I search the internet to find interesting books that look good though I have not checked then out yet.
Abounding Grace
M. Scott Peck (Editor)
An anthology of quotations about happiness, courage,
compassion, purity, perseverance, courtesy, faith, goodness,
love, respect, strength, and wisdom. Peck edited the
quotations from a larger collection supplied by a friend and
offers his own insights and stories about the nature of each
of these virtues.
A Brief Reader on the Virtues of the Human Heart
Josef Pieper, Lothar Krauth (Translator)
A Joseph Campbell Companion: Reflections on the Art of
Living
Diane K. Osbon (Editor)
Celebrated scholar Joseph Campbell shares his intimate and
inspiring reflections on the art of living in this
beautifully packaged book, part of a new series to be based
on his unpublished writings.
A Return to Love
Marianne Williamson
Williamson reveals how we each can become a miracle worker
by accepting God and by the expression of love in our daily
lives. Whether psychic pain is in the area of relationships,
career, or health, she shows us how love is a potent force,
the key to inner peace, and how by practicing love we can
make our own lives more fulfilling while creating a more
peaceful and loving world for our children.
Sacred Moments: Daily Meditations on the Virtues
Linda Kavelin Popov
This day-by-day book of meditations helps readers
contemplate the nature of virtue with the use of quotes for
each day of the year. Pulled from the world's sacred texts
and from the storehouse of wisdom of intellectuals, artists,
writers, and philosophers, these meditations on the gift
within are sure to inspire.
The Book of Virtues: A Treasury of Great Moral Stories
William J. Bennett (Editor)
A thoughtful collection of stories, essays, poems and
speeches assembled with commentary by Bennett to illustrate
various moral virtues such as self-discipline, compassion,
and honesty.
The Heart of Virtue
Donald Demarco
Subtitled, "Lessons from Life and Literature Illustrating
the Beauty and Value of Moral Character," this book presents
28 different virtues and reveals, through stories that
personify these virtues, how love is expressed through care,
courage, compassion, faith, hope, justice, prudence,
temperance, wisdom, and others.
The Moral Compass
William Bennett
The Moral Compass, the inspiring and instructive companion
volume to The Book of Virtues, offers many more examples of
good and bad, right and wrong, in great works from
literature and in exemplary stories from history.
The Prophet
Kahlil Gibran
On the most basic topics--marriage, children, friendship,
work, pleasure--Gibran's words have a power and lucidity
that in another era would surely have provoked the
description "divinely inspired." Free of dogma, free of
power structures and metaphysics, consider these poetic,
moving aphorisms a 20th-century supplement to all sacred
traditions--as millions of other readers already have.
What is a Man?
Waller R. Newell (Editor)
Organizing excerpts from a variety of Western literary
sources into eight broad sections--the Chivalrous Man, the
Gentleman, the Wise Man, the Family Man, the Statesman, the
Noble Man, the American Man, and the Invisible Man--Newell
traces what he sees as "an unbroken pedigree in the Western
conception of what it means to be a man." What Is a Man?
promises to "inspire men and boys to reach for the seemingly
lost ideals of honor, heroism and integrity," by providing
"a source to which concerned readers could turn for guidance
and inspiration, a path back to the wisdom of our shared
traditions of manly virtue."
Building Character and Culture
Pat Duffy Hutcheon
The most outstanding aspects of the author's work are its
clarity and its courage, together with an astonishing amount
of knowledge and insight into the development of character,
both in young children from the first day onward, and
through a person's entire lifetime.
Callings
Gregg Levoy
Callings is a passionate exploration of the search for
authenticity, whether at work or at home, in our
relationships or in service. In a style that is poetic,
exuberant and keenly insightful, Levoy breathes contemporary
life into the ancient subject of callings, presenting an
illuminating and practical inquiry into how we listen and
respond to our calls, and translate them into action.
