When I tried listening to one of Eckhart Tolle's [1] CDs a few years ago, I could barely stay awake. This was a bit of a problem, since my listening time was on the freeways of Los Angeles, some of the world's most frightening thoroughfares. So I did what any sensible person would; I went back to talk radio.

Now, however, the rest of the world has given me a clear sign (try 11 millions streams and downloads) that I missed the essence of Eckhart. Two of his titles have been numbers one and two on the New York Times [2] paperback advice bestseller list for months. One of them is approaching a year, although Skinny Bitch [3], with just one week to go, leaves ET (think about those initials, hmm?) in the dust. That's about to change, however. Now that Tolle's presented his 10-week class on network television with Oprah [4], we can expect to see him around for a long time.

I can count on my fingers the number of times I've watched Oprah, and they've all been when I was on the treadmill at the gym. Nothing against the woman; I was raised without TV, thus it's never been my entertainment of choice. Nonetheless, I'm duly impressed by her accomplishments, and particularly by her book club. She's been more successful in getting people to read than any English teacher in the country.

But what she's done with Tolle is nothing short of amazing. She's gotten network television to air a regular program on spiritual awareness. And just in case you missed the broadcast, you can download it for free [5] and watch it on your own schedule.

Catch this. Smack in the mix of war and freeway crashes and stock market near-crashes, network television actually aired 40 to 50 seconds of... silence! Yes, it's true. I watched a DVD of the fifth session at the Rogue Valley Metaphysical Bookstore [6] in Ashland, Oregon [7] tonight, and at the top of the show, there it was. Silence. If this program did nothing else, getting America to turn off the chatter for nearly a full minute is an amazing feat.

I enjoyed my hour of Oprah and Eckhart. I didn't hear anything particularly new, and Oprah's approach smacked more of Dr. Phil than enlightened guru, but somehow I came away feeling... well... better. Watching this self-effacing man with the contagious chuckle talk about being present reminded me to be present. Listening to him describe that alien creature inhabiting us all — the "pain body" we all truck around to a greater or lesser degree — offered a three-dimensional concept for interacting with a troubled acquaintance.

Afterward I met a friend at the Jackson Wellsprings [8]mineral spa for a soak under the stars, and when he asked how I accounted for ET's popularity, I was hard-pressed to answer. He's non-threatening? He's amiable? He speaks in simple language? I still don't know the answer, but I suspect I'll tune in for more. You might want to, too.