It is difficult not to imagine most readers felt the same way about these non-fiction novels. Reading the books is much like the captivation surfacing when people attend a Christian revival meeting, church service, or preparing to buy a Slap Chop after viewing the often-repeated television commercial.
The power of suggestion becomes rampant. The premise behind living in the ‘Now’ seems like the idealistic alternative to blindly following centuries old religious teachings based entirely on faith and scriptures written 400 years after the event and inspired by God.
Tolle claims waking up one day to the realization that the world is not a depressing place and in a short time found the way to the truth about everyone and everything on earth being a part of the universe. The books debunk death as a permanency and claims after leaving the body our presence or spirit becomes a part of the universe. The premise claims being without worldly needs the spirit is free to roam the universe even though the books never define the reason for the spirit remaining part of the universe. The wakeup seems more likely a thought process that told the author documenting the idea could result in multi million sales of ‘The Power of Now’ concept.
‘The Power of Now’ and ‘A New World’ are not much different than the multitude of books written both supporting and rejecting various religious suppositions followed by millions worldwide without positive proof God really exists. The philosophy of the books seems to indicate the truth about being perpetually happy is realizing the pleasure of universal space and detaching ones self from egotism. Quit worrying in other words about fame and fortune since both are as fleeting as striving for excellence and profit.
It doesn’t seem Tolle practices what the book preaches. He writes books for profit and holds seminars to bring converts to ‘Now’ realization of the words written in the books. Those endeavors are likely a massively profitable business stroking the author’s ego.
Both books based on the teachings of Catholicism and to a less degree Buddhism compare the teachings of those religions to the concept of ‘Now’. Christian and Buddha followers exasperated with the idea that some wise old men living on a mountaintops know the way to live life while pleasing God combined with a political hierarchy that allowed pedophile’s to infiltrate the ranks of trusted church leaders might find the ‘Power of Now’ and ‘A New World’ worthy of consideration. Worthy as long as the next phase of ‘Now’ development isn’t building churches and promoting the praises of a new faith.
