Lectures on Rereading Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now, Taught by Iraj Shahbazi

I have presented to you six lectures on “self-knowledge and living in the present moment,” delivered in sessions devoted to “Rereading Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now,” which, by divine grace, were very well received by those interested. Since the idea of “living in the present moment” is like a double-edged sword and can cause considerable harm, I felt it necessary to remind you once again that we must always be careful not to neglect the past and the future in the name of living in the present. For this reason, I am offering you a short lecture I delivered in 2016 at the Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies. The aim of this lecture is to provide an explanation of living in the present moment that does not conflict with learning from the past and planning for the future. I have also touched upon this very issue at the beginning of the fifth section of The Power of Now, but here, this important subject is examined in greater detail. I apologize in advance for some repetitive content in this lecture, but I believe it can complement the previous discussions and answer some of the questions and criticisms regarding the theory of living in the present moment.

I ask those who listen to these seven lectures to please read Eckhart Tolle’s books carefully, many times over, and reflect upon them. These lectures in no way render you independent of those profound and valuable books. The aim of these lectures is to present the main framework of Eckhart Tolle’s thought, and there are important points scattered throughout the books that are not included in these lectures.

The works I suggest you benefit from alongside these lectures are:

1) Another Man (The Power of Now), by Eckhart Tolle, translated by Siamak Aqeli, Namak Publishing.

2) Another Realm, Another Kingdom (translation of A New Earth), by Eckhart Tolle, translated by Siamak Aqeli, Namak Publications.

3) Practicing the Power of Now, by Eckhart Tolle, translated by Farnaz Foroud, Hamida Publishing.

4) Stillness Speaks, by Eckhart Tolle, translated by Farnaz Foroud, Hamida Publishing.

5) Here and Now, comprising fifteen conversations with Eckhart Tolle, translated by Vahid Mehdikhani, Tarang Publishing.

6) Journey to the Self, compiled and translated by Vahid Mehdikhani, Tarang Publishing.

6) The Deepest Acceptance, by Jeff Foster, translated by Vahid Mehdikhani, Tarang Publishing.

I hope that through careful and deep study of these works, you can liberate your precious being from superfluous pains and futile sufferings, and transform every moment of life into a magnificent celebration.

I am grateful to my dear friends at the Alimoradian Cultural Institute for providing the necessary conditions for this important cultural endeavor.

The Power of Now (Part One)

Location: Alimoradian Cultural Institute

Date: Eighteenth of Mehr

Lecture Duration: One hour

Topics: 1) An overview of Eckhart Tolle’s life and works 2) A note on Eckhart Tolle’s stylistic characteristics in expressing spiritual matters 3) How to benefit from Eckhart Tolle’s works 4) A brief discussion on the pain-body

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The Power of Now (Part Two)

Location: Alimoradian Cultural Institute

Date: Eighteenth of Mehr, 2019

Lecture Duration: One hour and twelve minutes

Topics:

An explanation of the role of technique and practice in spiritual wayfaring

1) Introduction to the pain-body (the body of pain / the pain-body) and its role in spiritual awakening

2) Introduction to the structures of the ego

2-1) Identification and identity-formation (including identification with thoughts, emotions, the body, social roles, the voice in the head, mental images, the pain-body)

2-2) Possessiveness

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The Power of Now (Part Three)

Location: Ali-Moradian Cultural Institute

Date: October 10, 2019

Duration of lecture: one hour and one minute

Topics: — Continuation of the discussion on the structures of the ego 2-2) Continuation of the discussion on possessiveness 2-3) Wanting 2-4) Separation 2-5) Projection 2-6) Lack of interest in change and solving problems 2-7) Being right and making others wrong

3) The true Self 3-1) The image we have of ourselves 3-2) Abundance and blessing 3-3) Discovering inner space

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The Power of Now (Part Four)

Location: Ali-Moradian Cultural Institute

Date: November 14, 2019

Duration of lecture: one hour and three minutes

Topics:

Living in the Here and Now (1)

1) Mind and time

2) Suffering and time

3) Knowledge and mind and time

4) Reasons why the present moment is valuable

* The profound poems of Attar and Rumi that I read in this lecture will be presented in a separate file. I hope you derive the utmost benefit from these celestial poems.

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The Power of Now (Part Five)

Location: Ali-Moradian Cultural Institute

Date: November 14, 2019

Duration of lecture: one hour and sixteen minutes

Topics:

Living in the Here and Now (2)

1) The conflict between seizing the moment and foresight as two ethical and spiritual duties: 1) The correct meaning of seizing the moment in relation to the past, 2) The correct meaning of seizing the moment in relation to the future, and 3) The precise and correct meaning of living in the present moment

2) Concentration and presence in the moment

3) Strategies for Presence in the Moment: 1) Letting go of the habit of denying the present moment, 2) Observing the mind's addictive tendency to escape the Now, 3) Strong presence in times of unconsciousness, 4) Letting go of psychological time, 5) Distinguishing between life and life situation, 6) Inner purpose and outer purpose, 7) Conscious action (acceptance, joy, and enthusiasm)

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The Power of Now (Part Six)

Location: Alimoradian Cultural Institute

Date: November 11, 2019

Lecture Duration: One hour and twenty-four minutes

Topics

Human Relationships from the Perspective of Eckhart Tolle

1) A Brief Overview of Eckhart Tolle's Three Major Ideas: 1) Ceasing identification with thoughts and emotions, 2) The true Self of the human being is identical with awareness and joy, 3) Life exists only in the here and now.

* A Reflection on Human Relationships with Animals such as Dogs

2) Characteristics of Egoic Relationships: 1) Connecting based on mental images, 2) Playing roles, 3) Perceiving separation between self and other, 4) Complaining, 5) Lying, 6) Jealousy and narrow-mindedness, 7) Seeking attention, 8) Positive emotions turning into their opposites.

3) Characteristics of Enlightened Relationships: 1) Being free of expectations, 2) Accepting each other's limitations, 3) The existence of space (stillness and presence), 4) Love.

4) A Reflection on the Human Relationship with the Self

5) Strategies for Achieving Enlightened Relationships: 1) Compassion and empathetic listening, 2) Non-reactivity to the egos of others; forgiveness, 3) Properly dealing with others' pain-bodies, 4) Looking at issues from another's perspective, 5) Observing the ethics of enmity.

5) A Note on Marriage from Eckhart Tolle's Perspective

6) Parent-Child Relationships: 1) Parents' identification with their roles, 2) The correct way for a child to relate to parents, 3) The correct way for parents to relate to a child

* At minute 15, second 10, I mistakenly said "teacher" instead of "student."

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Topic: Eschatological Vision and Manger-Vision (Living in the Present Moment)

Date: Winter 2017

Location: Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies

Lecture Duration: Forty-five minutes

Discussion Outline: Introduction The need of our time to live in the here and now The contradiction between seizing the moment and foresight as two moral and spiritual duties Rumi's contradictory views on being a "son of the moment" and eschatological vision

Life in the Here and Now; A Discourse on the Value of the Moment

1) The True Meaning of Seizing the Moment, in Relation to the Past 1-1) Pleasant Memories of the Past 1-1-1) Victories and Successes 1-1-2) Pleasures

1-2) Unpleasant Memories 1-2-1) Failures and Frustrations 1-2-2) Mistakes and Sins 1-2-3) Lost Opportunities

2) The True Meaning of Seizing the Moment, in Relation to the Future 1-1) Not putting off today's work until tomorrow 1-2) Disregarding future fears and worries 1-3) Letting go of wishful thinking and daydreaming

The True and Precise Meaning of Living in the Present Moment

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