Recommendations based on Cutting Through Spiritual Materialismby Chögyam Trungpa

* statistically, based on millions of data-points provided by fellow humans

  1. Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice

    by Shunryu Suzuki
    A guide to Zen meditation and philosophy, exploring the power of mindfulness and introspection.

    “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few.” So begins this most beloved of all American Zen books. Seldom has such a small handful of words provided a ... (Goodreads)

  2. The Dhammapada

    by Anonymous
    A collection of Buddhist teachings and wisdom, focusing on the path to enlightenment.

    The Dhammapada (Pāli; Prakrit: धम्मपद Dhammapada; Sanskrit: धर्मपद Dharmapada) is a collection of sayings of the Buddha in verse form and one of the most widely read and best known Buddhist ... (Goodreads)

  3. The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying

    by Sogyal Rinpoche
    Guide to attaining inner peace in life and death, drawing from Buddhist wisdom.

    “A magnificent achievement. In its power to touch the heart, to awaken consciousness, [ The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying ] is an inestimable gift.” — San Francisco Chronicle A newly revised and ... (Goodreads)

  4. Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life With the Heart of a Buddha

    by Tara Brach
    A guide to accepting and embracing life's difficulties, using mindfulness and compassion to find inner peace and happiness.

    For many of us, feelings of deficiency are right around the corner. It doesn’t take much–just hearing of someone else’s accomplishments, being criticized, getting into an argument, making a mistake ... (Goodreads)

  5. The Way of Zen

    by Alan W. Watts
    An exploration of the philosophy, history and psychology of Zen Buddhism.

    In his definitive introduction to Zen Buddhism, Alan Watts explains the principles and practices of this ancient religion to Western readers. With a rare combination of freshness and lucidity, he ... (Goodreads)

  6. Start Where You Are: A Guide to Compassionate Living

    by Pema Chödrön
    A guide to cultivating compassion and mindfulness in everyday life, using Buddhist teachings and personal anecdotes.

    Pema Chödrön's perennially helpful guide to transforming the pains and difficulties in our lives into opportunities for genuine joy and personal growth We all want to be fearless, joyful, and fully ... (Barnes & Noble)

  7. Be Here Now

    by Ram Dass
    A spiritual journey exploring the power of mindfulness and how to make the most of life.

    Describes one man's transformation upon his acceptance of the principles of Yoga & gives a modern restatement of the importance of the spiritual side of human nature. Illustrated. The book is divided ... (Goodreads)

  8. When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times

    by Pema Chödrön
    A guide to finding peace and strength in times of chaos and uncertainty, using Buddhist teachings and personal anecdotes.

    Pema Chödrön's perennially best-selling classic on overcoming life's difficulties cuts to the heart of spirituality and personal growth—now in a newly designed 20th-anniversary edition with a new ... (Barnes & Noble)

  9. The Places That Scare You: A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times

    by Pema Chödrön
    A guide to overcoming fear and embracing life, through spiritual practice and self-reflection.

    Lifelong guidance for learning to change the way we relate to the scary and difficult moments of our lives, showing us how we can use all of our difficulties and fears as a way to soften our hearts ... (Barnes & Noble)

  10. Tao Te Ching

    by Lao Tzu
    A collection of wise sayings and reflections on the nature of existence.

    A lucid translation of the well-known Taoist classic by a leading scholar-now in a Shambhala Pocket Library edition. Written more than two thousand years ago, the Tao Teh Ching , or -The Classic of ... (Goodreads)

  11. A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose

    by Eckhart Tolle
    A spiritual guide to finding peace and purpose in life, by transcending the ego.

    The highly anticipated follow-up to the 2,000,000 copy bestselling inspirational book, "The Power of Now" With his bestselling spiritual guide "The Power of Now," Eckhart Tolle inspired millions of ... (Goodreads)

  12. The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching: Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation

    by Thich Nhat Hanh
    Thich Nhat Hanh offers an introduction to Buddhism, exploring its core teachings and practices for achieving inner peace and happiness.

    “If there is a candidate for ‘Living Buddha’ on earth today, it is Thich Nhat Hanh.” ... (Goodreads)

  13. Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life

    by Jon Kabat-Zinn
    Guide to mindfulness meditation, exploring the power of presence and becoming aware of the present moment.

    In this book, the author maps out a simple path for cultivating mindfulness in one's own life. It speaks both to those coming to meditation for the first time and to longtime practitioners, anyone ... (Goodreads)

  14. Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within

    by Natalie Goldberg
    A guide to writing as a spiritual practice, encouraging writers to let go of their inhibitions and write from the heart.

    For more than twenty years Natalie Goldberg has been challenging and cheering on writers with her books and workshops. In her groundbreaking first book, she brings together Zen meditation and writing ... (Goodreads)

  15. Practicing the Power of Now: Essential Teachings, Meditations, and Exercises from the Power of Now

    by Eckhart Tolle
    Exploring the teachings of Eckhart Tolle on living in the present moment, and how to apply them in daily life.

