When I first started reading Eckhart Tolle's newest book, A New Earth, I had mixed feelings. It was well written and the topic was interesting — it describes the ego and the true self in depth — yet, it seemed as if he was just reviewing ideas I had hashed over in the early 90's. Also, he said, "This book will transform you." Some authors, I believe, use this phrase to hype their book. I was a bit sceptical, but I kept reading, because he kept my interest.

As it turned out, the book does transform you, and the "hashed over ideas" go to new depths. Eckhart presents many new insights and models for understanding ourselves. For example, he has developed the idea of the pain body. The pain body is what takes over when you feel fearful, angry, or the like. In the past, I used the idea of a "mini-possession" to describe this phenomenon, but pain body is more accessible to the general population, I think. He even mentions that when it takes over, it's like a parasite or a possession.

The author also shares many other helpful techniques. They assist you in awakening to when the ego is operating. One excellent technique that he presents is to understand the three modes of ego — or how the ego relates to time and the Now. The three modes are: (1) the ego uses the Now as a means to an end; (2) it sees the Now as an obstruction, or; (3) it sees it as the enemy. Once you go into any of these modes, a flag should go up in your brain, alerting you that the ego is at work. This helps diffuse that false identity.

The point, of course, is to transcend the ego and identify with what we truly are. Aside from many other tools, the story is packed with cool Zen stories and parables.

If you use it, the information will probably transform you. Highly recommended.

Published by Plume.