Eckhart Tolle: Essential Teachings

In this podcast Eckhart talks about the pitfalls of the ego and the need to feel superior. He explains we seek an identity through external distinction like wealth, fame, even our nationality, to dispel the anxiety that we’re not enough. He says the focus on image creates a false sense of self. He shares examples from his own life. Growing up Eckhart’s family struggled financially, which left him with low self-esteem. He asked why bad things always seemed to happen to him. To bolster his feelings of inadequacy, Eckhart says he pursued intellectual achievements which came easily. But his sense of superiority soon vanished in the wake of his negative thinking. Eckhart says for a time, he sought refuge in complaining and victimhood. But after he experienced an awakening, the old patterns gave way to something greater, and his self-hate evaporated. He explains he finally understood the meaning of Buddha’s teachings about suffering and the end of suffering and how liberation emerges when we release the ego’s grip. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this episode, Eckhart laughs with his audience. He exclaims there’s hope for humanity when such a big crowd seeks greater consciousness. He also explains that inspiration can quickly turn to perspiration when we encounter obstacles, especially with the people in our lives. He quotes existential philosopher, Jean Paul Sartre who famously said: Hell is other people. While Eckhart believes that is an ego-based perspective, many of us feel that life is full of experiences we shouldn’t have. We think something is wrong with us or that God has a grudge when misfortune strikes. Eckhart says the greatest part of unhappiness comes from our minds and the stories we tell ourselves. He says the answer to life’s struggles will never be found in our thinking. He believes we find freedom when we release our inner baggage, unencumbered, to discover the bare naked is-ness of the present moment. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this podcast, Eckhart says it’s vitally important that we become familiar with the mystical aspect of our lives. However, he explains it is not something we can easily define, nor can we truly understand sacredness until we catch a glimpse of it. For that to happen, Eckhart says we must learn to stop the mind with its incessant thinking and labeling so we can become present. Eckhart reveals that on a deeper level, presence is actually the presence of God. Not the traditional idea of God, but a vast intelligence that permeates the entire universe. For many he says thinking and objectifying others, as well as ourselves is a barrier to this direct experience. He explains the concept is beautifully illustrated by the Greek myth of narcissus. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this episode, Eckhart explains to a live audience that a deeper movement has brought them together and the goal is to help them awaken. He says many ancient spiritual teachings point to this timeless idea of metamorphosis including the parables of Jesus and others. He explains the root of the word Buddha means to be awake in Sanskrit. Eckhart explains when we shift to higher consciousness, we have access to wisdom which is far deeper than intelligence. Ironically, he says more knowledge will not save us. In fact, intelligence often works in service of madness, technology, war and weapons of mass destruction. He believes only wisdom together with right action will help our ailing world and these can only spring from awakened consciousness. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this podcast, Eckhart talks about the future of religion. He says the next step for the human race is to shift from worshiping God as a concept, to experiencing God as part of our own essence. He explains once we awaken to this realization, we no longer contribute to suffering in the world because the ego disappears and with it goes continuous judgment of others. He says when we don’t react to their personalities, we recognize the sacred depth of others as that in ourselves and the separation between us and them dissipates. Eckhart calls it the manifestation of the one consciousness. He also says this understanding of the other as oneself is love and it connects us to a vastness that we may also call God. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this episode, Eckhart talks about how we define success. He asks: Do we look to the world to determine that for us? If yes, we may be heading down the wrong path, because to a large extent Eckhart says the world is insane. He explains money, property, prestige and power do not signify we’ve reached the pinnacle. He says for the people who strive to attain these things, many report after the initial high, comes a very emotional low. Eckhart reveals the greatest source of riches is within and the real indicator of success is our state of consciousness. He asks: Do we bring light to this world? In the Bible, Jesus described it as the Kingdom of Heaven, in current day terms, Eckhart explains, the Kingdom of Heaven is a state of consciousness. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this episode, Eckhart continues his talk with an audience in Budapest, explaining that if we are waiting for the world to make us happy in the form of the right person, place, job or situation. We will probably wait for a very long time. He says our expectations for the perfect life usually lead to deep disappointment. He explains life is fragile and cannot possibly meet all of our demands. He says we ask ourselves “what is the world here for if it's not to make us happy?” Eckhart explains every person is like a seed of awakening consciousness. Life’s challenges push the seed to sprout. Eckhart implores that we must learn to drop the demand that life should be perfect. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this episode, Eckhart talks to an audience in Budapest, Hungary. The crowd erupts with laughter and applause when he speaks a few words in Hungarian, especially the word for Now which is Most. Eckhart then explains that the next step in the evolution of humanity is to awaken. He says there is the potential in every person for a deeper dimension of consciousness, which is the light of God. He says many people look for themselves in their thoughts. They compare themselves to others: their childhoods, bodies, jobs, possessions. He explains these thoughts become a sad story and an identity which we call My Life. We keep it alive by overthinking, but it is a delusion. Eckhart says we will find liberation when we drop the narrative of the unhappy me. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this podcast Eckhart, reminds us that the world is not here to make us happy, it’s here to make us conscious. He says if we don’t embrace that, then we will be irritated or even outraged when life pushes us to deal with difficulties which he describes as a pitfall of the ego. He says we don’t have to work hard to awaken, rather we can let the awareness shine through us. Eckhart says it takes no time to be who you are and that remains true whether we are eighteen or eighty. He believes we do not need time to realize our true essence. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this podcast Eckhart talks to an audience in Chicago. He recalls fond memories of traveling to the Windy City to Harpo Studios back in 2008. For 10 weeks Eckhart and I hosted a webinar based on his New York Times bestselling book A New Earth. The book had a profound impact on me, and I wanted to share it with a larger audience. Those sessions were groundbreaking. Since then, millions of people have downloaded that webcast and listened to our conversations. If you haven't already, you really should. I believe rolling back the ego and focusing on being rather than doing opened the door to awakening for me and for many. Today, Eckhart continues his work ever reminding us that our experience of life is not determined by what happens to us it’s defined by how we respond. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this podcast, Eckhart talks with an audience in Paris. He contemplates the mysteries of space and the subatomic world. He says the greatest mystery is that the universe is conscious. He remarks that science has not yet been able to examine consciousness, because it’s not an object and it is not generated by the brain. He says science has not yet discovered its source. However, Eckhart says there may come a time when science and spirituality merge. He explains there is only one consciousness which is beyond space and time. He compares it to the sun which shines rays of light into this dimension. He says we are those rays, emanating from the one transcendent source of all light. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this podcast, Eckhart talks about how many of us react when the world doesn’t go our way. He says we either surrender and accept the situation or more often than not, we go into victim mode: victim of circumstance, victim of other people or even God. He goes on to explain if loss is involved then bitterness and anger set in, and the ego becomes more entrenched. Eckhart mentions the ancient wisdom of Buddha who talked about suffering and the end of suffering. And Jesus who said, “You will have tribulation. But take heart, for I have overcome the world.” Eckhart asks participants to ponder what it actually means to overcome the world. He explains it has nothing to do with external power because it’s an internal realization. He says the turbulent times that we live in provide ample opportunity to reach the eternal, boundless part of ourselves. Eckhart believes we overcome the world when we don’t derive our sense of identity from the world. