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The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler Psychiatrist Howard Cutler interviews the Dalai Lama and blends psychology with Buddhist meditations and stories. The Dalai Lama talks about how to defeat depression, anxiety, anger and jealousy through meditation. 1998, Riverside |
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The Best American Spiritual Writing 2004 Philip Zaleski, ed. The latest in an annual series that includes a mixture of essays and poetry: writers include Rick Bass on the moral necessity of wilderness, Natalie Goldberg on the Zen of writing, and other well-known writers such as Oliver Sacks and Mark Doty. Joseph Epstein’s essay begins: “Of the seven deadly sins, only envy is no fun at all.” This wide-ranging collection of contemporary spiritual reflection is a thought-provoking and poignant read. 2004, Houghton Mifflin |
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Care of the Soul: A Guide for Cultivating Depth and Sacredness in Everyday Life Thomas Moore The internationally renowned former Catholic monk offers a philosophy for living that involves accepting one’s humanity rather than struggling to transcend it. By nurturing the soul in everyday life Moore shows how to cultivate dignity, peace and depth of character. 1994, Perennial |
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Contemplative Prayer Thomas Merton and Thich Nhat Hanh Written close to the end of Merton’s life , this book is not so much a “how to” guide as it is a kind of contemplation of contemplation. Merton stresses that in meditation it is important to cultivate an attitude or an outlook: faith, openness, attention, reverence, expectation, supplication, trust and joy. Thich Nhat Hanh’s foreword relates his own meditation work to that of Merton’s. 1971, Image |
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Conversations With God: An Uncommon Dialogue Neale Donald Walsch Neale Walsch isn’t starting a new religion; he’s just a frustrated man who sat down one day with pen in hand and some tough questions in his heart. As he wrote his questions to God, he realized that God was answering them. The result turns out to be matter of fact, in your face wisdom on how to get by in life while remaining true to yourself and your spirituality. 1996, Putnam |
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Conversations With God: An Uncommon Dialogue (Book 3) Neale Donald Walsch Book 3 moves from individual and global issues to "universal truths," which apply to all levels of existence. Walsch explores many of the subjects people are prone to ponder under starry evening skies: what happens when we die, what is time, are we alone in the universe. Clearly the universe is a very intriguing place; Conversations with God Book 3 makes clear that we can understand the universe if we so choose. 1998, Hampton Roads Publishing Company |
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Creation Spirituality: Liberating Gifts for the Peoples of the Earth Matthew Fox Fox challenges developed countries to become awe-inspired by the beauty of the universe and its gifts and to develop a reverence for our planet. He describes awe as a mystical response to creation and the first step toward transformation. Creation Spirituality challenges readers of every religious and political persuasion to unite in a new vision through which we learn to honor the earth and the people who inhabit it. 1991, HarperSanFrancisco |
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Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism Chogyam Trungpa This book exposes the dangerous and destructive method by which spirituality is typically approached: as something to be developed, learned through discipline or otherwise achieved. Trungpa outlines a more open, direct and yet more challenging way to experience Mind beyond the self through correct meditation: true liberation inevitably involves letting go of the self rather than working to improve it. 2002, Shambala |
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The Essential Rumi Coleman Barks These exquisite renderings of the thirteenth century Persian mystic’s words into American free verse capture all the “inner searching, the delicacy and simple groundedness” that characterize Rumi’s poetry while remaining faithful to the images, tone and spiritual message of the originals. 1997, HarperSanFrancisco |
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Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement with Everyday Life
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi In his research the author found that people were happiest when most absorbed in their actions, a state he termed “flow.” This book addresses how people can make choices in the here and now to increase their sense of joy and happiness. 1998, Basic Books |
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Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life : How to Finally, Really Grow Up James Hollis James Hollis states in this compelling book that the feeling that you've been living the wrong life, that you're lost and confused, is "an insurgency of the soul," which "overthrows the conscious conduct of our lives." This mental suffering presents an opportunity to embark on a journey transcending expectations foisted on us by others, such as parents, and to find true self knowledge. This book is a helpful guide to this journey. 2005, Amazon | ||
