The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment

“‘I cannot live with myself any longer.’ This was the thought that kept repeating itself in my mind. Then suddenly I 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,’ I thought, ‘Only one of them is real.’”

Tolle reflects on how his severe depression and suicidal ideation prompted him to recognize two distinct “selves” within him. He concludes that the “false” self that he could not live with was the one who lived in fear and pain, while his “true nature” was able to live in bliss and contentment once it was free of his mind’s constant thinking. This realization underpins Tolle’s arguments about the ego and the “true nature.”

“I understood that the intense pressure of suffering that night must have forced my consciousness to withdraw from its identification with the unhappy and deeply fearful self, which is ultimately a fiction of the mind […] What was left then was my true nature as the ever-present I am: consciousness in its pure state prior to identification with form.”

Tolle recalls his rock-bottom experience of depression and what he believes it triggered within his mind. He argues that he could not experience “consciousness” without removing his egoic mind and his identification with it. Tolle’s experience adds a personal touch to his work and makes his claims about the ego, the mind, and consciousness more compelling.

“Those who have not found their true wealth, which is the radiant joy of Being and the deep, unshakeable peace that comes with it, are beggars, even if they have great material wealth. They are looking outside for scraps of fulfillment, for validation, security, or love, while they have a treasure within that not only includes all those things but is infinitely greater than anything the world can offer.”

Tolle distinguishes between external accomplishments and material prosperity and one’s inner journey. He persuades the reader that people will always be needy if they do not experience the “joy of Being.” By putting this mental or spiritual experience on a pedestal above material wealth, Tolle adds to his argument that mental states are well worth examining and managing.

“The word God has become a closed concept. The moment the word is uttered a mental image is created, no longer, perhaps, of an old man with a white beard, but still a representation of someone or something outside you, and yes, almost inevitably a male someone or something.”

Tolle explains his decision to use the word Being or consciousness in his work, rather than the more traditional term “God.” He claims that because this word has been used by organized religions, many people have a particular image in their head that they associate with it, and this image includes gender bias. Tolle wants to use a fresh term that allows the reader to keep an open mind about his ideas.

“As you grow up, you form a mental image of who you are, based on your personal and cultural conditioning. We may call this phantom self the ego. It consists of mind activity and can only be kept going through constant thinking. The term ego means different things to different people, but when I use it here it means a false self, created by unconscious identification of the mind.”

Tolle clarifies his own definition of the ego, which he feels is a socially constructed mentality that is totally dependent on the mind’s “constant thinking.” Tolle’s description helps explain how his use of this term may differ from other spiritual traditions.

“All cravings are the mind seeking salvation or fulfillment in external things and in the future as a substitute for the joy of Being. As long as I am my mind, I am those cravings, those needs, wants, attachments, and aversions…In that state, even my desire to become free or enlightened is just another craving for fulfillment or completion in the future. So don’t seek to become free of desire or “achieve” enlightenment. Become present.”

Tolle warns against attaching expectation to attaining enlightenment and striving too much since he feels that this can function as another kind of “craving” from the egoic mind. As always, Tolle recommends being “present” to overcome craving and thinking patterns.

“The most common ego identifications have to do with possessions, the work you do, social status and recognition, knowledge and education, physical appearance, special abilities, relationships, personal and family history, belief systems and often also political, nationalistic, racial, religious, and other collective identifications. None of these is you. Do you find this frightening?”

Tolle chips away at the many layers of identities one acquires throughout their lifetimes. Tolle’s claim that the ego is fueled by attachment to these identities runs counter to much of modern psychology, which may encourage people to take pride in their family, education, or accomplishments, for example, and acknowledges the importance of the intersection of these aspects of identity in forming the self and one’s life experiences. Tolle’s discussion of these identities conveys his ideas that Being is something universal that renders these aspects of life irrelevant.

“To be identified with your mind is to be trapped in time: the compulsion to live almost exclusively through memory and anticipation. This creates an endless preoccupation with past and future and an unwillingness to honor and acknowledge the present moment and allow it to be.”

Tolle argues that people cannot separate the workings of the mind from the “illusion” of time, since thoughts are often focused on remembering the past or projecting plans or worries into the future. Tolle considers these tendencies harmful distractions from the present moment.