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this episode, Eckhart discusses excessive thinking as the source of incredible unhappiness for millions of people. He goes on to explain that it’s not the circumstances of one’s life that makes people miserable. It’s the overthinking that causes their suffering. Eckhart shares a story from his own life just after he experienced his awakening. He was homeless and spent many days on a park bench. He admits he would have been justified if he were filled with anger and resentment, but he wasn’t. Instead, he was deeply aware of the aliveness and beauty everywhere. He says it’s possible to awaken even in the midst of extreme difficulties. He says what illuminates the world, without which there would be no world, is consciousness. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this episode, Eckhart sits down with an audience in Paris. He encourages participants to explore the experience of his talk, beyond the words, because it holds the seeds to awakening. He also talks about the obstacles presented by the ego which he illustrates with the ancient Greek myth of Narcissus. The story goes that Narcissus was a beautiful young man who drowned in a pool of water gazing at his own reflection. Eckhart explains there is a deep truth to this story which is still relevant today. He says we risk a similar fate if we identify too closely with the ego and its insatiable demands. He ponders the possibility of resisting the pull to turn life’s difficulties into suffering. He explains that challenges will continue, but we don’t have to turn every problem into unhappiness. Eckhart asks the audience to consider: is it possible to go through life without creating unnecessary suffering for ourselves and others? Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this podcast, Eckhart talks about our connection to the source of universal consciousness, which he compares to the vastness of the ocean. He says each person with individual awareness is like a small ripple on the surface of that ocean. However, he believes if we only ever know ourselves as a ripple then we won’t recognize our true depth. Eckhart asks participants to consider who they are beyond the surface, as a person with a personality to the fathomless, invisible self, deep below. Eckhart believes all ancient spiritual traditions point toward this journey of transformation. And he says it’s not only a possibility but is a necessity for human evolution. He says we must ask ourselves: can the ripple realize its true identity as the ocean? Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this episode, Eckhart talks with an audience explaining the primary reason for this gathering is to become more aware of our transcendent consciousness, the part of us that is beyond the limits of our personality. He says we can do that through stillness because when we practice stillness, we counteract what Eckhart calls ‘possession by the mind.’ He explains most of us are completely absorbed by thinking, without realizing it. The good news, he says, is we can change that. Eckhart believes we should resist the thought: I am angry and instead say anger is in me. With this, we don’t become the emotion. It’s a subtle shift. Eckhart says eventually these small steps lead to greater awakening. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this episode, Eckhart talks about suffering consciously and how to deal with difficult emotions including fear, anxiety and regret. Eckhart also discusses Nihilism - the belief that life is pointless and devoid of meaning. He explains the idea dates back to Darwin and his idea that evolution is a random chain of events involving molecules and atoms aimlessly coming together over millions of years. Eckhart says this very limited, negative view still affects millions of people today. He says Nihilism in its extreme form can lead to despair and even death as many seek to medicate themselves with drugs, alcohol or other substances to escape suffering, alienation and emptiness in their lives. Eckhart explains that we all have a deeper purpose which is connected to the purpose of the universe. He says if we align with that, then we become a bringer of light. Eckhart says the world is in dire need of awakening and we must ask ourselves, “Am I aligned with the light of consciousness?” Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this podcast, Eckhart explains that humanity is at a pivotal point. He says the most urgent task of our lives is to connect more deeply with the transcendent part of ourselves. Eckhart explains the possibility is always there, just waiting to be discovered. He uses an ancient Greek term called “Metanoia” which means a profound spiritual awakening brought about by a dramatic shift in consciousness. In certain mystical traditions, it’s called Buddha nature or Christ consciousness. Eckhart says once we realize we are indeed the light of the world, we do not have to be a part of the craziness anymore. He says we can stop the madness. And we do that when we learn to dissolve it in ourselves first. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this episode, Eckhart encourages us to rise up to meet the challenges of the present time. He says the turmoil that exists here and around the globe is an opportunity to grow spiritually. He explains most people do not awaken when they are in their comfort zone because it usually takes a “push” in the form of a crisis. He says if we are not challenged, then the motivation to change is not there. He goes on to say that our external circumstances do not have to determine our fate. He cautions against ‘victim consciousness’ which is what happens when we let the world or other people define our being. He says the most primordial fact is not what happens around us, it’s to maintain our state of awareness. Eckhart explains the only thing that can save the world is a shift in consciousness. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this podcast, Eckhart talks further about dealing with adversity. He says when we experience challenges in the form of loss including jobs, homes, relationships, political instability or the pandemic, it’s actually an invitation to connect more deeply with the present moment. Eckhart says the conditioning of our minds determines how we respond to situations. He says if we spiral down into fearful thoughts whenever a crisis occurs, it’s a sign that we’re out of alignment. He believes the first step always is to remain in the here and now. Eckhart says when we meet adversity with alertness, we learn to transmute fear and are no longer dependent on what’s happening around us. It’s then he says we realize our path to freedom begins with our state of consciousness. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this episode, Eckhart answers questions about turning adversity into spiritual growth. A mother wants more emotional stability in her life. She says she often wakes up, feeling full of energy, only to find the next moment she’s irritable and exhausted. She’s concerned about transmitting her negative moods to her children. Eckhart encourages her to remain alert when the low energy takes hold. He also explains that sustaining consciousness during difficult times is a great art and this could become an important part of her spiritual practice. Another mom asks: if suffering is necessary for our awakening, then how do we help our children to awaken without causing unnecessary pain? He says every child will encounter some form of suffering, which is part of the human condition. He says as parents we must use wisdom to decide when to protect our children and when to let them experience life on life’s terms. Eckhart shares an ancient Roman aphorism. In Latin it is: Per aspera ad astra - which means: through adversity we reach the stars! Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this episode Eckhart answers questions from a virtual audience around the world including a young woman struggling with very low self-esteem. Eckhart explains intense self-criticism often originates in childhood. He says affirmations can help – such as: “I am one with the power of all creation.” He explains it’s important to be grateful for the opportunity to heal, because it pushes us to grow beyond our limited sense of self. A young man asks when to stop connecting with dysfunctional family members in his life who are pushing him to the brink. Eckhart explains very unconscious people have no freedom of choice because they are totally controlled by their unconscious conditioning. Eckhart encourages the man to think of visits with his family as a spiritual practice. He says all of life’s difficulties can be a powerful force in our journey to awakening. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this episode, Eckhart answers questions from a woman seeking insights for her sister who recently was diagnosed with a mental disorder. She wants to know how Eckhart views the diagnosis within the context of his teachings, asking, “Could there be a silver lining?” Eckhart says while dysfunction may be present, he cautions against using labels. He also shares that he believes many mental illnesses are normal human behavior which has been exaggerated by the ego. The solution, he says, is to remain rooted in awareness whenever possible. With practice he believes we can avoid acting out unconscious patterns. Eckhart explains there is reason for hope because a path to healing can begin even in the midst of life’s most challenging circumstances. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