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The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom Don Miguel Ruiz Shamanic teacher and healer Don Miguel Ruiz exposes self-limiting beliefs and presents a simple yet effective code of personal conduct. The four agreements are: be impeccable with your word, don’t take anything personally, don’t make assumptions, always do your best. This is a memorable and wise little book. 1997, Amber-Allen Publishing |
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Going to Pieces Without Falling Apart Mark Epstein For decades western psychology has promised fulfillment through building and strengthening the ego. We are taught that the ideal is a strong individuated self constructed and reinforced over a lifetime. But Buddhist psychiatrist Epstein shows us that happiness doesn’t come from any kind of acquisitiveness, be it material or psychological; happiness comes from letting go. Epstein shows how “the happiness that we seek depends on our ability to balance the ego’s need to do with our inherent capacity to be.” 1999, Broadway |
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How, Then, Shall We Live: Four Simple Questions That Reveal the Beauty and Meaning of our Lives Wayne Muller The four “simple questions” Muller reflects upon are: Who am I?; What do I love?; How shall I live, knowing I will die?; and What is my gift to the family of the earth? With compassion and sensitivity he explores the nuances of these deep existential and spiritual concerns, offering exercises and practices to deepen the reader’s exploration. 1996, Bantam Dell |
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How to Be an Adult: A Handbook on Psychological and Spiritual Integration David Richo Using the metaphor of the hero’s journey, Richo says there are three primary challenges to attaining adulthood: fear, anger and guilt. The challenge of adult intimate relationship is that of maintaining personal boundaries while establishing appropriate intimacy with the Other. He outlines primary techniques of integration, including flexibility, befriending the Shadow, openness to the Self, and unconditional love. 1991, Paulist Press |
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Illuminata: Thoughts, Prayers, Rites of Passage
Marianne Williamson According to this book, prayer “ . . . changes people at a cellular level, and with each one who changes, others are brought miraculously closer to enlightenment.” Marianne Williamson meditates on the nature of prayer in its collective power and offers actual prayers that address our hopes and struggles. We are reminded that the purpose of prayer is not to gain an object of desire, relief from problems or even discernable results: the purpose is to experience God. 1994, Random House |
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Infinite Life: Seven Virtues for Living Well
Robert Thurman Thurman invites readers to recognize that our lives and even our moment-to-moment choices have eternal ramifications. He challenges students to understand that this is the path to freeing ourselves and the rest of the world from suffering. 2004, Riverhead Books |
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| Infinite Possibilities: The Art of Living Your Dreams Mike Dooley This 12-CD (or cassette) audio series is filled with encouragement – to think and dream larger, to grow into the belief that dreams can be actualized. Not a “motivational” series, but a playful and philosophical approach to life which affirms that abundance, health and harmony are your birthright. Dooley addresses beliefs which nurture success and happiness, your emotions and how to understand them, and includes many tools and techniques for the art of living your dreams. more 2002, Totally Unique Thoughts |
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The Lazy Man’s Guide to Enlightenment Thaddeus Golas Originally published in 1972, this underground classic teaches how to improve the quality of life and to determine what is real. The book is full of useful tips on how to live a more conscious life. 1995, Gibbs Smith Publishers |
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Legacy of the Heart: The Spiritual Advantages of a Painful Childhood Wayne Muller In this remarkable book, Dr. Muller suggests that our woundedness contains powerful resources for healing and spiritual growth. Written with compassion and insight, the book offers exercises and meditations to aid the healing process. 1992, Simon and Schuster |
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Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World Henri Nouwen In an open letter to a troubled friend, Nouwen ponders significant questions: What is our place in the world in God’s eyes? How can we blend service and spiritual worship with the harshness of the everyday world? How can we, each imperfect and broken in our own way, feel beloved by the Almighty? This classic explains the spiritual life in terms the lay person can understand. 2002, Crossroad |
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Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness Sharon Salzberg Salzberg focuses on the Buddhist meditation practice that emphasizes feelings of love, happiness and compassion and offers practical guidance in performing this type of meditation. 2002, Shambhala |
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Man’s Search for Meaning Viktor Frankl This book is one of the most influential works of psychiatric literature since Freud. The first part is a deeply moving personal essay about Frankl’s imprisonment in Auschwitz for five years and his struggle to find reasons to live. The second part of the book describes the therapeutic method that Frankl pioneered as a result of his experiences. He believed that man’s deepest desire is to search for meaning and purpose. A classic book which is fascinating and powerful. 1997, Pocket Books |
