What do you think?
Rate this book
Living a Life of Inner Peace
For Eckhart Tolle and the millions whose lives he's touched, words that are spoken from a state of presence can carry seekers into that same state, the basis for all true spiritual teachings. Beyond the information that is being conveyed, something deeper happens. For the listener, a field of alert stillness arises where before there was mental noise, signaling the entry to a state of presence that precedes transformation.
While Tolle's writing is not simple, he does not "speak down" to his audience in any way — his talks are far more informal, relaxed, and funny. Tolle makes people laugh at themselves, with the result being powerfully effective therapy. Living a Life of Inner Peace records one of Tolle's most moving, transformative talks. For those new to his teachings, this is an ideal introduction. Those familiar with his work, including the bestsellers The Power of Now and Stillness Speaks, should be prepared for something extraordinary.
While Tolle's writing is not simple, he does not "speak down" to his audience in any way — his talks are far more informal, relaxed, and funny. Tolle makes people laugh at themselves, with the result being powerfully effective therapy. Living a Life of Inner Peace records one of Tolle's most moving, transformative talks. For those new to his teachings, this is an ideal introduction. Those familiar with his work, including the bestsellers The Power of Now and Stillness Speaks, should be prepared for something extraordinary.
Audio CD
First published August 30, 2004
22 people are currently reading
1218 people want to read
About the author
Eckhart Tolle
289 books10.8k followersEckhart Tolle is a German-born spiritual teacher and internationally bestselling author whose work has profoundly influenced the contemporary spiritual landscape. Born Ulrich Leonard Tölle in 1948 in Lünen, Germany, he experienced a transformative spiritual awakening at the age of 29 after years of depression and anxiety. This profound shift in consciousness marked the beginning of his journey as a spiritual guide and thinker. Tolle abandoned his doctoral studies at the University of Cambridge to explore and embody the stillness and presence he had discovered, eventually becoming a spiritual teacher based in London and later in Vancouver, Canada.
Tolle rose to prominence with the publication of The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment in 1997. The book, which emphasizes mindfulness and present-moment awareness, resonated with a global audience and was later championed by Oprah Winfrey, catapulting it to international bestseller status. In 2005, Tolle released A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose, which expanded on his earlier teachings and explored the role of ego in personal and societal dysfunction. The book also achieved massive commercial success, further solidifying Tolle’s reputation as one of the most influential spiritual authors of his time.
His teachings draw from a variety of traditions, including Zen Buddhism, Christian mysticism, Sufism, and Hindu philosophy, though he remains unaffiliated with any formal religion. Tolle emphasizes a non-dualistic approach to spirituality, focusing on the importance of presence, inner stillness, and the disidentification from ego-based thinking. His accessible language and calm demeanor have helped millions integrate spiritual practice into daily life.
In addition to writing, Tolle has delivered talks, retreats, and webinars to audiences around the world. In 2008, he partnered with Oprah Winfrey to produce a groundbreaking webinar series based on A New Earth, attracting millions of viewers. He also co-authored the illustrated book Guardians of Being in 2009, further exploring his core themes through the lens of animals and nature.
Tolle currently lives in Vancouver with his partner, spiritual teacher Kim Eng. Together, they continue to teach and support global audiences through online content, publications, and events. Widely regarded as one of the most spiritually influential figures of the 21st century, Tolle’s message of inner peace and awakening remains as timely as ever.
Tolle rose to prominence with the publication of The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment in 1997. The book, which emphasizes mindfulness and present-moment awareness, resonated with a global audience and was later championed by Oprah Winfrey, catapulting it to international bestseller status. In 2005, Tolle released A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose, which expanded on his earlier teachings and explored the role of ego in personal and societal dysfunction. The book also achieved massive commercial success, further solidifying Tolle’s reputation as one of the most influential spiritual authors of his time.
His teachings draw from a variety of traditions, including Zen Buddhism, Christian mysticism, Sufism, and Hindu philosophy, though he remains unaffiliated with any formal religion. Tolle emphasizes a non-dualistic approach to spirituality, focusing on the importance of presence, inner stillness, and the disidentification from ego-based thinking. His accessible language and calm demeanor have helped millions integrate spiritual practice into daily life.