“There is a place for mind and mind knowledge. It is in the practical realm of day-to-day living. However, when it takes over all aspects of your life, including your relationships with other human beings and with nature, it becomes a monstrous parasite that, unchecked, may well end up killing all life on the planet and finally itself by killing its host.”

Tolle does not want to demonize all workings of the thinking mind, and this quotation helps him clarify what he considers an appropriate use of the mind’s powers. He warns against allowing the analytical mind to dominate all of a person’s feelings and behaviors since this leads to greed and destruction. This is one of the few times Tolle references the ongoing climate crisis in his work and attributes it to the egoic mind.

“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 non-forgiveness are caused by too much past, and not enough presence.”

Tolle adds nuance to his argument by distinguishing between “clock time” and “psychological time.” According to Tolle, clock time is legitimate, since it helps people recall the past to better live in the present or look to the future as a means of determining their present action. In his view, psychological time, however, is always a destructive force, as it fosters negative emotions from either too much “past” or too much “future.” His argument that it is essential to live in the present lists negative emotions that are likely to be highly relatable for the reader.

“Your unhappiness is polluting not only your own inner being and those around you but also the collective human psyche of which you are an inseparable part. The pollution of the planet is only an outward reflection of an inner psychic pollution, millions of unconscious individuals not taking responsibility for their inner space.”

Tolle again makes a connection between external destruction, such as pollution, and mindsets. He argues that negative feelings are contagious and affect those whom people interact with. By comparing an unconscious state of mind to pollution, Tolle persuades the reader to feel a sense of urgency to overcome their “psychic pollution.” Without referring to other spiritual teachings, this passage is reminiscent of many religions’ stance that people should try to cleanse themselves of their sins or bad karma.

“Waiting is a state of mind […] With every kind of waiting, you unconsciously create inner conflict between your here and now, where you don’t want to be, and the projected future, where you want to be. This greatly reduces the quality of your life by making you lose the present.”

Tolle singles out waiting as a common “state of mind” that prevents people from enjoying the present. Similar to his discussion of psychological time, Tolle argues that always longing for something external to bring satisfaction or a sense of closure prevents people from living in the present moment and, therefore, experiencing Being.

“The wider the time gap between perception and thought, the more depth there is to you as a human being, which is to say the more conscious you are. Many people are so imprisoned in their minds that the beauty of nature does not really exist for them. They might say, ‘What a pretty flower,’ but that’s just a mechanical mental labeling. Because they are not still, not present, they don’t truly see the flower, don’t feel its essence, its holiness—just as they don’t know themselves, don’t feel their own essence, their own holiness.”

Tolle introduces the Zen concept of Satori to describe the very brief moments of “no-mind” that people can experience when they quiet their thoughts. He encourages the reader to try to experience Satori as much as they can and to extend the “time gap” between truly perceiving and beginning to think again. He makes a connection between being able to consciously perceive external things and understanding one’s own “true nature.”

“Falling back to a level of consciousness below mind, which is the pre-thinking level of our distant ancestors and of animals and plants, is not an option for us. There is no way back. If the human race is to survive, it will have to go on to the next stage.”

Tolle equates animals and plants as equally “pre-thinking” and leaves this description unexplained, asking the reader to accept this label without offering much support for his idea. By describing their perspectives as “below mind,” Tolle lays out a clear and linear trajectory for all life forms from pre-thinking to thinking, to beyond thinking. He again raises the stakes of mental evolution by claiming the human race will die out if it does not continue on to the next “stage” of consciousness.

“But as long as you are run by the egoic mind, you are a part of the collective insanity. Perhaps you haven’t looked very deeply into the human condition in its state of dominance by the egoic mind. Open your eyes and see the fear, the despair, the greed, and the violence that are all-pervasive […] That is sin. That is insanity.”

Tolle claims the religious term “sin” should really refer to the egoic mind. He points to violent and greedy behavior as proof that people are generally in an ego-driven state of mind. He suggests that by observing the ego in action in the world, readers will be better able to identify its motivations within themselves. Tolle connects the world’s problems with a lack of consciousness, arguing that solving these problems starts with addressing one’s own part in them.

“Unless you stay present, and inhabiting your body is always an essential aspect of it, you will continue to be run by your mind. The script that you learned in your head a long time ago, the conditioning of your mind, will dictate your thinking and behavior. You may be free of it for brief intervals, but rarely for long.”

