The Joy of Being: Awakening to One's True Identity

by Eckhart Tolle

Fulfillment and Joy through the Realization of Our Essential Identity When challenges arise in your life, what happens inside of you? For many of us, the larger the "problem," the more we resist, contract, and react unconsciously. On the other hand, explains Eckhart Tolle, in any given moment we have the chance to remain open to life, align with what is, and experience the natural sense of peace and aliveness that he calls "the joy of being." What It Really Means to "Be Yourself" The Joy of Being is a nine-session program that explores the process of awakening to our identity beyond the limits of thought, and the impact this transformation can have in the world. Speaking after a three-year teaching hiatus, Eckhart helps us release past conditioning to experience ourselves, our life circumstances, and each other with a renewed perspective and sense of delight. Here, Eckhart discusses how, through the recognition of our unconscious assumptions and the discovery of the limitless depths of the present moment, we can ultimately find in ourselves what we have been seeking from the external world. We naturally become vessels for the emergence of a deep, "spacious" consciousness that realizes itself through ourselves and those around us. "The joy of being is derived not from something that happens, or from some object, but from the essence of who you are," teaches Eckhart. "To know yourself as that is joy." The Joy of Being points to a revolutionary phase in human development―where thinking is no longer the dominant aspect of our lives, and unconditioned awareness expresses itself through and as each one of us. Highlights • Working with whatever arises as your guide for the continuing practice of presence
• Using the inner body and sense perception to enter the Now
• Freedom from suffering―the spiritual seeker’s best motive
• Redefining "self-realization" as not knowing yourself
• Awakening your deepest capacities for love
• The practice of "being the space" for situations and circumstances you find difficult

Genres: Nonfiction, Spirituality

1 pages, Audio CD

Published April 1, 2016

About the author

Eckhart 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.

Reviews

[Twila Newey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Transcendentalism, for me, nudges up to the Truth as close as anything I've investigated, lived, tried--at least to this point. The fact that Tolle hasn't made himself into a prophet or demi-god, that he constantly points back to personal, interior experience, and preaches a gospel of extant wholeness beneath a facade of disconnection, feels true to me. He is repetitive but gets at the same things from different angles in his various talks. The practices have also proved quite, life-changing in a relatively short amount of time, the moment to moment noticing my thoughts and emotions, noticing when old hurts take over, being in the body, being present through breath and allowing stillness to spread into whatever activities with which I'm engaged. When I allow these things to be the background of action, life is more peaceful and meaningful regardless of what I'm doing or what is coming at me.

[Nestor Leal · Rating 4 out of 5]

What Tolle speaks about here makes perfect sense only if you have already studied buddhism, otherwise you'll be kind of lost. So, if you studied buddhism you will not learn many new things but you will be reminded of many great things to put into practice.

This is not a book but an audio recording of his teachings during a retreat. Still the teachings are really good. Very similar to what I'd hear if attending to any buddhist teachings with one of the great contemporary masters or lamas. It actually reminded me of a particular one I attended with Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche.

I laughed sometimes and it kept me in a good mood. It's always good to be reminded of simply being and more importantly, with joy!

[Marcos Fuerte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eckhart Tolle is not just an Author or a Speaker, he is in fact a well established spiritual speaker. If anything i'd would love to have a conversation with Eckhart as he has thought in so many ways to understand what our true purpose in life is for.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eckhart's messages resonate as always in this live delivery. With that said, can the publisher invest five minutes with basic editing software to remove the annoying coughing in the audience? lazy production here. One of the few from him I won't revisit.

[pawsreadrepeat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great listen for those who want to know more about self enlightenment and how being self aware is the key to true happiness.

[Olja · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Find the gap."