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A Live Interactive Worldwide Web Event and Book Club First: Oprah Joins Author to Teach a 10-Week Webcast Series of Classes on Oprah.com
CHICAGO, IL - "Being able to share this material with you is a gift and a part of the fulfillment of my life's purpose," Oprah Winfrey said on Wednesday, January 30, 2008, as she revealed the 61th Oprah's Book Club selection A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle. She added, "It was an awakening for me that I want for you, too."
For the first time ever, readers around the world will be able to participate in a free, live interactive classroom discussion, led by Winfrey and Tolle. Each weekly class will correspond to a chapter from A New Earth, with the discussion focusing on the chapter's themes. The 10 weekly sessions will be webcast every Monday night from March 3 through May 5, at 9:00pm ET/6:00pm PT. To pre-register for the class, log onto www.oprah.com/anewearth.
Published in 2005, A New Earth encourages a collective sense of commitment to changing the way we live for people who want to make a difference. With the knowledge that we live in a time desperate for global change, renowned spiritual teacher Tolle's book answers the question: what can one person do to enact that change? With clarity and in practical terms, he gently leads readers to a new level of consciousness, awakening them to their lives' purpose and inviting them to envision a new earth where peace and fellowship are the norm.
A New Earth is published internationally in the English language by Penguin Group, one of the world's premier global consumer trade book publishers. The 10-part interactive worldwide web event is a pioneering venture that will have the potential to reach an unprecedented number of readers in all English-language territories far and wide. With key market positions in the United States, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, Canada, India, China, New Zealand and Ireland, Penguin Group will be able to share this Oprah's Book Club selection with a worldwide audience.
John Makinson, Penguin Group Chairman and CEO, commented, "Penguin is one of the world's few truly global publishers and all of us are honored to be working with Ms. Winfrey on this ground-breaking project. A New Earth is an unforgettable manifesto for a better way of life. Its message reaches across boundaries to illuminate and enrich the human spirit everywhere. Eckhart Tolle teaches us to change the way we view the world and make connections to each other."
Oprah's Book Club works with the American Library Association (ALA) to distribute thousands of free Book Club selections donated by each publisher, to school, public, and community college libraries nationwide. The Chicago-based ALA is the oldest and largest library association in the world with more than 64,000 members.
As the biggest book club in the world, Oprah's Book Club has approximately one million online members. Each of its selections have skyrocketed to the top of bestsellers lists. Enrollment is free and provides members with access to benefits such as online discussion groups, reading questions, and Q&A sessions with the author. To join, log onto www.oprah.com.
"The Oprah Winfrey Show" has remained the number one talk show for 21 consecutive seasons, winning every sweep since its debut in 1986.* It is produced in Chicago by Harpo Productions, Inc. and syndicated to 212 domestic markets by CBS Television Distribution Group and to 135 countries by CBS Paramount International Television.
Source:
*Nielsen Cassandra Ranking Report - Nov'86 to July '99 and Wrap Sweeps, Nov '99 to July '07. Primary Telecasts Only.
About Eckhart Tolle:
Eckhart Tolle is a contemporary spiritual teacher who is not aligned with any particular religion or tradition. In his writing and seminars, he conveys a simple yet profound message with the timeless and uncomplicated clarity of the ancient spiritual masters: "There is a way out of suffering and into peace." Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, he travels extensively-taking his teachings throughout the world.
View more information on Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth
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Misunderstood Knowledge
Eckhart Tolle’s, A NEW EARTH, is about understanding one true purpose. Yes, he references religions; in particular Buddha, Jesus, and the Bible, but I felt in no way was he telling you which faith to follow or not to follow.
This book is about inner enlightenment; not about being a good Catholic, Baptist, Jew, or of any other religion. It’s about living up to one’s full potential – be skillful, open-minded, etc… We all have one “fundamental issue” which is the human condition. This “issue” includes “ignorance, irrationality, and the lust for power.” (A Seismic Shift by Chris Dede) Therefore, Tolle is trying to awaken your inner self; and as he said; “knowing oneself is rooted in “being.”” We’re always quick to judge; yet we do not judge ourselves first, and we wonder why we have hate, crime, and war all around us.
Are we really here to repeat history, making the same mistakes over and over again? Well, “unchange will always end up re-creating fundamentally the same world, the same evils and the same dysfunction,” as stated in the book.
Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “Nothing great was ever accomplished without enthusiasm,” and all throughout A New Earth, Tolle states that in order to awaken oneself and experience this enlightenment one has to be accepting and enthusiastic. Being enthusiastic lies within each of us; as Shakespeare said, “there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so,” so release your negativity and find your glass half full or that silver lining in the clouds.
With anything there are several ways to approach and resolve the task at hand. How you go about them will determine if the project is agonizing and drawn out or provides great knowledge during the experience.
I saying my parents raised me on (but am unsure where it came from) is; “What you are is God’s gift to you; what you make of yourself is your gift to God.”
So get to know and honor thyself.
Has she ever chosen a female
Has she ever chosen a female author?
female authoor
Yes she has; just go to her web site and look at the list of books
and authors!
b.