This special episode features Eric Toda, Global Head of Social Marketing and Executive Director of Meta Prosper. Eric joins hosts Greg and Faith to discuss the importance of advocating for your community in professional circles and standing against hate. Eric speaks candidly about the struggle to find his voice and represent the Asian American and Pacific Islander community as well as the complex reactions he received at a pivotal moment in his career. Our hosts and Eric also discuss how inclusive business practices are beneficial to the health and financial stability of organizations.

In this episode, Eckhart talks about the process of writing his first book, The Power of Now. He says he surrendered to the idea that the book wanted to be written. He explains he had a vision which inspired him long before he wrote the first word. He shares he encountered naysayers - people who tried to discourage his pursuits. Eckhart says when an individual or group tries to bring new knowledge to the world, they often encounter resistance. The book eventually became a number one New York Times Bestseller and one of the most influential spiritual books of our time. He says the ancient Romans had an expression for surrendering to something greater than ourselves which is: Amor Fati. In Latin it means, loving one’s fate. Eckhart believes the true meaning is loving what is. He says when we align ourselves with the Is-ness of the present moment, enormous power is released, connecting us with an intelligence which permeates the entire universe. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this podcast, Eckhart talks to a live audience in Hawaii. He ponders the paradise surrounding them: the sun, the palm trees and the sea. He then quotes famous French philosopher, Albert Camus, who said: In the midst of winter, I found there was within me, an invincible summer. Eckhart explains that Camus is referring to the spiritual dimension or what he calls ‘the alive inner peace at the core of our being.’ Eckhart says it’s inevitable that life’s hardships will pull us off center and dark thoughts about the past or the future will divide us from the light of consciousness. Eckhart explains if we learn to push past the darkness, returning to our inner refuge again and again, it will become a practice. Eckhart believes this is what having a spiritual life is all about. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this podcast Eckhart answers questions about a variety of concerns. A man experiences relentless anxiety and says meditation doesn’t relieve his symptoms. Eckhart explains an overactive pain body is at the root of his troubles. He then shares the wisdom he gained through healing his own pain body. Another audience member asks if there are any transgressions which are unforgivable. Eckhart explains some violations may seem beyond acceptance, but our goal is not to try to forgive. Instead, he says forgiveness occurs naturally as we outgrow the limitations of our personality. Finally, a woman asks if it’s necessary to forgive others who have wronged us to evolve spiritually. Eckhart shares the trauma he experienced from his abusive father. He explains how through spiritual growth he was able to realize his father was a wounded man. Once Eckhart awakened to this fact, he says forgiveness flowed. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this episode, Eckhart jokes with an audience about getting a call from the Star Wars Galactic fleet. He then turns to practical matters when he discusses returning home after being away on a retreat. He says we all have a “life situation” which includes: relationships, work, finances and physical health – all burdens we carry with us even when we’re on vacation. Eckhart cautions against having our consciousness completely absorbed by problems. He says our “real life” is in the present moment which should only unfold in the here and now, not in the past nor in the future. He believes the profound difference between our “life” and our “life situation” is where our awareness remains. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this podcast Eckhart answers questions from an audience in Hawaii. A man asks if we actually have “free will.” Eckhart explains we won’t experience “free will” while living on the level of ego, because we are conditioned by the past. He believes until we transcend our past, we are at the mercy of our unconscious patterns. A woman who is a therapist and works with trauma survivors, asks how to deal with her resentment at God for the abuse her clients suffer. She questions how can God allow such awful things to happen? Eckhart says this view of God is actually a misconception. He goes on to explain that humans are in the process of awakening and suffering is part of our evolution. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this episode, Eckhart talks about the sense of guilt which has plagued humanity through the centuries. He says it’s part of the ego’s dysfunction: the feeling that not only is there something wrong with the world, there’s also something wrong with me. Eckhart explains certain religious traditions have interpreted this as God’s punishment - we believe somehow we are at fault when bad things happen. He says this results in a heavy pain body burdened by resentments, grievances and also the sense of being a victim. Eckhart says these are ego identities based on faulty thinking. He believes what’s needed is wisdom so we can free ourselves to find our true identity - some traditions call it our Buddha nature or Christ consciousness. Eckhart says this aspect of us cannot be harmed by what has happened to us; it is not touched by suffering. He believes we must look inside to find this timeless essence that lives within each of us. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this podcast Eckhart talks about the soul of the world which in Latin translates to Anima Mundi. He says when we awaken to the transcendent dimension within ourselves, we are then able to discover the soul of the world as our own soul. Eckhart says that's the essence of all spirituality and is the primary reason we are here. Eckhart then answers questions on a variety of subjects: a woman asks what the functional purpose is of becoming more aware. Eckhart explains there are many benefits to awakening - the most obvious is that our lives get easier and more enjoyable. Another audience member asks about the states of consciousness generated during dancing, drumming and meditation… she’s deeply aware of the inner world, but not the outer. She wants to know if that is the same transcendent dimension Eckhart discusses so frequently. He says we must keep a foot in both worlds because the art of living requires this balance. