Eckhart Tolle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eckhart Tolle
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Tolle in 2003
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| Born | Ulrich Leonard Tölle 16 February 1948 Lünen, Germany |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Language | English, German, Spanish |
| Alma mater | University of London |
| Genre | Spirituality, metaphysics, self-help |
| Notable works | The Power of Now (1997) A New Earth (2005) |
Eckhart Tolle (born Ulrich Leonard Tölle, 16 February 1948) is a German-born spiritual teacher and author. He writes books that help people understand themselves and live better lives. Some of his most famous books are The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment (1997) and A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose (2005). He also wrote a picture book called Guardians of Being (2009).
Eckhart Tolle became very well-known in the United States and around the world starting in 2000. This happened after Oprah Winfrey suggested his books. She even created online classes with him in 2008, which helped many people learn about his ideas.
Contents
Eckhart Tolle's Early Life
Ulrich Leonard Tölle was born in 1948 in Lünen, a small town in Germany. When he was 13, in 1961, he moved to Spain to live with his father. He chose not to go to regular school between the ages of 13 and 22. Instead, he spent his time learning about things he was interested in, like philosophy and creative arts. When he was 15, he was greatly inspired by some spiritual books given to him by the German mystic Joseph Anton Schneiderfranken.
Eckhart Tolle's Career Journey
When he was 19, Tolle moved to England. For three years, he taught German and Spanish at a language school in London. Later, he studied at the University of London. In 1977, he started a special program at the University of Cambridge.
His Spiritual Awakening
One night in 1977, when he was 29 years old, Tolle had a life-changing experience. He had been feeling very sad and down for a long time. He woke up feeling an almost unbearable sadness. But then, something amazing happened.
He describes it like this: "I couldn't live with myself any longer." He wondered, "Who is this 'I' that cannot live with the self?" He felt like he was falling into an empty space. He later realized that his old way of thinking, full of worries about the past and future, simply disappeared.
The next morning, he woke up feeling incredibly peaceful. He went for a walk in London and found that "everything was miraculous, deeply peaceful." Even the busy traffic seemed calm. This feeling of deep peace stayed with him, no matter what was happening around him.
After this experience, he stopped his studies at Cambridge. For about two years, he spent much of his time sitting peacefully on park benches in London. He stayed with friends or sometimes slept outdoors. His family worried about him, thinking he was being irresponsible. He changed his first name from Ulrich to Eckhart. Some say he did this to honor the German philosopher Meister Eckhart. He once shared that he saw the name Eckhart in a dream and later a friend called him Eckhart, which made him decide to change it.
Becoming a Spiritual Teacher
After his transformation, former students and friends began asking Tolle about his new way of thinking. He started helping people as a counselor and spiritual teacher. More and more people came to him over the next five years. He then moved to Glastonbury, a place known for alternative ways of living. In 1995, he moved to Vancouver, Canada.
His first book, The Power of Now, was published in 1997. A larger publisher, New World Library, republished it in 1999. In 2000, Oprah Winfrey recommended The Power of Now in her magazine. By August 2000, it became a best-seller on The New York Times list. Two years later, it reached number one. By 2008, the book was available in 33 languages.
His second book, Stillness Speaks, came out in 2003. At that time, he said he didn't want to create a big business or a special center for his teachings. He believed his work should grow naturally. However, his website now offers his books and many other materials to help people with spiritual guidance. There is also a separate website where people can watch videos of his monthly group meditations.
In 2005, Tolle published A New Earth. In January, Oprah Winfrey chose it for her book club, which led to huge sales. In just four weeks, 3.5 million copies were sent out. By the end of 2008, it had been number one on The New York Times Best Seller list 46 times.
In 2008, Tolle worked with Oprah Winfrey to create a series of online classes. Each class focused on a chapter from his books. They included discussions, quiet meditations, and questions from viewers. The third class had over 11 million viewers. By October 2009, these online classes had been watched 35 million times.
In September 2009, he met with the Dalai Lama at the Vancouver Peace Summit. That same year, he released Guardians of Being, a picture book with drawings by Patrick McDonnell.
Eckhart Tolle's Personal Life
After visiting the West Coast of North America several times, Tolle decided to live in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1995. There, he met his partner, Kim Eng.
See also
In Spanish: Eckhart Tolle para niños
