Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I was disturbed and alarmed to think that Tolle's book "A New Earth" has received such praise from so many people as a result Oprah Winfrey's endorsement. I read it on the recommendation of not one, but two friends, which perhaps is what upsets me more than anything. If I try to be open and detached, I can see that people who are genuinely seeking spiritual growth can find some wisdom here. The book is grounded in belief in a spiritual reality beyond the vision of our egos, it does a good job of describing how much suffering comes from egotism and how much insanity grips our world today, and it is wise to advise that one cultivate an attitude of presence to others and awareness of life. However, in honesty, I found myself distressed by several things. This book is a homily (satsang) not a book of science or philosophy - it is repetitive and sometimes condescending, and makes any number of claims that are simply not true or unsupported by any body of knowledge. Contrary to Tolle's perhaps artistic interpretation, "ego" is not an independent entity in the world with its own collective volition; an individual's ego is not the source of all evil (but in fact is a necessary aspect of the development of a healthy person); there is no such creature as a pain-body, let alone the intentionality ascribed to it; etc. etc. By objectifying and demonizing ego, feelings, time, and other normal human realities, Tolle is fragmenting and condemning most of the life and reality that we are given, the precious uniqueness and complexity of life as a human person. The book is profoundly NOT coming from an incarnational religious philosophy. The Judeo-Christian religious traditions teach that God is immanent, that God is found in our world, and that we discover that we are held by the loving God in the experiences and feelings and even the pain of human life. I do not know the Buddhist tradition well enough to be able to see if this great wisdom tradition is also being presented in superficial or distorted ways. I find myself wondering about that; it would seem that there is room for a more embodied and compassionate Buddhism than what I find here. Tolle's presentation of spiritual traditions and human psychology is alienating and ultimately very sad to read. I said to my husband the other night, "If I were to attempt the kind of awakening and detachment from my emotions and experiences that Tolle seems to be recommending, I would never be truthful with you about my real feelings. I'd appear to be serene, but we would have no true intimate relationship, heart to heart." But the saddest thing is that this book could lead someone to seek God by attempting to stamp out one's humanity and relatedness. When we are touched by God, it is by grace and love, and it is in the dignity of our real, imperfect life and personhood. I hope I can find common ground with those of my friends who have found inspiration from this book. I want to acknowledge the good in it, but also, in integrity, to give it my honest response.