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this podcast, Eckhart talks about the awakening universe. He says the great miracle and the mystery is that the universe is conscious. In fact, Eckhart explains it is a manifestation of consciousness itself and we are part of that. Eckhart explains there are millions and billions of other life forms across the galaxies, but here on earth the universe expresses consciousness through us. He believes as we grow in awareness, we let go of the limitations of the ego – we discover we are more than a person with a personality. Ultimately, he says we learn to see others just as ourselves which in Eastern traditions is called meta in the west it’s called love. Eckhart believes by acknowledging our shared humanity, we discover all are part of the one great consciousness. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this podcast, Eckhart answers questions from the audience. A woman is reluctant to experience another life on earth. She asks, “Do we actually choose to reincarnate?” Eckhart says if we’re compulsively reincarnating with every thought and emotion that occurs, then we probably will continue the same dysfunctional pattern not only in the next moment, but in the next life. Another woman asks about how to be a conscious parent. Her teenage daughter feels unmotivated and wants to find her purpose. She’s been partying with her friends and feels aimless. Eckhart says most of us make many mistakes in our lives and that is how we evolve. Lastly, a man who is a technologist and creates virtual worlds says there is a lot of suffering on these platforms. He asks Eckhart about designing social media in conscious ways. Eckhart reminds him that creative solutions come from stillness. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this podcast, Eckhart talks about setting goals and deferring satisfaction. He says for many people, the activities they’re engaged in are just a means to an end. He believes they are not present in what they’re doing now, because they’re projecting where they want to be in the future. Eckhart explains this is a self-defeating way to live because while we may need to defer satisfaction to reach a goal, there is also an inherent danger to it. He says after years the pattern may become so engrained; we no longer find satisfaction in anything we do because we’re so used to deferring it. Eckhart says we must honor whatever we are doing in the present moment and if we give it our full attention then it is possible to feel clarity and joy. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this podcast, Eckhart says we are at a critical juncture. He explains we must evolve to the next stage of development and transcend the ego. He says many people try to go back to their pre-egoic state of consciousness anesthetizing themselves with alcohol, drugs, food, sex and work… all of which lead to unconsciousness. He says even though the ego is a key part of our development, it’s time to let it go. So many of us are stuck in what he calls the narrative of me: the unhappy story we tell about ourselves which masks our truer, more radiant essence. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this podcast, Eckhart talks about an inspiring trip he took to Alaska. He describes the awe he felt on a tour through a majestic forest. Eckhart explains, at one point, he lagged behind his guided tour group so he could feel the sacredness of nature all around him. He says we have lost touch with a form of knowing which transcends conceptual learning. He believes beyond our five senses, there is a more profound form of knowing that we must revive. Eckhart explains ancient people sensed the aliveness of the world around them. He says when we define our existence only through mental concepts, sacredness is lost. Eckhart believes for the sake of the planet and ourselves we need to realize that everything is alive… everything has a soul. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this episode, Eckhart says no one person can make us happy because the demand is not only too much, but also an impossible task. He explains falling in love may feel wonderful. The honeymoon starts and everything is beautiful. Until the day comes when we discover our partner has issues or even worse: a very active pain body. He says we might panic, thinking I made a terrible mistake! With humor, Eckhart explains what’s really happening is the relationship no longer masks the real problem: our underlying anxiety and disconnection. He says as long as we look for gratification outside ourselves in people, places and things or what he calls the horizontal dimension, we will always feel like something is missing. He shares that the most difficult people in our lives can become our greatest teachers because they push us to awaken – to step into the vertical or transcendent dimension. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this podcast Eckhart talks about the importance of remaining what he calls ‘teachable.’ He cautions us to be aware of the stories, concepts and labels we use to interpret the world. He encourages us to ask ourselves: when we meet someone new, do we give ourselves space to just be, to perceive? Or do we instantly judge and manufacture stories about this person? He ponders when we travel, do we experience awe? Or do we compare it to other places we’ve been? He points out that when we never experience anything new, the sense of aliveness is gone from our lives. Eckhart says we must ask ourselves - who are we without the old narrative, the mental and emotional conditioning which is the result of our self-centered thinking. He points out the world will always challenge us. He says it’s not here to make us happy; it’s here to help us awaken. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this podcast Eckhart talks about suffering and how to transcend it. He says suffering is everyone’s spiritual teacher because it drives us to a kind of willingness. He believes it cracks open the hard shell of the ego, suddenly allowing the light to shine through. Eckhart mentions the legendary singer Leonard Cohen who wrote a song about this universal experience. He sings: “There’s a crack… a crack in everything... That’s how the light gets in.” Eckhart also uses the example of Buddha who suffered by becoming obsessed with doing and attaining enlightenment. Eckhart explains how Buddha put himself through extreme practices and nearly died until one day he decided he had suffered enough. This is the moment Eckhart says Buddha’s ego cracked open and enlightenment poured in. Eckhart says we all will suffer until we realize we don’t need it anymore to grow spiritually.

