The "Spirituality Explorers" discussion question for this week is: What one book, other than the Bible, has been the greatest inspiration to you, and why? How has this book affected your life?
Illusions, by Richard Bach. It finished the work Stranger in a Strange Land had begun, cracking my sense of 'reality' as I understood it, to see the Illusion it is and find 'Truth' and Spirit beyond it.
The Prophet by K. Gibran. Yes, and Illusions and Johnathon Livingston Seagull and, I agree..just too many to name them all. Ghandi. Christian Mystics by Ursula King...
Actually I think there were two ... at the very beginning of my awakening there was a little paperback I ran across by Ken Carey called "The Return of the Bird Tribes" (if I remember right, he wrote more but it was his first anyway) that really resonated (an important word) with me ... it gave me the first subjective inkling of just how big and important my newly discovered spirituality might be ...
But Later when I discovered on a shelf in the New Renaissance book store in Portland, the URANTIA BOOK I was completely blown away !
I am just intelligent enough to recognise that that book was not written by man alone but with supernatural guidance of a very divine nature ... and relatively very recently as compared to the 'other' more 'orthodox' books that claim to cover such information.
I have spent countless hours in that book in addition to my 5 or so complete read throughs and I still cannot hardly understand the bulk of it. But the part on the life of Jesus the Christ is very easily read and in detail with complete coverage of all dates in detail (no 'missing' years there) ... and the esoteric truth of the meanings of everything he ever uttered explained in ways that I easily understood ... I believe this book was produced to be used for the Christians of this world Urantia (the celestial name of our world) to give them the one common truth that they all need to get on the same page with each other as regards to the intended interpretations of meanings.
The most important thing I got out of it was the idea that we each have withIN us already the spirit of God waiting to be recognised by us ... and of course I had already made IT's acquaintance so I knew of what the book was speaking of, it just gave me great confirmation that there was this eternal path that I was on and the book goes into great detail about that ... an extremely spiritually affirming book that I highly recommend to everyone.
The books that have inspired me most were privately published and the authors' privacy is honored. Otherwise, restricting my choice to contemporary writers, in three categories: POETRY- Ezra Pound , Pisan Cantos ; NOVEL - Thomas Mann, The Magic Mountain; WISDOM/PHILOSOPHY - G I Gurdjieff, All & Everything ,Vol 1:Beelzebub's Tales to His Grandson.
I do love Richard Bach, Antione de Saint-Exupery, Kahlil Gibran, and, of course, our Russian literature, especially the poetry. ;-) But my all-times favorite is "Master and Margarita" by Mikhail Bulgakov.
That's a tough question, because of its exclusive phrasing. As my wisdom evolves, so too my appreciation for truths expressed.
Authors who have impacted my sense of the world in the last 5 years?
Ursula K LeGuin's The Dispossessed had a passage that compared seeing life from the perspective of death with seeing the earth from the perspective of the moon. It's one of those passages that I keep returning to in order to take my (often piddling) self interest and put it in correct perspective.
Paula D'Arcy's Gift of the Red Bird also has a passage about our perspectives of God vs. those doctrinal perspectives brought to us by corporate religion which hits the mark quite well. I doubt she would characterize it quite that way, but I find an enormous affirmation of my own suspicions when I read it.
Then finally, Everything Belongs by Richard Rohr. Much of his work speaks to the spirituality of imperfection, and this work in specific has provided me with a means of appreciation of my own by virtue of contemplative prayer.
To limit it to one book is impossible. I cannot say there has been an overwhelming book. I find the poetry of the Sufis -- Hafix and Rumi particularly -- to be an endless source of joy, as well as the poetry of David Whyte and Mary Oliver. The Big Book (Alcoholics Anonymous) written in the late 1930's by Bill Wilson has more spiritual wisom in it that a dozen of the pop spirituality or self-help books of the last 50 years. Chapter 5 is central. To say that we look for "progress and not perfection" puts the spiritual journey in the right perspective. And to say that our sobriety (for which you can simply read the quality of our daily life) is totally dependent on our spiritual condition is so simple but so true. I find the best of science fiction helps lubricate the imagination and helps in thinking about the human condition. Ursula LeGuin's Left Hand of Darkness says much about our sexuality and society. Anything by Robert Heinlein. The best of Arthur C. Clarke (City and the Stars, for example). 1984 by George Orwell and Aldous Huxley's Brave New World.
