A Groundbreaking Book Review : "A New Earth" by Eckhart Tolle,

Fully understand and surpass the book!

                 

Today, I will dissect and go beyond the book "A New Earth" by Eckhart Tolle, who is celebrated as a world-renowned spiritual teacher.

This book discusses methods for escaping the pain-body, and its contents are as follows:

Pain arises from thoughts about the past and future created by the ego.

Recognize the movements of the ego and exist in the present moment.

By focusing on the present and eliminating the constructs of past and future, the ego and thoughts are removed.

When one awakens from the ego through the present, the consciousness of presence enters through one's form, leading to a state of inspiration and enthusiasm. In this state, intelligence exists, but consciousness is unconscious of itself. A creative power far beyond what an individual alone can achieve is granted.

In summary, concentrating on the present eliminates the ego, allowing the original consciousness of 'pure being' to enter within, filling one with inspiration and enthusiasm in an unconscious state. The author recounts a period when he lived like a homeless person, feeling a profound peace at the core of his being.

However, the idea that the consciousness of presence enters within and I become unconscious without the ego might seem akin to being possessed by something. Following the author's description, I doubt whether someone filled with inspiration and enthusiasm in an unconscious state can indeed manage daily life beyond the realm of the arts.

Anyway, the core message of this book is to eliminate the ego by focusing on the present to escape the pain-body created by thoughts.

Many recent books on managing the mind convey similar messages. Reading them, I find out that the advice tends to be the same: pain arises from thoughts, which are meaningless illusions; discard these foolish thoughts and focus on the present. Depending on whether it is existential philosophy or religious philosophy, the final destination varies between individuality and a common pure thing. Still, the perspective of viewing pain and thoughts as useless remains similar, and the methodology is always to 'focus on the present,' almost as if it were agreed upon.

Pain is deemed an illusion, and the thoughts that create it are treated as unwanted burdens. Escaping from these thoughts might seem like a state of enlightenment.

So, should people, like the author, focus only on the present? Should they remove thoughts and pain? The answer is 'no.'

This book explains the state of ultimate happiness based on the author's personal spiritual experience. However, the journey to that state is unique to him and must have involved a distinctive process of inner exploration.

We must not confuse the result with the process described in this book. My life's problems and pains are solely mine, and I must walk towards the mountain's summit through my path. I need to solve the problems and realities I encounter with my given ego and human thinking circuits, taking one step at a time. There is no shortcut to suddenly move to the mountain's summit.

Thus, if you feel a sense of peace while reading this book but return to a war-like daily life after closing it, you are perfectly normal. Pain and thoughts are not our enemies or targets to be eliminated; they are gifts and love from God. Through pain and thoughts, we have the opportunity to grow spiritually, and we must do so. Once we grow sufficiently in life, a moment will surely come when we must part with the ego that created those thoughts.

Until then, we must think intensely with the ego. That is the unique capability humans are born with.

If we discard this unique capability given by God, what else can we do? What can a bird do if it doesn't fly?

Humanity's unique thinking methods and circuits are innate.

when we find them and solve the problems and pains given to us one by one, we will grow into people who understand the principles of things.

The methods of solving real-world problems and achieving enlightenment are not two separate things. That is, everyday life and spiritual practice should come from one approach. Humans should be able to solve real-world problems uniquely, improving reality and ultimately reaching the highest state.

As the book suggests, if one suddenly awakens, merges with the consciousness of presence, and focuses solely on the present in a state of no-ego... well, is that truly the state of enlightenment? If one falls into such a state, one might believe one has become one with a higher dimension, but isn't it merely dreaming of reaching the mountain's summit without actually climbing?

The awakened state described by the author might bring personal peace, but to others, it could just appear as a dazed, trance-like state. If many people reach this state, the ruling class might outwardly praise it but secretly exploit it. Reality could thus turn into hell under the control of those in power.

Now, let's wrap up this book review.

Eliminating the ego because of pain is not the right approach. Pain serves as a warning that we are heading in the wrong direction. We must recognize that pain is on our side. It's time to change our perspective on pain.

However, this book suggests turning off the ego and thoughts because they are painful. This is akin to ignoring a malfunctioning machine and just silencing its alarm because it's noisy. Is that true peace? Is that true awakening?

We need the ego to uncover the cause of the problem and adjust our direction with our inherent human capability to question why. The ego was given to humans to think properly. The ego is the ladder for reaching a higher state, difficult to manage but the only path we must walk.

Stories of enlightened beings like the author serve only as a hopeful signpost indicating that the mountain's summit exists. Those of us still immature should not abandon the ego. Everything is given for a reason. 

The ego, thoughts, and suffering are the greatest gifts given by God, and without knowing how to use them, enlightenment is impossible. Beware of the folly of throwing away the ladder given by God into the trash.