In this talk, a brilliant summation of his teachings, Eckhart Tolle begins by describing a problem all humans face: a strict sense of self based in personal history, mental interpretations, and memories of the past; a sense that’s forever being reinforced through habitual thought patterns. When listeners identify with these thought patterns, they create what Tolle calls “the little me,” a person imprisoned within rigidly defined boundaries. Yet, as he explains, “the little me” is not the truth of who one is, but of who one was, and reflects a past that no longer exists. He gently guides listeners on a journey into the present moment, into that spacious stillness where they are more than they think–where they are, in fact, part of a great, mysterious whole. Achieving this transcendent state allows listeners to move beyond self-defeating limitations and live lives of grace, ease, and lightness.

Eckhart Tolle was born in Germany and educated at the Universities of London and Cambridge. When he was 29, a profound inner transformation radically changed the course of his life. The next few years were devoted to understanding, integrating, and deepening that transformation, which marked the beginning of an intense inward journey. Tolle is the author of A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Potential, and The Power of Now, a New York Times bestseller that has been translated into 33 languages and is one of the most influential spiritual books of our time. The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment was published in 1999 by New World Library. Tolle is not aligned with any particular religion or spiritual tradition. He lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Eckhart Tolle's profile page