Creating The Work You Love: Courage, Commitment, and Career
Rick Jarow
Your life is a work of art; a craft to be most carefully
mastered. For patience has replaced time; and you are your
own destination.
Man's Search for Meaning
Viktor E. Frankl
This classic best seller is considered to be one of the most
important contributions to psychiatry since the writing of
Freud. In it, Dr. Frankl gives a moving account of his
experience in Nazi concentration camps, from which he
developed a modern and positive approach to understanding
human motivation and capacities. Frankl deeply believes in
one’s ability to transcend suffering and find a meaning to
life regardless of his circumstances.
Meaning - The Secret of Being Alive
Cliff Havener
Living a Life That Matters: Resolving the Conflict Between
Conscience and Success
Harold S. Kushner
Kushner, author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People,
outlines a common human struggle between the need to feel
successful and the need to think of oneself as a good
person. Indeed, he relates, the biblical Jacob wrestled with
the impulse to succeed through cleverness and fraud, and "to
become someone exemplary." While the subtitle might be
challenged can't success be more a matter of dedication than
ruthlessness? Kushner's wide-ranging, occasionally
meandering book fortunately focuses more on the basic
question of a meaningful life.
Sacred Contracts: Awakening Your Divine Potential
Carolyn Myss
This fascinating book espouses the ancient notion that our
souls enter into a kind of contract before birth that we
agree to have various human experiences and even to
encounter certain people in order to learn lessons. Myss
includes a technique for understanding 12 archetypes that
rule different areas of our life from career to
relationships to our highest aspirations.
The Heart of the Soul: Emotional Awareness
Gary Zukav and Linda Francis
Asserting that "our species is undergoing an unprecedented
transformation," Zukav (The Seat of the Soul; Soul Stories)
urges people to focus not on "external power" but on
"authentic power," and to seek to align their personalities
with their souls.
The Virtues Project Educator's Guide: Simple Ways to Create
a Culture of Character
Linda Kavelin Popov
The Virtues Project was honored by the United Nations during
the International Year of the Family as a model global
program for all cultures, and was featured on the Oprah Show
as a method for teaching children to “do the right thing.”
This long awaited guide for counselors, teachers,
caregivers, and youth leaders offers a wealth of character
awakening activities and ideas for bringing out the best in
your students and yourself.
The Children's Book of Virtues
William J. Bennett (Editor)
Ages 4-8. Using portions of his best-selling adult work Book
of Virtues, former secretary of education William Bennett
teams up with artist Michael Hague to create a collection of
stories, poems, and fables in a format more suitable for
children. Noting in his introduction that his goal is to
further the "moral education of the young," Bennett has
chosen selections to illustrate 10 virtues, which he further
divides into four groups, among them, courage/perseverance
and compassion/faith.
Building Moral Intelligence:
The Seven Essential Virtues that Teach Kids to Do the Right
Thing
Michele Borba Ed.D., Ed.D., Michele Borba
Writing with confident authority and providing good, current
references, Borba offers "a step by step blueprint for
enhancing your child's moral capacity" the ethical compass
that charts a youngster's moral fate. She first defines
seven intertwining "essential virtues of moral intelligence
and solid character": empathy, conscience, self-control
(these first three form a "moral core"), respect, kindness,
tolerance, and fairness.
The Family Virtues Guide: Simple Ways to Bring Out the Best
in Our Children and Ourselves
Linda Kavelin Popov
Through a collection of fifty-two virtues, one for each week
of the year, Popov instructs parents how to teach morals and
ethics to their young children, including such values as
trust, caring, humility, and generosity.
The Values Book: Teaching Sixteen Basic Values to Young
Children
Tamera Bryant
Citing circumstances within our culture and environment that
are creating changes in behavior, this book offers teachers
and parents quick, straightforward ideas for raising
children's awareness, understanding, and experience of 16
basic values, including tolerance, honesty, patience, and
cooperation.
