The best spiritual books Ever
This is a list of the books that people who visit my various spiritual sites love and have been buying most in 2010. As you can see, Buddhism is popular beyond anything else, though Khalil Gibran and the Tao Te Ching also made the list. I will update this list a few times till the end of this year, however don’t expect the top books to change: they have too much of a head start.
In The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching, Thich Nhat Hanh introduces us to the core teachings of Buddhism and shows us that the Buddha’s teachings are accessible and applicable to our daily lives. With poetry and clarity, Nhat Hanh imparts comforting wisdom about the nature of suffering and its role in creating compassion, love, and joy all qualities of enlightenment. Covering such significant teachings as the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, the Three Doors of Liberation, the Three Dharma Seals, and the Seven Factors of Awakening, The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching is a radiant beacon on Buddhist thought for the initiated and uninitiated alike.
“Buddhism Plain and Simple” offers a clear, straightforward treatise on Buddhism in general and on awareness in particular. Steve Hagen presents the Buddha’s uncluttered, original teachings in everyday, accessible language unencumbered by religious ritual.
In this modern spiritual classic, the world spiritual leader and Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh shows how to adapt simple Zen principles for daily living and the way to peace–the first practical book on the subject since Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind. Peace Is Every Step offers ways to use everyday events–washing dishes, eating a meal, sitting in traffic–in the quest for peace and fulfilment.
As human beings, we possess one common desire the need for happiness and a meaningful life. According to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the ability to find true fulfillment lies within each of us. Now, the spiritual and temporal leader of Tibet, Nobel Prize winner, and best-selling author helps readers begin the path to enlightenment in a very special book — an easy-access reference for daily practice as well as stunning illumination of the timeless wisdom of His Holiness.How to Practice will guide you toward opening your heart, refraining from doing harm, maintaining mental tranquility, and more. Divided into a series of distinct steps that will lead spiritual seekers of all faiths toward enlightenment, this accessible book is a constant and daily companion in the quest to practice morality, meditation, and wisdom. The Dalai Lama shows us how to overcome our everyday obstacles, from feelings of anger and mistrust to jealousy, insecurity, and counter-productive…
The enduring wisdom of the Tao Te Ching can become a companion for your own spiritual journey. Reportedly written by a sage named Lao Tzu over 2500 years ago, the Tao Te Ching is one of the most succinct—and yet among the most profound—spiritual texts ever written. Short enough to read in an afternoon, subtle enough to study for a lifetime, the Tao Te Ching distils into razor-sharp poetry centuries of spiritual inquiry into the Tao—the “Way” of the natural world around us that reveals the ultimate organizing principle of the universe. Derek Lin’s insightful commentary, along with his new translation from the original Chinese—a translation that sets a whole new standard for accuracy—will inspire your spiritual journey and enrich your everyday life. It highlights the Tao Te Ching’s insights on simplicity, balance, and learning from the paradoxical truths you can see all around you: finding strength through flexibility (because bamboo bends, it is tough to break); achieving goals by transcending obstacles (water simply flows around rocks on its way to the sea); believing that small changes bring powerful results (a sapling, in time, grows into a towering tree). Now you can experience the wisdom and power of Lao Tzu’s words even if you have no previous knowledge of the Tao Te Ching. SkyLight Illuminations provides insightful yet unobtrusive commentary that describes helpful historical background, explains the Tao Te Ching’s poetic imagery, and elucidates the ancient Taoist wisdom that will speak to your life today and energize your spiritual quest.
On The Beginner’s Guide to Buddhism, author and teacher Jack Kornfield immerses you in this time-honored approach to living fully and compassionately in the present moment. Join him as he illuminates Buddhism’s most essential teachings, and how they make it possible to overcome the mental states that challenge us every day, such as fear, selfishness, confusion, and anger. Complete with authentic meditations to get you started.
In audio.
The Prophet, by Khalil Gibran is one of America’s most purchased and beloved books. An excellent gift for people of any age, full of wisdom and simple poetry, addressing twenty seven topics of our daily lives. Elegant paper back edition, enhanced by drawings of the renowned Aubrey Beardsley. An evergreen bestseller.
Joyful Effort, Right Livelihood, Compassionate Living, Freedom from Suffering -such principles offer healing balance to the hectic pursuit of the American Dream and explain why Buddhism is the fastest growing religion in the West. In Buddhism, many seekers find their true path to peace and happiness, regardless of hardship. This lavishly illustrated gift book includes The story of Prince Siddhartha and Buddhism’s spread throughout Asia; Basic beliefs of Buddhism, emphasizing the Tibetan, Zen, and Theravada traditions; Inspiring quotes from teachers such as the Dalai Lama; Practical instruction on how to meditate and what to expect when visiting a Buddhist center. Readers new to Buddhism as well as experienced practitioners will appreciate this accessible guidebook for living in harmony with ourselves, our communities, and our world.
An updated edition of a beloved classic, the original book on happiness, with new material from His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Dr. Howard Cutler. Nearly every time you see him, he’s laughing, or at least smiling. And he makes everyone else around him feel like smiling. He’s the Dalai Lama, the spiritual and temporal leader of Tibet, a Nobel Prize winner, and a hugely sought-after speaker and statesman. Why is he so popular? Even after spending only a few minutes in his presence you can’t help feeling happier.If you ask him if he’s happy, even though he’s suffered the loss of his country, the Dalai Lama will give you an unconditional yes. What’s more, he’ll tell you that happiness is the purpose of life, and that “the very motion of our life is toward happiness.” How to get there has always been the question. He’s tried to answer it before, but he’s never had the help of a psychiatrist to get the message across in a context we can easily understand.The Art of Happiness is the book that started the genre of happiness books, and it remains the cornerstone of the field of positive psychology.Through conversations, stories, and meditations, the Dalai Lama shows us how to defeat day-to-day anxiety, insecurity, anger, and discouragement. Together with Dr. Howard Cutler, he explores many facets of everyday life, including relationships, loss, and the pursuit of wealth, to illustrate how to ride through life’s obstacles on a deep and abiding source of inner peace. Based on 2500 years of Buddhist meditations mixed with a healthy dose of common sense, The Art of Happiness is a book that crosses the boundaries of traditions to help readers with difficulties common to all human beings. After being in print for ten years, this book has touched countless lives and uplifted spirits around the world.
Like the Buddha himself, the Dalai Lama, with his ever-smiling face, reaches out to people in ways that connect to their individual mental dispositions, abilities, and everyday realities. Buddhism, which never seeks to proselytize, has been made accessible by the Dalai Lama to both non-Buddhists and Buddhists alike so that we may all learn from one of the most valuable strands of our shared heritage.This fascinating book brings together extracts from some of His Holiness’s most powerful writings and talks. As he explains the elements of the Buddha’s teachings and the basic practices of meditation, he also engages and reconciles the innovations of modern science with Buddhist perspectives. Ultimately, His Holiness calls for the celebration of diversity and the recognition of interdependence that breeds a sense of Universal Responsibility—which must govern all of our relationships in this increasingly fragmented world.Serving as the perfect introduction to the Dalai Lama’s philosophy, both Buddhist and secular, In my own words is an introduction to the Dalai Lama is just the book for gleaning insights into the mind of one of the world’s greatest spiritual icons.