In addition to writing, Tolle has delivered talks, retreats, and webinars to audiences around the world. In 2008, he partnered with Oprah Winfrey to produce a groundbreaking webinar series based on A New Earth, attracting millions of viewers. He also co-authored the illustrated book Guardians of Being in 2009, further exploring his core themes through the lens of animals and nature.
Tolle currently lives in Vancouver with his partner, spiritual teacher Kim Eng. Together, they continue to teach and support global audiences through online content, publications, and events. Widely regarded as one of the most spiritually influential figures of the 21st century, Tolle’s message of inner peace and awakening remains as timely as ever.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
February 21, 2016
How many people spend every moment of their life fully present to the moment? It seems like it should be a simple task and yet humans, especially today, are so focused on what comes next and how to get there that the "now" moments come and go without ever being missed, until one reaches a point in the path when they look back and realize that those moments are gone forever. They can't ever be made up or replaced. These are the concepts that Tolle explores in "The Power of Now."
This is a short audio (three hours) of a live presentation by Tolle. I listened to it twice and wondered during more than one moment if a visual or facial expression was witnessed by the audience based on their response, which didn't always fit the audio alone. Still, I was drawn to the audio, the calmness and humor of Tolle's voice and the response of the audience; it often lulled me into relaxation and was a quiet way to wind down the evening of a hectic day. It seemed to be the perfect fit for this period of unrest in my life, and once I finished it the second time, I decided to save it on my iTunes because I know I will want to revisit it again, probably several times, over the coming years. Even as I listened to it, I would find myself temporarily tuning out as I thought about what tasks I needed to tackle the next day, or felt anxiety about what happens if I don't have a new job in X amount of time. On the one hand, the practical side says I need to worry about these things because I have to plan for things like bills and things I want to do. On the other hand, the OTHER practical side points out that I have no real way of knowing if that will even matter later; I could die with the next breath and then my "now" time would have been wasted thinking about later instead of living. It's kind of mind-boggling when I try to embrace it fully. I need to absorb this one gradually, I think; retraining one's mindset is a work in progress. Maybe it always will be.
I've left the rating at 4 stars because I feel like there is a lot more to be gleaned from it, that the bits that stand out as particularly meaningful will morph over time depending on where I am in life at that particular moment, so there is still such untapped meaning in it. Perhaps this is what Tolle refers to as always looking for or wanting more, but somehow it doesn't feel quite the same. Maybe I'll learn more about that, in future, too. I won't think about that part now, though. I'll decide when the moment arrives--so maybe I did learn something already after all.
This is a short audio (three hours) of a live presentation by Tolle. I listened to it twice and wondered during more than one moment if a visual or facial expression was witnessed by the audience based on their response, which didn't always fit the audio alone. Still, I was drawn to the audio, the calmness and humor of Tolle's voice and the response of the audience; it often lulled me into relaxation and was a quiet way to wind down the evening of a hectic day. It seemed to be the perfect fit for this period of unrest in my life, and once I finished it the second time, I decided to save it on my iTunes because I know I will want to revisit it again, probably several times, over the coming years. Even as I listened to it, I would find myself temporarily tuning out as I thought about what tasks I needed to tackle the next day, or felt anxiety about what happens if I don't have a new job in X amount of time. On the one hand, the practical side says I need to worry about these things because I have to plan for things like bills and things I want to do. On the other hand, the OTHER practical side points out that I have no real way of knowing if that will even matter later; I could die with the next breath and then my "now" time would have been wasted thinking about later instead of living. It's kind of mind-boggling when I try to embrace it fully. I need to absorb this one gradually, I think; retraining one's mindset is a work in progress. Maybe it always will be.
I've left the rating at 4 stars because I feel like there is a lot more to be gleaned from it, that the bits that stand out as particularly meaningful will morph over time depending on where I am in life at that particular moment, so there is still such untapped meaning in it. Perhaps this is what Tolle refers to as always looking for or wanting more, but somehow it doesn't feel quite the same. Maybe I'll learn more about that, in future, too. I won't think about that part now, though. I'll decide when the moment arrives--so maybe I did learn something already after all.
