The School of Practical Philosophy is an organization which started in the United Kingdom and has branches all over the world.  The teachings in the school are similar to those of Eckhart Tolle, in fact, at the Cape Town (South Africa) branch we have had numerous meetings where Eckhart’s DVDs have been screened.

The founder of the school was a Mr Leon McLaren. At one of our meetings our tutor, Don Smith, related an experience he had had with Mr McLaren when he came to Cape Town on a visit.  He enjoyed hiking and Don agreed to take him on a hike up Table Mountain.

At the end of the day they were sitting watching the sun set and Don remarked “Isn’t it a beautiful sunset?”. Mr McLaren looked at him and replied “I agree that its a beautiful sunset but don’t forget for one moment that that which is observing the sunset is infinitely more beautiful”.

Most of us have no problem recognizing beauty outside of ourselves but few of us see it within ourselves,  I always remember this simple story when I feel my sense of self worth diminishing.

-Mike Deeks, Cape Town, South Africa

It is the little things that are really the big things.

This year I have been teaching kindergarten students.(5 & 6 yrs ) We start off each morning with a visualization so that we can find the still place that is inside ourselves. When we find that place we can get rid of all the silly stuff that has come in from the playground etc and make room for all the great learning to find its place and settle into our minds.

Throughout the day I ring my special ‘peace bell’ and we have a minute of peace. Usually this is when the class is off task and getting out of sorts. It also gives me a chance to stop still and gather myself rather than losing my patience. Id rather that than feeling ugly, anger is an ugly thing in the classroom.

When we have our minute of peace, I say ‘freeze and breathe’.  For a minute we breath in and out slowly.  At the end i ask them to cup there ears “”Can you hear that?  Can you feel that?” I ask them.  “Its beautiful isn’t it?” I say.  The children agree.  Then the best part, I love to remind them, “that’s who you really are, beautiful, still, calm and full of love and happiness. You know you can go there anytime, anyplace”.

Perhaps it sounds a bit ideal.  They go on to make a racket again in a short time. But my learning is to accept that too as a teacher.

After a year of Mondays only on this class it is lovely to see that children are starting to stop and breathe on their own now, when they come to floor for lessons, standing in line etc and they say “look at me I’m taking my breaths”.

Imagine everyday having this in kindy and right through their schooling , wouldn’t the world be a calmer, more relaxed place to be?

Namaste,

Julie Pappas

It was about 6 years ago that my father died.   I was already caretaker to a seriously ill mother, and quickly becoming broke from the expenses of her support and the demise of the real estate market.

I have purchased and given away dozens of copies of The Power of Now.   Having read it myself at least 100 times, my life has healed from integrating the lessons of presence.  I began to contemplate what an enlightened partnership might look like for me.  I had never actually seen or witnessed a couple being together in authentic love, but my imagination was inspired to write The Couples Song, which I have attached.

After my father died, I took a few of the dollars he left me and had a series of powerful energy treatments.  Six months later I met Wanda.  From our first moments, our togetherness was all about love and laughter.  What I wrote in The Couples Song is now my every day experience.

We’re coming up on 4 years together, and a second wedding anniversary this month, and it has been effortless harmony and joy from the start.  The drama and conflict so common in relationships is no longer part of my experience, and our relationship has become a light unto the world, and we have people approaching us and asking for coaching and guidance on how to achieve something like this for themselves.  I marvel at this when I remember being the only person I have ever known to have been thrown out of group therapy.

My amazing life is testimony to the Power of Now.  I exist almost constantly in a state of graceful gratitude for my life.  Blessings and love to my teacher whom I have never met.

Namaste,

Bob Tracey
Las Vegas

Hola, I have had read most all the books of Eckhart Tolle and they had changed my life, a friend of mine gave it to me for my fiftieth birthday gift, two years ago…three days after I was laid off from the job where I worked for eighteen years. It is one of the best gifts I had ever received. It opened the gate to a world I thought was lost, and it gave me the understanding and compassion toward those I could not deal with.

It helped me to thin the veil in front of me, like a bride, consciousness had removed the veil from my mind and my heart. I’m committed to staying alert and awake. I suffer less, I don’t deny there are some difficult times where I ask for help and I recognize I must surrender in order for consciousness to flow through me .

There are moments where I feel I’m losing the alertness in me. But the body pain is gone; I swing back and observe myself from a distance. Being aware of the Father and the Mother consciousness in me and in all living beings unconditional love comes easy and flow in all directions. I feel the need in others to be awakened and I am ready with my ears and to pass on the knowledge I had learned from Eckhart Tolle, The Tao The Ching, the Course in Miracles and the Christ letters..

I do forward the present moment reminders to my friends and they always look forward to reading them. I want to thank all of you who keep us alert and help and work with Kim and Eckhart.

-Berty