A New Earth

What is the meaning of your life? A better question may be, what is making up your life? Eckhart Tolle’s most recent book, “A New Earth” teaches that life is made up of today, this present moment for it is all we have. This noted teacher of presence goes a step further in helping a reader learn their purpose and then how to marry their inner purpose with their outer purpose - there we will find a truly fulfilled life.

While reading this book I was reminded of how often we are focused on what has happened to us in the past and how we use that to steer our present life. For many of us that means there is pain or shame just below the surface of our skin and we bring that to bear on the world. What I love that Tolle does is that he shows us how all of the great spiritual teachers practice forgiveness and presence in a way that allows them and us to live in a present way with people and the world.

This book felt a little long to me but toward the end there were some real jewels about finding purpose and how if we will engage that can change our lives. I did like “The Power Of Now” more but this book is a great addition.

A question for the comments: As you have done Enneagram or Meyers-Briggs work, how is your number/type affecting your soul or your presence living?

About The Book: An article in Success magazine describes A New Earth as a "self-improvement book" that encourages its readers to live their lives in each present moment and to create happiness for themselves without emphasizing material possessions. Tolle's intent is to change the way human beings think, and he envisions a world population that is increasingly humble, enlightened and pure. According to Tolle, the book's purpose "is not to add new information or beliefs to your mind or to try to convince you of anything, but to bring about a shift in consciousness".

In the book, Tolle asserts that everyone can find "the freedom and joy of life" if they live in the present moment. The book describes human dysfunction, selfishness, anxiety and the inhumanity we inflict on each other, as well as mankind's failed attempts to find life meaning and purpose through material possessions and unhealthy relationships. It asserts that thoughts can have a powerful and beneficial "effect on the healing process", and puts forth a concept of "evolutionary transformation of human consciousness" which prompts the reader to participate in "honest self-evaluation [that] can lead to positive change."

Abandonment To Divine Providence

In a conversation with my spiritual director we were talking about living in the present moment and how intentional living creates presence (and hopefully an incarnate life as well). He recommended this book. I would recommend an Eckhart Tolle book on presence over this one but I did love a number of the points Caussade makes when it comes to the will of God - "The Holy Spirit is not at work in the world; the Spirit is at work in the hearts of people and transformation of the world comes from transformed hearts." That is true incarnation.

A Question For The Comments: What do you believe about the will of God for your life?

About The Book:

Contained within this volume is the first part of "Abandonment to Divine Providence" by Jean-Pierre De Caussade, a treatise on the practice of total abandonment to Divine Providence, or in other words, completely giving yourself over to God's will. A spiritual classic, "Abandonment to Divine Providence" will delight readers of all faiths as they discover the spiritual guidance that this volume has to offer. Jean Pierre de Caussade (7 March 1675 – 8 December 1751) was a French Jesuit priest and writer. He is especially known for the work ascribed to him, Abandonment to Divine Providence, and also his work with the Nuns of the Visitation in Nancy, France.