Talk:Eckhart Tolle

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[edit] What is actually original in his thought?

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From this article it appears that most of the things cited as Tolle's teachings are simply secularised presentations of ancient traditions, especially Buddhism. Someone with more knowledge of Tolle could do with writing a section placing him in the context of the new age movement. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 212.19.85.230 (talk) 15:14, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

I think he is a a Freezone Scientologist. I thought I had seen his picture on a forum for Freezone Scientologist. In this particular forum , the Freezone Scientologist would speak of their amazing experiences from Freezone auditing. like expanding their space, being out of their bodies and being able to see people from other dimensions, and very superhuman things. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.237.14.105 (talk) 20:16, 24 April 2008 (UTC)

I don't think he must be original. His teaching is coming from the same place as the teaching of the previous spiritual masters (Buddha, Jesus, etc), the ultimate, simple truth for the present human level of understanding. What is different is the perspective, the signature of the messenger and the different level of understanding of his audience. And we should not forget about the language-barrier, in the way that he needs to express a state beyond, above the mind, through the limitations of the mind. He shows us that the core, essence of religions is the same, helps us to remove the added baggage, accumulated over the centuries (through cultural traditions, mistranslation, misinterpretations, religious power-structures, self-identifications, etc). And out of the same resons from above, the teaching should not be categorised, it would be diminished. Sarkozila (talk) 17:37, 9 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Educational Course of Study & Degrees

The article would be improved if it included the course of study he pursued and degrees earned, if any, while attending Cambridge and London Universities.Icometothegardenalone (talk) 15:32, 1 March 2008 (UTC)Icometothegardenalone

Is that a fact? Hmmm...
But is Eckhart Tolle an appropriate spiritual leader? He told an interviewer that he stopped going to school at age 13 and didn’t resume any education for at least a decade. In the same interview he says he graduated "with the highest mark at the London University."
The press rep at the University of London says there’s simply no way to verify that. "You might as well say you graduated from here," joked the person I spoke to. Clever.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,351545,00.html
So one wonders about this "course of study" Proxy User (talk) 15:55, 17 April 2008 (UTC)
One wonders about the use of a Fox "News" article as scholarly evidence relevant to an encyclopedia, especially when said article refers to the subjects of it's investigation as "kooky" and is otherwise uninformative, accusatory, and itself lacks verifiable references. I certainly do wonder about Tolle's background, and came here looking for information, but this slanderous yellow journalism from Fox is totally unhelpful. 76.102.203.68 (talk) 00:52, 10 May 2008 (UTC)
Your comments about Fox News reveal your bias and inability to accept facts since the information is available at other sources as well. And, the Fox story is not opinion, as are your POV comments. Proxy User (talk) 12:50, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

Maybe we should ask ourselves, what makes a spiritual teacher more credible? Sitting a few years on University benches for degrees, or sitting a few years on park benches purposefully? There's something to learn from our answer... Sarkozila (talk) 17:36, 9 May 2008 (UTC)

That's not the point. The point is that his statements about his education are deceptive at best and outright lies at worst. This speaks to his general flaky consistency. Flaky and oily like a sheet of puff pastry! Would you follow a guru that lied about things like this? One wonders what his motivation to deceive is? Proxy User (talk) 12:50, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Is this necessary?

Is it necessary to indicate that Germany is in Europe (Germany, Europe) or that Canada is in North America (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, North America)? Sounds fairly childish. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.147.195.158 (talk) 14:58, 3 April 2008 (UTC)

  • I think it isn't necessary when it's the primary, best-known form of a name, concept. Sarkozila (talk) 17:34, 9 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Questionable Background

I notice there is no "Criticism" section. I assume this is because Eckhart's followers or staff "clean up" such additions.

For example: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,351545,00.html

Now, I'm not suggesting bias, I'm just pointing out that as a fair and balanced article, known criticisms should be included. Proxy User (talk) 15:48, 17 April 2008 (UTC)

Per WP:CRIT a seperate cricism section is discouraged in most articles, however a controversies section, presented in a balanced way and with proper citations, might be a good idea. It does seem strange that this person has absolutely nothing negative about him included in this article despite being somewhat controversial. -- Atamachat 01:05, 18 April 2008 (UTC)
Sure, a controversies section is what I'm talking about. Of course "criticism" implies POV and all... Proxy User (talk) 03:30, 18 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Fact or Opinion?

From the teachings section:

"Tolle claims to have had a radical spiritual awakening at the age of 29 after suffering long periods of suicidal depression. This shift in consciousness for most people is not a single event but a process, a gradual disidentification from thoughts and emotions through the arising of awareness."

No problem with the first sentence, except that it is unclear whether the context of "Tolle claims" is supposed to include the second sentence. The second sentence sounds like an opinion, but it's presented as a fact. Plus the word "disidentification" just gnaws as me; I can't decide whether it's incredibly clumsy language or just plain wrong.

Snertly (talk) 06:17, 1 May 2008 (UTC)

  • I see no problem. In the teaching section are the opinions of Tolle, what he wrote or said. The "disidentification" word is used in psychology and spirituality. It means the absence of identification, the opposite to the process of identification. I couldn't find better solutions. Did you? Sarkozila (talk) 17:33, 9 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] "Teachings" Section Removed

Accuracy and/or neutrality dispute
 This biography of a living person may contain unsourced, or poorly sourced controversial claims.
Such content must be removed immediately.
Unsourced or poorly sourced controversial claims about living people are strictly forbidden on all Wikipedia pages. In addition, all articles must be neutral, verifiable, free of original research, and encyclopedic.
Please see discussion on the talk page and the living persons biography noticeboard.

I have removed the entire "Teachings" section, as it contained biased, unsourced, and poorly sourced controversial claims. Pursuant to Wikipedia policy, such content must be removed immediately. --Danorton 12:50, 7 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] A Course in Miracles Italicization

Why is A Course in Miracles italicized? --Emesee (talk) 05:54, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

Not any more. Proxy User (talk) 12:53, 5 June 2008 (UTC)