A Critique of Eckhart Tolle's Ego-Based Spirituality

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 ‎PhD student, Department of Philosophy of Law, Faculty of Jurisprudence and Law, Baqir ‎al-Olum University, Qom, Iran ‎(Corresponding Author)‎‏.‏‎ ‎

2 MA in Quranic Sciences, University of Qom, Qom, Iran.‎ Email: sakineh.montazer@chmail.ir; Orcid: 0009-0009-7952-1434‎

10.22081/jsr.2025.70488.1115

Abstract

In the context of the monotheistic spirituality, the world is inherently spiritual, but the lack of a transcendent kingdom in modernity has led to attempts to present the world as spiritual in order to save humanity from meaninglessness. In this unrealistic view, the realm of meaning descends from the kingdom to the human being, and spirituality, no longer based on monotheism, prophecy, and resurrection, becomes self-founded and rooted in human egoism, reflecting humanistic principles. This study examines Eckhart Tolle’s contributions to modern spirituality by reviewing his works and critically assessing his spiritual framework. The aim of this paper, written using a descriptive-analytical method, is to examine Eckhart Tolle's claim of bringing peace and eliminating suffering from the life of a spiritual person. Tolle, with his emphasis on "surrendering" to the present moment in order to achieve awareness, considers awareness of the "unreal" self, constructed by the mind, to be the only path to liberation from suffering and attaining peace.

Keywords

References

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Islam and Researches about Spirituality
Volume 3, Issue 1 - Serial Number 5
April 2025
Pages 123-148

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History

  • Receive Date: 09 December 2024
  • Revise Date: 30 April 2025
  • Accept Date: 25 January 2025

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