RioVida Books

Eckhart Tolle

PENGUIN BOOKS, 2/1/2008

A NEW EARTH: AWAKENING TO YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE

Eckhart Tolle is a contemporary spiritual teacher who is not aligned with any particular religion or tradition. In his writing and seminars, he conveys a simple yet profound message with the timeless and uncomplicated clarity of the ancient spiritual masters: There is a way out of suffering and into peace. Eckhart travels extensively, taking his teachings throughout the world. When Oprah reviewed this book which was originally published in 2005 it shot back up to the best seller list.

Excerpt

Seeing beauty in a flower could awaken humans, however briefly, to the beauty that is an essential part of their own innermost being, their true nature. The first recognition of beauty was one of the most significant events in the evolution of human consciousness. The feelings of joy and love are intrinsically connected to that recognition. Without our fully realizing it, flowers would become for us an expression in form of that which is most high, most sacred, and ultimately formless within ourselves. Flowers, more fleeting, more ethereal, and more delicate than the plants out of which they emerged, would become like messengers from another realm, like a bridge between the world of physical forms and the formless. They not only had a scent that was delicate and pleasing to humans, but also brought a fragrance from the realm of spirit. Using the word “enlightenment” in a wider sense than the conventionally accepted one, we could look upon flowers as the enlightenment of plants.

Once there is a certain degree of Presence, of still and alert attention in human beings’ perceptions, they can sense the divine life essence, the one indwelling consciousness or spirit in every creature, every life-form, recognize it as one with their own essence and so love it as themselves. Until this happens, however, most humans see only the outer forms, unaware of the inner essence, just as they are unaware of their own essence and identify only with their own physical and psychological form.

Photo by Michael Rogers 2006

In the case of a flower, a crystal, precious stone, or bird, however, even someone with little or no Presence can occasionally sense that there is more there than the mere physical existence of that form, without knowing that this is the reason why he or she is drawn toward it, feels an affinity with it. Because of its ethereal nature, its form obscures the indwelling spirit to a lesser degree than is the case with other life-forms. The exception to this are all newborn life-forms—babies, puppies, kittens, lambs, and so on. They are fragile, delicate, not yet firmly established in materiality. An innocence, a sweetness and beauty that are not of this world still shine through them. They delight even relatively insensitive humans.

ELIZABETH GILBERT

PENGUIN BOOKS 2/1/2007

Eat, Pray, Love

When asked about how she felt about taking off an entire year, Elizabeth Gilbert answers with these thoughts.

"What is it about the American obsession with productivity and responsibility that makes it so difficult for us to allow ourselves a little time to solve the puzzle of our own lives, before it’s too late? That said, yes – I did worry a great deal about selfishness. But after three years of despair and depression, I had come to believe that living my life in a state of constant misery was actually a pretty selfish act. Who would be served by a lifetime of my sorrow? How would that enrich the world? Going off for a year and creating a journey to pull myself back together, to rediscover joy, to face down my failings and rebuild my existence, was not only an important thing for my life, but ultimately for the lives of everyone around me. And it’s not just my family and friends who are better off now that I am happy; it’s everyone I encounter."

When asked what the biggest surprise was about her journey, Elizabeth Gilbert response was interesting. How well it worked. I found exactly what I was looking for during that year of traveling. In fact, I found more than I’d dared to hope for. Looking back on it now, though, I think that this amazing result was sort of inevitable. I’ve come to believe that there exists in the universe something I call “The Physics of The Quest” – a force of nature governed by laws as real as the laws gravity or momentum. And the rule of Quest Physics maybe goes like this: “If you are brave enough to leave behind everything familiar and comforting (which can be anything from your house to your bitter old resentments) and set out on a truth-seeking journey (either externally or internally), and if you are truly willing to regard everything that happens to you on that journey as a clue, and if you accept everyone you meet along the way as a teacher, and if you are prepared – most of all – to face (and forgive) some very difficult realities about yourself….then truth will not be withheld from you.”

Elizabeth Gilbert is an accomplished journalist that took some of the lessons of one of her teachers, Jack Kornfield, quite literally. He suggests: " What's past is finished. Forgiveness means giving up all hope for a better past It's done it's over".

Jack Kornfield is one of the teachers recommended on Liz Gilbert's website, author of "Eat, pray, love", for exploring Buddhist meditation.

RHONDA BYRNE

SIMON & SCHUSTER 11/1/2006

THE SECRET

T he Secret teaches us that we create our lives, with every thought every minute of every day. Living The Secret offers tools and ideas to help you live The Secret every day. Find inspiration by reading stories from people like you who have embraced Secret principles. People have been writing of the law of attraction for many years. Here are just a few of the authors, spanning the last 150 years, whose writings express the understanding and knowledge shared in The Secret. Rhonda Byrne interviewed a number of people from different fields about the law of attraction and shares her story. She takes examples that deal with peoples daily lives - making money, feeling beautiful, finding the perferct mate, etc.

The book seems very similar to "What the Bleep do We know?" which also talks about the law of attraction from a more scientific point of view. This film and book in 2004 discussed the law of attraction by trying to simplify quantum physics concepts and the potential impact of quantum physics on enlightenment.

Rhonda Byrne succeeded in breaking down the esoteric, religious, and laws of physics into a format that everyone, regardless of spiritual inclination, educational background, or religious background can comprehend and at minimum take into consideration. She has expanded her Australia-based film and television company, Prime Time Productions, and now works with her teams in Melbourne, Chicago, Austin, and Los Angeles to create new and exceptional films, books, and other tools and experiences that inspire, uplift, and transform lives. 

In May of 2007, Rhonda Byrne was recognized as one of the world’s most influential people in TIME magazine’s "The TIME 100: The People Who Shape Our World", and shortly afterwards appeared in Forbes’ “The Celebrity 100” list.  Rhonda currently lives outside of Los Angeles.