What Is Meditation?: Realizing the Life That You Are

by Eckhart Tolle

The essence of meditation is not something we do; rather, it is simply to be, fully present and aligned with life in the moment. This is the central teaching of Eckhart Tolle’s What is Meditation? In this audio session, Eckhart helps us transcend our beliefs and ideas about meditation—including the tendency to turn the practice into a means to an end—in order to realize directly our formless nature as being that is primary to any doing.

What is Meditation? explores:

• What your sitting practice can—and cannot—do for you

• Acknowledging the "pulling power" of thoughts

• Engaging with the reality of consciousness itself

• The arising of "space consciousness"—and how this opens us to joy, creativity, and peace

• Honoring life by saying yes to what is

Whether you’ve struggled with meditation or you’re taking an interest in it for the first time, What is Meditation? gives us a new understanding of why we practice—and an inspirational guide for making life itself our daily meditation.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Meditation

Audio CD

First published January 7, 2005

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

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

1/7/14

[Jacinda · Rating 1 out of 5]

Painful the listen too - especially with the author constantly laughing at his own jokes.

[Namita N · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t mind what happens