365 Ways to Develop Your Child's Values
Cheri Fuller
20 Teachable Virtues:
Practical Ways to Pass on Lessons of Virtue and Character to
Your Children
Barbara C. Unell, Jerry L. Wyckoff (Editor)
This book provides parents with the tools to instill
character in their children--through caring, communication
and example. Includes chapters on empathy, helpfulness,
fairness, caring, courage, respect, loyalty, and much more.
Books That Build Character: A Guide to Teaching Your Child
Moral Values Through Stories
William Kilpatrick, et al
Here is a family guide to classic novels, contemporary
fiction, myths and legends, science fiction and fantasy,
folktales, Bible stories, picture books, biographies,
holiday stories, and many other books that celebrate virtues
and values. There are more than 300 titles to choose from,
each featuring a dramatic story and memorable characters who
explore moral ground and the difference between what is
right and what is wrong.
Upbringing
James B. Stenson
This book's advice and insight are invaluable for any parent
trying to raise children in this culture. Jim goes right to
the heart of the Christian vocation - and it is a moving
experience to read this and realize how serious is the role
of a parent.
A Call to Character
Colin Greer (Editor), Herbert Kohl (Editor)
A family treasury of stories, poems, plays, proverbs, and
fables to guide the development of values for you and your
children.
Why Johnny Can't Tell Right from Wrong
William K. Kilpatrick
For parents, educators, and policymakers, Kilpatrick's
hard-hitting and controversial book will not only open eyes
but change minds. He maintains that by stressing "feelings"
rather than good behavior, schools and parents have failed
to instill moral values in our youth.
Tending the Heart of Virtue: How Classic Stories Awaken a
Child's Moral Imagination
Vigen Guroian
Guroian is a theologian who believes that the great Western
fairy tales and literary fantasies can teach children to be
good. He speaks as parent and teacher as much as minister.
Above all, he is a reader: he knows that a good story can do
far more than hours of hectoring and sermonizing to move
children with the drama of good and evil. He discusses
Pinocchio, The Snow Queen, Beauty and the Beast, C. S.
Lewis' Narnia series, and other classics with sensitivity
and depth. However, his message is simplistic: children must
learn that good and evil are absolutes, and the choice is
clear; enough of this contemporary moral relativism; enough
of subjectivity and cultural differences.
Ways to Grow: 101 Virtue-Building Devotions
Eldon Weisheit
Having faith can be a difficult concept to explain to
children, but these 101 virtue-building devotions will help.
Use these true-to-life stories to talk with your children
about real-life issues and end with prayer for such things
as guidance, honesty, and patience.
Garden of Virtues: Planting Seeds of Goodness
Christina Keffler, et al
Speaking to the Heart : A Father's Guide to Growth in Virtue
Stephen Gabriel
In this book the author looks at twenty character traits
that are important to the lives of a father and his
children. They are loosely based on the classic virtues of
Catholic tradition. They include the theological virtues of
faith, hope, and charity -- so-called because they are
integral to establishing an intimate relationship with
almighty God. They also include the cardinal virtues of
prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. These are
cardinal virtues because they are the fundamental human
virtues that must be acquired to reach any level of human
perfection. All the other human virtues flow from these.
Other human virtues that our children need include humility,
poverty, chastity, and industriousness, just to name a few.
Love Your Neighbor: Stories of Values and Virtues
Arthur Dobrin, Jacqueline Rogers (Illustrator)
Attractive watercolors of anthropomorphic animals accompany
thirteen fables of varying quality. Some of the protagonists
do good deeds for their friends and neighbors, while others
learn lessons the hard way. An introductory note to parents
and a question at the end of each tale encourage discussion;
this emphasis on the moral implications takes the joy out of
the animals' escapades.
A Young Child's Garden of Christian Virtues: Imaginative
Ways to Plant God's Word in Toddlers' Hearts
Susan Lawrence
This book offers 100 hands-on devotions that plant the seed
of Scripture and godly behavior in young children. Each
devotion helps parents illustrate God's truth through
commonplace objects and ideas. Then the whole family has fun
exploring and applying God's word through hands-on learning
.
