Opening for Eckhart Tolle

about Praful's collaborations with bestselling author/teacher Eckhart Tolle

November 8 2017

On November 1st 2013, I had the honor to open the evening talk of bestselling author and spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle ('The Power of Now', 'A New Earth') at the Tivoli Center in Copenhagen. My job was to gently prepare the almost 2000 people for his discourse, to play 'music to quiet the mind' and help people arrive here-now, relax, start falling deeper into themselves. I knew I had between 30 and 40 minutes for this, but other than that I knew not what I would play. That for me is being in the NOW. My beloved partner Vimal could not keep herself from giving me advice before the concert: 'don't play your fixed compositions, just play freely and improvise, out of the moment, that's when you're at your best!' My mind tried to make me nervous as in 'what are you going to do?' to which i could only reply 'i don't know, but don't worry, it will be great!' Since I always listen to my beloved (and occasionally do as she suggests :-) I just let it flow, played Indian flute and Soprano Sax, created some spontaneous accompanying textures with the help of a loop device and gave the audience the opportunity to join me with their voices in simple toning. I was 'in the zone' almost immediately and really enjoyed it. It was finished after 30 minutes and we all stayed in a deep silence for a while before the applause came. People's feedback was very positive, 'beautiful', 'powerfully present', 'a caressing musical yourney echoing and moving through you'. Eckhart said afterwards that, when entering the hall after my performance, he felt the energy had deepened (unfortunately he could not hear me in the backstage room and needs to be in silence before his talk). His wife Kim Eng was sitting front row, though, and was very touched. So who knows, we may work together again — I am looking forward to it!

PS- the 3 videos of the concert are on youtube and can also be watched on my website

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