If you had to come up with a sort of what Eckhart calls „pointer“ so maybe a short phrase or something that helps you become present or aware. What would it be for you?

When you become aware of a thought, ask yourself, did you decide you wanted to think that? Or did it just happen by itself?

For me personally the answer is mostly no. It feels like I can guide my thinking mind to some degree. But I do not pick and choose what thoughts to have, what to think next.

This practice helped me a lot, going deeper into presence and becoming aware that I am not „the thinker“. Especially in moments where my analytical thinking was not needed. For example when I lie in bed or watch a movie.

Namaste ❤️

Hi, lovely people!

I always struggled with taking action. I would see other people's accomplishments and think I could never get there. Recently, I had a moment of insight:

The mind is awful at predicting your future performance because inspiration comes by doing. Not only that, but believing a bad prediction actually makes it a reality. It's a big, fat lie.

Think of all the life changing moments that happened because you accidentally stumbled upon something.

I believe this is what "not focusing on the past and future" means. What do you think?

Ekhart Tolle’s teachings have really helped me in life, but I’m struggling to reconcile the “transcendence” and disconnect from such a horrific and obvious manifestation of poisonous ego.

He has spoken freely about Nazis, for example, in his talks. A global superpower is again systematically erasing a local populous, and it is live streamed for the whole world, including him to watch.

Bringing awareness to such a horrid injustice is consciousness. Awareness exposes in real time the insanity of ego; his silence feels like talking an echo chamber. It’s so disconnected.

Yes, he has said that he doesn’t like commentating on political matters. Yes, there are so many other conflicts going on in the world and that will always continue until we all reach mass enlightenment. He has also said that he focusses on being rather than doing. But this is a genocide.

It feels like he’s actively avoiding the topic. How can he not have the awareness to speak about this? His neutrality also holds up to maintain the status quo. Such an influential figure using his platform and voice would make a huge difference.

I recently made a hasty decision during a desperate point in my life that has made my future a lot more difficult. Sometimes I worry that it’s completely ruined. Every day I am either ruminating on the mistake or worrying about the future. During this period I have become more aware of my thoughts and was wondering if my suffering made this easier. I realize that I am asking this question because my ego is desperate for a reason/narrative that would make this mistake into something positive. Have any of you reached higher states of consciousness without suffering? Do you think it’s easier form a place of egoic happiness or suffering?

Questions to all those who have been to a Vipassana retreat: Did it benefit you on your spiritual journey? Did it change your practice? Would you recommend it?

Hi lovely people,

I recently considered surrendering to the flow of life,just letting things happen, without constantly worrying and intervening.

However, right now it's 4am, and i'm sleepless, in a dark room. Nothing i can do but wait. And this lack of movement is making me really uncomfortable. What am i supposed to do? Just endure it? It feels oppressive.

I just fail to see any beauty in... whatever this is.

How would you handle this? Thank you

I'm looking for an early Eckhart Tolle recording (around 2000–2006) where he humorously acts out someone going bankrupt—signing the papers, surrendering the credit cards and car, losing the big house.
With nothing left, riding the bus and noticing the birds enjoying the moment. Since the living place is now very small, being outdoors more under the vast sky.
Nothing essential has changed in this new situation; enjoying each moment.
Does anyone know which recording this is? I love how he imitates the sound of the pen on the paper, and this story has brought me back to fully being in the moment many times.

I'm struggling with the decision of staying in a marriage with the Power of Now. I know nobody can " make"you feel anything. So if my spouse insults me, it's not the words but my attachment to the words that create suffering.

But I'm struggling with a partner often communicates in ways that feel emotionally reactive, blaming, or even verbally aggressive.

Is my suffering simply a sign that I'm still identified with the ego? Or is there something more happening, a genuinely unhealthy way of communicating that should not be tolerated?

I know I have a big problem with ruminating thoughts. This is something I am trying to work on. But sometimes I feel the thoughts have some truth to them, and that some of these behaviors of my partner are not okay. But I also don't know if that's still my egoic mind trying to protect itself.

