What are you reading?

[nearoanoke]

Books by gopikrishna are good and give good and practical view on how kundalini awakens. They are available for free online.

http://www.gopikrishna.mystics.co.uk/

especially this book.. "Autobiography of a Spiritual Genius"

http://www.gopikrishna.mystics.co.uk/Autobiography%20of%20a%20Spiritual%20Genius%20-%20Gopi%20Krishna.pdf

[Manipura]

Before you all lose interest in the subject of books.....Brett has given me permission to piggy back on his question with one of my own:

Do any of you remember reading a book which was transcendent on its own terms?  That is, one which was transcendent in its pure form as a novel, short story, or essay, apart from its content?  The very act of reading the book elevates you to a higher state of consciousness, and you know that the author had to be in touch with something transcendent to have pulled it off.  IMO, this kind of book is what great writing is all about, as it offers a glimpse, rather than a caricature, of the sublime.  I'm curious if anyone has recommendations for this.  

(thanks, Brett!)  

[snake]

Genuine Happiness: Meditation as the Path to Fulfillment alan wallace

[Shanti]

Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramhansa Yogananda

Most of you may have read it already..

[Hunter]

Meg, in response to what you posted:
I felt that way about a few books:

This House is On Fire as told by Sri Anandi Ma.

Sacred Science and Christ Consciousness by Norman Paulsen.

As Shweta mentioned, Autobiography of a Yogi.

The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna.

And most surely, these publications by Yogani. Very strong.

[sadhak]

Not a spiritual book, but when I was a kid, I read Heidi, and it transported me alright. Never read it again, and don't even remember details of the story, but it moved me profoundly, and the memory of it still stirs me. Might be some association

The little Prince had an effect too.

[riptiz]

Energy medicine by Donna Eden
The Field by Lynne McTaggart

[trip1]

quote:Originally posted by megDo any of you remember reading a book which was transcendent on its own terms?  That is, one which was transcendent in its pure form as a novel, short story, or essay, apart from its content?  The very act of reading the book elevates you to a higher state of consciousness, and you know that the author had to be in touch with something transcendent to have pulled it off.  IMO, this kind of book is what great writing is all about, as it offers a glimpse, rather than a caricature, of the sublime.  I'm curious if anyone has recommendations for this.  

Great question Meg.  The standout book for me is definitely Autobiography of a Yogi.  The amount of pure love within these pages is something I have yet to experience any other writing even come close to, and my life hasn't been the same since my first time reading it.

A few others which really did it for me are:
Be Here Now - Ram Dass
Autobiography of a Spiritually Incorrect Mystic - Osho
The Bhagavad Gita

-Brett

[Hunter]

Meg,
    Have you seen this website? This gives calibrations for different types of media like music, books, movies. http://www.cmmdb.com

-Hunter

[shivakm]

"Copied from my topic 'I am That' by Nisargadatta Maharaj under books, tapes and scriptures"

Just wanted to write a little bit about my experience with this book. I recently came across this title and picked it up in my local library in Dallas. I should say that the Q&A with Nisargadatta Maharaj had a profound effect on me. I was spell bound by some of the answers that he provided to the questions. His insight into the advaita philosophy cuts through layers of misconception like a sharp knife. And best of all there is no preaching or any other requirement to follow any tradition. And Nisargadatta does not claim of any super natural powers etc. and there is absolutely no mythologizing. I found that some of his answers reflected the same approach advocated by Ramana Maharishi in finding who we are. Nisargadata says that we should always stay with the feeling "I am". I can not but wonder the significance of the mantra given in AYP "I AM" and the correlation that it has with Nisargadatta's teaching.

Make sure to check out the reviews of this book in Amazon.com, (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/customer-reviews/0893860220/ref=cm_cr_dp_pt/105-3333229-3150826?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books). Some folks have written very good reviews for this book. And after reading the book, I feel that their opinions are not exaggerated at all. In my opinion this is a "must read" for people in the path of enlightenment.

I would also like to hear about the comments of other people in this forum who have read this book.

[Jack]

Currently

Easy Lessons for Ecstatic Living, by Yogani
The Alchemist, by Paulo Cuelho (sp?)
The Prophet, by Kahlil Gibran,
and
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? By Phillip K. Dick

[Manipura]

I'll check out Nisargadatta.  I'm reading 'Emptiness Dancing' by Adyashanti.  It has forever changed my understanding of enlightenment.  I highly recommend his books to anyone who appreciates the clarity and no-nonsense approach of Yogani's Enlightenment Series.  

"Enlightenment is nothing more than the complete absence of resistance to what is.  End of story."  -Adyashanti

[Shanti]

I have been reading a book Real Love by Greg Baer... He and Katie seem to believe in the same thing.. "When you argue with reality, you lose 100 percent of the time".

Well, as many here already know I am a huge Katie fan (Byron Katie, "Loving what is".. for those not familiar with it.. there is a nice summary here).. when there is a situation that could use some self inquiry... ask 4 questions and turn it around.. Has been working great for me.. What this book (Real Love) has helped me with, is to see my own getting/protecting behaviour. Once you learn to see your own unconscious reactions to situations.. it's almost like you can smile at it and let it dissolve.. and once this happens.. it is so much easier to "turn it around" (as we at the forum say..Katie it ...) .. its amazing.. The more I can see my mind patterns .. the more I see myself being freed from it..

This is Greg Baer's website http://www.reallove.com/ and his blogs http://www.reallovecoaching.net/blog/greg/

[IcedEarth]

Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.  I started reading The Hobbit last year and the creative humor quickly got me interested in the series.  I love the author´s lively descriptions of the land of Middle Earth.  It makes me feel right at home[].

[yogibear]

I just finished Secrets of Wilder and I am currently reading Samyama by Yogani.  

Both are great.  I like the former because it talks more about the AYPs from the view point of someone who is practicing them and experiencing the results.  I picked up some very helpful practice insights from it.  I like the latter because it makes more clear some things about manifesting positive changes in daily life.

Also, I am reading The Path of Fire and Light by Swami Rama.  The subtitle says it all:
Advanced Practices of Yoga.  Lots of good info on subtle breathing.

One other:  Raja Yoga by Selvarajan Yesudian and Elisabeth Haich.  A great book, formerly entitled Yoga, Uniting East and West which explains Raja Yoga (steps 5-8 in particular) from both an eastern and western point of view.  In fact, it teaches Yoga from a new testament perspective and Christianity from a yogic perspective.  Pretty neat.