QuotecspQuoteThe AnticultHe is NOT enlightened. He might be detached from everything but money and his own Fame, but the dude is NOT enlightened. But he is good at play-acting though. OK. Can you define for us the criteria for genuine enlightenment or give us an example of someone who is enlightened so that we can discern between those that are and are not? Thanks. How does one profess to kno
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Ah, so Tolle has taken LSD. "Universal Doctrine" is a tough one for me as his/"the" teaching in many instances has a limited sphere of application. "you want what you haven't got,and you don't want what you have got." says ET in TPON. I know I use extreme examples, but the recent liberation of the Austrian lady from her father's incest dungeon come
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Corboy wrote: A report by one person who attended a Tolle event in Los Angeles in 2003. Thanks! I read the review. $90,000 for that one show, not bad. Less hall rental, less limo rental (LIMO RENTAL!?!? it might have been provided) less hotel costs. Still a good take. Again, that's his right in marketing "the" teaching. If you're at all familiar with his live talks he q
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

"In answer to Napoleon's question as to why he had not mentioned God in his "Celestial Mechanics", Laplace replied, "Sire, I have no need of that hypothesis." Darwin, by accounting for the variety of life forms on the hypothesis that the principle of survival of the fittest, together with intrinsic variation, led to different species, effectively discredited the lit
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

"An integrative paradigm assumes and requires the development of a metalanguage that relates and makes possible communication between religious or mystical and scientific world-views. The importance of this task should not be underestimated. We need a twentieth-century translation of dated and emotionally loaded terms appropriate to a contemporary understanding of "spiritual" and &
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

corboy posted, "For it is ego that is concerned with social class, titles, and prestige." Again, I hear Stalin (or any other promoter of a coercive utopia) echoing the Tao, as in; "you, oh humble worker, servant, slave, should not concern yourself with prestige, titles, and social class. you're lightening our load with your humility, therefore leave the prestige, dachas, an
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

QuotecorboyRegarding religion or meditation, it makes no difference whether a practitioner is a scientist, a mental health professional or an employee at a temp agency. A practitioner's social class, titles, or occupation should be irrelevant if he or she claims to have benefitted from a teaching that is supposed to transcend ego. For it is ego that is concerned with social class, titl
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

QuotecspBy "scientist" I am referring to both my position as a Director of Research for a large health care company .. and that my studies have been published in peer reviewed scientific journals. My books are also sold via a science publisher. As for flaming ... I don't recall personally attacking anyone in the forum, but if I did I apologize. But back to the topic ... Tw
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

I'm not gay either so I can't speak about it as a help or hindrance to enlightenment as Eckhart does in The Power of Now. IS he qualified to do so, or are those just more vague generalizations? I mean, should short people ask "is being 4' 9" a help or hindrance to enlightenment?" or maybe, "is having an aunt named 'Ethel' a help or hindrance in my ques
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

"An integrative paradigm should be consistent with and able to incorporate and use the findings of science.Science is the essential reference point for the rational Western mind and while an integrative paradigm has a higher point of reference, it must honor the achievements and comprehend the working language of science if it is to gain any meaningful degree of acceptance in our culture. Th
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Wow!! this gets more interesting. unlike a "sunset....sunsets aren't interesting, you can't do a PhD on sunsets" as Eckhart says on his Findhorn Retreat CD. I gave all my Tolle CD's away!! and THAT did feel good, it almost felt interesting. Best to NOT go invoking quantum mechanics csp, as it gave way to uncertainty and unpredictability within the atomic kingdom. Tolle i
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

QuotecspI'm curious. What motivated you to read all his books and watch numerous CDs? I can't say much about Oprah, but I've seen, read and listened to enough of Tolle and others that have been around him that he does "walk the walk." Should he be a full-time hermit? I'm really not sure what people expect him to do or not do in terms of writing and/or public appea
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

QuotecspI'm not being evasive. I said that I was a mental health professional and that "no" I have not submitted a peer reviewed research paper on Tolle. However (for whatever it is worth) I've published many peer reviewed papers in scientific journals in the field of traumatic brain injury and in particular behavioral medicine. Again ... you and others in this forum are ma
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

QuotecspI've been involved in spiritual pursuits for decades (both eastern and western) and have read all of Mr. Tolle's books and watched many hours of his videos looking for any sign of insincerity or fraud. I've found none whatsoever. Believe me I've been witness to many, many frauds over the years, but Mr. Tolle is not one of them. I'm also a researcher in the field o
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Or what about the recent capture of a man an Austria who held his daughter captive for 24 years and fathered children through her. In what way is pedophilia and confinement conducive to the "evolution of ones consciousness"? IT'S NOT...or is that perhaps...NOT YET! :( The 30 million victims of forced famine the Ukraine? No, Tolle's philosophy is catering to stressed out yu
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

QuotecspI do agree with you about the "dangers" of television. Read "Culture Jam" or "Four Arguments Against the Use of Television" which are both classics on this subject. However, I couldn't disagree more about your assessment regarding Tolle. As a matter of fact, I think he would firmly support your position regarding television. I've seen him speak o
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

perhaps, I go to far in my previous posts. what does it really matter? Oprah speaks!! People buy! YES, they do. I speak to local book retailers and they tell me that "A New Earth" by Tolle has been leaping off the shelves ever since she started endorsing it.So, who's the hand waving "cult" leader? Then again, I haven't owned a TV in over twenty years and I live alone
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

QuoterrmoderatorHugh Manatee: You now have autoapprove, which means your posts should come up instantly. Sorry, but we have had some trolls and flamers here. okay, thanks!
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

also, I can't believe the wait time to get a post up. I posted something in this thread over 1.5 hrs ago. still be reviewed. TOO nslow for me folks. I'm out. take care.
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

to me "non dual" is already a contradiction in terms. personally, it offers no workable paradigm. granted, where do "I" stop, and the rest of the universe begin? of course there's an undeniable connectivity. yet, am I a photon? or am I the probability fog of the nuclear kingdom? am I the pairing of the atomic kingdom, or the inert molecules that they form? am I plant? am
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

and thanks for that greeting. well, by no means was I EVER coerced by Tolle followers or anything like that. I found myself listening to his "Power of Now" back in 2003 as I was going through some emotional upheavals. On a purely "common sense" level, his ideas about "centering" can be useful. yet there's nothing new here. ALOT of rehashed Alan Watts, "budd
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

hello! I'm new here, but not new to Tolle's "teaching". Forget the "nondual" aspect. this term carries with it an inherent contradiction, as in the teacher, the taught, and the teaching. each subject to misinterpretation. tolle's endless droning on about "now" carries with it an unspoken "then". it's all about feeling good "now"
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I know that threads on Eckhart Tolle have previously been written. As a "recovering" "NOW-ist" I would like to discuss my aversion to his "teachings"....the self induced schizophrenia of "advaita" or non dualism.
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups