recommended readings

[SecretSeven]

Does anyone have any recommended readings? Anything that has blown you away, changed your life, or enlightened you? If so, could you please share the links, or name of the readings here. Thanks!!

[Shamou]

Here is the link... Good reading...

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[SecretSeven]

When I say life changing books, I mean books that made you think outside the norm. That gave you a new perspective, but I don't necessarily mean "self help" books

[reflections]

Siddhartha by Herman Hesse made me reflect and think in many different ways.

Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa was also very inspirational.

[Groundless]

Originally Posted by SecretSeven

Does anyone have any recommended readings? Anything that has blown you away, changed your life, or enlightened you? If so, could you please share the links, or name of the readings here. Thanks!!

By Far:

I Am That by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

Second place, because it started me down a path:

When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodran

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by SecretSeven

When I say life changing books, I mean books that made you think outside the norm. That gave you a new perspective, but I don't necessarily mean "self help" books

Try "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" by Robert Pirsig...

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[ginkgo]

I have read an enormous amount of spiritual books. The oldest writings known to man are the Vedas and Upanishads. The former are superstitious rites and rituals, but the Upanishads are great. They talk about the states of sleep like dreaming and dreamless sleep. One of them is my favorite is the Katha Upanishad (takes 20 minutes to read).

It is about the one thing that everyone knows exists but pretend does not exist-- death. Mr N gets 3 wishes from the god of death. After the first 2 he then wants to know the secret of life and death and the god of death begs him to pick something else. Finallly he teaces him.

Here are 2 part from it. "When a person dies, there rises this doubt:
'He still exists' say some; 'he does not.'"

"They say yoga is this complete stillness
In which one enters the unitive state."

For a great life changing movie see the comedy Groundhog Day. The same day keeps repeating itself.

For a life changing short article online, see What is Enlightenment.

[letthingsbe]

Sanctuary, by Buronson (sho fumimura and ryoichi ikegami)

This is in my opinion the best book and any kind of product that humanity has ever created. Yes, big words. A small word of warning though that it is a bit vulgar and has some controversial scenes male to female, so if you're under 16 don't read it. You can find it here:

Amazon.com: Sanctuary (Volume 9): Sho Fumimura, Ryoichi Ikegami: Books

As this book is rare and hard to find, rather old now too (1993) and it's hard to find to buy, it's been posted on internet on not perfectly legal terms (copyright issue) but for the sake of progress, development and humanity it's a good thing it's available to people http://www.mangatraders.com/manga/series/325 or here Manga Underground v3.1♥|♥Archive♥|♥Manga Uploads as a torrent on the right side.

[Old Soul]

Originally Posted by SecretSeven

Does anyone have any recommended readings? Anything that has blown you away, changed your life, or enlightened you? If so, could you please share the links, or name of the readings here. Thanks!!

yes!! this one is my absolut favorite thus far


On Becoming an Alchemist, Catherine MacCoun, Book - Barnes & Noble

Synopsis

Many regard alchemy as a metaphor for inner transformation. But this is only half the story. According to Catherine MacCoun, alchemy is no mere metaphor. It’s real magic. Transforming the inner world is, for the alchemist, a way to transform the outer world. Through studying the principles of alchemy, we can achieve extraordinary effects from ordinary actions by understanding how the world really works. We can perceive the hidden connections between the spiritual and the material worlds. Knowledge of these connections enables us to influence external phenomena through the powers of heart and mind alone. Yet alchemy is not, like some forms of magic, the exercise of mind over matter. It is the art of taking what already exists—whatever presents itself—and transmuting the harmful into the helpful, the useless into the valuable.On Becoming an Alchemist initiates us into these secrets, showing us how to think, perceive, and operate as an alchemist. It offers practical advice and exercises that will help the modern magician to:

● Understand and apply basic principles of alchemy● Transmute setbacks, failures, and losses into sources of magical power● Navigate one’s inner world with poise, confidence, and common sense● Intuitively show up in the right place at the right time to benefit from magical coincidences● Discover the potentials latent in any situation by awakening subtle perception

[spacedout]

Originally Posted by SecretSeven

When I say life changing books, I mean books that made you think outside the norm. That gave you a new perspective, but I don't necessarily mean "self help" books

The following have given me that and more:

The Upanishads - Written by many wise sages 800 to 400 BCE. They tell stories and give advice on how to be pure in mind and spirit. Relatively short sayings.

The Bhagavad-Gita - Contains 700 poetic verses depicing a conversation between a warrior (Arjuna) and Krishna (God).

Books of The New Testament - Reading what Jesus supposedly said is life changing. The saying may or may not be exactly what Jesus said but, none-the-less, it's about as close as we are going to get.

The Book of Thomas - Although this is a non-canonical gospel, it, like the Books of The New Testament, is also life changing.

The Yoga Sutras - This ancient text sews together short and to-the-point thoughts about how one can relate the the Self. It is this relationship that all things have that forms the basis of yoga.

The Golden Present - Short talks from Sri Swami Satchidananda, one of the wisest people of the 20th Century.

Before I Am - Dialogues with Mooji, a spiritual master of the Advaita tradition. His talks opened by mind to new and wonderful experiences.

You Can Develop Pure Awareness - A small but very powerful book. 25 exercises that helped me gain a higher consciousness.