Just in time.
Spiritual celeb-guru Eckhart Tolle is appearing in Washington next week for the first time – one night after the first presidential debate, and hopefully not too late to help campaign- and conflict-weary Washingtonians achieve “freedom from excessive thinking.”
Literally millions of people studied with Tolle in 2008 via a Web series run by a little ol’ TV personality named Oprah. His book, “The Power of Now,” sold more than 3 million copies and he is as big a name as there is in what’s called the “consciousness movement” that touches people of all religious denominations (the more open wings of them, anyway).
Tolle hasn’t come to Washington before because – you’ll be SHOCKED to hear this — a spokesman says, “We don’t really think about D.C. as being about spirituality.” The Vancouver-based teacher’s typical spots include New York, San Francisco, Chicago and Miami.
For purposes of full disclosure, Tolle is also coming to Washington to speak at the Religion Newswriters Association conference, of which I am an organizer. But Tolle’s statement on his Oct. 4 Warner Theatre event says that now is a time when he felt called to Washington.
“Tolle will teach listening and meditation in the nation’s capital to share what he believes is the essential strategy to change America and the world for the better: the elevation of human consciousness. ‘Instead of being locked in habitual thought patterns, we become aware of our shared essential nature. Peace arises and so does intelligent thinking that is inclusive instead of divisive,’ ” he said, according to the statement.
Tolle has a crowded list of celeb followers: Susan Sarandon, Sting, Meg Ryan, Eileen Fisher, Jim Carrey — but hey, we all know being a celeb in D.C. involves some title with the word “commission” in it (zzz). His fans in our area include uber-popular Insight Meditation teacher Tara Brach and U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio).
Anyone know any other D.C. names going? And have some interesting observations on how Tolle’s teachings relate particularly to D.C. life?
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