    New York Times, bestselling author Eckhart Tolle — A key to happiness is living in the now, Practice, The Power of Now,:, If you, like many others, have benefited from the transformative experience ... (Barnes & Noble)

  16. Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness

    by Jon Kabat-Zinn
    Comprehensive guide to using mindfulness meditation to manage stress, pain, and illness.

    2005 15th anniversary edition reprint Kabat-Zinn, founder of the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, is perhaps the best-known proponent of using meditation to ... (Goodreads)

  17. Awakening the Buddha Within: Eight Steps to Enlightenment

    by Surya Das
    Guide to understanding and embracing the Buddhist path to enlightenment.

    Lama Surya Das, the most highly trained American lama in the Tibetan tradition, presents the definitive book on Western Buddhism for the modern-day spiritual seeker. The radical and compelling ... (Goodreads)

  18. The Art of Happiness

    by Dalai Lama XIV
    A spiritual guide to finding lasting joy and contentment.

    An updated edition of a beloved classic—the original book on happiness, with new material from His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Dr. Howard Cutler,Nearly every time you see him, he's laughing, or at ... (Barnes & Noble)

  19. Dancing Wu Li Masters: An Overview of the New Physics

    by Gary Zukav
    An exploration of the emergent theories of quantum physics, and their implications for our understanding of reality.

    Gary Zukav has written "the Bible" for those who are curious about the mind-expanding discoveries of advanced physics, but who have no scientific background. Like a Wu Li Master who would teach us ... (Goodreads)

  20. The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are

    by Alan W. Watts
    A philosophical exploration of the nature of self and reality, challenging the idea of a separate self and encouraging a more holistic perspective.

    A revelatory primer on what it means to be human, from "the perfect guide for a course correction in life" (Deepak Chopra)—and a mind-opening manual of initiation into the central mystery of ... (Barnes & Noble)

  21. A People's History of the United States

    by Howard Zinn
    An examination of American history from a perspective of marginalized people.

    In the book, Zinn presented a different side of history from the more traditional "fundamental nationalist glorification of country". Zinn portrays a side of American history that can largely be seen ... (Goodreads)

  22. The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment

    by Eckhart Tolle
    A journey of self-transformation, learning to live in the present moment and liberate oneself.

    Eckhart Tolle's message is simple: living in the now is the truest path to happiness and enlightenment. And while this message may not seem stunningly original or fresh, Tolle's clear writing, ... (Goodreads)

  23. The Varieties of Religious Experience

    by William James
    A philosophical and psychological exploration of religious experience and its role in human life.

    "I am neither a theologian, nor a scholar learned in the history of religions, nor an anthropologist. Psychology is the only branch of learning in which I am particularly versed. To the psychologist ... (Goodreads)

  24. In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction

    by Gabor Maté
    Examining the impact of addiction on individuals and society, exploring the physical, emotional, and spiritual toll.

    He would probably dispute it, but Gabor Maté is something of a compassion machine. Diligently treating the drug addicts of Vancouver's notorious Downtown Eastside with sympathy in his heart and ... (Goodreads)

  25. The Yoga Sutras of Pantanjali

    by Satchidananda
    Path to enlightenment, outlining eight limbs of yoga and various meditation practices.

    This valuable book provides a complete manual for the study and practice of Raja Yoga, the path of concentration and meditation. This new edition of these timeless teachings is a treasure to be read ... (Barnes & Noble)

  26. The Essential Rumi

    by Rumi
    Collection of the spiritual poet's works, exploring life, love, and the divine.

    This revised and expanded edition of The Essential Rumi includes a new introduction by Coleman Barks and more than 80 never-before-published poems. Through his lyrical translations, Coleman Barks has ... (Barnes & Noble)

  27. The Biology of Belief: Unleashing the Power of Consciousness, Matter and Miracles

    by Bruce H. Lipton
    Examines how the power of belief can affect our lives and environment.

    The Biology of Belief is a groundbreaking work in the field of New Biology. Author Dr. Bruce Lipton is a former medical school professor and research scientist. His experiments, and that of other ... (Goodreads)

  28. The World's Religions

    by Huston Smith
    Examination of the major religious traditions of the world, exploring their origins, beliefs, and practices.

    The World’s Religions, by beloved author and pioneering professor Huston Smith ( Tales of Wonder ), is the definitive classic for introducing the essential elements and teachings of the world's ... (Barnes & Noble)

  29. Letters to a Young Poet

    by Rainer Maria Rilke
    Uplifting and inspiring words of wisdom, encouraging a young poet to find his own artistic voice.

    In 1903, a student at a military academy sent some of his verses to a well-known Austrian poet, requesting an assessment of their value. The older artist, Rainer Maria Rilke (1875–1926), replied to ... (Goodreads)