Talks to Boys: Classic Teachings on Virtues and Values
Eleanor A. Hunter
Originally published in the late 1800s by the American Tract
Society, Talks To Boys gives readers a glimpse into what it
was like to grow up one hundred years ago. Each short essay
addresses a different virtue or value and includes questions
to help spark thought and discussion.
A Child's Garden of Virtues
Peg Augustine (Compiler), Teresa Harper (Illustrator)
After Virtue : A Study in Moral Theory
Alasdair MacIntyre
Conscience and Other Virtues: From Bonaventure to MacIntyre
Douglas C. Langston
An effort to revitalize the idea of conscience for modern
moral thinking. "This important book synthesizes a broad
range of historical and contemporary literature dealing with
conscience. It traces the development of the notion of
conscience in the Western philosophical tradition from
antiquity through the early modern period, and it
rehabilitates conscience as a useful, even crucial, concept
for current ethical theory."
Treatise on the Virtues
Saint Thomas Aquinas, John A. Oesterle (Translator)
How Should One Live?: Essays on the Virtues
Roger Crisp (Editor)
This specially commissioned articles by an international
team of philosophers represent the state of the art in this
subject and will set the agenda for future work in the area.
The contributors--including Lawrence Blum, John Cottingham,
Julia Driver, Rosalind Hursthouse, Terence Irwin, Susan
Moller Okin, Onora O'Neill, Michael Slote, Michael Stocker,
and David Wiggins--cover practical virtue ethics, ancient
views of the virtues, impartiality and partiality, Kant,
utilitarianism, human nature, natural and artificial
virtues, virtue and the good life, the vices, emotions,
politics, feminism, moral education, and community.
Socrates' Education to Virtue: Learning the Love of the
Noble
Mark J. Lutz
Vices, Virtues, and Consequences
Peter Phillips Simpson
Essays in Moral and Political Philosophy (Studies in
Philosophy and the History of Philosophy, Vol. 35)
Dependent Rational Animals: Why Human Beings Need the
Virtues
Alasdair MacIntyre
With characteristic originality and insight, Alasdair
MacIntyre explores the nature of practical rationality in
the light of our human vulnerability and mutual dependence.
Two themes, arising from our animal nature, frame the
discussion: the continuities between human beings and other
species, and the pervasiveness of human disability.
Virtue Ethics (Oxford Reading in Philosophy)
Roger Crisp and Michael Slote (Editors)
This volume brings together much of the most influential
work undertaken in the field of virtue ethics over the last
four decades. The ethics of virtue predominated in the
ancient world, and recent moral philosophy has seen a
revival of interest in virtue ethics as a rival to Kantian
and utilitarian approaches to morality. Divided into four
sections, the collection includes articles critical of other
traditions; early attempts to offer a positive vision of
virtue ethics; some later criticisms of the revival of
virtue ethics; and, finally, some recent, more theoretically
ambitious essays in virtue ethics.
Small Treatise on Great Virtues: The Uses of Philosophy in
Everyday Life
Andre Comte-Sponville
The analysis of 18 virtues naturally focuses on foundational
attributes such as justice and generosity, especially within
the context of twenty-firstcentury expectations. Yet, again
and again, the great moral philosophers of the
past--Aristotle and Plato, Hume and Montaigne--speak up,
shredding the smug complacency of modernity. And although he
himself disavows any religious belief, ComteSponville opens
the door to pious thinkers--from Saint Paul to Simone
Weil--who see in mortal virtues a partial reflection of
God's immortal goodness.
Virtue Ethics: A Critical Reader
Daniel Statman
Moral Wisdom and Good Lives
John Kekes
Kekes argues in this finely crafted book that moral wisdom
is the most important virtue for human beings today. In the
absence of a generally shared conception of Good, each of us
must devise his or her own plan for a good life. To achieve
one's plan is no easy task, and to confront the obstacles
that inevitably ensue, wisdom is essential. This virtue
consists, Kekes thinks, of three modes: moral imagination,
self-knowledge, and moral depth.