November 4, 2011
Truly an amazing audiobook. I listened to this informal talk given by Eckhart and was struck dumb by his way with words, ideas and his presence. I was at peace during this talk in a way that was much more zen that I am usually capable of being! I'm about to dl everything the library has and go on a Tolle marathon. If you're like me, and constantly trying to find a way to be better, more at peace, more calm, more kind- then get this audio. Fantastic.
March 18, 2023
I listened to this audiobook/speech thinking that it would have been nice to watch a video version of it to catch the nuances of the speaker. Having said that, I still really enjoyed listening to this. Eckhart Tolle advocates that we live in the present, that life is in the here and now. He offered some mind-bending thoughts on overthinking and thought forms. In fact, what we really should be doing is NOT thinking! It's a challenging concept, one that really had me pondering. I know, what a paradox! But I did find that when I put his suggestion into practice, that I think of only the current place I find myself, that I not think into the future or the past, I found myself calming and I could just catch a glimpse of Tolle's concept. I will be reading more by this author.
December 27, 2010
This is the most accessible Eckhart Tolle work I've encountered so far. There are several laugh-out-loud moments in this short and sweet (2 hr., 16 min.) lecture about finding peace by living in the present moment. A great introduction for folks new to his simple, yet profound message.
May 29, 2015
decent funny conversation on how to be present. enjoyable.
April 16, 2015
Truly spot-on.
April 2, 2013
Hard to follow, wordy and conversational lecture, mildly entertaining, not terribly helpful to me, personally. Tolle's European accent and hypnotic timbre lends an air of intelligence and well being but seriously...get to the point! LIVE IN THE NOW! Quiet your mind. Meditation does this as well. According to Tolle, if one doesn't get his ideas, the problem lies within them. Self-serving? I think "the Emperor's New Clothes" are nudity.
His ideas on gratitude and acceptance, even in the face of illness and infirmity, parallels my own (I am terminally ill and see the blessings in this state of being.) Thus I appreciate the validation. It took a long time to get to this nugget, near to the end of the book.
I WANT to love this author and audiobook. Another nugget was a fabulous description of how some people feed their egos by making other folks and situations "wrong". BTW, Tolle is not wrong, just not for me. I encourage others to enjoy him as they like.
His ideas on gratitude and acceptance, even in the face of illness and infirmity, parallels my own (I am terminally ill and see the blessings in this state of being.) Thus I appreciate the validation. It took a long time to get to this nugget, near to the end of the book.
I WANT to love this author and audiobook. Another nugget was a fabulous description of how some people feed their egos by making other folks and situations "wrong". BTW, Tolle is not wrong, just not for me. I encourage others to enjoy him as they like.
April 8, 2009
Tolle is a spiritual writer who abjures the praise of those who would raise him up as a leader. His message is very difficult to impart in a short space. Suffice it to say that he encourages one to withdraw from the inner jabbering of one's mind into the utter quiet of the Universal and spends time telling how to manage that. Since it's not an easy task, the CD's are tell of a theory that is profound and crosses the boundaries of most established religions to reach a place that is both in the now and utterly beyond it. I cannot recommend this CD enough to the seeker. For a rationalist, it will make little sense, unless he has an epiphany.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2009
Whew! I find Tolle difficult to follow. I thought that an audiobook would be easier, but not so much. I know that there is a lot of wisdom there, but I really have to focus intently on what he's saying to get any benefit from his wisdom. And, it is a little distracting that his laugh makes him sound like a creepy sex maniac...
September 15, 2014
Audio book had a live audience and was distracting.
