THE POWER OF NOW

The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment is the most influential spiritual book of our time. Written by Eckhart Tolle, it was first published in 1997 and has since sold over 12 million copies and been translated into 52 languages.

It is the essence of Eckhart’s teachings and came about as the result of a profound inner transformation at the age of 29 which radically changed his life. Prior to this he had suffered with severe anxiety and depression but this shift in consciousness saw his suffering dissolve away.

“I cannot live with myself any longer.” This was the thought that kept repeating itself in his mind. Then suddenly he became aware of what a peculiar thought it was. “ Am i one or two.? If i cannot live with myself, there must be two of me: the ‘I’ and the ‘self’ that ‘I’ cannot live with.” “Maybe,” he thought, “only one of them is real.” The next morning he was awakened by the chirping of a bird outside his window. Everything appeared new and fresh as if he had just been born. He realised that something profoundly significant had happened to him. He spent the next two years in a state of intense joy and then began to teach in small groups and offer counselling to individuals.

The book was in response to questions asked by individuals in classes and counselling sessions so he kept the question and answer format. It was first published in 1997 by Namaste Publishing with a small run of 3,000 copies and Eckhart would hand deliver copies to small bookstores. By the second year it had become an “underground bestseller.” It’s popularity began to grow and then in 2000 the actress Meg Ryan introduced the book to Oprah Winfrey who recommended it in her O magazine. As a result, in 2002, it became the New York Times number one best seller.

Eckhart’s teachings are simple yet profound. He is not aligned to any particular religion. His teachings come from a variety of different spiritual and religious traditions including Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Taoism.

The core message in The Power of Now is that the present moment, the Now, is all we ever have. What we think of as the past is just memory occurring in the present and the future is a mental projection again happening Now.

During Eckhart’s spiritual awakening he became aware that there are two selves. It is this identification with the false or separate self that is the cause of all human suffering and conflict in the world.

This book has transformed the lives of millions of people from around the world, of every age and walk of life, and it can do the same for you.

ABOUT ME

Hello, i’m Neil, I’m a Clinical Psychologist with over 30 years experience working in both the NHS and private practice. I’ve always been interested in and curious about human behaviour and the nature of reality. This curiosity led me to study Psychology at Manchester University where I gained my B.Sc. in Psychology and Pharmacology and my Masters degree in Clinical Psychology. I worked for many years in the NHS helping people with often chronic health and emotional disorders.

Conventional western psychological therapies are mostly based upon the premise that we need to change the way people think and behave in order for them to feel better. I later came to discover that there is a fundamental flaw in this approach.

How i viewed life and my approach to clinical work changed radically about 20 years ago when i was introduced to the teachings of Louise Hay and the now iconic book You Can Heal Your Life. I always knew there was something more to life than i was experiencing and this book was like coming home. Her words deeply resonated with me.

This was the beginning of my spiritual journey and i was hungry to know more. I read books, attended workshops and conferences, which all helped but there was still something missing.

I came across the teachings of Eckhart Tolle and his books “ The Power of Now “ and “ A New Earth “ both of which also resonated deeply within me. In recent years i discovered the Non Duality teachings of Ramana Maharshi and Nisargadatta Maharaj and more contemporary teachers such as Adyashanti and Rupert Spira.

The peace and happiness that we all seek is to be found here in the present moment. This is The Power of Now.

I always remember the words of Louise Hay who used to say “ Life flows beautifully when we get out of our own way.” “ Life is simple but we make it complicated.” If you are finding life challenging at the moment then take a look at what’s on offer here.

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I’m also planning to run workshops in London and retreats in Cornwall for those who want to dive deeper into the life changing teachings of Eckhart Tolle.

I’m here to help, support and guide you. My message is simple, you don’t need to suffer. Explore the events and resources here and feel free to reach out and message, email or call me.