The Tao Te Ching, by Lao Tzu
“The supreme good is like water; it effortlessly nourishes all things.”
The Gospel of Thomas
This ancient text shows that Jesus had a sense of humor, and wanted everyone to understand the Kingdom of Heaven is here and now.
Maharshi's Gospel - The Teachings of Ramana Maharshi, by Maurice Frydman
This is a clear and beautiful presentation of Ramana Maharshi's essential teachings.
The Enchiridion (The Handbook), by Epictetus
“People are disturbed not by things, but the view which they take of things.”
The Relationship Handbook, by George Pransky
People are troubled in relationships because they're thinking troubled thoughts. When they stop trying to fix their relationship or partner, their positive feelings return. This advice may seem overly simple, but it comes from a marriage therapist with 40 years of experience.
Love is Letting Go of Fear, by Jerry Jampolsky
Love is already present; we just need to let go of anxiety.
The Autobiography of a Yogi, by Paramahansa Yogananda
The compelling story of one man's spiritual journey, beautifully written with loving humor in every sentence.
On Having No Head, by Douglas Harding
If you're not used to exploring the nature of consciousness, start with this book. Harding helps you “see” your own consciousness by seeing something obvious about your experience that you might have overlooked.
Consciousness Is All, by Peter Dziuban
Dziuban is the next step after you've read Harding. Once you “see” you are conscious, you will realize consciousness is all there really is.
That Which Is, by Alfred Aiken
Aiken is Dziuban's inspiration, and one of the first authors to clearly show the spiritual solution is the non-existence of the problem.
Science and Health, by Mary Baker Eddy
This book inspired Aiken and the New Thought and New Age movements. If you've read any contemporary spiritual book, a lot of its ideas were probably derived from Science and Health.
God is fundamental existence or “I Am.” The belief that we're separate from God is mistaken, and our sense of limitation is caused by this incorrect belief.
Mary Baker Eddy is profiled in Atlantic Magazine's The 100 Most Influential Americans of All Time.
The Power of Now, Stillness Speaks, and A New Earth, by Eckhart Tolle
This trilogy of well-written books beautifully summarize the essence of spiritual truth.
I Am That, by Nisargadatta Maharaj
This collection of powerful and witty dialogues will convince you of your capacity to destroy the illusion that imprisons you in a limited sense of existence.
Happiness and the Art of Being, by Michael James
We've all heard the expression: “Enlightenment is where you are not.” Michael James demonstrates that the cause of suffering is mental activity in this wide-ranging and comprehensive spiritual work.
The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, by Deepak Chopra
Whether we're interested in spirituality or not, we all want things to go well. With this clear summary of centuries of spiritual guidance, Chopra shows that the best way to change our lives is to change ourselves.
You Can Be Happy No Matter What, by Richard Carlson
A psychologist elegantly summarizes the essence of the world's wisdom traditions.
The Wisdom Within, by Roger Mills and Elsie Spittle
A psychologist and spiritual teacher team up to show why we already have what we seek.
A Duet of One and The Essence of the Ashtavakra Gita, by Ramesh Balsekar
The source of all our trouble is getting involved in mental activity. “If you detach yourself from identification with the body-mind and remain relaxed in and as Consciousness, you will, this very moment, be happy, at peace, and free from bondage.”
Question Your Thinking: Change the World, by Byron Katie
This wonderful collection of spiritual sayings conveys truth with humor and precision.
The Conscious Universe, by Dean Radin
This rigorously researched book explores decades of empirical evidence suggesting that the world is not split between conscious agents and unconscious objects, as we've been taught to believe.
After, by Bruce Greyson, M.D.
One of the world's most esteemed academic psychiatrists presents the evidence for the continuation of life.
Healing Dreams, by Marc Ian Barasch
A brilliant and humorous exploration of how our nightly dreams are much more powerful and revealing than we realize.
Gone Boy: A Walkabout, by Gregory Gibson
When Gibson's son, Galen, is killed in a shooting, he seeks healing by investigating every detail of the incident. He gets to know the shooter, his family, the person who sold the gun, the security guards and administrators of the college where the shooting occurred, and every aspect of the shooting and the events that led up to it.
Gibson had hoped to determine who was primarily to blame for his son's death. After years of research, he couldn't find anyone to “blame,” not even the shooter himself. This book is full of profound revelations about human life and the nature of causation. The writing is beautiful and surprising.
A Wind in the Door, by Madeleine L'Engle
This novel for teenagers and young adults is life-transforming at any age. It's a profound exploration of the power of love; the fact that things are not as they seem, and the infinite importance of everyone and everything.
Happiness, by Matthieu Ricard
Matthieu is a biochemist—and the son of a famous scientist—who traveled to Nepal to become a Buddhist monk. As a young man, Matthieu had known brilliant scientists and talented artists, but he didn't want to be like any of them. He wanted to be happy.
Happiness is not a fleeting emotion - it's living in the context of an immense serenity.