April 16, 2023
All humans have a psychological need for the next moment. People are unable to be in the now and comfortable with the moment. We get lost in thought - thinking about the past and future, always trying to make it or get a little bit more. Past and future are thought forms, they don’t exist, only now exists and that’s how everyone’s living. No more knowledge or info needs to be added to you, you already know the present moment is all there is. Human thought activity is repetitive 98% of the time, through those thoughts you become you, it’s your conditioning and entire sense of self is bound with thinking and the thoughts of conditioned thoughts from childhood, genetics, humanity, etc. Animals have no problem celebrating life, think about how easily dogs get excited in the moment. A sense of self that’s always uneasy and always needs more because they live by comparison (is he better than me?). We perceive things via the ego, we are right and the opposing thing is wrong, so it gives us an ego boost in the moment and keeps us preoccupied on some kind of antagonistic presence, this gets extended to a repetitive pattern you fixate in constantly, these people always need enemies and to be in conflict. Community ego can be even worse than individual ego, look at how citizens betray one another on an everyday basis, it’s not limited to criminals. The first step in changing your thinking is take a nonjudgmental look at the repetitive thoughts ingrained in society and conditioning you have taken on (us vs. them concepts, internal barriers, need for conflict, peace that lasts too long is threatening to the mind because when it’s quiet we don’t know what to do). The moment you observe a repetitive thinking pattern is the planting of a seed of change because everything will be influenced by that thought in your mind. True transformation can only be a transformation of consciousness inside you. Who you are at your deepest level is felt in moments where you achieve flow state or when you get the endorphin rush from the payoff of something, these are unchanging things core to you. These all get mixed together - core you, the story you tell yourself about yourself, and your conditioned thoughts - to form you. What happens changes continuously, the moment is always constant, the form of the moment changes. There is only one moment ever. You will always be yourself and this will always be now. You are the now. Realities cannot he thought through because they don’t make sense, but they intuitively feel accurate and understandable. You have to be careful with an intuitive compass pointing the way to new thoughts or recognizing thought patterns because it can shift your thinking to core beliefs. Great art happens when you’re present and only working through alertness. All creation comes from unconditioned consciousness and the portal to it is the now. When movement follows without thought there is a bliss. Consciousness is formless and tikelesss and from it, forms (thoughts, emotion, perceived world) are born, and from that physical action comes. Don’t lose yourself in the world or things - possessions, problems, communities. You get pulled into where your things are. Remain aware of the place and present moment where all things happen, when your attention moves to now, there is stillness. You are the space where everything happens. The world of things becomes thoughts, consciousness becomes objects. When you are grateful for what already is, you have reached a oneness. When you die, you become truly part of the larger continuum and unity of all things. The greater depth of every moment comes from within you. Accept the forms of the now, no matter how limited it all seems. Greatest limitation becomes the opening - a cross is a literal torture device but is the gateway to everything for Christians. Maybe you don’t need anything, maybe you’ve been tortured enough, you already remember everything you need, be still, allow the moment to be. Be.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
August 3, 2021You want to be morally superior to reality. You want to prove yourself right and the situation wrong (we are talking about situations in which complaining gets us no where, not when we can ask for help like complaining about food to a waiter)
Ego dislikes the present moment and that’s why it tries to make it into an enemy.You have to be very alert within yourself to catch yourself being trapped in that mental movement.
Not saying yes to present moment- (Don’t)meet the moments with an inner “no”! (Don’t) cover it up with a little smile while you are waiting for the next to react to.
What does it do to your body? To that otherwise harmonious energy flow that nature intended for the body because what it leads to is a continuous physical contraction.
To see the moment you are complaining internally to watch that mind movement and say “ah, I’m fighting what is” and you can see at the very same moment the futility of being internally not aligned with now. Out of alignment internally with now. We sometimes hear mind says “yes, but nothing is going to change if I accept everything. This is a silly doctorine and I’m not going to listen to this for one more minute”. The mind will try to tell you that you become ineffective if you are aligned internally with what is. Mind says “it is totally passive. If this moment is fine, what are you going to do? You will never get out of this moment if you accept it.”
True transformation can only be the transformation of consciousness inside you.
Sense of self ❌ fullfillment of self begins to wear off gradually (ego)
When you are the aware conscious present, then mind becomes a beautiful tool.
When you are conscious, You can go about your life, interact with people, peeceive things, have experiences, play with things, but you cannot lose yourself in the world of form, which is thought which is emotion, which is the entire perceive of the world around you. Every thought pulls you in to think about it. It’s so important what are you gonna do? Nothing! It’s not now.