In this podcast Eckhart talks to a live audience in Hawaii. He says ‘Aloha’ to the crowd and then explains the spiritual meaning of the word. He also mentions stillness which he says is the essence of who we are. He defines stillness as the absence of internal noise and the incessant stream of self-centered, harmful thinking that keeps us from realizing our being. He says looking into the eyes of a baby is a spiritual experience. The baby looks back and the light of pure consciousness shines through. He says all who hold the baby are moved and something deeper awakens. Eckhart believes we’re born connected to being, but we're not fully aware of it yet. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this episode Eckhart discusses our deeper purpose. He emphasizes how important it is for humans to be connected to the kind of higher intelligence that comes from presence. While our careers matter, he says what we do in our work life is secondary to our state of consciousness. He explains there is a vast intelligence underlying the world that we perceive with our senses and our job is to connect to it. Eckhart believes we are all manifestations of the one great consciousness, emanating like rays of sunlight. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this podcast, Eckhart begins with a few thoughts on meditation. He talks about the Chinese philosophy of Taoism (dow-ism). He says one of its key principles is Wu Wei (woo way) which he explains loosely translated, means non-action or “to sit quietly and do nothing.” Eckhart follows up with a quote from French philosopher Pascal who said, “All the troubles of humanity can be traced back to a person's inability to sit quietly in a room.” Eckhart says we’re so immersed in the outer world that we don’t even think to look inward. He reveals it’s our job to rescue our awareness from this hostage-like-state of unconsciousness. Eckhart says to start by taking small steps in our daily lives and that all of life’s crises big and small are meant to be opportunities for surrender. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this podcast, Eckhart answers questions from a live audience including a father who says he wants to help bring presence into the lives of his active and unconscious teenagers who spend too much time on their devices, computers and cell phones. A woman in the audience says she is interested in manifesting her purpose, but also wonders if it’s necessary to be very specific in the process of manifesting her goals. Another woman asks about identity at what Eckhart calls the “Deep I” level and asks if we are all really the same? Eckhart uses a movie metaphor to explain the “Deep I” by saying in a movie, as individual images appear on a screen, they all come from the same light pouring through the projector. He says the essence of the “Deep I” is like that - it’s pure light. With his signature wisdom and humor, Eckhart brings his unique perspective to these questions and others. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this podcast, Eckhart talks about the “Deep I” and the “Surface I” - two ideas he uses to teach spiritual development. Eckhart says the “Surface I” is our personality and is connected to the horizontal dimension, the realm of our everyday lives. He explains when things start to break down, we see how unstable life can be. All that looks solid one day can begin to crumble… like losing a job, going through a divorce, getting older or losing a loved one. Eckhart says in those moments, our lives are suddenly full of loss and suffering. Eckhart explains why this is the perfect opportunity to get in touch with the aspect of ourselves that he calls the “Deep I” or the vertical dimension. He says life’s crises are meant to push us towards transcendence, where he says we will find “a peace that surpasses all understanding.” Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this episode, Eckhart talks about human unconsciousness by telling the story of his father who he says had profound anger issues. Eckhart compares his father to a volcano, often brimming over with red hot rage. For years Eckhart says he resented his father and despaired whenever he had to brace himself for the next blow up. However, Eckhart reveals after he experienced his awakening, he realized his father was not capable of acting differently. Eckhart states that he finally understood his father – like so many people - suffered during childhood and was stuck in dysfunctional patterns from the past, resulting in his father’s anger and an unconscious life. Once Eckhart realized this, he says he was able to accept his father unconditionally and released the expectation that his dad could or should be someone else. Eckhart explains why we must refrain from labeling others because of their lack of awareness and that no person can act beyond their level of consciousness. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this episode, Eckhart talks to a live audience in Arizona. He begins by saying the mind can be a wonderful thing – we can think, speak languages and engage in creativity. Eckhart also explains when we get too caught up in the mind, we lose touch with awareness. He cites moments in history such as Nazi Germany which he describes as a virus of the mind which took over and resulted in destruction on a mass scale. Eckhart warns when we create mind-made concepts about others, different from ourselves, we become desensitized to their inherent aliveness. We cannot see that in our deepest essence, we are all the same. Eckhart encourages us to learn from history, so we don’t have to make the same mistakes going forward. Eckhart says looking back at yesterday is the perfect catalyst to help us awaken today. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this podcast, Eckhart answers a variety of questions from a live audience including a man who says he is legally blind from drug use and wants to know how to manage his fearful thoughts. Another audience member reveals he has made great strides in his spiritual development, but his 25-year marriage is ending as a result. The man asks how do you know when it’s time to leave a relationship? Also, a woman in the audience explains to Eckhart that she wants to stop sabotaging herself with her addiction to technology. Eckhart explains to her how practicing presence can aid in recovery. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

