$14.50PaperbackSurprised by GraceAmber TerrellAmber tells her story in a very personalized way… as if I am peeking at someone’s diary of their search for truth, made even more so by the fact that I know Amber personally. After 25 years spent with one guru Amber feels frustrated and disillusioned with the spiritual journey. After deciding to lay off Spiritual gurus she quickly becomes involved with another: Gangaji, a western devotee of Papiji (Sri H. W. L. Poonja.) The love and adoration Amber feels for her new master is felt throughout her every word. This book is really a Valentine to Gangaiji, whom Amber feels has finally woken her up after years of deep sleep. This is a must book for any fan of Gangaji and for any one interested in life behind the scenes of a popular spiritual movement. I found the book an interesting read as Amber’s journey seems to parallel other spiritual seekers’ quest, their first years with a Spiritual movement, and then the frustration and disenchantment followed by a letting go of the search altogether. The seeker is then lead to the end of the search as one realizes there was really nowhere to go and no path to tread. Review by Tony Kainauskas. 
$15.95PaperbackAfter the Ecstasy, the LaundryJack KornfieldThis is a very comfortable book to read (or to listen to as an audio). Kornfield has been "around the spiritual scene" for decades. He has been a Buddhist Monk, a meditation teacher, a seeker (I once saw him questioning Nisargadatta on a video about Nisargadatta that I rented) and an author of spiritual books. He has been associated with Mindfulness, Zen, Vipassana, and other related practices. He is also a householder, family man, and clinical psychologist. With all those experiences and lifetime of pursuits it is no surprise that Kornfield has written an excellent book that adds great perspective on trying to integrate the search for enlightenment with the everyday practicalities of living in the mundane world. Jack relates the following story, which to me catches the essence of the book and its appeal. Student to Zen Master: Master, tell me, what is experience like after death? Zen Master to Student: I do not know. Student to Zen Master: You are a Zen Master, how can you not know the answer? Zen Master to Student: I am a living Zen Master, you need to find and ask a dead Zen Master. Review by Len Oppenheim. 
$21.95PaperbackMy Diamond Days with OshoMa Prem ShunyoA first person narrative of time spent with a master. This is my favorite genre. I love to see how the student views the master, and how the student changes throughout the process and to see how the view of the master progresses. This is written by a woman sanyassin, who has a real zest for life and a strong magnetic link to the spiritual. I liked this book because it felt totally honest and the author seemed to "let it all hang out." Many times one reads a first person narrative and gets the feeling the teller of the tale is very careful about what he or she included and excluded in order to make both the storyteller and the master appear only in the best light. This book hits hard with integrity. Born Sandra, and British by birth, this fascinating lady met Osho in 1976 and stayed with him until he passed on about 15 years later. She was clearly in the "inner circle," and it was her dharma to wash and iron his robes and perform other duties of personal service. The author really has a unique view of the action in and around Osho, and this story is a very natural follow-on if you have read Osho’s autobiography. Now you get a view of the same events from a different set of eyes and a different viewpoint. If you find Osho interesting, this is a "must read." Review by Len Oppenheim. 
$21.95PaperbackSecrets of YogaOshoA fascinating compilation derived from Osho’s lectures. Much of this book is devoted to Osho’s interpretation of The Yoga Sutra’s of Patanjali. In this book Osho uses many jokes and tales to illustrate his points. The book provides a very interesting perspective on how a modern and roguish mystic views the ancient teachings of one of the great Rishis of all time. Having practiced the TM Sidhi Program, as taught by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, based on the teaching of Patanjali, I found it quite interesting to compare and contrast how these two very different 20th Century Masters interpret Patanjali. While Osho’s unique and incisive mind is capable of some very deep insights, the teachings of Maharishi, at least in my understanding and in practice, go much deeper than the teachings of Osho. However there is much wit and wisdom in this book, and I highly recommend it. Review by Len Oppenheim. 
$24.95PaperbackA Search in Secret IndiaPaul BruntonThis book is included in our very select category Books You Can’t Live Without Not only is Brunton given credit for introducing Ramana Maharshi to the West, but this book stands out, at least in my opinion, as a great classic among all the books ever written by Western seekers who have gone to the East, seeking truth and/or a guru. This is a fantastic chronicle of a spiritual journey. It is also a real "period piece" describing both England and India in an earlier age of greater innocence. Brunton does a perfect job of describing his pursuit and his meetings with many miraculous saints and miracle men. I rank this book right up there with Autobiography of a Yogi, books that everyone, not just seekers, must read and will almost certainly enjoy. If you have not yet read this book, you have a real treat in store for yourself. Review by Len Oppenheim. 
$14.14PaperbackBe Here NowRam DassWritten in 1971, Be Here Now is a "piece of work." I can’t describe this book. It is a hodgepodge, a psychedelic trip in print. If you have never read it, you will probably enjoy the glimpse into the past. If you read it when it first came out you have probably forgotten everything about it. It is a flashback, a trip. Ram Dass describes this as a journey of transformation. I think it is fun to read something like this now, and see how it has changed because our perspective has changed. Review by Len Oppenheim. 
$23.00PaperbackMiracle of Love: Stories About Neem Karoli BabaRam DassOut of print for many years, but is now available again. The book is a compendium of stories about Ram Dass’ guru, who he calls Maharajii. Some of the stories involve Ram Dass, or events he personally witnessed, while others were gathered from over one hundred other devotees. I am a junky for stories about Gurus and Yogis and their miraculous deeds and/or lessons they teach, both verbally and non-verbally. I especially enjoy these stories when they are modern, having occurred during my lifetime, and when the teller of the stories, or the gatherer of the information is highly credible. Those are the reasons I highly recommend this book. Review by Len Oppenheim. 
$17.95PaperbackSai Baba Man of MiraclesHoward MurphetWritten in 1971, yet it still remains, at least in my opinion, the best book to start with if you have not read about Sai Baba. It is an almost perfect introduction to a reader who wants to know Sai Baba’s personal history and explore a reasonably objective view of his miraculous powers and his devotional teaching. Murphet tells the story in a straightforward and highly credible manner. This book is fun to read and an exciting journey for those who have not explored the story of Sai Baba. Review by Len Oppenheim. 
$9.00PaperbackSai Baba the Holy Man and the PsychiatristSamuel H. Sandweiss M.D.Written in 1975 but remains timely. This is a very personalized account of a western psychiatrist who goes to India, spends time with Sai Baba and feels compelled to relate the story of an avatar "who can materialize objects from thin air and is capable of remarkable clairvoyant, telepathic, and healing powers; who is able to transform himself into other forms and identities and transport himself great distances instantaneously; and who has been seen in two or more places at once." Sandweiss wrote this at a time when it was an "off the wall" position for a respected psychiatrist to not only attest to these miraculous powers, but also embrace the spiritual message from this avatar. This is a classic first person narrative, well-worth reading. Review by Len Oppenheim. 
$9.00PaperbackMy Baba and IDr. John HislopOne of many first person narratives written about Sai Baba. What makes this one a little special is that Hislop and his wife not only met Sai Baba, but they had previously met Yogananda, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, and other great masters. Hislop’ s personal history of having met these other great spiritual luminaries of our age adds a depth to this account that I found most appealing. Describing his first meeting with Baba, the author says: "It is difficult, and probably impossible to express in words the effect upon myself of that first meeting with Baba. My entire being was profoundly affected and changed. Immediately Baba became the center of my life and has remained so. In his presence, at that first meeting, the world fell away from me, my entire consciousness was drawn inward and, at a most subtle level of awareness, Baba appeared in my heart as love." This book is very compelling and focuses on the spiritual teachings of this "miracle man." Review by Len Oppenheim. 
$19.95PaperbackWake Up Laughing: My Miraculous Life with Sai BabaConnie ShawPublished in 2000, making it a relative newcomer to the first person accounts of meeting with Sai Baba. For some reason I found this to be the most enjoyable book I have read on the topic of Sai Baba. Her writing style is very charming and captivating. It feels as if the author is being flat out honest and candid. Very often, I find books written by devotees to be too carefully orchestrated. This book flows, and has drama, love, joy, and humor. Everyone will enjoy reading this account. Review by Len Oppenheim. 
$12.00PaperbackWhere the Road EndsHoward MurphetThis book is really an autobiography of Murphet, but it was inspired and endorsed by Sai Baba. The title is inspired by a quote from Sai Baba, "Where the road ends God is attained and the pilgrim finds he has journeyed from himself to himself." Murphet was born in 1906, in Tasmania, Australia. The book was first published in 1993, when the author was about 87. Murphet led a very interesting life during very interesting times. This is a delightful book, which captures some very interesting times during the life of a lucky seeker. Review by Len Oppenheim. 
$19.00PaperbackIt's Here Now, (Are You?) A Spiritual MemoirBhagavan DassThe author was born Michael Riggs and grew up in Laguna Beach, California. According to this memoir he was 18 years old, when he left home "to search for his holy grail." He arrived in India in 1964. I can’t even begin to describe his exploits and experiences. They run the gamut from drugs to sex to spiritual awareness. While I am somewhat skeptical about the truth or validity of many of the episodes and escapades described in this book, Bhagavan Dass has seen it all and done most of it, and his experiences are revealing and exciting. He takes credit for introducing Ram Dass to his guru, Neem Karoli Baba. The author spent time with Alan Watts, Allen Ginsburg, Jerry Garcia and many other famous characters from the Beat and Hip generations. This is a life that oscillated from the penthouse to the outhouse on many occasions. There is something for everyone in this book, and whether it is all the literal truth or not is irrelevant because it is so fascinating. You will want to read it from cover to cover. Review by Len Oppenheim. 
$21.95HardcoverRoadsigns: Navigating Your Path to Spiritual HappinessPhilip Goldberg, Ph.DGoldberg’s book is designed more like a manual than a first person narrative, but ultimately it really is Phil’s story of his own seeking, the potholes in the road he encountered, and the wisdom he has achieved from his experiences on the path. To some this book might seem quite modern and perhaps too "cutesy," but I found that it contained enough gems to make it well worth the time and money. Phil understands the nature of paradox. His final advice, and concluding sentences are: Persevere. Lighten up. Be diligent. Take it easy. Get serious. Be happy. I think that is good advice, and I think the book is chock full of good advice from a seasoned seeker. Review by Len Oppenheim. 
$19.95PaperbackOne Man's Journey to TruthDenie HiestandThis is not a book I would recommend to everyone. In fact I am not sure if I should include it in this catalogue. I decided to include it because it was interesting and quite unique. Hiestand is a Kiwi; a native of New Zealand and his life is quite a journey. There is love, despair, and a lot of pathos in his story. It appears to be honestly told and touches upon all of the issues that Seeker's encounter. The author is quite a unique dude, and he had many powerful encounters and experiences that are worth reading about. Review by Len Oppenheim. 
$19.95PaperbackDaughter of FireIrina TweedieThis is a true classic, but is clearly not for everyone. This "Diary of a Spiritual Training with a Sufi Master" is just over 800 pages long and can be heavy and onerous. Tweedie was 59 when she met her guru, Bhai Sahib, in 1959. Her master told her to keep a diary. This is her diary. It is detailed and honest. I have never read another book like it. The author goes through many ups and downs and they are all reported in the book. Not only is this a rare documentary of a serious seeker, it is also a rare glimpse into the teachings of a Sufi master. Tweedie was born in Russia, educated in Vienna and Paris and was married to an English naval officer who passed away in 1954. She had a strong background in Theosophy, which explains why, and how she ended up in India seeking her master. Tweedie may have been more than just a seeker; many regard her as having achieved her goal. Tweedie is the real deal, as far away from a dilettante as one could possibly be. Review by Len Oppenheim. 
