Eckhart Tolle: Essential Teachings

In this episode, Eckhart talks about the two different aspects of knowing: conceptual knowing and a deeper kind of intuitive knowing. He says indigenous cultures and people in the ancient world were deeply familiar with the idea that everything has a soul. They shared a profound empathy with nature and felt its aliveness. Eckhart says we have lost touch with this kind of knowing in current times. Through the overdevelopment of thinking, we have reduced the natural world to mental concepts. Today we think of evolution as a random process devoid of meaning. Eckhart says it’s the price we’ve paid for the over-emphasis on science and technology. To illustrate his point, Eckhart recalls a tour through a magnificent forest. 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 as we grow spiritually, we approach the challenges in our lives differently. We may encounter obstacles or difficult people, but he says we don’t get discouraged. We should face the issue in front of us consciously because we’ve learned to accept the present moment with ease. The ego believes fighting against situations is real power, but the opposite is actually true. The ancient romans had a phrase: Amor Fati. Eckhart says it means to love what is. He explains true power comes when we love the Is-ness of the present moment, no matter what. 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 in Hawaii. He jokes that while many are reluctant to leave the island paradise, their task is to bring expanded consciousness to every area of their lives. Eckhart explains as awareness grows, we add a dimension of presence to everything we do. We may work the same job, but we do it in a different way. We become still and then take our insights into action. Eckhart says giving the fullest attention to our performance in the moment is critical. Then whatever task we perform has purpose whether it’s creating a work of art or running a company we release excessive focus on the outcome. The Bhagavad Gita, an ancient Hindu text, referred to it as Karma Yoga because Karma means action. When we attend to our daily lives whatever action we take becomes part of our spiritual practice. 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 once we accept that life is here to challenge us, we can let go of our resistance. When adversity shows up, including the difficult people in our lives, we can recognize them as a catalyst for change. Eckhart says no one can act beyond their level of consciousness. And when we expect others to be more aware than they are, it’s a recipe for suffering. Eckhart admits we all will experience conflict in relationships with family, friends and colleagues. He reiterates that life is not here to make us happy, it’s here to help us awaken. He says no one awakens in their comfort zone. So, when difficulties arise – surrender because it’s the quickest path to peace and perhaps enlightenment! 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 unveils more of his unique wisdom. He elaborates on knowing one’s self beyond our conceptual identity. He explains we all have an image of ourselves defined by our bodies, clothes, careers, and the voice in the head which he describes as the narratives we create to interpret the world. All these things contribute to our sense of self. Eckhart says we need to look further. He explains the ancient Greeks defined the idea with the aphorism Know Thyself. Eckhart says this wisdom points to a more profound knowing and a deeper self which is beyond the personality. In Hinduism it’s called the Atman. In Buddhism it’s called the no-self. Eckhart says many traditions recognize this sacred aspect as part of our spiritual heritage. In knowing thyself we discover the deepest core of our being. 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 discusses the Horizontal and the Vertical dimensions as he has in previous talks. Eckhart explains the Horizontal is the realm of our everyday lives, where we experience the world with our senses, doing and thinking. Then there’s the Vertical or the transcendent which is where we have the root of our being. Eckhart says it’s our job to bring the two together and to have a foot in both worlds. Eckhart says as we grow in awareness, we will realize we are but temporary manifestations of this vast consciousness that is the miracle of life. He says while we are here on earth, we must learn to be in the world, but not of it. 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 more about transcending the heavy burden of self. He says most people can’t stand themselves and yearn to be free…even if the desire is unconscious. He says the relentless barrage of thinking pushes many to seek relief… through substances like… alcohol, marijuana or other drugs. He explains for a fleeting moment we may find a reprieve… until the high wears off…and we’re back in the turmoil again. Or we post on social media…hoping to find love and acceptance there… racking up “likes.” But that too often backfires. Eckhart says we’re reaching for the wrong thing. We will never find what we seek in our limited thinking, or our superficial ideas about ourselves and the world. Eckhart says the greatest spiritual practice we can do is to let go of thought. 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 living more consciously and how it transforms our lives. He says when we live in both the Being and the Doing dimension, it brings harmony, especially in our relationships. He explains then we’re no longer looking for conflict and we don’t fear or compete with other people. The toxic dysfunction that is part of the ego dissipates. Eventually, we are able to sense the deeper self in others, beyond the personality, because we have experienced it in ourselves. The recognition of this sacredness is the greatest gift we can give anyone. Eckhart says it is also what Buddhists call Meta or loving-kindness. He believes this is what the world truly needs, and it will transform everything. 