Comments by "L.W. Paradis" (@l.w.paradis2108) on "Eckhart Tolle | Spiritual Guru or Baloney Cannon?" video.

Another concern: isn't what Tolle described as an epiphany at times a possible symptom of impending psychotic break?
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I tried to read Tolle. I found it impossible. Every presentation of his that I have ever seen screamed charlatan and faux guru. People who have studied philosophy see through it. I am disappointed that he gave up pursuing his degree because I think he is very intelligent. I think the discipline of completing a doctorate would have been beneficial to him. He might have been a better writer and thinker. He would not have been as rich.
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@iannaughton9295 These comments show us how many people are desperate for instant karma.
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@darrylschultz6479 Oprah made Tolle a millionaire. Just like she did for the charlatan who invented The Secret (and committed negligent homicide), just like she did for Dr. Phil, just like she almost did for the Dugger who is a child molester. Did you think Bill Gates was some gift to humanity until about a week ago? Even though he tried to push Paul Allen out of Microsoft while Allen was undergoing radiation treatment for lymphoma? Or do you think people are jealous of Bill Gates, The Secret dude, Dr. Phil, or Ghislaine Maxwell for that matter, etc., because of their money? (If you think so, consider whether you start with yourself.)
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@iannaughton9295 Well, um, does anyone see beyond their minds? Neat trick.
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@darrylschultz6479 How do you know? "The only way" . . . How in the world would you know that? Why should obvious nonsense merit a dissertation?
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Whete did you get the idea Dr. Grande is not spiritual?
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I like my ego.
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@darrylschultz6479 I thought we were talking about attachment. Funny, I don't know of a single heart surgeon or neurosurgeon, or pediatric oncologist, or psychiatrist specializing in suicide prevention who has anything close to that kind of money. You would agree they save lives.
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@darrylschultz6479 Tolle has zero expertise compared to a pediatric neurosurgeon, or even compared to me. He knows how to persuade. I refer you to Plato's early dialogues for an analysis of how that works. Gorgias in particular comes to mind.
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@darrylschultz6479 People say the same about The Secret. How does that make it true?
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@darrylschultz6479 I don't like gurus. Having read real philosophy, I don't like him. I really don't care.
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@darrylschultz6479 I don't think anybody needs to listen to him.
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@josevigil4233 I have listened, at length, and I admit I've only read excerpts. I think it's a huge pity he gave up pursuing philosophy seriously. I have no doubt that he is talented. I'm not trying to censor him. I'm giving my opinion, which is at least as valuable as anyone else's. I think there is an essential dishonesty in all of these gurus, and their primary concern is not in making you happier, but more docile, so that you'll be less of a "problem" for your family, friends, job, the medical system, the nursing home. I went back to an old writer lately, none other than the compulsively irreverent, spunky and brash Eric Jong, in her earliest works. It's making me happy. It's making me want to do stuff. I'll worry about "spirituality" later.
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@Alfieruben-j1l If you're so egoless, why are you so hostile? Maybe you need to accept that the ego is one part of the human psychology. Maybe going through contortions to deny a normal part of self is not a super duper great idea for most people, after all.
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@briansmith3791 I don't agree. It just so happens that I am reading Murakami's Underground right now, and I have gotten to the part where Aum Shinrikyo followers who did not support the gas attack and had no idea it was being contemplated, much less about to be carried out, get their chance to speak. They tell their stories, and make a far more compelling case for Aum than anyone here has made for Tolle. The first Aum member Murakami interviews is particularly sympathetic, in fact, and Murakami is candid with him that he is furious with Aum and disdainful of anyone who was part of it. They are able to communicate anyway, which is quite impressive. I'm not telling anyone what to think. I know what I think and why, and I am telling you to read Underground and think about it for yourself. Most Americans are far too naive, frankly. One is naive at one's own risk.
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@iannaughton9295 is my explanation shadowed?
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He has. Have you?
