Eckhart Tolle, "Television"

http://www.eckharttolletv.com/enter/0
Eckhart discusses how we use mainstream television and media as an escape from the 'problems' of our mind.

An excerpt from the featured talk in the November 2009 Issue of Eckhart Tolle TV: "Portals to Now."

Category:

Howto & Style

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• television
• tv
• media
• mind
• escape
• escapism
• mainstream
• presence
• meditation
• power

[blackrhapsodies]

Have been wanting to cut out TV for years. Gave up about six months ago. (not through choice it just blew up! lol) Since then I have been able to stop smoking, I have learnt my first song on my guitar (re-education through labour) and have read 3 books on meditation, investing in shares and boxer Jack Johnson. Aint gonna lie. First 2 months were a bitch. It was like I had an arm missing. Do miss it a little but refuse to go back. Too much living to do! I would recomend it.

[smallpotatoes989]

we watch life on tv instead of living it ourself.

[mskj444]

@lekoman if you look at so much of the other stuff he's said about culture and put what he's saying here in its true context - he's not ragging on tv per se, just what it's like at worst. just like 'thinking' tv is a valuable tool for education and communication, but sometimes it can take over our consciousness in an unhealthy way or adjust individual values to the detriment of all society.

[s6y9l]

I haven't owned a tv since the 90s. But Youtube is almost as bad as far as wasting your life goes. Obviously a ton of useful stuff here but a ton of garbage as well.I find myself watching things that do not serve me in any way. Just a distraction, a vacation from my own consciousness, just as he states.

[maxwellpassion]

I totally don't watch tv. I find it insanely boring, really.

[punca]

@lekoman it was like a conversation and we were present and they did an online conversation FREE so that's a pretty lame argument.He is talking about watching movies and series and when you get into a different world and forget reality.There are people who watch TV all day.They have no lives and are miserable.And it's peoples choice if they buy the book.I know I never will because there are so many videos of his teaching.I don't think he is doing any harm.

[lekoman]

Funny... I didn't see him ragging on TV when Oprah was helping him sell books by putting him on her show.

[NeosimianSapiens]

@v1k1n95 You speak of dominance based primarily on physical (that is, genetic) attributes. I am speaking of memes, not genes. In any case, neither genes nor memes "care" who gets on top. The beings serve only to propagate the replicating information. (A celibate priest is well suited to spread religious memes, but typically can't spread gene-based replicators.)

So the ancient "conspiracy" isn't a human thing. We're merely substrates of natural (information) selection. Hard on the ego, eh?

[gordodacat]

I LOVE T.V. I have learned so much from it, and have entertained myself with tears, laughter and thought!

[v1k1n95]

@NeosimianSapiens Bingo. Except lets not leave out the fact that humans aren't the only species in which this happens. Many if not all species have some sort of social ladder used to determine status. Those at the top are in charge, those at the bottom do all the work.