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New Seeds of Contemplation Thomas Merton In this twentieth-century classic on the contemplative life, Merton wonderfully combines a disciplined and deeply learned intellect with the lyrical passion of the poet. It invites the reader to “cast our awful solemnity to the winds and join in the general dance.” 1972, New Directions Publishing |
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Notes From the Universe Mike Dooley An unusual book, made up of brief passages written by “The Universe” (God) to remind readers that they have indeed been given dominion over all things. Unconventional, humorous, deeply insightful. 2003, Totally Unique Thoughts |
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Open Mind, Open Heart: The Contemplative Dimension of the Gospel Thomas Keating Thomas Keating is a Trappist Monk, and this book is one of the best introductions to a specifically Christian form of meditation, Centering Prayer. He describes the practice of Centering Prayer with useful information in an informal context. 1994, Continuum Publishing |
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A Path With Heart: A Guide through the Perils and Promises of Spiritual Life Jack Kornfield Since 1974, Kornfield has been teaching Westerners how to integrate Eastern teaching into their daily lives. Through generous story-telling and unmitigated warmth, Kornfield presents this excellent guidebook on living with attentiveness, meditation and compassion. 1993, Bantam |
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Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith Anne Lamott "On my forty-ninth birthday, I decided that all of life was hopeless, and I would eat myself to death." So begins Anne Lamott's newest book in which she reflects on the state of the country and the state of her nerves and recounts with wonder and great good humor the surprising presence of God's love in her life. 2005, Riverhead This book was a Pick of the Month! Read David's full Book Review. |
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The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment Eckhart Tolle Tolle’s message is simple: living in the now is the truest path to happiness and enlightenment. He shares ideas about personal integration with uncommon eloquence and a deep understanding of the human condition. A spiritual guidebook that has the potential to inspire the reader to live more fully in the present. 1999, New World Library |
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Practicing the Power of Now: Essential Teachings, Meditations and Exercises From The Power of Now Eckhart Tolle This manual makes an excellent companion guide to Tolle’s The Power of Now and is rich in exercises and meditations to help readers get out of their minds so they can live more peacefully in their bodies. 2001, New World Library |
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Renewing the Covenant: A Kabbalistic Guide to Jewish Spirituality Leonora Leet Leet synthesizes historical, textual and linguistic analysis with Kabbalistic meditation. She distills the essence of the most basic Jewish customs – Sabbath observance and ritual prayer – and recovers early Jewish meditative practices. 1999, Inner Traditions |
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The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth Scott Peck With seven million copies in print, this classic primer on personal growth suggests that life is difficult and that personal growth is a complex, arduous and life-long task. The book guides readers gently through the hard and often painful process of change toward a higher level of self-understanding. 2003, Touchstone |
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Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal and Delight in our Busy Lives Wayne Muller We have lost the necessary rhythm of life: the balance between work and rest. Consequently, we may feel exhausted and deprived in the midst of great abundance. Muller talks in the book about how the tradition of Sabbath created an oasis of sacred time within a life of unceasing labor and shows us how in these harried times to create a special time of rest, delight and renewal. 2000, Bantam |
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Sacred Practices for Conscious Living Nancy Napier The author describes a worldview focused on the blending of spiritual and material realities and believes that we are co-creators of the life we experience. The book weaves together several themes – experiencing a sense of meaning in life, being aware of the sacred nature of all beings, understanding that everything that exists is part of the full expression of life, learning to be aware in the present moment, and embracing suffering as an inescapable part of the unpredictability and challenge of everyday life. 1997, Norton |
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Sacred Therapy : Jewish Spiritual Teachings on Emotional Healing and Inner Wholeness
Estelle Frankel Hasidic master Menachem Mendel taught, "there is nothing more whole than a broken heart." This fascinating book uses Biblical, Hasidic, Talmudic and Kabbalistic traditions to teach that healing begins with brokenness and leads to transformation, whole-heartedness, and renewel. 2004, Shambhala |
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Sadhana: The Realization of Life
