| I've promised you this some time ago and it was a very interesting experience. Since I read most of these books years ago, I had to re-read large parts to be able to highlight the passages that had a tremendous impact on me.
All of these books expanded my view on life, on the world, on being human, on being spiritual, on success, ...
It was not so easy to choose only 5 but I tried to choose works from teachers with very different backgrounds, to show you that wisdom is universal and not limited to one culture or religion.
1. CUTTING THROUGH SPIRITUAL MATERIALISM by Chögyam Trungpa
Chögyam Trungpa was a teacher of Tibetan Buddhism and quite controversial. This book was a real eye-opener since it cuts through all our expectations to be spiritual. I'll highlight two passages, one is about the abundance in our being and the other one about cutting through your own ideas, expectations, ego.
"We could say that compassion is the ultimate attitude of wealth, an antipoverty attitude, a war on want. It is the attitude that one has been born fundamentally rich rather than one must become rich."
In our lives, we are perfect from a divine point of view, if we can look at ourselves in that way, the struggle to try to become someone else evaporates. Accepting who we are, opens a whole new world, unfolding our natural gifts and talents.
"We must unmask our expectations of magic on the part of the guru, that with his magical powers he can initiate us in a certain extraordinary and painless way."
Whether it is a coach, a guru, a religion, our profound change and happiness will not come from outside. It makes no sense to shop from one guru to another and hope (s)he will release us from our human condition. We are the ones who have to be willing and committed to go beyond our ego, our flaws and learn to accept and love ourselves completely. They can be our guides but never our saviors.
2. THE PROPHET by Kahlil Gibran
I read this one many, many years ago and often re-read passages that keep inspiring me. It was difficult to choose some excerpts since there are so many in this book. It is very beautifully written and full of wisdom. The format is so beautiful, poetic and artistic.
"No man can reveal to you aught but that which already lies half asleep in the downing of your knowledge. The teacher who walks in the shadow of the temple, among his followers, gives not of his wisdom but rather his faith and lovingness. If he is indeed wise he does not bid you on the house of his wisdom but rather leads you to the threshold of your own mind."
In your growth and expansion, you learn what you are ready to learn, you are attracted by words, books, teachers that you are ready for. All wisdom is already inside of you, all you have to do is open up, go beyond your daily stories, your own mental constructions and breathe in the divinity of life. That's one of the reasons I chose to be a life coach, to be a facilitator for growth and expansion, to let people unfold to their natural greatness. It is a gift and a treasure for me to be able to witness this.
3. 1 CORITHIANS 13 by Paul of Tarsus
This is the thirteenth chapter of the First Epistle to the Corinthians in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. Every time I read this, I am reminded that whatever we do throughout the day, if it is not coming from the heart, it is a wasted activity.
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Very simple and powerful text, that's why I love it so much, it is an invitation to live a heart-centered life, to embrace all that is coming on your path with love.
4. I AM THAT by Sri Nigardatta Maharaj
This is a collection of the timeless teachings of one of the greatest sages of India, Sri Nigardatta Maharaj. He did not propound any ideology or religion but gently unwrapped the mystery of the self. This book is very profound yet because of the format of questions and answers relatively easy to read.
"There is no question of failure, neither in the short run nor in the long. It is like traveling a long and arduous road in an unknown country. Of all then innumerable steps there is only the last which brings you to your destination. Yet you will not consider all previous steps as failures. Each brought you nearer to your goal, even when you had to turn back to by-pass an obstacle. In reality each step brings you to your goal, because to be always on the move, learning, discovering, unfolding, is your eternal destiny. Living is the only purpose. The self does not identify itself with success or failure - the very idea of becoming this or that is unthinkable. The self understands that success and failure are relative and related, that they are the very warp and weft of life. Learn from both and go beyond. If you have not learnt, repeat."
When we can step out the narrow view of our own little self and become our expanded self, look at our life from a more distant perspective, we can see our lessons, our progress, our traps, and look at our life with a gentleness, with compassion for our own struggle, knowing that all people are having their own struggle, we can expand our compassion to all human beings.
5. THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE UNIVERSE by Gary Renard
Making the teachings of A Course In Miracles more accessible, this is a wonderful book about Gary who is meeting two ascended masters in his home who discuss with him on all themes of life. I’m always skeptical of channeled material, but I’ve also always felt particularly drawn to A Course in Miracles. It may be because I’ve always had a deep love for Jesus Christ but have difficulty with the dogmatic way his teachings are distorted in many of the Christian Churches however, the way he clarifies his life and teachings in the course resonates a deep truth in me.
"You have often thought you had to try harder to be a more loving person, so you could exemplify the love of Jesus. That’s not true. If you really want to be perfect Love like him and God, then what you need to do is learn how to remove, with the Holy Spirit’s help, the barriers that you have placed in between yourself and God. Then you will naturally and inevitably become aware of what you really are."
We are divine and we've never lost our divine core, but we have built a complete mental construction around it, filled with fears, worries, beliefs, ... All we have to do is gently remove all that we've covered up our divinity with, layer per layer.
I could go on and on. There is still so many wisdom found in so many books and teachings. The most powerful ones make you realize universal truths that are inside of you, they make you expand and unfold your true essence.
I hope you enjoyed this read and would love to hear your insights or comments!!
Sending you love, Barbara. |
