Many people get so caught up in the busy-ness of life that they don't appreciate the value of spiritual teachings until, perhaps, life delivers a little wake-up call and suddenly they find themselves struggling to make sense of it all, with neither map nor compass to help them. It is then that books such as these below can be invaluable. The ones I have chosen to recommend are all written by contemporary authors and they all point to the same underlying truths. In addition, I have looked for books which are not only interesting and informative, but which also contain down-to-earth, practical steps the reader can take to re-orient themselves towards a more peaceful, fulfilling and richer life.
The author, like so many other spiritual teachers before him, underwent his own death-and-rebirth process and found a place of deep peace within himself. From that place, this book emerged and struck a chord with millions of people worldwide. Its combination of simplicity with spiritual depth continues to resonate ten years after publication, and the author's wisdom and humility shine through.
by Eckhart Tolle
In his more recent book, the author revisits some of the themes of The Power of Now, yet he manages to keep the writing as fresh and inspirational as ever. His stated intention is that the book, if it resonates, will activate an experiential realization of the simple truths it contains in the reader, and it certainly seems to have picked up where its predecessor left off.
I saw Byron Katie demonstrate 'The Work' as she calls it when this book first came out, and I have been a big fan of hers ever since. Her 'four questions and turnaround' technique is unparalleled when it comes to unraveling limiting beliefs and false ego identifications. What is most striking is how extraordinarily 'ordinary' Katie is which makes her work all the more accessible.
Katie takes the same simple formula and applies it to the complex arena of personal relationships, demonstrating over and over again that no-one else needs to change in order for you to be at peace. And the paradox, of course, is that when you are at peace within yourself, the people around you seem to change!
Katie's recent offering combines wisdom from the taoist tradition contributed by her husband, Stephen Mitchell, my favourite modern translator of the Tao Te Ching, together with her own personal insight and experience on how beautiful life is when we drop our objections to it.
This is a book about friendship, yet it is so much more than that. The author digs deeply into his own celtic roots and pulls up nuggets of gold which appear on every page. A beautifully-written, poetic work which you can return to again and again for spiritual refreshment.
The title says it all! Being on a spiritual path is all well and good, maybe you will even experience a little bliss here and there, but don't get too attached to it. Kornfield, a western Buddhist teacher and psychologist describes with humour and compassion the trials and tribulations of integrating spirituality into daily life.
One of the wisdom teachings is to choose a path or a practice - it doesn't matter what - and stick to it. The best path of course, is the one 'with heart', which you can dedicate your body and soul to through good times and bad, and in this there are as many paths as there are people. This book is a user's guide to finding your own true spiritual practice.
The christian terminology is not to everyone's liking, but the stated aim of this book is to correct the thinking that causes you to suffer, and to replace it with an experiential awareness of the love and peace that is your true nature. Includes a workbook with recommended daily exercises for a whole year. If you work with it, you will feel different, its as simple as that.