Virtues of the Mind: An Inquiry into the Nature of Virtue
and the Ethical Foundations of Knowledge
Linda Trinkaus Zagzebski
Ockham on the Virtues (History of Philosophy Series)
Rega Wood and William De Connexione Virtutum
The Art of Living: The Classic Manual on Virtue, Happiness,
and Effectiveness
Epictetus, Sharon Lebell
The Stoic philosopher Epictetus was born on the eastern
edges of the Roman Empire in A.D. 55, but The Art of Living
is still perfectly suited for any contemporary self-help or
recovery program. To prove the point, this modern
interpretation by Sharon Lebell casts the teachings in
up-to-date language, with phrases like "power broker" and
"casual sex" popping up intermittently. But the core is
still the same: Epictetus keeps the focus on progress over
perfection, on accomplishing what can be accomplished and
abandoning unproductive worry over what cannot.
Virtues of Authenticity
Alexander Nehamas
The eminent philosopher and classical scholar Alexander
Nehamas presents here a collection of his most important
essays on Plato and Socrates. The papers are unified in
theme by the idea that Plato's central philosophical concern
in metaphysics, ethics, and aesthetics was to distinguish
the authentic from the fake, the original from its
imitations. In approach, the collection displays Nehamas's
characteristic combination of analytical rigor and
sensitivity to the literary form and dramatic effect of
Plato's work. Together, the papers represent Nehamas's
distinct and original contributions to scholarship on Plato
and Socrates and serve as a comprehensive introduction to
the thought of these two philosophers.
Back to Virtue
Peter Kreeft
This in-depth analysis of the meaning of the virtues and
their connection with the Beatitudes also summarizes a
scriptural and theological wisdom on leading a holy life.
Includes the accumulated wisdom of St. Paul, C.S. Lewis, and
many others.
Four Cardinal Virtues
Josef Pieper
This collection of works on the four cardinal virtues brings
out the classical meanings of prudence, justice, fortitude
and temperance. It also clearly explains the vices
surrounding the virtues. It is a clear summary of classical
thought on the virtues from Aristolte, Plato, Augustine and
Aquinas. Very interesting digrestions on prudence and
fortitude.
The Inner Life of Jesus
Romano Guardini
Guardini cuts through the saturnine sentamentalism that
surrounds the figure of Jesus and gives a serious
examination of His life, deeds, and personality. Each
chapter is a meditation on a certain aspect of Jesus that
contains great insight into His inner life and highlights
particular things that are often missed by those who read
the Gospels.
The Promise of Virtue
Eugene Hemrick and Scott Appleby
A wonderful meditation in which author, Gene Hemrick,
identifies and introduces readers to such virtues as humor,
kindness, understanding, respect, courage,
clear-sightedness, and silence. But this book is more than
simply a meditation. Hemrick puts a face on virtue and
argues that people must reflect virtue for the common good.
The author vividly articulates the good that will come from
practicing virtue when people integrate it into their lives
and relationships.
The Virtues of an Authentic Life: A Celebration of Spiritual
Maturity
Bernard Haring and Peter Heinegg
A beloved theologian shares his views on the undertones of
spiritual maturity. In these short and personal essays,
Bernard Haring discusses the components of moral competence.
Haring sees the achievement of virtue as a holistic endeavor
concerned with the entire personality in the context of its
human relationships.
Standing for Something: 10 Neglected Virtues That Will Heal
Our Hearts and Homes
Gordon Bitner Hinckley
Chapter by chapter Hinckley presents 10 old-fashioned
virtues that will return America to the glory envisioned by
its founding fathers. These virtues include Love, Honesty,
Morality, Civility, Learning, Forgiveness, Thrift and
Industry, Gratitude, Optimism, and Faith.