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 all of us will experience a flowering of consciousness. However, it may not take root in this lifetime. Eckhart says many people lose faith in God when things go wrong in their lives. They feel God has broken a promise. Eckhart says he had this experience in childhood having grown up Catholic, he prayed every night for his family life to improve. But it didn’t get better. By the time he was thirteen, Eckhart says he lost interest in God, because he thought God had lost interest in him. He says God is something far deeper than what we pray to and vaster than any mental concept or idol we may worship. 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 one of his key messages: our primary purpose here on Earth is a spiritual one. He says it is our job to free ourselves of the mind-made sense of self, which has never been more destructive. He says all ancient teachings point to this timeless message. Eckhart goes on to explain if we don’t come to some understanding of that truth in this lifetime, then we have completely missed the point. Eckhart says that no matter what we achieve in this world, it will not provide the lasting satisfaction we’re looking for. We will not fill the inner void which is where our spirituality should be. Careers, money, property prestige won’t do it. There may be some temporary sense of excitement or accomplishment. But it won’t last long. Eckhart says we must look to our beingness for salvation…then the transcendent dimension becomes a discovery, not an achievement. 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 further about the pain body. He compares it to the character Gollum, in Lord of the Rings. He says the pain body, feeds on suffering and creates misery for everyone. However, Eckhart explains once we recognize the pain body for what it is, we don’t have to be held hostage anymore. Our awareness is the first step toward freedom. Eckhart goes on to say that people with a heavy pain body are often eager to awaken spiritually. The discomfort becomes so great, they take action to alleviate it. Eckhart admits he was such a person. Early in life, he was deeply unhappy with himself… until age twenty nine, when he underwent a profound spiritual transformation. Eckhart explains the pain body may seem like a huge obstacle. However, paradoxically, he says it can also act as a powerful catalyst to 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 says one of the hurdles we must confront regularly is our unconscious thinking. He says our relentless, self-centered thoughts actually feed the ego and keep us mired in a fictitious sense of self. He explains the ego loves problems and strengthens its grip by creating suffering for ourselves and others. Eckhart says if we’re not growing spiritually, when crises strike, they will make us even more unconscious. But there’s a paradox. Eckhart explains suffering can actually push us to awaken. When we can’t take the pain anymore, we finally surrender. He says most unhappiness is not the result of life’s difficulties…it’s our reaction to them. Eckhart says when we have a foot on the path, misfortune is no longer an obstacle. Instead it becomes an opportunity for spiritual growth. 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 Stockholm, Sweden. He says the idea is to inhabit The Now. Ironically, he says most of us try to escape it…through activities, addiction or our thinking. We would rather be anywhere other than here. We say: “I’ve got too much going on. I don’t have time for presence. ” Eckhart explains this mindset can wreak havoc with our lives and create dysfunction. He says the most important thing any of us can do is to embody consciousness. He says evolution on this planet is actually happening through us. And on a larger scale, we are inseparable from the awakening 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 elaborates further about finding freedom from the bondage of self. He says the first step is to confront our thinking and resist the urge to identify with every thought we have. Eckhart says rising above thinking paves the way to liberation. Many people try to free themselves through substances like alcohol, drugs, food and sex. While these might provide some fleeting relief Eckhart says what we’re really doing is falling below thinking and spiraling down into unconsciousness and addiction. Eckhart warns that we are quickly moving towards a crisis point for humanity and the planet. However, reaching this pivotal moment does not have to spell disaster. On the contrary, Eckhart says it’s precisely during a crisis that we have the greatest opportunity to evolve and when the need is most dire, large-scale transformation becomes even more possible. He says many people are ready for a shift in consciousness. Eckhart urges us onward because he says awakening is no longer a luxury it’s a necessity for our survival. 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 strive to become a bigger, better version of “me.” We do that through myriad achievements, wealth, status or possessions. Eckhart says it’s like the person who believes buying a more palatial home will somehow signify they’ve made it. He believes people become so invested in outcomes they neglect the journey. He says even spiritual seekers fall into this trap when they chase after enlightenment which can become another form of ego. He explains these behaviors are all a misguided quest for fulfillment and identity. Eckhart cautions against looking for ourselves in everything we do. He says no goal will ever make us happy because who we truly are has nothing to do with outcomes or achievements. He says our deepest selves are rooted in consciousness itself. Eckhart describes it as the one transcendent source of all life. He says becoming aware of this dimension is the only thing that will bring lasting fulfillment. 