Tolle argues that being in touch with one’s body is a crucial aspect of overcoming compulsive thinking and mental “scripts” that have become patterns. He uses this argument to recommend that readers tune in to their bodies’ sensations to keep their minds under control.

“Love isn’t a portal; it’s what comes through the portal into this world. As long as you are completely trapped in your form identity, there can be no love. Your task is not to search for love but to find a portal through which love can enter.”

For Tolle, real love comes from consciousness and connecting with the Unmanifested, the source of all life. By attaining consciousness, people open a “portal” for love to enter their lives and imbue their relationships and actions.

“This is why many ancient cultures instinctively chose female figures or analogies to represent or describe the formless and transcendental reality. It was often seen as a womb that gives birth to everything in creation, and sustains and nourishes it during its life as form […] Naturally, women are closer to it than men since they virtually ‘embody’ the Unmanifested.”

Tolle argues that women are inherently closer to enlightenment due to their biology, which the Tao Te Ching revered as a life-giving and nourishing force. He endorses this ancient Chinese philosophy’s view of the womb as a sort of extension of the “Unmanifested,” the source of all life forms. Tolle’s tenuous link between women’s bodies and their ability to be connected with their bodily experience requires a leap of faith for the reader. By including references to the “ancient and profound” (164) Tao Te Ching, Tolle tries to support his argument with a philosophical authority.

“If a woman is still holding on to anger, resentment, or condemnation, she is holding onto her pain-body. This may give her a comforting sense of identity, of solidarity with other women, but it is keeping her in bondage to the past, and blocking full access to her essence and true power […] So do not use the pain-body to give you an identity.”

Tolle acknowledges that women are likely to have significant pain-bodies, which they experience individually and collectively as a result of misogynist oppression over many generations. He believes that by fostering angry and resentful thought patterns, women accidentally hurt themselves by blocking their “essence” and staying “in bondage to the past” (169).

“When you live with complete acceptance of what is, that is the end of all drama in your life. Nobody can even have an argument with you, no matter how hard he or she tries. You cannot have an argument with a fully conscious person. An argument implies identification with your mind and a mental position, as well as resistance and reaction to the other person’s position. The result is that the polar opposites become mutually energized.”

Tolle argues that when people attain consciousness, “drama” and conflict are impossible. He argues that conscious people still have opinions but will not focus on defending their positions or attacking the other person. As such, it will be possible to disagree without arguing. This claim helps Tolle paint an ideal picture of life as a conscious person.

“The whole advertising industry and consumer society would collapse if people became enlightened and no longer sought to find their identity through things. The more you seek happiness in this way, the more it will elude you. Nothing out there will ever satisfy you except temporarily and superficially, but you may need to experience many disillusionments before you experience that truth.”

Tolle claims that material wealth can bring only temporary pleasure, whereas real joy comes from consciousness. He implies that consumerist society exists because so many people are driven by the egoic mind, which seeks pleasure through attaining things. This quotation helps Tolle clarify his position on material wealth and its limitations to well-being.

“Watch any plant or animal and let it teach you acceptance of what is, surrender to the Now. Let it teach you Being. Let it teach you integrity—which means to be one, to be yourself, to be real. Let it teach you how to live and how to die, and how not to make living and dying into a problem.” 

Tolle admires the way plants and animals simply function in the present moment. He assumes that animals cannot create negative mental thought patterns about their lives. By discussing plants and animals together in this way, he reiterates his previous claim that both of these life forms are “pre-thinking” and, therefore, immune to the egoic mindset.

“You may have heard the phrase ‘turn the other cheek,’ which a great teacher of enlightenment used two thousand years ago. He was attempting to convey symbolically the secret of nonresistance and nonreaction. In this statement, as in all his others, he was concerned only with your inner reality, not with the outer conduct of your life.”

Tolle interprets Jesus’ teaching about turning the other cheek to mean that people should practice “nonresistance and nonreaction” to hurtful behavior. Tolle argues that Jesus was not preaching physical pacifism but was advocating for a more conscious mindset. This quotation helps Tolle clarify that conscious people may respond to violence with or without violent behavior of their own but should deal with all verbal conflict in a nonreactive way.