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Have you ever read A book that was just so true and Blew you away and transformed your life??
(Doesnt necessarily have to be a buddhist book)
However, Is there a book which just made you think 'YES!, THIS IS IT' and you would re-read over and over!
Does one exist for you?
(P.S, I wasnt sure which category this should go in)
However, Is there a book which just made you think 'YES!, THIS IS IT' and you would re-read over and over!
Does one exist for you?
(P.S, I wasnt sure which category this should go in)
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Comments
First time I read it I was two days sober; I thought it was complete madness. It's a spiritual program of recovery, and that wasn't the sort of spirits I was interested in.
Once I got myself a sponsor (a mentor) who took me through the Big Book, and we followed the directions, my life really did change. It showed me how to get a more accurate picture of my past by investigating my resentments, harms I'd done to others, and fears. It helped me clear up my past, so I could live more comfortably in the present; it showed me what to do to to have my obsession to drink myself to oblivion removed.
It also gives some good advice at 'working with others'; i.e. helping and showing compassion to alkies who're still drinking; the spiritual program is heavily weighted towards helping others.
It has also led me to Buddhism.
I love the Big Book, and I'm sure many Buddhists could relate to much of it.
I have struggled with depression for much of my life, and my therapist suggested it. I was so blown away to realize that while I always thought of myself as an optimist, I had A LOT of pessimistic, negative internal dialogue plaguing me.
What I really liked about the book was that it not only described the issues, it gave actual real world examples of people and how they progressed using the teachings of the book, as well as some "workbook" type exercises to serve as practical tools for changing the way I think, or talk to myself inside.
Fantastic book - highly recommend it.
Kwan Kev
Thich Nhat Hanh's The Heart of Understanding, which is a very brief commentary on the Heart Sutra and emptiness. It was one of the first books on Buddhism I read and helped me to get past all the negative misunderstandings I previously had of Buddhism. It immediately led me to studying Buddhism more deeply and to do zazen. TNH explains emptiness with such clarity it blew my mind. Its a great introduction to an understanding of emptiness.
In a similar vein, but with even more depth: Jay Garfield's translation and commentary on Nagarjuna's The Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way. I am not finished reading this very dense text, but it has helped me to understand emptiness even more deeply. I still have only realised a very tiny glimmer of emptiness (a slight ontological re-orientation actually is the best I can currently describe it), but it has been largely because of this book. Its definitely a book I want to re-read and re-examine.
The book that has most blown my mind is called Straw Dogs by the english philosopher John Gray. The title is a reference to the Dao De Ching. It is a book that seriously challenged my view of the world in many ways. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
I totally agree, 100%, with everything you said. Always great to see a post from another friend of Bill W.
Namaste'
Kwan Kev
this book is just insane. osho is very articulate and very straightforward.
it is a great book to understand the technology of meditation and how it relates on every single level of human existence.
Namaste to you too! ;-)
"His Dark Materials series" by Philip Pullman (first exposure to religious critical thinking)
"Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro (ignore the film...)
"Death With Interruptions" by Jose Saramago
Thread starter 'Within' has been banned. It's a case of a previously (multi-)banned member trying to creep in - yet again.
Sorry 'bout that.
keep on posting though.
It's good stuff....
For my part, the book that absolutely hit me square between the eyes and set the ball rolling was "The Tibetan book of Living & Dying".
Funnily enough it was called Transform your life
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky,
Beloved by Toni Morrison,
and Raymond Carver's short story "Cathedral."
The Glass Bead Game: (Magister Ludi) A Novel
I've read a few other books of his (The Bros. K, Demons, Notes from the Underground) but I haven't yet read The Idiot. It is on my list of "to read" books however! What you say sounds encouraging too! :-)
Helped a lot in my understanding of the importance of mindfulness and meditation on the path to freedom.
1st, Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda. I came upon this book due to the fact that as a musician I noticed the three groups or artists I was most influenced by at the time (The Beatles, Yes, and Gary Wright) all made some mention of him on album covers (his picture along with his line of Gurus appear on Sgt. Pepper, All Gary Wright Albums are dedicated to him, and Yes' "Tales from Topographic oceans" was based on a foot note in the book)
At the time I was a daily drug abuser. However I was looking for musical inspiration, so I got the book. Before I completed it I had stopped using drugs, become a Vegetarian, and changed the direction my life was headed.
Today I would not be impressed with it due to it's emphasis on miracles and things that are now beyond my level of credibility, but I will forever be grateful that I encountered it when I did. It was perfect for that moment.
2nd, "Peace is Every Step" by Thich Nhat Hanh. Especialy the description of "inter-being" showing it was a demonstratable physical truth, not just a nice poetic idea.
3rd. "Tannisho" which is a collection of Shinran Shonin's teachings. Very good understanding of Karma, and reliance on Amida Buddha. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to understand Pure Land Buddhism. This book almost singlehandedly converted me from Zen to Shin.
2. Lieh tzu. Classical wisdom for everyday life.
3. Tao te ching.
4. Yoga sutras of Patanjali. Meditation totally explained.
lol j/k, actually one of my favorate books is "someplace to be flying" by charles de lent. over all the storyline construction lacks something, but the plot and the thought process the main character goes through is something worth reading.