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 Adelaide, Australia. He says participating in the retreat will allow everyone to have a taste of presence, rather than know it as a mere concept. He explains that many of us place little value on the current moment because we believe fulfillment can only happen at some point in the distant future. He says the anticipation of things-yet-to-be is so strong, we miss opportunities in the here and now because the thinking mind takes over and muddies the water. Eckhart shares an experience he had at the age of seventeen, when a friend gave him several spiritual books. Through study, he learned to shift his thinking from negative to positive. Suddenly, the well-worn idea that bad things always happened to him evaporated. This breakthrough was a catalyst for greater spiritual development that continued well into his twenties. Eckhart explains awareness of our thoughts is the beginning of 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 explains that many of us must go through a lot of unhappiness before we awaken. He says he’s never met anyone whose life is not difficult and fraught with challenges. He believes it’s a good thing when we become dissatisfied with what we call “my life.” He says our spiritual growth often begins when we realize there must be something more because our suffering pushes us to find it. He goes on to explain that our real life is actually in the here and now separate from the past and the future which is eternal and connects us to the transcendent. He says we can become familiar with this divine aspect of ourselves through a state of no-thinking free of the inner critic and false narratives. Eckhart says when we discover who we are without our past what emerges is the profound presence of being. 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 fact that many people live in a continuous state of waiting for the next thing that will magically transform their lives: a relationship, job, house, even more money. He says we’re misguided when we believe something outside ourselves will provide lasting fulfillment; this mindset is considered normal. But Eckhart says normal won’t free us from our inner turmoil. He says even during the best of times, we feel something important is missing from our lives. Eckhart explains when we’re continuously doing - waiting for the next thing - we become forgetful of being and we suffer. Eckhart says the being dimension is fundamental to living a fulfilled life. He says awareness of our inner states is the first step in getting 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 talks about bringing together the human and the being aspects of ourselves. He says we would be consigned to a miserable fate if all we were was human because being trapped by a limited identity there would be no possibility of self-transcendence. Eckhart points out even big egos have little selves and their achievements, even if considerable, often make people so unhappy, they don’t help transform the world. Eckhart explains when the human and the being come together, the being shines through our humanness, reflecting the light of consciousness. He says the greatest miracle of all is that the universe is conscious. And we are a part of that. He quotes Alan Watts, a famous writer and spiritual teacher, who said: “You are a function of what the whole universe is doing, in the same way that a wave is a function of what the whole ocean is doing.” 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 describes the subtleties of what happens when we become present. He says the mind slows down, thinking recedes, awareness rushes in and our preoccupation with the past and future fades. He explains that some people are so obsessed by their history, it consumes their current life. Eckhart says the mind is a wonderful instrument if used in the right way, if not destruction often follows. Eckhart says most of us do not use the mind; it uses us and eventually, we believe we are the mind. He describes this as a disease and a delusion. Eckhart encourages everyone to practice moments of pure awareness. He says presence can be a powerful tool for healing allowing loving kindness to flow through us and affect everything we touch. He says we don’t know yet how it will transform the world, but it most certainly will. 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 connecting with what he calls unconditioned consciousness. He says it’s the source of all creativity and true intelligence. Eckhart explains when we’re in this place, mental noise stops and thinking recedes and what remains is aware stillness. He says that is the beginning of awakening. He explains we may sustain this state for a while and then lose it again. For him, it’s part of the process. He encourages everyone to keep a foot in both worlds: the everyday and the transcendent because then greater intelligence flows through us. Eckhart says this leap forward in consciousness is the next step for humanity. He believes without more spiritual development we will not survive. 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 what it means to be unconscious. He says we all have inner scripts which are old dysfunctional patterns handed down generation after generation eventually crystallizing into our identity. Eckhart explains until we wake up to that, we remain largely unconscious. Eckhart says we don’t have to remain hostage to our hard wiring because we can resist our thinking and stop mistaking it for the truth. Eckhart says every human being is like a seed waiting to awaken because the potential may be buried under layers of ego. He says we find answers to the secrets of the universe when we look within. 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 in Brisbane, Australia. He explains the reason for their gathering is to accelerate their awakening. He says everything we experience occurs in the Now and it will never not be Now. But he says most people don’t realize that because their attention is elsewhere absorbed by the past or future. He explains we believe we are a product of our history, childhood and family background. Eckhart says we are more than that and the difficulties we encounter can be the catalyst to awaken now. He says had he not gone through a painful childhood and years of unconsciousness, he would never have grown spiritually. He explains it was his suffering that pushed him to a new level of consciousness. He says we are living through crises now because challenges propel us toward 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 podcast, Eckhart inspires a crowd in New York City. He talks about the importance of rooting ourselves in the transcendent dimension especially when we feel overwhelmed by the insanity of the world. He explains it’s easy to believe that we are a species who lost its way - just watch the evening news. He says most people’s attention is consumed by thinking. He says they may gaze at you, but they don’t really see you. He believes once we release the mind’s constraints, our awareness becomes clear like precious stones transparent to the light. He says consciousness is what remains when thought comes to an end. He says it is only by taking our attention deeply into the present that we encounter the transcendent. 