A New Earth
This book teaches the opposite of what the Bible teaches. Oprah should be ashamed of endorsing such a thing. What's really scary is that she is influential to so many people. I'm hoping that by posting this others will realize that this book has nothing to do with the Bible (even though it has many references in it) and should be shunned by the Christian Community.
How do you know it does not
How do you know it does not teach what the bible teaches the bible is but a book which you draw your entire faith from, yet you would critise somone who put thier faith in a diffrent book? Did the bible teach to reject people who are diffrent or belive in diffrent things? Or did you just force that upon the bible? Jesus was open to everyone and was a great person but many of his followers are not.
I like your Christ, But i do not like you Christrans
They are so unlike your Christ
-Gandhi
The bible i belive was not meant to make an opressionistic society as churches in christianity have done, it was also not meant to justify wars and killing such in the crusades, but you are using the bible to simply justify you un-openmindness so to say towards this book.
Not another Bible Thumper
Do you honestly think that the Christian religion is the only one in the world? I was raised in a Southern Baptist Conservative Church and have enough intelligence to know the world is comprised of many different religions and beliefs.
Honestly, do you think your point of view as a Christian is more important than someone who is of the Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu or Muslim faith?
You should be ashamed of yourself for being so self centered. It is people with this egotistical mindset that create division in this world we live in. I respect all the world's religions and faiths. If you would study them in more detail maybe you would not judge what you don't understand.
A New Earth
The Bible warns us about false teachers, and this book does not teach what is in the Bible. If Oprah likes it fine, but Christians should use their own mind, and not be influenced because Oprah likes the Book. Don't let anyone tell you what to read and not read, just because they have influence, which she definitely has over millions of viewers. Oprah is just a human being like the rest of us, and not without faults
reply
Oprah is not telling anyone to read this book. They are discussing the contents of a book Eckhart Tolle wrote all about the ego. I used to have a closed mind, too, but when I opened it up I was able to be enlightened to the spiritual help needed in order to maintain healthy relationships with my fellow human beings. The Bible is talking about these things too, but in different words. All spiritual books like this are basically saying the same thing, but coming from different angles. Jesus would approve. I know it in my heart..
THE NEW EARTH
ARE YOU CRAZY!??!! JESUS WOULD NOT APPROVE OF THIS. THAT TELLS US JUST HOW MUCH YOU KNOW ABOUT THE BIBLE. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BELIEF IN ONE'S SELF AND SELF-ESTEEM. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH HAVING GOOD SELF-ESTEEM, HOWEVER, WHEN ONE BELIEVES IN THE OMNIPOTENCE OF ONE'S SELF, IT EXCLUDES JESUS AND THE CHRISTIANS' FAITH IN JESUS' ABILITY TO SAVE US. IT PLACES EMPHASIS ON SELF-RELIANCE, AND THE BIBLE STATES THAT AS LONG AS WE RELY ON OURSELVES AND NOT JESUS, THAN WE ARE LOST SOULS. WE MUST COME TO HIM AS "BABES." FURTHERMORE AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE DEFINITION OF ANTICHRIST IS ANYONE WHO BELIEVES IN ANYTHNG OR ANYONE OTHER THAN CHRIST! ARE YOU ONE OF THEM??
I am deeply disgusted, that
I am deeply disgusted, that anyone could be fooled into believing the teachings of "A new earth". There is only one way to heaven and that is thru Jesus Christ. And without Christ we can do nothing! And no, Jesus would not aprove of these teachings, they go completely against everything he taught! If you are not with God you are against God! And this book is not with God!!! I have never been a viewer of the Oprah show, and after this i never will be. I'll pray for you Oprah, you seem like such a likable person, someone i would enjoy being around. I'm sad you had been caught in this devilish trap!
"For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." John 3:17 "Holy Bible"
A New Earth
Jesus would not be pleased because this book is trying to replace the one true spiritual teaching book we are blessed to even have. Teaching from a different world you say huh? Where exactly did that world go and when did this one come about and where are the facts from our fine scientists supporting tis theory? Yes the BIBLE does warn us to beware of false teachings and I am fully aware that this is one of them!! Let me guess you were closed minded until you went to college, right or wrong? Well I am in college and I will never let a liberal education steer me from what I was taught growing up reguarding my Jesus.
I do not even attend church and I haven't since I have been old enough to say no I don't want to go, mom. This has no bearing on what my heart knows is the truth though!!! Oprah is taking on the role of a medium or psychotherapist even. She is messing with pure EVIL straight from the pit of hell and decieving many with her influence. This book is being portrayed as an answer to keep us going in this world but it is nothing more than a lie aimed at robbing us of our heavenly eternity. The devil is sly and cunning and tells just enough of a truth to make it sound believable when actually he is doing nothing but lying through his hot head.
HEED THIS WARNING PEOPLE GOD IS NOT PLEASED!!!!! and it is things like this which will bring the world to an end. See GOD can't allow the devils tactics to win souls into his HELL he says he will have the last word and make the last stand before destroying this sick world.
