Only people who don’t understand the state of presence do things for other reasons that relate to the future or the past. “I hate this job but I gotta pay the bills I incurred last year. But soon it’s quitting time and I can get out of here.” If we live in the present moment we understand that we only want to do things that bring more happiness and growth.
And if there are necessary jobs we don’t like to do, such as cleaning the toilet, we find ways to make that experience more enjoyable.
Eckhart Tolle does not advocate sitting around in squalor while we contemplate the glories of the present moment. Part of living in the present moment is applying the talents and abilities we brought to this planet. This includes “cleaning up the mess we made.” This includes living in a beautiful and natural environment. All of that takes work, which is what we came here to do—not escape into a fantasy world because we cannot control the antics of the ego-mind and give up all activity.