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 New York City. He reminds them of life’s fleeting nature and that in eighty or ninety years the names of the people lit up by the bright lights of Broadway will be gone. Success, fame and fortune do not provide immunity from what Eckhart calls the burden of self… the identity we fabricate from our problems…including health, careers, finances and relationships. Eckhart explains that the greatest source of suffering is not just created by the mind…but by our unobserved thoughts. They drift in and out of our awareness and we believe them without question. Over time, we weave them into a sad story called my life and we become victim to these narratives. Eckhart explains that we cannot go through life without challenges. He explains even if we are awakened spiritually, difficulties will continue. However, the difference is that we will no longer turn adversity into suffering. We have the awareness to liberate ourselves from the shackles of our thinking. 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 far we have yet to go in our spiritual growth. He says what’s critical is that we transcend our thinking because it’s absolutely necessary for our survival. He says the dysfunction of the ego dates back thousands of years. Eckhart explains we need only look at history for evidence: creating enemies, war and endless cycles of violence. He says the same aberration still exists today. Yet, science and technology have amplified it so greatly that the collapse of civilization and worldwide destruction are imminently possible. Eckhart believes we are in crisis and in order to make a shift we must evolve beyond our current state of consciousness. He says when a critical number of people connect more consistently with their transcendent selves, an entirely new world will be born which Eckhart calls A New Earth. He says that is our destiny and the secret to all 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 the spiritual evolution of humanity. He says our development is far from finished. In fact, he says it coincides with the transformation of all life on Earth. Collectively, we are on the way to awakening, but we haven’t arrived yet. Eckhart asks: what does it mean to be awake? In spiritual terms, he says it’s reaching that deeper dimension of ourselves that is higher than thinking. He believes it’s the secret behind all spiritual teachings. Both Buddha and Jesus described this state of heightened awareness. Eckhart says we will find it when we relinquish our so-called normal state of consciousness which he describes as a relentless stream of compulsive thinking. 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

Original Air Date: May 21, 2021 Eckhart Tolle answers questions about how to deal with our fears, especially when confronted with a crisis. He says we can’t take intelligent action when we’re gripped with anxiety. When the world threatens to overwhelm us, what’s needed is wisdom, looking at the totality of the situation, not just one aspect of the problem. Eckhart says we must free ourselves of the negative thinking that accompanies fear and align ourselves with the vertical or transcendent dimension. That is where we will find our answers. 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

Original Air Date: May 21, 2021 Eckhart Tolle delves into a topic that is taboo for many of us…and that is the subject of Death. In the Western world, Eckhart says denial and the fear of death has prevailed for centuries. However, due to the pandemic, collectively we’ve been forced to confront death on a scale we haven’t seen since the last century. Eckhart says Death has much to teach us. And he also gives us hope. There is more to the larger workings of the Universe than is visible to the eye. He says there is a much deeper dimension to who we are…one that never dies. If we can get in touch with that transcendent aspect of ourselves, our fear of death will ultimately disappear. 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

Original Air Date: May 21, 2021 Eckhart Tolle elaborates on the paradox of order and chaos that exists in our world. For many of us, especially this past year, living through the pandemic has wreaked havoc on our lives. We’ve experienced loss of socializing, income and perhaps the loss of someone we love. While we might be tempted to despair, Eckhart says order and chaos are an essential part of a higher order. He says there are larger forces at work in the Universe and if we can surrender to that, life’s challenges have the potential to transform our 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 coming changes for humanity, including a shift to a different level of consciousness. He explains collectively, we are going through difficult times now, because real change only occurs when society is pushed to the brink. He says without adversity, there is no transformation. He believes we need not be afraid when hardship strikes because that too will be a catalyst for more spiritual growth. Eckhart says historically, humanity has gone through many regressions and collective disasters. He explains they are intrinsic to the process of awakening because every setback is part of the journey. 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 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.