Some additional thoughts: Emilie Cady's Lessons In Truth and How I Used The Truth are from Unity and the New Thought Movement, and have more spiritual wisdom per page than anything I have seen elsewhere. Gandhi's Autobiography. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail and any of his other speeches. Basham, The Wonder That Was India -- read it for a course in college, and it opened my mind to other cultures. The Lotus Sutra. The Heart Sutra. Any of the four volumes of Confucius.
I agree, there hasn't been one book that opens up ourselves to the universe. There are sometimes hundreds of books that do that for us, both fact and fiction. The early books that are still important are overlaid by the newer stuff. Sometimes one phrase will jump out at us from an entire book! It's a great expanding universe out there and it keeps on getting bigger all the time.
Jean P Sasson's books about Sultana, a princess in Saudi Arabia who dared to speak out, have inspired me greatly. It's amazing what women have had to deal with, what they are still dealing with, and what they will continue to deal with as long as the genders are still off balance.
This is challenging. I would have to go back to look for the title, but I can remember reading some works of Madeleine L'Engle (not her fiction which is very insightful), but her reflections about life and our role in the universe are the first to illuminate my beliefs.
There are so many things which have written me - drawn me - sung me. Works coming through me which teach me as they drive me to set them down on the page. Books - so many, yet only One: that would be SOURCE - the MYSTERY itself - teaching through Nature, through Relationships, through everything. It's all awake, alive: the living Wyrd.
Wow Carolion, I doubt anyone can top that, and so very true. We're all living letters, it's written on our souls to extend out to all.... Go ye! I've think I habe have learned more from human experience than other book of life.
Wow, no wonder everyone's confused. Could this get more varied or more esoteric? Taking all this to your understanding of the Bible gives new insight to why no one agrees on anything. And why I take no other MAN's word on what it all means.
People will tell you, They've got it down pat, They'll all tell you, This is where it's at, But in the end, No one really knows, Be careful my friend, Down which path your soul goes.
Clarke, are you feeling okay, my friend? I couldn't quite grasp what you were trying to say....
I am excited about reading some of the books mentioned so far. I have requested The Urantia Book from the library and am also interested in reading some books by Richard Rohr (thanks Matt). As for my favorite book, as many have mentioned, it is a difficult choice. I think that "Discover the Power Within You" by Eric Butterworth is filled with so much spiritual truth. It is a book that I would recommend to all those that feel themselves to be on a spiritual path and trying to understand life.
Another book that impacted my life early on was "Man's Search for Meaning" by Victor Frankyl.
"And There Was Light" by Jacques Lusseyran, blind hero of the French Resistance. Lusseyran had an inner light and way of seeing that helped him to help others.
Oh yes, Alison! I loved Etty Hillesum's "An Interrupted Life" probably even more than "Man's Search for Meaning". What a beautiful soul and what valuable lessons she had for all of us.
Another one that really got me looking at things differently was the OAHSPE [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oahspe well worth checking out for a serious inquirer of spiritual truths ... but do not expect it to be an easy read ...
"And the Walls Came Tumbling Down" by Ralph Abernathy. I grew up during the 1960s and understood most of what was going on but never knew the intricacies of the movement. His book inspired me to learn more.
Autobiography of a Yogi by Yogananda, anything written by him for that matter. I'm currently reading his commentary and interpretation of the Bahgavad Gita.
"Life Lessons" (I believe that's the title.) by Elisabeth Kubler Ross and David Kessler is an excellent one. I haven't read it in quite some time, but I found a lot of comfort and relief in it.
I would say Robert Frost's poetry--His poems were so simple on the surface, but lent themselves to more complicated and complex interpretations of the human experience.
The Holiest of the Holies (THOTH), The Last Testament, Maitreya of Mission of Maitreya This book shows how each religion has it's place in God's Plan. Each one has a unique message delivered to humanity at a certain time, place or for a certain culture. The world is fighting between religions now, however, there is a way to bring them all together under One Truth called: The Eternal Divine Path. This book is also symbolically referred to in the Bible as 'the book sealed with 7 seals' which is sent at the end times and finishes the 'mystery of God'.
THOTH makes all the other books make sense and gives a sense of satisfaction to the Seeker of Truth!
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The "Spirituality Explorers" discussion question for this week is: What one book, other than the Bible, has been the greatest inspiration to you, and why? How has this book affected your life?
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Comments: 39 ( 4 removed by Carla G. )
Yes, and Illusions and Johnathon Livingston Seagull
and, I agree..just too many to name them all. Ghandi. Christian Mystics by Ursula King...