February 20, 2022
“The ego needs enemies and conflict or it begins to dissolve."
"When we say 'this shouldn't be..oh this traffic..' we are fighting reality, the IS-NESS of reality, we are asserting ourselves as morally superior to reality. Morally superior to the traffic jam."
"The past and the future are thought forms. When we dwell on them we are lost in thought."
"Connecting to the is-ness of the moment, saying YES TO WHAT IS connects you to the depths of abundance inside you."
-----
A lovely audiobook, a recording of a talk by Eckhart Tolle. A thunderbolt in the darkness of my suffering to remind me that "it was only ever now". So many insights in just 2 hours. And I was delighted by HOW FUNNY it was! It was great to hear his voice, his manner of speaking. He spoke of Groundhog Day (his favorite film), the pitfalls of fame, of wanting a bigger house, of object-obsession. The wonderful quotes he references:
"A human is a being that can get used to anything." -Dostoyevsky
"History is just one damned thing after another." -Churchill
"L'enfer, c'est les autres" literally: "Hell is the others." -Sartre
This man has truly tapped into the problems we face and offers a solutions that is so simple.
"What is happening in the present moment?"
How can you become alert to the present moment? To let go of the pull of thoughts that yank forwards and back. I needed to hear this book, to remember that the moment is all we have, and the emptiness of the moment is bliss. Zen is one thing at a time. It's beautiful, if we can only accept t.
"When we say 'this shouldn't be..oh this traffic..' we are fighting reality, the IS-NESS of reality, we are asserting ourselves as morally superior to reality. Morally superior to the traffic jam."
"The past and the future are thought forms. When we dwell on them we are lost in thought."
"Connecting to the is-ness of the moment, saying YES TO WHAT IS connects you to the depths of abundance inside you."
-----
A lovely audiobook, a recording of a talk by Eckhart Tolle. A thunderbolt in the darkness of my suffering to remind me that "it was only ever now". So many insights in just 2 hours. And I was delighted by HOW FUNNY it was! It was great to hear his voice, his manner of speaking. He spoke of Groundhog Day (his favorite film), the pitfalls of fame, of wanting a bigger house, of object-obsession. The wonderful quotes he references:
"A human is a being that can get used to anything." -Dostoyevsky
"History is just one damned thing after another." -Churchill
"L'enfer, c'est les autres" literally: "Hell is the others." -Sartre
This man has truly tapped into the problems we face and offers a solutions that is so simple.
"What is happening in the present moment?"
How can you become alert to the present moment? To let go of the pull of thoughts that yank forwards and back. I needed to hear this book, to remember that the moment is all we have, and the emptiness of the moment is bliss. Zen is one thing at a time. It's beautiful, if we can only accept t.
December 1, 2024
73%
What is the meaning of life? What does it mean to be alive? And the monk, he breathes in, and he breathes out. This is one of his classic meetings. Thank goodness that he records these. He doesn't have a lot to say in these things. It's the same thing. But people need repetition and reinforcement. You just breathe in, breathe out, and enjoy the world around you. Don't be stressed. Don't be caught up. Appreciate the beauty that is life. It's an amazing place that we have here. It's my favorite place. Some people end up having this cognitive dissonance. They talk about mind-body connection, you. It's all you. Soul going into the afterlife, it's all here, right now, you. This is life. So enjoy it.
What is the meaning of life? What does it mean to be alive? And the monk, he breathes in, and he breathes out. This is one of his classic meetings. Thank goodness that he records these. He doesn't have a lot to say in these things. It's the same thing. But people need repetition and reinforcement. You just breathe in, breathe out, and enjoy the world around you. Don't be stressed. Don't be caught up. Appreciate the beauty that is life. It's an amazing place that we have here. It's my favorite place. Some people end up having this cognitive dissonance. They talk about mind-body connection, you. It's all you. Soul going into the afterlife, it's all here, right now, you. This is life. So enjoy it.
February 12, 2019
Another great hoopla listen.
