Unpacking the New Age

[Jhanananda]

I have lived in Sedona, AZ now for about a year and a half, and I have found that a conversation with anyone, even the clerk at the grocery store will result in a random collection of new age jargon.  So, I thought you all might enjoy the following 2 links to exposing this jargon-filled nonsense.

The enigmatic wisdom of Deepak Chopra

New Age Bullshit Generator

[Alexander]

The intention behind new age is good. Because at its start it is an effort to find what is universal to all religions. But, without a scholarly knowledge of religions, or a mystic principle, the effect is a heap of self-help, positive energy nonsense.

[Michel]

New Age is everywhere. It sells big time. I figure if these new age gurus aren't teaching the N8P as presented in the Pali Cannon, then they aren't worth listening to. Only if they can clarify a factor of the N8P, then I'll listen.

After examining Eckhart Tolle's teachings, I realize that he is essentially teaching a dumbed down, home spun version of Right Mindfulness, ignoring all the other factors of the N8P. I've seen him mock and ridicule those who meditate.

Years ago, the first time I came across Deepak Chopra, I thought he had some rather bizarre ideas. But then I went to his website, and there I found he was selling all sorts of junk to his naïve devotes. The more familiar I became with him, I came to the conclusion that his enigmatic speculative views had been cobbled together from all kinds of influences, and that most of it was nonsense.

Deepak Chopra site: https://www.deepakchopra.com/

The products Chopra sells: https://www.deepakchopra.com/marketplace

On the positive side, I think new age may encourage some people to explore their spiritual beliefs, and some may even discover genuine teachings such as the Pali Canon. But they should watch out for guys like Chopra.

[Alexander]

After examining Eckhart Tolle's teachings, I realize that he is essentially teaching a dumbed down, home spun version of Right Mindfulness, ignoring all the other factors of the N8P. I've seen him mock and ridicule those who meditate.

In some contexts it might be right to ridicule meditators. Anyone who meditates wrongly (without reference to the jhanas, the spiritual crisis, or self-examination) may as well just not do it. So, Eckhart Tolle may be correct in exposing them.

[Michel]

I've seen a couple of videos where Tolle mocks and ridicules meditation. Tolle does not teach jhana meditation in any of his books. I've read four of them.

In the  video link below he does a type of open-eyed meditation that he calls 'the journey into the now meditation.'

It is at the beginning of this video that he mocks and ridicules meditation, and at 25.10.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foU1qgOdtwg

Tolle on what is meditation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bAXwBbCtHg

I think Tolle is worth reading on his ideas about present moment awareness, and keeping your attention at all times on what he calls "the inner energy field of the body." But his teachings are incomplete, especially since he doesn't teach the jhanas. Tolle thinks he has attained full enlightenment.

[Jhanananda]

I concur on much of what Michel and aglorincz had to say.

I think Tolle is worth reading on his ideas about present moment awareness, and keeping your attention at all times on what he calls "the inner energy field of the body." But his teachings are incomplete, especially since he doesn't teach the jhanas. Tolle thinks he has attained full enlightenment.

Here, the "the inner energy field of the body," is what I call 'charism.'  It is one of many manifestations of the religious experience, so it sounds like Tolle might have made it to the 3rd jhana, because the charisms begin to arise there.