$19.00PaperbackThe Odyssey of EnlightenmentBerthold Madhukar ThompsonThis is a book to which I give the highest possible recommendation. I love chronicles of personal seeking, when well written and obviously truthful. This one fits the bill. Thompson has chapters on 12 spiritual teachers and he does an excellent job of capturing the essence of both the teaching and the teacher. Each chapter follows the question and answer format, which I found to be very clear and concise. I also found that Thompson asked most of the questions I would like to ask, were I in his position. Among the most well known teachers in his journey are Osho, Papaji, Gangaji, Ramesh Balsekar, U.G. Krishnamurti, and Andrew Cohen. (Although Thompson is a native of Germany, his English is excellent.) There is a great intimacy and truthfulness about this book that makes it very compelling. If you are not prepared to go to India and seek out saints and masters in remote locations, reading this is the next best thing. Thompson now lives in Hawaii, and after reading this book I would be very tempted to pay him a visit to discuss his experiences and the wisdom he has gained. I rate this an absolutely must read book for any spiritual seeker. An added bonus is that there are photos of each of the 12 masters. Often their eyes and features communicate a great deal. Finally, the author does not claim to be enlightened, and his odyssey leads him to question whether or not enlightenment is achievable by following any guru or any particular sadhanas recommended by any teacher. Perhaps the lesson to be learned is that active seeking actually stands in the way of finding. This lesson is expressed in the title of the chapter about U.G. Krishnamurti, "The Worst Desire Is the Desire for Enlightenment." Review by Len Oppenheim. 
$16.00PaperbackAcceptance of What Is: A Book About NothingWayne LiquormanLiquorman begins chapter one with this caveat: "Buyer Beware: Truth disappears in the telling of it." Liquorman was acknowledged by his guru, Ramesh Balsekar, to have "gotten it", in other words to have realized the Advaita Teaching and to be a gyani. So, this is a book about nothing. At the same time it is a book about everything. The book uses a question and answer format, which I find to be very easy to follow and understand. Liquorman has a great sense of humor and a zest for life, both of which clearly come through. Liquorman has the kind of mischievousness and charm I find irresistible. I find it refreshing to get the story of how a Westerner, a businessman, and former substance abuser, achieves realization and how this grace just happens. This is clearly a must read, and if you like the book as much as I did you will take the next step and go to see and hear Wayne, live and in person. Seeing Wayne is a treat, as is reading this book. Although the book is simple, something about the style and presentation resonated so deeply with me that I consider it to be one of the dozen or so books I have ever read that have profoundly influenced me and changed the direction of my life. Review by Len Oppenheim 
$16.95PaperbackEnlightenment Blues: My years with an American GuruAndre Van der BraakA book about what can go wrong when you choose the wrong master. The author was in the inner circle (and booted out and invited back in again a few times) of the followers of Andrew Cohen who had created a spiritual community. I had a feeling I would like this book when I picked it up, as on the cover was a painting by Rene Magritte, one of my all-time favorite artists. The book was, in my opinion, as good as Magritte’s art. The author was a committed seeker. He got close to the master. There were many "warning signs" that he ignored, as he chose to "stay the course." The author is very intelligent and very honest. This is a very astute look at the inherent conflicts that can occur when seeker and guru are mismatched. Everyone, on every path, ought to read this so that he or she can look in the mirror and honestly assess those issues of self-doubt that often arise. Besides the interesting subject matter, the book provides very penetrating psychological insights into the nature of many Seeker's, and better yet, it reads and flows like a novel. I give this book a very high recommendation for virtually all readers. Review by Len Oppenheim. 