Eckhart talks about how critical it is we balance being with doing. He says without it we will not reach the deeper dimension of consciousness which is our legacy. Eckart explains when we’re obsessed with doing and achieving, we cannot appreciate whatever is here in the present moment, much less attain enlightenment. He states the world is already overrun with doing and the result is chaos. He believes the solution to many of our problems, both individual and collective, start with seeking stillness. Eckhart reveals we are never more ourselves than when we are still. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this podcast, Eckhart talks about self-seeking. He says many people who are unawakened look for an identity in self-centered thinking. Eckhart explains these people may define themselves through social status, good looks or the accumulation of wealth. Eckhart draws a parallel with the ancient Greek myth of narcissus… a beautiful man who fell in love with himself gazing into a pool of water. Eckhart jokes that this was humanity’s first selfie. He explains this myth is also where the word narcissism comes from. He says the human ego has existed for thousands of years and continues to wreak havoc today. He also warns that technology and social media strengthen the ego. Eckhart advises that whatever identity we have created for ourselves that we wear it loosely, don’t become lost like narcissus. Make a practice of releasing our self-centered delusions. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this episode, Eckhart talks about the importance of finding balance between Being and Doing. He explains, so many of us get lost in the doing because we’re so focused on external achievements, getting ahead and chasing after what we think constitutes the perfect life. Eckhart adds that when we get lost in doing we’re also propelled by thinking. Eckhart teaches us that thinking is not voluntary. Instead, he says thinking is something that actually happens to us and the movement of thought quickly takes on a life of its own. Eckhart says the unfortunate result is that we’re rendered semi-conscious and living a half-life… as if in a dream. Eckart reveals there is a deeper part of us beyond the dream and also an alert brilliant state of consciousness just waiting to be realized. Miraculously, Eckhart states that the consciousness that is you is the same consciousness that underlies the entire universe. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this podcast, Eckhart talks about the life-changing wisdom we acquire when we stop compulsive thinking. He says wisdom is very different from intelligence and that true wisdom arises from a place beyond the kind of intelligence that is generated by the mind. Eckhart explains that even though thinking is a necessary function, we’re too dependent on it. He says most of us learn at an early age to memorize, dissect and label everything. Eckhart explains this fragmented sense of knowing robs us of a more profound understanding of the world and stops us from honoring what is sacred. He says wisdom cannot be measured by IQ tests and that the world will not be saved by more knowledge. Instead, he reveals that what the world truly needs is wisdom. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this podcast, Eckhart emphasizes the importance of stillness. He says through stillness we will reach the next step in human development… the evolution of our consciousness. He explains that for thousands of years we have been trapped in complete identification with the ego, a thought-cluttered entity called “me.” We feel anxious and ill-at-ease in the world because we are cut off from our deeper spiritual roots. Eckhart says we must evolve beyond our current state of awareness. We do this through stillness, we step out of thinking to sense our deeper connection. He says transcending self-centered thought is the most fundamental thing in human life. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this podcast Eckhart talks about outgrowing unconsciousness. Eckhart says only awareness can free us of our resentments, judgments and negative thinking which are the deeply ingrained patterns that keep us stuck. He says as our awareness grows, we realize we have choices in how we respond to life’s situations, and we become aware we are no longer at the mercy of our conditioning. When we finally recognize these patterns for what they are, he says we will transcend them. Eckhart believes we don’t have to be prisoner to a dysfunctional past. Eckhart says as we move toward greater consciousness, we are in deeper alignment not only with ourselves but also with the purpose of the universe. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this podcast Eckhart addresses participants' concerns: an athlete wants to know if competition is incompatible with leading an awakened life? Eckhart explains that one can have the desire to win, but when winning becomes the key to one’s sense of identity that is a pitfall of the ego. a man asks what to do because his presence practice has grown so deeply, he no longer relates to his family. He says he loves them but doesn’t want to be around them. another person asks for advice on how to snap out of incessant thinking. Eckhart says if we’re totally absorbed in thinking then we’ve lost the present moment. Eckhart reminds everyone that even though we have problems, part of the solution is to realize - in our deepest essence - we are already complete. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this podcast, Eckhart takes the audience through his renowned inner body awareness meditation. He encourages everyone to sense the aliveness in every cell. He believes this is one of the tools which can free us from the ego. He also discusses asking for guidance during meditation. He says we may be asking for material possessions or the solution to a difficult life situation. Eckhart says the important thing to notice is what comes after we ask: we become still and surrender to receive wisdom. He believes only then the answer will arise from a place of alert stillness and inner peace. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this episode Eckhart talks about the ego and other factors that block us from deeper awareness. Eckhart explains why the ego loves opposition and thrives on feeling superior. He says being obsessed with the need to be right in a conversation is a perfect example because some may defend their position so fiercely, they become completely unconscious. He says awakening is the only thing that can save us from our egos. Eckhart believes, with practice, we discover a joyfulness in the depths of our being that has nothing to do with what’s happening out there. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this podcast Eckhart answers a variety of questions, a woman asks about identity at the soul level. She asks do we, in our most transcendent form, retain some aspect of individuality even though we all emanate from the one universal consciousness? Another woman shares a story of her granddaughter who has a life-threatening illness. She requests a few moments of “presence” with Eckhart to bring her joy. A wife shares heartbreaking details about her husband who is dying of cancer. She questions if it’s possible to remain conscious. With compassion and care, Eckhart explains that even though it may seem strange, being in the presence of death is an opportunity. He says we learn to suffer consciously and surrender completely. Eckhart says that even during life’s most painful challenges, acceptance is the way to transcendence. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this episode Eckhart talks about our true purpose which he believes is to transcend our surface layer of reality and our superficial sense of self. He says most of us define ourselves as a person with a past, an accumulation of thoughts and emotions built up over a lifetime. Many identify completely with this limited view, but Eckhart explains we are more than that. He says often a life crisis becomes the catalyst for discovery. We may lose our homes, jobs or someone we love, but Eckhart says loss pushes us toward awakening. Eckhart believes in this process the ego burns up and the old ways of being give way to our essential self. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

In this podcast Eckhart explains why presence is the bedrock for our existence. He says without it nothing would be possible. He says most people define themselves through self-created labels based on our past or an imagined future. He says we must ask, “Who am I right now?” Eckhart believes we won’t know the answer fully because it remains a mystery. He says hiding deep inside each of us is a sense of beingness that we cannot define. Eckhart believes we derive our true self from presence and thus “life” is synonymous with the now.

In this episode Eckhart answers questions on various topics including the difference between a creative impulse and the ego. A woman asks Eckhart about his decision to move from England to the Pacific Northwest. Eckhart says when the call continued for quite some time without dissipating, he knew he had to follow it. Eckhart urges everyone to stay connected to their deepest awareness especially when life’s challenges arise, and things don’t go our way. Eckhart explains why instead of reacting with irritation, anger and fear towards a situation, we should instead surrender. He says obstacles are not enemies, they’re here to help us awaken.

In this podcast Eckhart gives a brief talk on his signature teaching: the power of presence and then answers questions from the audience. He says the important thing to understand is the presence that inhabits our bodies is not something that is external to us, it is the essence of us. He says the secret and the mystery of the present moment is that we are the present moment.

In this podcast Eckhart answers questions from a live audience, including one about how suffering can lead to awakening. Eckhart says we need challenges in order to evolve. The great paradox is we are liberated when we surrender to life’s difficulties. Eckhart says eventually we can become grateful for our suffering because it pushes us to become who we are.

In this episode Eckhart talks about the need for challenges. He says without them we would not grow in awareness. Eckhart explains the entire universe is evolving towards greater consciousness. He says beyond our individual lives, we are connected to something vital and vast. In our highest form, Eckhart believes we are the consciousness of the universe expressing itself.

In this podcast Eckhart discusses how we define our personal identity. He says it usually begins with the physical body, then possessions and achievements. He says we may have a long list of accomplishments - even personal wealth, but we’re not satisfied; we’re still not good enough. Eckhart explains defining ourselves in these superficial terms is a trap and just another form of ego. Our true identity is beyond that.

In this episode Eckhart answers questions on a variety of topics, such as: What is the soul? Is it possible to awaken when we are depressed? And how do we sense presence in another? Eckhart says we experience the presence of others when we release our conceptual thinking about them. He says when we let all that go, a space opens and we are free then to experience what is sacred in others and in ourselves.

In this episode Eckhart talks about a collective awakening growing on the planet even while the majority of people remain spiritually asleep. He explains most of us are completely identified with our thoughts - the constant, compulsive stream of thinking that dominates our awareness and creates a very limited identity. He says beyond thoughts is a more profound and truer self which Eckhart calls the Deep I. We begin to awaken when we recognize the difference between the two.

In this podcast Eckhart asks his audience, “What are you certain of?” After some discussion, they conclude very little. He references philosophers throughout history who have said life is a dream and our individual lives fleeting. Eckhart explains there is a deeper consciousness beyond the dream and beyond the person. He says we will experience transcendence when we make the shift from thinking to awareness.

In this episode, Eckhart answers questions on how to deal with death… for ourselves and those we love. Eckhart says it’s critical that we break the taboo so we can overcome our fear. eckhart proposes that when faced with the possibility of a very limited future … The ultimate question is not whether or not we will survive. because we all will die eventually. Instead we allow the situation to push us towards higher consciousness. He says it’s possible to transcend our fear to reach a state of deep presence.