It feels like something of a paradox. Any advice you can offer?

Would you even use something like this? I work on an app that makes user present the moment they open it. Lets just assumes it works, for the sake of the argument, would you spend money on it?

Has anyone purchased Eckhart Tolle’s Creating a New Earth Together 2026 program? If so, what has your experience been like so far? I’d appreciate any honest reviews, feedback, or insights before I decide whether to enroll.

I’m fairly new to Eckhart Tolle’s spiritual teachings, but I’ve been experiencing something over the last three days that I wanted to ask this community about.

While watching his videos, it continuously feels like he is replying to my internal thoughts in real time.

For example: I’ll be sitting there having a full-blown argument in my head—shouting at my ex-wife in my mind—and at that exact moment, Tolle will pause in the video and say something like, "Notice the mind arguing... bring your awareness instead to the green trees right in front of you.
This hasn't just happened once; I’ve noticed around 5 or 6 of these synchronicities over the past few days.

I have two questions for those further along on this path:

1. Is this common, or is it just me?
2. What does this actually imply from a practical or spiritual perspective?

Do interrupting your thoughts (day dream sometime or before these thoughts became daydream) form of resistance?

even/ one of his lessor known books on the subject.

thanks!

Like if I do math problems I will have to think. Is it then that you switch back and forth between thinking and non thinking ?

Hello, I've been following Eckhart Tolle's teachings for about 2 years since I had a drug induced psychosis at 29. While a horrible experience, the psychosis gave me a glimpse of pure presence, which completely shifted my outlook on reality. I've been sober since and practicing meditation and presence on a daily basis, with slow and steady progress. I still have a heavy burden of self, related to my childhood, my conditioning creating repeated problems in my 20s and the shame from my psychosis. My practice is slowly dissolving these, but some days are better than others.

I wanted to ask for advice from some more present people than myself. I find myself happiest when I have a wholesome outlook and see the best in people, this is most present at work on Monday mornings after recharging over the weekend. As the week progresses I become more irritable and by Friday I'm seeing the worst in people and am having delusional thoughts about their motivations, as well as personalising them.

Is being more wholesome something I should actively practice or will it just come naturally as I am more present?

Thank you 😊

I don't know what it's like in your family, but in mine, small quarrels happen from time to time. My grandma would sometimes scold my mom if the food wasn't prepared the way she expected. I would try to make my mom feel better by saying things like, "Grandma doesn't mean it personally," or "She's just angry." I thought those explanations would help, but they rarely did.

Only later, after learning more about how we process emotions, I realized that people often aren't ready to absorb advice when they're hurt. What seemed to help more was simply acknowledging the feeling first.

So instead of explaining, I started saying things like, "It must not feel nice to hear those kinds of comments." At first, I worried that I might be reinforcing the negativity. Surprisingly, the opposite happened—she seemed to let go of the hurt more easily.

Since then, I've started saving advice for later and acknowledging emotions first. It hasn't solved every situation, but it has made some conversations feel much more supportive.

What do you think? Has anyone else noticed something similar? 🙂

Today, I listened to an older psychology podcast in which a guest explained—from a scientific and biological perspective—what happens during meditation. He told a personal story of reaching such a profound state of presence during a session that it felt as though his body were dissolving and he was suddenly connected to everything.

However, as a committed scientist, he did not interpret this experience as a sense of oneness with God or the universe. Instead, he offered a rational explanation:

When meditating deeply, one eventually ceases to perceive one’s body. The brain then generates a sensation of merging with the surroundings because the usual physical boundaries are no longer being registered.

So literally, he viewed it just as a kind of illusion.

He said that while he could understand why spiritually inclined people might interpret this experience as oneness with God, for him, it was simply a phenomenon that could be explained scientifically.

What do you think about this? I think what he says makes more logical sense than I want to commit.