Rabindranath Tagore This book is an excellent primer on classical Hinduism, beautifully conveying the loveliness of the vocal cadences of ancient Sanskrit (in translation). Sadhana is an enduring classic of world spiritual literature for its directness, simplicity and beauty of expression. Tagore's Sadhana delivers the message of the human connection to universal transcendence in hauntingly beautiful English prose. 1942, Kessinger Publishing |
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Seven Doors to Islam: Spirituality and the Religious Life of Muslims John Renard This book is a comprehensive tour of the exuberant landscape of Muslim religious life, past and present. Spanning the breadth of Islamic civilization from Morocco to Indonesia, Renard demonstrates how Muslims have used the literary and visual arts in all their richness and diversity to communicate the central role of spirituality in the Islamic tradition. 1996, University of California Press |
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The Seven Storey Mountain Thomas Merton In this powerful spiritual autobiography, Merton traces his conversion from atheism to Catholicism to a year he spent in Rome in which he visited the many ancient churches in the city. He visited a different church each day only to find that he was converted by the churches of Rome. In this book, he describes his early doubts, his conversion and his decision to take life vows as a Trappist Monk. 1999, Harcourt |
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Sex and spirit: Exploring Gay Men's Spirituality Robert Barzan This book is an exciting and provocative collection of essays highlighting a variety of approaches to spirituality. Essays address a twelfth century monastic community based on man-to-man love; the shamanic foundation of the Wizard of Oz; Zen as a tradition compatibile with gay male spirituality; and healthy sexuality and how it brings healing to the whole person. 1985, White Crane Press |
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Shambhala: Sacred Path of the Warrior
Chogyam Trungpa This deceptively simple book can alter your life. Trungpa teaches how to live an honorable life without violence. He uses examples from everyday life, showing how one can make a difference in the world by changing simple habits. 1988, Shambhala; Reissue edition |
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There’s a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem Wayne Dyer Drawing from various spiritual traditions, especially from the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, Dyer helps us unplug from the material world and awaken to the divine within. Dyer offers specific practical applications for everyday problems, including affirmations, writing exercises and guided meditations. 2003, Perennial Currents |
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Toward a Psychology of Awakening: Buddhism, Psychotherapy and the Path of Personal and Spiritual Transformation John Welwood This thoughtful work by long-time psychotherapist and Buddhist practitioner Welwood adds much to the emerging conversation about the path of development which embraces both personal psychology and the deeper reaches of the human spirit. Psychotherapists and spiritual seekers alike will be enriched by this book. 2002, Shambhala |
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The Way of the Body Prayer Path: Erotic Freedom and Spiritual Enlightenment Barnaby Barratt Dr. Barratt creates a modern synthesis of sexuality and spirituality, drawing on the ancient traditions of Tantra and the insights of modern psychoanalysis. This generous and uplifting book celebrates the interweaving of sex and spirit into one Holy Spirit. 2004, Xlibris Corporation |
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When All You Ever Wanted Isn’t Enough: The Search for a Life that Matters Harold Kushner In this rabbi’s sympathetic and readable guide, discontented people can find reasons to banish doubts on whether living is worthwhile. The author argues that the fear of uselessness is humanity’s ancient enemy. Citing the book of Ecclesiastes, Kushner delivers “a useful spiritual survival manual” and guides us to a heightened sense of joy, purpose, and meaning. 2002, Fireside |
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When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times Pema Chodron In the postscript to her book, the author says, “We live in difficult times. One senses a possibility they may get worse.” Her book is filled with useful advice about how Buddhism helps persons to cope with pain, fear and anxiety. She offers good news: there is a fundamental happiness readily available to each one of us, no matter how difficult things seem to be. 2000, Shambhala |
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Wrestling with the Angel: Faith and Religion in the Lives of Gay Men Brian Bouldrey This collection of autobiographical essays by gifted gay writers of varied social and racial backgrounds movingly documents the variety of gay spirituality. 1996, Riverhead Books |
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Your Sacred Self: Making the Decision to Be Free Wayne Dyer Dyer offers strategies for freeing oneself from the tyranny of ego and getting back in touch with the sacred self. He invites us to live each day with a greater sense of peace and fulfillment. The book describes a three-step program to help us understand our place in the world and develop a sense of satisfaction with ourselves and with others. 2001, Quill |
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