A New Earth

"The extent of the ego's inability to recognize itself and see what it is doing is staggering and unbelievable.  It will do exactly what it condemns others for and not see it.  When it is pointed out, it will use angry denial, clever arguments, and self-justifications to distort the facts.  People do it, corporations do it, governments do it.  When all else fails, the ego will resort to shouting or even to physical violence."

"To end the misery that has afflicted the human condition for thousands of years, you have to start with yourself and take responsibility for your inner state at any given moment.  That means now.  Ask yourself, 'Is there negativity in me at this moment?'  Then, become alert, attentive to your thoughts as well as your emotions."

"The moment you become aware of a negative state within yourself, it does not mean you have failed.  It means that you have succeeded.  Until that awareness happens, there is identification with inner states, and such identification is ego."

"To become free of the ego is not really a big job but a very small one.  All you need to do is be aware of your thoughts and emotions-as they happen.  This is not really a 'doing,' but an alert 'seeing.'  In that sense, it is true that there is nothing you can do to become free of ego.  When that shift happens, which is the shift from thinking to awareness, an intelligence far greater than the ego's cleverness begins to operate in your life."

This excerpt is taken from "A New Earth" by Eckhart Tolle.  This book is literally life-changing and awe-inspiring.  While you are reading it, you can take "classes" on Oprah.com.  There are 10 online classes, where she and Eckhart take you through "A New Earth" chapter by chapter, with amazing insights and answers to viewer questions. Watch the webcasts or download them from iTunes and take them with you.

A New Earth online classes, on Oprah.com

Eckhart Tolle's website