The day the Buddha's followers walked away from him | Eckhart Tolle

If you have practised for years and still feel far from it, there is something Eckhart Tolle says here that is worth hearing. He tells the story of the Buddha, who left a life of luxury after realising that everyone grows old, becomes ill and dies. He became a seeker. He fasted, took on severe austerities, and grew so accomplished that disciples gathered around him. And then, after years of it, he understood that he still had not arrived. So he sat under a tree and stopped. In Eckhart's free translation of the sutras, he simply said, that is it, I am done. Most of his disciples concluded he had lost it and left. That was the moment the awakening came. So the obvious question arises. Could he have skipped all of it, and saved himself the years? Apparently not. And that may be true for you too. The practice may be exactly what brings you to the point where you are finally able to put it down. That is worth understanding, because seeking itself implies the future, and the deep I is never in the future. It is here, and the present moment is the way in. What is needed is a moment when thinking stops without you losing consciousness. Even twenty seconds. No past to consider, no future to plan, nothing to work out. Just this moment and the awareness of it. And then the real question. If you are not your thoughts or your emotions, who is the one doing the identifying? Do not force it. Effort does not help here. What works is something gentler, a relaxed and quiet presence. Eckhart goes much further into this in the full session. Join Eckhart Tolle Now to watch. 👇 Sign up for a free trial: https://bit.ly/etnow-freetrial ✨🌟Take Your Practice Deeper with Eckhart Tolle Now🌟✨ You’ve already started your journey with Eckhart Tolle’s teachings on YouTube—now it’s time to take that journey even deeper. We’re excited to offer you an exclusive year-long discount to join Eckhart Tolle Now for just $139—that’s only $11 per month for a full year of transformative teachings and practices. ✨Here’s what awaits you as a member of Eckhart Tolle Now: ▪️Private Community: Connect with like-minded individuals in an exclusive, supportive online platform dedicated to living in Presence. ▪️Monthly Video Practices: Guided teachings each month to help you live a life of greater peace, clarity, and mindfulness. ▪️Member-Only Discounts: Get special offers on Eckhart’s newest teachings and online courses, plus access to exclusive content. ▪️Over 300 Hours of Teachings: A treasure trove of videos covering relationships, stress relief, parenting, and more, to support your growth. ▪️Q&A Sessions with Eckhart & Kim Eng: Direct answers to your questions from Eckhart and Kim to deepen your understanding and practice. ▪️Recorded Retreats & Events: Access video recordings from Eckhart and Kim’s global retreats, bringing you the essence of their transformative events. ▪️Conversations with Spiritual Luminaries: Enjoy deep, insightful conversations between Eckhart and other renowned teachers, including Jack Kornfield, Marianne Williamson, and Neale Donald Walsch. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/etnow-freetrial ▶️ Subscribe to Eckhart's Channel: bit.ly/ETYouTubeSub 🔒 Become a Channel member and get added perks: bit.ly/JoinETYT --- Eckhart Tolle is widely recognized as one of the most inspiring and visionary spiritual teachers in the world today. With his international bestsellers, The Power of Now and A New Earth —translated into more than 50 languages—he has introduced millions to the joy and freedom of living life in the present moment. The New York Times has described him as “the most popular spiritual author in the United States,” and in 2011, Watkins Review (now Watkins Mind Body Spirit) named him “the most spiritually influential person in the world.” Eckhart’s profound yet simple teachings have helped countless people around the globe experience a state of vibrantly alive inner peace in their daily lives. His teachings focus on the significance and power of Presence, the awakened state of consciousness, which transcends ego and discursive thinking. Eckhart sees this awakening as the essential next step in human evolution.