Was just thinking about some of the great spiritual books that I have read over the past 20 years or so - books that have been of significant help “on the path…” I thought I would share them with you all. I’m also looking forward to checking out your favorites as well!!
A Gradual Awakening - Stephen Levine: This is one of the earliest spiritual/meditation books that I read. I had lent my copy to a friend many years ago and lost track of it. I recently found a used copy and re-read it. I found it to be just as profound as I did so many years ago. A real gem!
The Sun My Heart - Thich Nhat Hanh: My dear “root” teacher… I have read so many of his books, but for some reason this one has remained a favorite.
A Still Forest Pool; The Insight Meditation of Achaan Chah - compiled by Jack Kornfield: I believe this to be one of the truly inspiring books for meditation practice. As a facilitator for a meditation group in my town, I have used every part of this book when imparting teachings.
Zen Mind, Beginners Mind - Shunryu Suzuki: What can I say? A classic that is a constant source of inspiration.
The Voice of Knowledge - Don Miguel Ruiz: Along with “The Four Agreements”, which I first heard about on this forum, The Voice of Knowledge is a simple, concise book that has really helped spark my interest in self inquiry.
Self Inquiry - Yogani: I have just finished reading this for the second time, and found it to be profound and very helpful, as are all of Yogani’s books I have read.
Silence of the Heart - Dialogues with Robert Adams: A very influential and interesting book which has led me to numerous “ah-hah’s”!
An Open Heart - HH The Dalai Lama: What can I say? Bodhicitta!!
Awareness - Anthony de Mello: Another book that I discovered through this forum. A beautiful, uplifting light of a book! More ah-hah’s!!
Who Ordered This Truckload of Dung? - Ajahn Brahm: For all the little (and big) hits that we get during our lifetime, this is a funny and very bright beacon on dealing with all the “stuff” we encounter on the path.
Apart from these 10, I have to mention that snippets from books by Adyashanti, Sailor Bob (“What’s wrong with right now unless you think about it?”) and Ajahn Sumedho (“All thoughts are garbage”) have all been very helpful in my practice!
But, after all is said… I have found all these writings to be great “pointers”, but have found that words, while helpful, can be very limiting. The silence of meditation and the light of Bodhicitta remain my greatest friends and teachers on the path.
At any rate… TAG - You’re IT! Let’s hear some of yours!!
The Spiritual Science of Kriya Yoga by Goswami Kriyananda.
Kunlun by Max Christensen.
Who am I? by Ramana Maharshi.
The Dhammapada translated by Ananda Maitreya.
Tao Te Ching.
Web That Has No Weaver by Ted K.
Hatha Yoga Pradipika.
Qi Gong for Total Wellness by Baolin Wu (just found this one).
The Way of Qigong by Kenneth Cohen.
And for number 11 …I really like a lot of stuff in the Bible. Especially Jesus’ sayings, and also OT stuff like Proverbs/Ecclesiastes/Job…
1 The spirit and practice of moving into stillness…Erich Schiffmann
…Give yourself an internal massage everyday and feel wonderful!
2 Zen and the art of happiness…Chis Prentiss
…Everything happens for a reason…even my crappy heart genes.
3 Tao Te Ching
…all you need to know in clever short little poems
4 New Testament…various authors…I like John
…Focus on the red and save yourself a lot of confusion
5 Bhagavad Gita…commentary by Sri Satchidanada
…live your life without desire and dedicate the fruits to God.
6 Integral Yoga…Yoga Sutras of Patanjali…commentary by Sri Satchidananda
…still your mind.
7 Fire without fuel…Baba Hari Dass
…God inspired aphorisms to guide the way.
8 Be here now…Ram Dass
…the transition from a drug induced high to a God induced HIGH!
9 The teachings of Yogi Bhajan … Yogi Bhajan
…In the beginning was the word = vibration = spanda = resonance with the universe!
10 Deep meditation…Yogani
…I am = AYAM = iaaAAAYYYAAAMMMmm~ = outpouring divine LOVE!
“Illusions” by Richard Bach: Not the best book on spirituality, but definitely the one that started me on the path twenty some years ago when I was still in Junior High.
The Tao of Physics: Helped me realize the connection between science and spirituality.
The Road Less Traveled: I read this when I was 20 and I think it was the first book to get me to really look at who I was and what I was doing with my life.
The Art of Happiness: Helped to further fuel my interest in Tibetan Buddhism and the Dalia Lama.
The Indestructible Truth:Fascinating history of Tibetan Buddhism.
Secret of the Vajra World: By the same author. I’ve read this one a couple of times and still don’t understand most of it, but I’m really drawn to it anyway.
Anything by Eckhart Tolle: His books are like a powerful mantra for me.
Happy for No Good Reason: Very easy to understand and practical.
The Yoga of Kashmir Shavaism: I’m reading this one now. Great introduction to Kashmir Shavaism. Also by Swami Shankrananda
Siddhartha: Herman Hesse is one of my favorite novelists.
Saint Francis:#12288;Also a novel, by Kazantzakis, but a lot of wisdom in it I think.
Siddhartha by Herman Hesse
The Way of the Bodhisattva by Shantideva (8th century indian buddhist scholar and saint)
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach (amazing)
The Alchemist by Pablo Cohelo (very good and enjoyable with spiritual wisdoms & insights)
I AM THAT by Nisargadatta Maharaj (reading it now)
Yogani’s Lessons
Dhammapada by the Buddha
They’re not in order, I like all of them. can’t find other 2.
I don’t have a lit of 10 books.
But I do have a The Journey to Awakening.
Here is this book Ram Dass shares his understanding and explores the many paths of meditation-from mantra, prayers, singing, visualization, and just “sitting” to movement meditations such as t’ai chi and suggests how you can find a method suitable for you.
Witty and humurous advice on overcoming difficulties along the way.
Excellent threat!
1.Alamut (Vladimir Bartol).(Non exactly spiritual book.But it show you the risks and dangers of religious fanatism).
2.Autobiography of a yogi (Yogananda).
3.A path with hearth (Kornfield).
4.I am That (N.Maharah)
5.Bhakti and Karma Yoga.The science of devotion and liberation through action. (Yogani).
Yeah, I think Kirtanman would appreciate this book…
Siddhartha would probably be my #11.
Steven, have you read “Buddha” by Deepak Chopra? It’s not bad if you liked Siddhartha. It’s a longer read, and is more modern but in a similar vein. You might enjoy it.
Peace brother
cosmic
Just finished it about a month ago. I liked it very much. It goes a little more into depth about his life as well as giving a lot information about other people that were in his life at the time.
Emptiness Dancing by Adyashanti is another book that would have made it into my top ten, but I’m re-reading it and pondering the meaning, so I didn’t list it here. This one has made a very big impact on me, though I haven’t puzzled out exactly how yet.
Thanks everyone for putting your top 10 up here. Now I have a lot more books that I want and need to add to my collection despite the fact that I don’t have enough bookshelves for the ones I already own.
If you like books on the life of the Buddha, I would like to highly recommend Old Path, White Clouds - Walking in the Footsteps of the Buddha, by Thich Nhat Hanh.
Blessings
Phil
To throw a new curve into this thread, if you could recommend only ONE book to someone who was interested in the spiritual path, what would it be… and… using the old “if you were stranded on a desert island” what ONE book would you want with you?
…I really like a lot of stuff in the Bible. Especially Jesus’ sayings, and also OT stuff like Proverbs/Ecclesiastes/Job…