In this podcast Eckhart discusses the path to awakening. He encourages listeners to detach from the mind, instead of being the mind. He says most of us get so enmeshed in our thinking we mistake it for reality. He also believes the mind tells us we need a long list of criteria to advance spiritually. But Eckhart says enlightenment is not something we attain in the future – in truth, full consciousness is closer than we think. We can break through our thinking to awaken, right here, right now.

In this podcast, Eckhart talks briefly about what he calls the beingness behind our five senses which lead to the deeper essence of who we are. Eckhart then answers a question about forgiveness. He says until we are strongly connected to our deeper self, all of us will act out unconscious patterns that cause suffering. Eckhart says eventually we wake up and ask, “How could I have done that?” He says recognizing our unconsciousness is forgiveness. He believes once we realize we can make amends to those we’ve hurt and learn to forgive our unconsciousness, we understand that we didn’t have the awareness to make a different choice at the time.

In this podcast, Eckhart answers a question about overcoming suffering and finding happiness. Eckhart says the world is not here to make us happy, it's here to make us conscious. He says the beginning of awakening is the end of suffering. We are liberated from the demand that anything should make us happy. Eckhart explains the world does not have the power to make us happy. But it is a wonderful catalyst to help us awaken.

Eckhart begins this episode discussing the purpose of suffering. He says suffering is the great awakener, that cracks the shell of the ego. He believes through the crack something beautiful and profound emerges. Eckhart describes it as our true essence. He says as we become familiar with this deeper dimension, we discover the very same “beingness” exists in others. He says recognizing the essence of who we are in everyone, is just one of the joys of spiritual awakening.

In this podcast, Eckhart gives a brief talk about the difference between being versus becoming. He says when we focus on becoming, we look to the future for our fulfillment. We lose sight of our being which is connected to the now. Eckhart then answers a question about the need to be right and winning an argument at all costs. He explains as we grow in presence the drive to be right diminishes. The ego loosens its grip, and we discover we might even be willing to admit we’re wrong. He says that is a sure sign of spiritual growth.

In this podcast, Eckhart answers questions about addiction and facing illness consciously. Eckhart speaks with a woman who had cancer fears its return and the possibility of an early death. While difficult, Eckhart encourages her to practice presence by staying in the moment because he explains then there is less opportunity to play out scenarios where death seems imminent. He urges her to release the mental gymnastics that plague all of us. He says it’s imperative that we work with life’s challenges and allow them to push us into awakening.

In this podcast, Eckhart encourages participants to start with a moment of stillness. He says through quiet and calm we get in touch with that part of ourselves Eckhart calls “The Deep I.” Eckhart believes that by reaching beyond our personality and our physical bodies we will discover a deeper dimension to who we are. He says it’s here where we transcend the old inner narratives to find liberation from ourselves.

In this podcast Eckhart answers questions about dealing with grief consciously. He asks what does the grief process look like for an awakened person? Do we experience the classic stages of denial, anger and bargaining? Eckhart says even if we’re in touch with the transcendent dimension, we will still experience grief, it doesn’t disappear completely. He believes, however, the intensity will be less. Eckhart explains that facing the possibility of death is vital because it is the catalyst for the evolution of our consciousness and without that experience, there would be no expansion of our awareness.

In this episode, Eckhart answers questions about why it’s important to seek awakening and how we can learn to function in a world that seems chaotic. Eckhart says we must learn to awaken to free ourselves of suffering. It is part of our legacy to realize a sense of peaceful aliveness that is independent of our external circumstances. He believes when challenges arise, we shouldn’t spiral into unconscious reactivity. He says that only amplifies the problem. Instead, Eckhart suggests we should release our ego and move towards transcendence.

In this podcast, Eckhart talks with a live audience in Greece. He cautions participants against the belief that enlightenment is somewhere ‘out there’ or is something to be achieved in the distant future. He says we don’t have to go through a long process of ‘becoming’ to find liberation. Eckhart explains the irony is that when we look to the future, we miss the opportunity to find freedom right here in the present moment. He urges all of us to wake up and to realize we already are who we want to become.

In this episode, Eckhart reflects on the power of presence and the accompanying state of stillness. He says it’s in those moments when we’re not thinking that we experience pure awareness. He then answers questions about what presence is not. He says it is not about monitoring our inner state or exercising control over our thoughts or feelings. Eckhart also explains it’s possible to be fully awakened and still enjoy the things of this world.

In this podcast, Eckhart answers questions about the aphorism “be careful what you wish for.” He says when we attempt to manifest certain desires in our lives, it’s critical we discern whether the motivation is ego-driven or something more profound. Eckhart encourages everyone to be who they are at the deepest level. He says anything we achieve on the horizontal plane will also have a downside. Therefore, he encourages us to not get too attached to outcomes. He says as we reach a state of deeper consciousness, we learn to transcend the polarities of good or bad and we simply align ourselves with what is.

In this podcast Eckhart talks with a live audience in Greece. He kicks off the session discussing the spiritual wisdom of ancient Greek philosophers. Among the most renowned was Socrates who humbly said, “I am the only one who knows that he knows nothing.” Eckhart believes Socrates meant that he was comfortable with the state of not knowing and the pure awareness connected to deep insight.

In this episode, Eckhart answers questions about conscious manifesting. He says it is part of our heritage that we have abundance in our lives. Eckhart describes it as what he calls “the fullness of life.” He believes the source for fullness is the vast underlying consciousness that is the foundation for everything which he calls “the being dimension.”

In this podcast, Eckhart answers questions about the process of awakening and how to create more abundance in our lives. Eckhart says when we desire something we believe that we already have it. He says consciousness is the source from which everything flows. Eckhart reminds us that while we may want or need many things, we do not need certain outcomes for our fulfillment. He explains that on the inner plane we are already complete and have everything we need.

In this podcast Eckhart talks with a live audience. He encourages participants to release their thinking so they can become aware of their “being.” He says most of us have a mistaken sense of identity based on what we think about ourselves, but that’s not who we really are. Eckhart goes on to quote Jesus who famously said, “You are the light of the world.” Eckhart believes what he meant is that we are all are the light of consciousness and that is our true identity and the source of our deepest essence.