I found Eckhart Tolle quite thought provoking (ironically given his approach to life, lol). I really enjoyed hearing his perspective and his approach to life. I think his work has some pretty powerful implications in mental health practice. So often clients are encouraged to review and rehash their past and Tolle's work makes one wonder, if we aren't better off accepting what has been and moving towards living in the present moment.
Definitely took away some practices I will work on doing better at and plan to read more of his work as I find it quite fascinating. He's an odd speaker to listen to, but I enjoyed it still.
I found Eckhart Tolle quite thought provoking (ironically given his approach to life, lol). I really enjoyed hearing his perspective and his approach to life. I think his work has some pretty powerful implications in mental health practice. So often clients are encouraged to review and rehash their past and Tolle's work makes one wonder, if we aren't better off accepting what has been and moving towards living in the present moment.
Definitely took away some practices I will work on doing better at and plan to read more of his work as I find it quite fascinating. He's an odd speaker to listen to, but I enjoyed it still.
January 20, 2024
This book has good and bad.
I don’t know why he had to keep bringing up religions.
On the other hand when my child was in counseling they told me she can’t be happy if she does have drama and she has hurt anyone that wants to love her and my ex was always wanting material stuff and as soon as he got it he was miserable again. This helped me understand them. Plus helped me understand why some people are always complaining but don’t want it to fixed and gave peace .
why I want to hind from some.
Then for me I’m always thinking about survival and it takes over my “moments” and makes me ill. I just need to accept this “moment” and keep moving forward.
I don’t know why he had to keep bringing up religions.
On the other hand when my child was in counseling they told me she can’t be happy if she does have drama and she has hurt anyone that wants to love her and my ex was always wanting material stuff and as soon as he got it he was miserable again. This helped me understand them. Plus helped me understand why some people are always complaining but don’t want it to fixed and gave peace .
why I want to hind from some.
Then for me I’m always thinking about survival and it takes over my “moments” and makes me ill. I just need to accept this “moment” and keep moving forward.
July 11, 2023
Informative... humorous... direct, uncomplicated pointing to the Ineffable. Of all the reading and listening to Tolle, I most enjoyed this and found it encouraging and inspiring. I appreciate how he integrated Buddhist and Christian imagery, elucidating how archetypes within these paths point to ever-present Wisdom, as true for us as those who first received the wisdom teachings, for true Now. Thank You!
June 4, 2019
Eckart is more then just a Author/Speaker he is a true mentor. There is so much to learn from living a life of inner peace. His message is simple yet profound and delivered in such a gentle, humorous way that a vast number of people from diverse backgrounds, traditions, and religions have embraced it.
February 10, 2024
Short listen with some interesting takeaways.
Since the author is the narrator of his own audio, he has an interesting exhalation which struck me as odd. I wasn't certain if he was laughing or just making weird noises. However, the advice Tolle shares in front of a live audience is worth listening to.
Since the author is the narrator of his own audio, he has an interesting exhalation which struck me as odd. I wasn't certain if he was laughing or just making weird noises. However, the advice Tolle shares in front of a live audience is worth listening to.
Read
March 11, 2025This one was hard because it attempted to get pretty deep. I would have done much better with this in written form. I didn't follow along very well, but I appreciated the part about having a lack of possessions
April 11, 2018
“You can’t find yourselves in time.”
July 31, 2018
A very relaxing listening experience.
August 23, 2018
I can never decide if Tolle is spouting of beautiful woo woo nonsense or something deeply profound that just resists being put into words. Either way, I just can't seem to quit him.
March 24, 2019
Beautifully guided talk into the present moment
January 18, 2020
Given the difficult things that have happened in my life these past 2 years, I found this wonderful. A limitation can be an opening - this has proven so true for me.
July 10, 2020
Revelation. If you're ready.
January 14, 2021
renaître .. c’est ce que je ressens quand je lis un livre de Eckhart tolle ..
May 19, 2022
Fantastic. With the loss of Tich That Hahn this year, Eckhart Tolle has made that grief a little easier to bear.
January 13, 2023
This book is for everyone!!!! I really enjoyed it.
April 21, 2023
This being we call Eckhart is never wrong, and he always speaks to me at a soul level.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews