I respect what both Tolle & Winfrey are doing. If we can simply look beyond the outer impressions that they're leaving with some of us, perhaps we could acknowledge that some actual good may come of this webcast and the spotlight on such Consciousness teachings.

Sofia, you're right when you admonish that nothing Tolle is saying is 'new', however may I say that NEVER have the Wisdom teachings reached such a widespread audience. This is a good thing, imo. Krishnamurti did indeed preach the same as did many other gurus, philosophers and savants throughout the Ages, albeit it merits repetition.

Do you recall Krishnamurti's final teaching? At one of his talks in the later part of his life, he surprised his audience by asking, "Do you want to know my secret? I don't mind what happens."

Tolle is decidedly gnomish ;-) and somewhat lackluster when it comes to both presentation and delivery...these are OUTER determinations. He does speak Truth, and it will most definitely resonate with some souls and create a similar resonance in the collective consciousness of humankind.

It's true that many will not be able to Turn, however that's been occurring since the dawn of time. Only a very small remnant were able to carry and deliver the Christic teachings or the Buddhic teachings for that matter.

For those that have an ear, THEY will hear, and for them alone, this is a good thing that Tolle & Winfrey are doing. I laud them both.

Sofia,

"...all the books I could find, and meditated hours and hours, zazen shikantaza that is (arguably) the most beautiful, the purest form of meditation ever conceived. (And incidentally, hours of zazen means deep pain in the knees until you feel they are broken. Encounter with pain IS a very important part of the contemplative way and this I bet ET doesn't say on TV. Anyway.) My point is that YOU NEED that big body of knowledge, you need them all those teaching to carry you beyond the lands of ego. ET must be mad to think that him alone and his 2 books can carry humankind to a shift of consciousness. He's delusional, and hilariously full of ego for thinking so."

I personally believe that life is NOT to be hard. That all the teachings that say I must suffer to gain does not work for me. I believe that when we are not aligned with Source and Self, our lives become difficult. When we are aligned with Source and Self, the 'pain' that we incur is not there. I do not see the need to "encounter with pain as an important part of contemplating". I will not be convinced of this either.

As for ET thinking himself and his 2 books can carry humankind to a shift of consciousness, I do not think he is delusional, simply because when the time comes for the shift in consciousness, One 'hears' what someone else says. I am sure you know this better than many.

I asked once, a couple years back, why all these writers keep writing books when they feel that (to date) their particular book is one of the best. I was given the answer because sometimes we need to read/connect to it, in a different format. What works for One, may not work for Another.

The Secret definitely was not new. It has been talked about for YEARS, since Christ and I would presume before, walked the Earth. The people who were ready to 'hear' it, DID so. The ones who were not, needed another way to hear it. Thus, the many different people bringing it to the forefront.

ET is another individual bringing it to the forefront. Oprah is well established in being able to make this a National forefront. Thus, it is very possible that through Oprah and ET (with or without ego) that MANY will awaken their consciousness.

Obviously this is all CHOICE. Any attempt at consciousness is always choice. It is said that when One begins to awaken, they will be unable to go back to sleep (or something to that effect...it is late and I cannot remember the exact way I heard it).

As for the way he looks and speaks, that is completely a non-issue.

OH and one last thought, many of the 'teachers' in life do not reference their thoughts, why is necessary that ET must? Many writers who are revered, do not reference thoughts. They claim (as I heard ET say) that they sat down and it came through them.

So, as I speak to folks about LOA, EFT, Christianity, or any other belief I have, is it necessary for me to reference where I may have heard it?...(ex. Bible, Abraham, the Secret, Gary...hmm, can't remember EFT name)?

Peace,
Beth

I think here you are belittling a bit the real point of Monica. I don't think she is that weak-minded.
So ok I blasted him. I'm sorry for that, I should have expressed myself differently. But now it's you blasting me, and throwing the baby with the water, while Monica didn't.

Besides: you're resonating with the Way, not with ET, of which he is a pale massenger, that he fails to tell you this potentially deprives you of a lot of other resonating you could have, while reading the truckload of wonderful books existing on the subject, on which he doesn't have royalties. He is not serving the Way, he is serving himself. Ego problems in serious degree. Therefore dangerous.