Oprah, if you are reading these blogs you need to hear this: With all that money you have you would think you would do more to win souls to GOD rather than mauk the blessings he has graced you with. It is all part of his perfect plan I believe this to be true. He tells us in the end we will experience unforseen things which we will never understand nor try to. These things are paving the way to the end of days. This is the end times we live in right now.
Good Christians
These are the words of people who are threatened by free speech and condemn good people simply because they have not read the bible or have not read it the "right " way. If these outraged, intolerant responses come from true christians then I have no desire to share their company. It is this self-righteous hateful attitude that leads to religious wars. Christs message comes from a place of love. Do you really speak for God? Does God want you for a messenger? Are people likely to discover Christ for themselves when you present his teachings in this way? I would not like a seat next to you in my church or on the bus for that matter.
What is the Contorversy
I don't understand what all the controversy is? Why do people say this book goes against the teaching of the Bible? What exactly does it say? Has anyone read it? I thought it was just a book that taught you how to be a better person and to live in the present and to be better toward others, etc. How is that against the Bible? Seriously, I want to know. Thinking about buying.
Oh my goodness...just
Oh my goodness...just reading all these judgmental and harsh messages from "Christians" really hurt my heart. I don't normally post comments on blogs, but I just had to respond to all these people speaking for what Jesus would and would not like. It's such a shame to see people so controlled by fear and close-mindedness that they condemn anything different as evil. It is such a waste of energy and talent/blessings to sit around every day waiting for God to come back and end the world. Since the beginning of recorded Christian history men have been proclaiming we are in "the end times." What a sad way to wake up every morning! Stop trying to predict the timing of the Rapture and start focusing on what you can do TODAY to improve your own life and the life of others. I think one of the greatest injustices in the world is to let yourself be so completely controlled by fear that you can't fulfill your higher purpose in life in making the world a better place. I applaud Oprah for providing opportunities for Americans (and so many other nationalities) to evolve beyond our present culture of fear-mongering, self-serving greed and recognize that it is compassion that will turn our society around. The religious right has had their chance at societal control over the last few thousand years, and I have to say the results are not impressive. If we recognize that the Bible is a holy text recorded by men and interpreted by men, how about we start reading it from the perspective of love rather than fear? Do you think there might be any chance the interpretation could be slightly different?
Let's set the record straight
I don't presume to speak for God or for Tolle. I will however, say with clarity that Tolle and the Bible are at odds with their teachings. The heart of biblically sound Cristianity is Jesus death on the cross to forgive us of our sins. Tolle "preaches", if I may use that term, that sin does not exist and therefore there was no need for his death on the cross.
The Bible teaches that their is only one way to salvation and that is through Jesus. ALL people, regardless of their particular beliefs should know why they believe what they believe. Should you believe Tolle over the Bible, then that is your choice, but don't pretend that both Tolle and the Bible lead to the same place. Anyone who has enough intelligence to read both will quickly see that they oppose each other in message. So you may go Tolle's route or the Bible's route, but you cannot ride the fence on this one.
One last thing as I have seen many posts calling out followers of Jesus as "living in fear", "close-minded" or at the very least, "judgemental". To those people I would simply say, don't confuse those terms with what you are most likely seeing. It's called "conviction".
I have been listening to
I have been listening to both sides and I have read most of the book and listened to most of the podcasts of the class. I believe that is the only way you can give your opinion about the book. Most critics are only regurgitating what others have said (who have also probably not read it). The "classes" and book clubs are places for discussion from all sides (not put downs or calling for the end of the world). When I think that I want to criticize someone, the first place I go is to find out what they are all about. If you see that person as an enemy then you must know your enemy (and I believe Jesus said to love your enemies). And if you have REALLY read the book then you will know that the techniques to deal with your personal problems have absolutely nothing to do with religion. So far the information in this book has helped me tremendously with my marriage and helped me focus on what is really important.
New Tactic for an Old Trick
You can call this "enlightenment" or you can call it a "higher state of consciousness." You can get in touch with the impulses through the "stillness within," contact the "messengers" through nature, or speak to an alien while tripped out on LSD like they did in the 60's The truth of the matter is, this is nothing more than a new tactic for the oldest trick in the book - literally. The serpent in the Garden of Eden promised Eve that her eyes would be opened and that she would become like God if she ate the forbidden fruit. My friends, you're toying with forces that are darker than anything you can begin to imagine. When you begin to empty your mind or find the "stillness within" - however you want to word it - you are opening youselves up to influences well beyond your control. See my comments at http://messianicteacher.blogspot.com/.
Interesting comments from a brain scientist
Tolle's books are too fuzzy wuzzy for my taste - yet they do contain some nuggets of truth.
Watch http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/229 - this is what happens in your head during a stroke. Is there not a distinct parallel between this scientists experience - and what Tolle is talking about.
Humans - as created - have two parts to their brain. Tolle primarily is discussing techniques to get in touch with the right side of the brain.... nothing too sinister in that... and certainly not the doorway to some dark underworld - this IS the way we are built.