The Catholic Virtues: Seven Pillars of a Good Life
Mitch Finley
Faith, Hope, Love
Josef Pieper
This volume, three separate books in one edition, is a
collection of Josef Pieper's famous treatises on the three
theological virtues of Faith, Hope, and Love. Pieper is
perhaps the most popular Thomist philosopher of the
twentieth century.
Learning the Virtues That Lead You to God
Romano Guardini
God's Treasury of Virtues
This book is your family's complete handbook of
distinctively Christian values. Wherever you open this book,
you'll find timeless stories and life-changing wisdom.
The Glorious Pursuit: Embracing the Virtues of Christ
Gary Thomas
Some books merit a browse, some a ransack. The Glorious
Pursuit merits the later. It's focus is giving practical
guidance -- a track to run on, to those whose deepest
yearning is to be forged into the likeness and image of God.
Practical, helpful, and rooted in both sound exegesis and
historical precedent.
Who You Are When No One's Looking
William Hybels and Bill Hybels
We are all at our best when it counts. But what are we like
when no one's looking? That's where character comes
in--being consistent even when it doesn't seem to matter.
Becoming Good: Building Moral Character
David W. Gill
Becoming good--building character--is what we all want for
ourselves and for others. But where do we begin? Becoming
good is not simply a matter a few dos and don'ts. In fact we
can't begin to do the right things until we have built an
adequate foundation. This is what David Gill sets out to
help us do.
Hildegard Von Bingen's Mystical Visions: Translated from
Scivias
Transl. Bruce W. Hozeski
The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living
the Dalai Lama
In this guide toward personal happiness, His Holiness the
Dalai Lama offers daily meditations and stories to aid
listeners in regaining lost happiness in their daily lives.
Working closely with him is Dr. Howard C. Cutler, a renowned
psychiatrist and neurologist, who takes a closer look at the
psychology of our happiness and blocks that may keep us from
it.
An Open Heart: Practicing Compassion in Everyday Life
the Dalai Lama, Nicholas Vreeland (Editor)
This compilation, based on teachings delivered by His
Holiness in New York in 2001, is founded upon a weaving of
two ancient Buddhist texts. While not a manual in the
traditional Western sense of highly sequenced steps, this
book is a treasury of teachings that point clearly to a
better way to live.
The Dalai Lama's Book of Wisdom
the Dalai Lama
Simple advice on the importance of compassion and
forgiveness.
Start Where You Are: A Guide to Compassionate Living
Pema Chodron
In this down to earth book, Chodron reveals how the faults
and foibles in each of us now are the perfect ingredients
for creating a better life. No need to wait for a quieter
time or a more settled mind. The trick Chodron says is to
repattern ourselves, to transform bad habits into good by
first opening ourselves to the groundlessness of existence.
When the cliff dissolves beneath our feet, fear has a way of
actually lessening. Fearlessness opens the way to
recognizing our pushy egos and that rather than being cursed
with original sin, we are blessed with an original soft
spot--the squishy feeling inside that we all have, that is
the seat of true compassion, and that we all do our best to
armor over.
The Places That Scare You: A Guide to Fearlessness in
Difficult Times
Pema Chodron
"Self importance," writes the author, "is like a prison for
us, limiting us to the world of our likes and dislikes. We
end up bored to death with ourselves and our world. We end
up very dissatisfied." The wisdom offered in these pages is
meant to help us stay with our demons and frustrations, to
turn around our habitual ways of striking out and blaming,
and to strive to become fearless. Chödrön's teachings are a
great gift providing a spiritual uplift that is at once
fresh, direct, poignant, and transforming.
After the Ecstasy, the Laundry: How the Heart Grows Wise on
the Spiritual Path
Jack Kornfield
“Enlightenment does exist,” the author assures us.
“Unbounded freedom and joy, oneness with the divine ...
these experiences are more common than you know, and not far
away.”