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@jonathancopeland1014 Then why wouldn't you study the Eastern religions themselves?
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He can make up anything. Ad hoc.
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@wolfganga982 Having no attachments would make it very hard to be a member of a family, wouldn't it? No spouse, no children, no parents, or, you would not be "attached" to them.
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@darrylschultz6479 Insinuating that someone who dissents from elevating any of these Elmer Gantrys has problems ("malaise," "sour grapes," blah blah, the usual) is a classic tipoff of a cultish, guru-worshipping mentality. Plato has been around longer, by the way.
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@darrylschultz6479 Why did Oprah endorse The Secret?
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@darrylschultz6479 Okay have it your way. I'm listening to him now and all I can hear coming out of his mouth are sheer platitudes, but entertaining ones. Little manipulations here and there, pandering -- as in, we are special, it is we who are living in a pivotal age of human evolution; conceptual thinking has been exhausted (thus downplaying what his audience finds hard to do); the more information you have, the more confused you are; and so forth. He can take you beyond it. Right. I tend to like his weird little laugh, though I also see that it could be misused. Laughter and funny facial expressions are not arguments, or proof of anything. I'd rather hear what people I admire have had to say, and find out more about how they achieved what they did. Maybe you need to read more? See whether the more you read, the more confused you are. The Buddha always said "try it and see."
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@spiritsypher2502 Indeed. Here is Haruki Murakami on the subject of following gurus, and ultimately on the subject of seeking a way out of living with integrity: "If you lose your ego, you lose the thread of that narrative you call your Self. . . Yet without a proper ego, nobody can create a personal narrative, . . . But once you've consigned your ego to someone else, where on earth do you go from there? At this point you receive a new narrative from the person to whom you have entrusted your ego. You've handed over the real thing, so what comes back instead is a shadow." (Murakami, "Underground")
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@darrylschultz6479 And that's what the followers of Aum Shinrikyo said, even long after 1995. No one suggests they were lying. I agree with Murakami.
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@darrylschultz6479 Aum attracted a few of the very finest minds in all of Japan. Did you know that? I doubt it. I think it's a shame Tolle gave up the real study of philosophy for this schtick.
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@darrylschultz6479 Murakami wasn't just talking about Aum. He was talking about precisely the desire to give up one's ego, which necessarily leaves someone or something else in control. That was the whole point.
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@darrylschultz6479 You would care what Tolle thinks of you. You care what I think of Tolle.
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@darrylschultz6479 But I must be closer to having No Ego than you are because testimonials make absolutely no difference to me. You can find testimonials praising absolutely anyone. Harvey Weinstein had tons.
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@iannaughton9295 Drop this nonsense and read Murakami's Underground. Take it from someone who IS from a Buddhist culture, rather than join in ersatz Eastern Thought For Profit.
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@Alfieruben-j1l Maybe you should start with Plato, The Apology, then move on to The Gorgias. Find out what the word "persuasion" means. That would be a good place to start.
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@receipts324 Oh, you're thanking me for turning you on to some good books, right? (I mean, egoless people never play one-upmanship games, . . . try to undermine others, . . . and all that weird, childish stuff, right? Why would they?) You are so welcome! I hope you enjoy Plato (Apology, Gorgias, definitely before The Republic, although Socrates' words in Republic Book X about not knowing what is truly good or bad in life's most tragic accidents is sublime) and Murakami's Underground. Great winter reads! :)
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@receipts324 And just think, I made no money suggesting this. I did it selflessly. Wow, huh?
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@mxm6809 I already spotted inaccuracies. If it's on Quora, that just means somebody wrote it. It does not mean it is true. Dr. Grande's strong and principled stand against police brutality has ruffled some feathers. Police brutality won't be solved by Mindfulness or Vibrations. But you are welcome to try that if you like. It can't hurt I suppose.
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@rogermoore27 I don't presume he might have. Just that it is not generally a "good" sign.
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