In almost every list you can find regarding spirituality and enlightenment, The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle is sure to be featured. This incredibly popular book has sold over 3 million copies since its debut in 1997. The author is now a prolific speaker and spirituality guru with a number of books, classes, and lectures scheduled. Millions of people have had their lives changed by him.

In The Power of Now, Tolle identifies the concept of time as the source of most human pain and suffering. While the concepts he introduces as well as his reasoning can be a little difficult to understand or digest, Tolle incorporates the voice of a student into the pages who asks questions, explains the trouble he or she is having with certain concepts, and even challenges Tolle on some occasions. By doing so, the author is able to help readers by intuitively and organically answering questions that may arise.

“The down cycle is absolutely essential for spiritual realization. You must have failed deeply on some level or experienced some deep loss or pain to be drawn to the spiritual dimension.”

As many teachers surmise, Tolle believes that intense pain and suffering can often bring about a natural desire and need to find spiritual enlightenment. This is how we evolve. And those who do find enlightenment are expected to bring it to others. Many of you on your own journeys can relate to this.

Tolle teaches that both the past and the future are illusions, they do not exist. The past is often a source of great pain while the future keeps us bound with anxiety and worry. But if we are able to let go of the past and future and persist in only the Now, there is nothing that can hurt us. By focusing on the present moment, you may find enlightenment by finding the absolute joy of simply being.

“All negativity is caused by an accumulation of psychological time and denial of the present. Unease, anxiety, tension, stress, worry – all forms of fear – are caused by too much future, and not enough presence. Guilt, regret, resentment, grievances, sadness, bitterness, and all forms of nonforgiveness are caused by too much past, and not enough presence.”

Tolle explains that we put all of our thoughts into the past and the future, which are both illusions. And by focusing on this illusion of time, we make ourselves miserable. The key to enlightenment is to focus on the present alone and be free of the bondage created by the illusion of time.

“To be free of time is to be free of the psychological need of past for your identity and the future for your fulfillment. It represents the most profound transformation of consciousness that you can imagine.”

Another concept he introduces is that of the pain-body. The pain-body lives as another entity within us. It is the culmination of all the pain, regret, remorse, anger, and other negative feelings that we have accumulated over the non-existent past – and this entity wants to be fed. It lives to create more of the same, causing us to react negatively to certain events only to create more negative emotions. Tolle encourages the reader to go within, identify these emotions as a spectator and see them for what they are – feel them even – and then release them. Stay in the present and detach from negative emotions caused by the past and future.

“To suddenly see that you are or have been attached to your pain can be quite a shocking realization. The moment you realize this, you have broken the attachment.”

Whereas most meditation and enlightenment gurus teach the student to project their energy outward by escaping the body, Tolle suggests that you go inward and join with the body. He believes you find enlightenment from within and during the present moment. By going into the body during meditation, you can ensure that you are staying in the present moment. And by examining your emotions as an onlooker, you can release past pain in the present moment. However, one could argue that his method of detachment is slightly akin to exiting the body in essence.

In the end, Tolle’s focal point is opening the portal to love. Conscious beings (as opposed to unconscious – spiritually unwakened) beings are able to love completely and without ego. This is the goal. When we become conscious, our vibrations shift and we are able to attract more of what we want.

I highly suggest this book to anyone who is dealing with pain. Actually – I think that is just about everyone.