It’s the overthinking that causes their suffering. Eckhart shares a story from his own life just after he experienced his awakening. He was homeless and spent many days on a park bench....

In this episode, Eckhart sits down with an audience in Paris. He encourages participants to explore the experience of his talk, beyond the words, because it holds the seeds to awakening. He also talks about the obstacles presented by the ego which he illustrates with the ancient Greek myth of Narcissus. The story goes that Narcissus was a beautiful young man who drowned in a pool of water gazing a...

In this podcast, Eckhart talks about our connection to the source of universal consciousness, which he compares to the vastness of the ocean. He says each person with individual awareness is like a small ripple on the surface of that ocean. However, he believes if we only ever know ourselves as a ripple then we won’t recognize our true depth.  Eckhart asks participants to consider who they are bey...

In this episode, Eckhart talks with an audience explaining the primary reason for this gathering is to become more aware of our transcendent consciousness, the part of us that is beyond the limits of our personality. He says we can do that through stillness because when we practice stillness, we counteract what Eckhart calls ‘possession by the mind.’ He explains most of us are completely absorbed...

In this episode, Eckhart talks about suffering consciously and how to deal with difficult emotions  including fear, anxiety and regret. Eckhart also discusses Nihilism - the belief that life is pointless and devoid of meaning. He explains the idea dates back to Darwin and his idea that evolution is a random chain of events involving molecules and atoms aimlessly coming together over millions of ye...

In this podcast, Eckhart explains that humanity is at a pivotal point. He says the most urgent task of our lives is to connect more deeply with the transcendent part of ourselves. Eckhart explains the possibility is always there, just waiting to be discovered. He uses an ancient Greek term called “Metanoia” which means a profound spiritual awakening brought about by a dramatic shift in consciousne...

In this episode, Eckhart encourages us to rise up to meet the challenges of the present time. He says the turmoil that exists here and around the globe is an opportunity to grow spiritually. He explains most people do not awaken when they are in their comfort zone because it usually takes a “push” in the form of a crisis. He says if we are not challenged, then the motivation to change is not there...

In this podcast, Eckhart talks further about dealing with adversity. He says when we experience challenges in the form of loss including jobs, homes, relationships, political instability or the pandemic, it’s actually an invitation to connect more deeply with the present moment. Eckhart says the conditioning of our minds determines how we respond to situations. He says if we spiral down into fearf...

In this episode, Eckhart answers questions about turning adversity into spiritual growth. A mother wants more emotional stability in her life. She says she often wakes up, feeling full of energy, only to find the next moment she’s irritable and exhausted. She’s concerned about transmitting her negative moods to her children. Eckhart encourages her to remain alert when the low energy takes hold. He...

In this episode Eckhart answers questions from a virtual audience around the world including a young woman struggling with very low self-esteem. Eckhart explains intense self-criticism often originates in childhood. He says affirmations can help – such as: “I am one with the power of all creation.” He explains it’s important to be grateful for the opportunity to heal, because it pushes us to grow...

In this episode, Eckhart answers questions from a woman seeking insights for her sister who recently was diagnosed with a mental disorder. She wants to know how Eckhart views the diagnosis within the context of his teachings, asking, “Could there be a silver lining?” Eckhart says while dysfunction may be present, he cautions against using labels. He also shares that he believes many mental illness...

This special episode features Eric Toda, Global Head of Social Marketing and Executive Director of Meta Prosper. Eric joins hosts Greg and Faith to discuss the importance of advocating for your community in professional circles and standing against hate.  Eric speaks candidly about the struggle to find his voice and represent the Asian American and Pacific Islander community as well as the complex...

In this episode, Eckhart talks about the process of writing his first book, The Power of Now. He says he surrendered to the idea that the book wanted to be written. He explains he had a vision which inspired him long before he wrote the first word. He shares he encountered naysayers - people who tried to discourage his pursuits. Eckhart says when an individual or group tries to bring new knowledge...

In this podcast, Eckhart talks to a live audience in Hawaii. He ponders the paradise surrounding them: the sun, the palm trees and the sea. He then quotes famous French philosopher, Albert Camus, who said:  In the midst of winter, I found there was within me, an invincible summer . Eckhart explains that Camus is referring to the spiritual dimension or what he calls ‘the alive inner peace at the co...

In this podcast Eckhart answers questions about a variety of concerns. A man experiences relentless anxiety and says meditation doesn’t relieve his symptoms. Eckhart explains an overactive pain body is at the root of his troubles. He then shares the wisdom he gained through healing his own pain body. Another audience member asks if there are any transgressions which are unforgivable. Eckhart expla...

In this episode, Eckhart jokes with an audience about getting a call from the Star Wars Galactic fleet. He then turns to practical matters when he discusses returning home after being away on a retreat. He says we all have a “life situation” which includes: relationships, work, finances and physical health – all burdens we carry with us even when we’re on vacation. Eckhart cautions against having...

In this podcast Eckhart answers questions from an audience in Hawaii. A man asks if we actually have “free will.” Eckhart explains we won’t experience “free will” while living on the level of ego, because we are conditioned by the past. He believes until we transcend our past, we are at the mercy of our unconscious patterns. A woman who is a therapist and works with trauma survivors, asks how to d...

In this episode, Eckhart talks about the sense of guilt which has plagued humanity through the centuries. He says it’s part of the ego’s dysfunction: the feeling that not only is there something wrong with the world, there’s also something wrong with me. Eckhart explains certain religious traditions have interpreted this as God’s punishment - we believe somehow we are at fault when bad things happ...

In this podcast Eckhart talks about the soul of the world which in Latin translates to Anima Mundi. He says when we awaken to the transcendent dimension within ourselves, we are then able to discover the soul of the world as our own soul. Eckhart says that's the essence of all spirituality and is the primary reason we are here. Eckhart then answers questions on a variety of subjects: a woman asks...

In this podcast, Eckhart talks about the awakening universe. He says the great miracle and the mystery is that the universe is conscious. In fact, Eckhart explains it is a manifestation of consciousness itself and we are part of that. Eckhart explains there are millions and billions of other life forms across the galaxies, but here on earth the universe expresses consciousness through us. He belie...

In this podcast, Eckhart answers questions from the audience. A woman is reluctant to experience another life on earth. She asks, “Do we actually choose to reincarnate?” Eckhart says if we’re compulsively reincarnating with every thought and emotion that occurs, then we probably will continue the same dysfunctional pattern not only in the next moment, but in the next life. Another woman asks about...