In this episode Eckhart answers questions about transcending our limitations. He says every human has certain obstacles in their life and facing them is part of the path to awakening. However, Eckhart warns that problems arise when our limitations become part of our identity. He believes we create a false narrative about who we think we are. Eckhart says while it’s important to surrender and accept what is, we do not confuse deeper acceptance with acceptance of the narrow concept we mistake for ourselves. Eckhart says we reach transcendence by letting go of those concepts. He believes we should embrace the “is-ness” of this moment and through that transform into the realm of spacious awareness.

In this podcast Eckhart answers questions on several topics including how to differentiate between a true creative impulse and the ego. Eckhart refers to his own experience of writing The Power of Now. While living in England, he says he felt called to move to Canada. He says he had to discern if the impulse was coming from a deeper place or just a passing whim. He also cautions against listening to the mind and its toxic narrative. After waiting several months, Eckhart realized the feeling was not fleeting but solid intuition. He eventually made the move, and his writing began to flow.

In this episode Eckhart answers questions about suffering as part of the human condition. He says many spiritual traditions focus on awakening as the end of suffering. Paradoxically, Eckhart says we need to go through a certain amount of suffering to realize we don’t want it anymore. He says oftentimes our suffering is caused not by our life situation, but our reaction to it. He believes much of our pain is generated by the mind and its toxic narrative. Eckhart says we can move beyond suffering by embracing life’s challenges. He says they are a doorway into the transcendent realm and that when we step into the light of consciousness, we are free from suffering at last.

In this podcast Eckhart answers questions about healing from childhood trauma. He says it’s important to acknowledge the trauma and to work through it, but not to get stuck in it. He believes while we may feel like a victim it is not ultimately who we are. Eckhart shares stories about his own childhood trauma. He explains that his father had intense anger issues and abandoned Eckhart and his mother when he was just eleven years old. As an adult Eckhart later realized that his father had been traumatized by his own childhood. He says dysfunctional family patterns are handed down generation after generation. He says healing happens when we break the cycle and that by practicing presence, we realize we are more than all the painful things we’ve experienced.

In this episode Eckhart talks about the importance of finding stillness. He says we are never more ourselves than when we are still. Eckhart then answers questions about what we can expect during the stages of awakening. He says as we become more conscious, we learn to respond rather than react to conflict. Eckhart explains we may feel the emotion, but it doesn’t take us over because ego diminishes as we step into the light of presence.

In this podcast Eckhart talks about our growing awareness and how it can be used in service of others. He says when presence is the foundation of our lives, we are more available emotionally. He explains why this is when the pitfalls of the ego no longer block us. Eckhart believes when we are confronted by the pain of others, if we have a clear channel connected to the source of consciousness, we will exercise empathy and compassion. In this state he says we will not be shaken when the winds of misfortune blow because we are rooted in the deepest part of our being.

In this episode Eckhart reflects on the power of the present moment. He then answers a question about the individual and collective pain bodies. He says we all have both and sometimes one is stronger than the other. He believes those with a strong pain body are often more likely to awaken than those who don’t have one. He explains that either way, the great danger is falling into the trap of what he calls “victim identity.” Eckhart says we need to take responsibility for the accumulated suffering inside ourselves and learn to heal from it. Eckhart believes our suffering is transmuted into awareness and that is the beginning of awakening.

In this podcast Eckhart talks with a live audience in Winnipeg, Canada. People from 30 countries around the world participate. Eckhart explains the reason they are there is to experience spiritual awakening. He says there is a hidden dimension to their gathering which is deeper than words. Eckhart believes part of his mission is to provide signposts which lead to a state of consciousness he calls Presence. Through the practice of Presence, Eckhart teaches we become aware of the deeper reality of life and the deeper, spiritual dimension that is within each one of us.

In this podcast, Eckhart answers questions about practicing presence and peace in a world fraught with conflict and chaos. Eckhart reminds us that we are not dependent on external conditions. He says it is possible to remain peaceful even in the midst of negativity and destruction. He explains we have the freedom to choose even though that choice may not be an easy one. Eckhart believes we don’t have to be drawn into dysfunction, but instead believes we can be the light of consciousness even during darkness.

In this episode, Eckhart addresses concerns about using conscious manifestation for both practical as well as spiritual purposes. Eckhart cautions listeners that awakening should not be something we put on our to-do list. He says it is not another goal that we attain. He believes when we define enlightenment in those terms it becomes an obstacle. Eckhart says awakening is not an achievement, it's a realization which really means it's already here.

In this podcast, Eckhart talks about overcoming obstacles to conscious creativity. He explains we may have a vision of what we’d like to create, but when we try to express ourselves the ego kicks up resistance. Eckhart says we feel attacked by inner voices such as, “Who do you think you are? You’re not ready for this” and then we self-sabotage. He explains how we doubt our talent and give in to our fears. Eckhart says when this happens, we must recognize it as the voice of the ego and in those moments we should practice presence. He shares that we need to release our negative thinking, allowing the creative process to flow through.

In this episode Eckhart leads a short meditation and then answers a question about our fear of suffering. Eckhart says suffering plays an important role in the evolution of our consciousness. He says without it, we would not grow in awareness. Eckhart believes, for many people, suffering is their primary spiritual teacher and much of our pain is self-created through dysfunctional thoughts and behaviors. He explains why the pain can also be a catalyst for spiritual growth. He says if we focus on the power of the present moment, our difficulties diminish and once we awaken we no longer need to suffer.

In this podcast, Eckhart talks about fulfilling our desires and what we can do to make that happen. however he cautions against becoming dependent on external circumstances for our happiness. He says attachment to the outcome can actually become a barrier. Eckhart believes we must visualize that what we want is already ours. and that ultimately the external world is inseparable from our state of consciousness.

In this episode Eckhart reflects on what it takes to create a successful life. He says we must live with a foot in two worlds. We must learn to reconcile the everyday with the transcendent. Eckhart explains why we should consciously manifest our aims and aspirations while also practicing presence. Eckhart says the most important part of living in this world is bringing those two together.

In this podcast Eckhart talks about our dependence on people, places, things and concepts as the source of our identity. He says most of us derive a sense of self from our attachments. He believes the essence of who we truly are is much deeper. Eckhart calls it the alive stillness at the center of our being. Once we become aware of it, our attachment to external things fades and we discover our true nature. Eckhart illustrates this idea with the story of a Buddhist monk who sought to release worldly things. His difficulties were great, until he let go absolutely.