Books I Recommend
So many books are available to help a person get through particular life circumstances that I couldn't begin to list them all. Having said that, I've found these few books to be especially meaningful and helpful regardless of what circumstances may be happening.
When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times, by Pema Chodron -- This is a spiritual classic, full of wisdom and compassion, written an an honest, down-to-earth style. Written from the Buddhist tradition, it speaks to anyone who struggles with pain in their lives (which is all of us).
The Spirituality of Imperfection: Storytelling and the Search for Meaning, by Ernest Kurtz -- Full of wonderful, wise and often humorous parables from many cultures and times, this is a deeply affirming book. Written for and about people in recovery from alcoholism and other addictions, it is extremely useful for anyone working to understand, accept and embrace the noble folly of humans.
Healing through the Dark Emotions: The Wisdom of Grief, Fear and Despair, by Miriam Greenspan -- A relatively recent book with the simple but profound concept that fear, grief and despair contain the seeds of great wisdom, vitality and balance when they are experienced fully rather than phobically avoided. It demonstrates how our aversion to pain sabotages our search for happiness.
Shambhala: Sacred Path of the Warrior, by Chogyam Trungpa -- A practical guide to enlightened living, this classic presents the essence of Shambhala teaching, which has been life-changing to many people. Some of the concepts may seem foreign and complex at first. No worries -- skip over it to almost any page and you are likely to find a sentence or paragraph that will stay with you for many years.
Man's Search for Meaning, by Victor Frankl -- A book written by a survivor of the holocaust concentration camps, this small but tremendously influential book is a rite of passage into the difficult but necessary task of being an adult member of the human race. As has been written, " This is a fascinating, sophisticated, and very human book. At times, Frankl's personal and professional discourses merge into a style of tremendous power."
The Essential Rumi, translated by Coleman Banks -- This translation of poems brings the beauty and immediacy of this 13th century Persian mystic poet to life. Banks' translations speak with a freshness, a delight and a wisdom that is both contemporary and timeless, intimately personal while able to touch the majesty of universal truths.
Look for more book reviews soon!
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