But even after achieving such realization — after the
ecstasy — we are faced with the day-to-day task of
translating that freedom into our imperfect lives. We are
faced with the laundry. Drawing on the experiences and
insights of leaders and practitioners within the Buddhist,
Christian, Jewish, Hindu, and Sufi traditions, this book
offers a uniquely intimate and honest understanding of how
the modern spiritual journey unfolds — and how we can
prepare our hearts for awakening.
Awakening the Buddha Within
Lama Surya Das
Surya Das shows how we can awaken to who we really are in
order to lead a more compassionate, enlightened, and
balanced life. It illuminates the guidelines and key
principles embodied in the noble Eight-Fold Path and the
traditional Three Enlightenment Trainings common to all
schools of Buddhism: wisdom training (developing clear
vision, insight, and inner understanding); ethics training
(cultivating virtue, self-discipline, and compassion in what
we say and do); and meditation training (practicing
mindfulness, concentration, and awareness of the present
moment).
Awakening the Buddhist Heart: Integrating Love, Meaning and
Connection into Every Part of Your Life
Lama Surya Das
"Life is about relationship-the relationship we have with
ourselves, with each other, with the world, as well as the
connection to that which is beyond any of us yet imminent in
each of us. When our relationships are good, we feel good;
when they are bad, we feel awful. Let's accept it: We need
each other. We need to feel connected; we need to feel each
other's presence and love."
Awakening to the Sacred: Creating a Spiritual Life from
Scratch
Lama Surya Das
Through reflections on his own life quest, thoughtful
essays, and entertaining stories, Surya Das examines the
common themes at the heart of any spiritual path, including
faith, doubt, love, compassion, creativity, self-inquiry,
and transformation. He then explores prayer, yoga, chanting,
guided meditations, breathing exercises, and myriad other
rituals, providing practical examples of each that we can
use day-to-day to nurture our inner spirit.
Buddhism Plain and Simple
Steve Hagen
Hagen shares the fundamental tenents of Buddhism in the form
of examples from life, psychological tidbits, and stories
from Buddhist teachers past and present. And when it clicks
in, it can be life-transforming. Hagen explains this shift
in outlook and how the fundamental way we look at the world
affects everything we do.
What the Buddha Taught
Walpola Sri Rahula
Beneath the enormous umbrella of Buddhism, there is a
diverse galaxy of customs and beliefs, but there is also a
kernel of truth that every sect holds dear. Rahula Walpola,
scholar and monk, discovers this foundation of Buddhism for
us first through straightforward explication, never skipping
over a point that has yet to be substantiated, then through
translations from key scriptures. Logical and focused, these
are the essentials of Buddhism; know them first, then move
comfortably on to other Buddhist works.
The Royal Path
Swami Rama
In this step-by-step program, Swami Rama outlines the basic
physical exercises, mental disciplines, and ethical
commitments of Raja Yoga, the Royal Path to
self-transformation and enlightenment. The Royal Path is an
enduring classic, one of the clearest and most inspiring
introductions to yoga science available in English.
The Essence of Self-Realization: The Wisdom of Paramahansa
Yogananda
Kriyananda
This book contains nearly 300 sayings of Paramahansa
Yogananda. It offers as complete an explanation of life's
true purpose, and of the way to achieve that purpose, as may
be found anywhere.
Mindfulness in Plain English
Henepola Gunaratana
The Buddhist meditation form known as vipassana cultivates
mindfulness in the practitioner. The author of this
wonderful primer on vipassana, says that this practice is
"meant to revolutionize the whole of your life experience."
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind
Shunryu Suzuki, Trudy Dixon (Editor)
A compilation of informal talks on Zen meditation and using
Zen as a workable discipline and religion.
The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are
Alan Watts
A witty attack on the illusion that the self is a separate
ego that is separated from and in conflict with the rest of
the world. In this classic book, Watts provides a lucid and
simple presentation of an alternative view based on Hindi
and Vedantic philosophy.