Hpw about we add a spiritual website? reluctantmessenger.com
But Later when I discovered on a shelf in the New Renaissance book store in Portland, the URANTIA BOOK I was completely blown away !
I am just intelligent enough to recognise that that book was not written by man alone but with supernatural guidance of a very divine nature ... and relatively very recently as compared to the 'other' more 'orthodox' books that claim to cover such information.
I have spent countless hours in that book in addition to my 5 or so complete read throughs and I still cannot hardly understand the bulk of it. But the part on the life of Jesus the Christ is very easily read and in detail with complete coverage of all dates in detail (no 'missing' years there) ... and the esoteric truth of the meanings of everything he ever uttered explained in ways that I easily understood ... I believe this book was produced to be used for the Christians of this world Urantia (the celestial name of our world) to give them the one common truth that they all need to get on the same page with each other as regards to the intended interpretations of meanings.
The most important thing I got out of it was the idea that we each have withIN us already the spirit of God waiting to be recognised by us ... and of course I had already made IT's acquaintance so I knew of what the book was speaking of, it just gave me great confirmation that there was this eternal path that I was on and the book goes into great detail about that ... an extremely spiritually affirming book that I highly recommend to everyone.
Just poke your cursor here Wikipedia on URANTIA BOOK to learn more ...
Hugs & blessings to everyone - S.
Authors who have impacted my sense of the world in the last 5 years?
Ursula K LeGuin's The Dispossessed had a passage that compared seeing life from the perspective of death with seeing the earth from the perspective of the moon. It's one of those passages that I keep returning to in order to take my (often piddling) self interest and put it in correct perspective.
Paula D'Arcy's Gift of the Red Bird also has a passage about our perspectives of God vs. those doctrinal perspectives brought to us by corporate religion which hits the mark quite well. I doubt she would characterize it quite that way, but I find an enormous affirmation of my own suspicions when I read it.
Then finally, Everything Belongs by Richard Rohr. Much of his work speaks to the spirituality of imperfection, and this work in specific has provided me with a means of appreciation of my own by virtue of contemplative prayer.
The Big Book (Alcoholics Anonymous) written in the late 1930's by Bill Wilson has more spiritual wisom in it that a dozen of the pop spirituality or self-help books of the last 50 years. Chapter 5 is central. To say that we look for "progress and not perfection" puts the spiritual journey in the right perspective. And to say that our sobriety (for which you can simply read the quality of our daily life) is totally dependent on our spiritual condition is so simple but so true.
I find the best of science fiction helps lubricate the imagination and helps in thinking about the human condition. Ursula LeGuin's Left Hand of Darkness says much about our sexuality and society. Anything by Robert Heinlein. The best of Arthur C. Clarke (City and the Stars, for example). 1984 by George Orwell and Aldous Huxley's Brave New World.
Emilie Cady's Lessons In Truth and How I Used The Truth are from Unity and the New Thought Movement, and have more spiritual wisdom per page than anything I have seen elsewhere. Gandhi's Autobiography. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail and any of his other speeches.
Basham, The Wonder That Was India -- read it for a course in college, and it opened my mind to other cultures. The Lotus Sutra. The Heart Sutra. Any of the four volumes of Confucius.
It's a great expanding universe out there and it keeps on getting bigger all the time.
People will tell you,
They've got it down pat,
They'll all tell you,
This is where it's at,
But in the end,
No one really knows,
Be careful my friend,
Down which path your soul goes.
I am excited about reading some of the books mentioned so far. I have requested The Urantia Book from the library and am also interested in reading some books by Richard Rohr (thanks Matt). As for my favorite book, as many have mentioned, it is a difficult choice. I think that "Discover the Power Within You" by Eric Butterworth is filled with so much spiritual truth. It is a book that I would recommend to all those that feel themselves to be on a spiritual path and trying to understand life.
Another book that impacted my life early on was "Man's Search for Meaning" by Victor Frankyl.
This book shows how each religion has it's place in God's Plan. Each one has a unique message delivered to humanity at a certain time, place or for a certain culture. The world is fighting between religions now, however, there is a way to bring them all together under One Truth called: The Eternal Divine Path. This book is also symbolically referred to in the Bible as 'the book sealed with 7 seals' which is sent at the end times and finishes the 'mystery of God'.
THOTH makes all the other books make sense and gives a sense of satisfaction to the Seeker of Truth!