$14.95PaperbackCave in the SnowVicki MackenzieThis is an incredible book for anyone struggling to maintain his or her spiritual discipline in a materialistic world. And it is particularly meaningful for women, who struggle with the normal issues and a few added ones due to their gender. Very inspirational, full of insights and clarity. This is the story of Tenzin Palmo, a spiritually heroic woman, born in London, who in her early twenties journeys to India. There, she recognizes her reincarnated guru, the 7th Khamtrul Rinpoche, and begins her journey as one of the first Western Buddhist nuns. As a renunciant, she spends 12 years in a Himalayan cave, fine tuning her spiritual discipline, and her spiritual evolution. When she returns to the "world", she vows to achieve enlightenment in a female body, no matter how many reincarnations. This is an extraordinary statement, considering the monks say a daily prayer requesting not to be reborn in a female body, which they consider unclean. Most Buddhist monks feel it is inconceivable to achieve enlightenment in a female body. Her spiritual wisdom is clear and practical. For example, her thoughts on anger: "Anger is simply anger, we use it to justify our own negative states. We all have a huge reservoir of anger in us and whatever we direct it to only adds oil to the fire. If we approach something with an angry mind, what happens is that it leads to antagonism and defensiveness in the other side. The Buddha said hatred is not overcome by hatred, but only by love." (p.199) Some of her words on retreat, wisdom, and bliss: "…realizations are quite bare…They are not accompanied by lights and music. We're trying to see things as they really are. A realization is non–conceptual. It's not a product of the thinking process or the emotions—unlike visions which come from that level. A realization is the white transparent light at the centre of the prism, not the rainbow colours around it…There are states of incredible bliss. Bliss is the fuel of retreat…You can't do any long–term practice seriously unless there is inner joy, because the joy and enthusiasm is what carries you along…The only problem with bliss is that because it arouses such enormous pleasure, beyond anything on a wordly level…people cling to it and really want it and then it becomes another obstacle…bliss in itself is useless…It's only when it is used as a state of mind for understanding Emptiness—when that blissful mind is able to look at its own nature. Otherwise it is just another subject of Samsara…The blissful mind is a very subtle mind and that kind of mind looking at Emptiness is a very different thing from the gross mind looking at emptiness. And that is why one cultivates bliss." (pp.112–113) There is also a discussion at the end of the book on the special problems women have on the Buddhist path, trying to balance spiritual discipline and family. And lastly, Tenzin Palmo's quest to establish a Buddhist nunnery where females will have an equal opportunity to learn the spiritual practices and be in an environment supportive of those goals was the basis for her fundraising talks throughout the world. Review by Margie Zalk. 
$17.95PaperbackSwami: Encounters with Modern MysticsDoug BoydI confess to be a "junky" when it comes to books written by people who have spent time with masters, saints, yogis, swamis, and gyanis. I am fascinated by the experiences these seekers encounter and by the stories about the various luminaries they meet. This book did not disappoint me at all. The first one-third of the book describes the months in 1970 when the author served as Swami Rama's personal assistant while the Swami was being studied by the doctors and researchers at the Menninger Foundation in Kansas City. The Institute people were interested in studying the Swami's physiology and brain wave functioning as he did such Yogic feats as stopping his heart, experiencing various states of consciousness, and altering body temperature etc. What makes this section of the book most interesting is that the author, Boyd, is not a devotee and is quite objective in his observations and judgments. It is really most fascinating to learn so many intimate details about a highly evolved Yogi who had been a Shankaracharya and then founded the very successful worldwide organization, The Himalayan Institute. Swami Rama was both very highly educated in Western institutions of higher learning, and an accomplished Yogi who had visited virtually all the major saints and yogis of the mid-twentieth century. Boyd later goes to India with a group from the Institute who take all their paraphernalia with them to study other Yogi's. They spend time in and around Rishikesh and their meetings and explorations are very interesting. Finally, Boyd goes back to India by himself, eventually returning to Hardwar and then Rishikesh. He is accompanied by Hridiya Sing, who acts as his guide and translator. Boyd spends some "quality time" with a number of interesting Swami's. Perhaps most interesting is the time spent with Tat Walla Baba. What sets this book apart from most of the other books I have read by "seekers" visiting holy men in India is that Boyd is not really a seeker. Instead he is an "observer". This puts a different spin on his experiences and the view one gets of the various holy men. Boyd unlike virtually all the other seekers I have read is really not looking for enlightenment or personal evolution. Instead he is trying to figure out how to make the world a better place on a more exoteric level. The book covers very interesting ground and is well written. I rate it a "must read". Review by Len Oppenheim. 
$14.95PaperbackAwakened: Meetings with Indian SaintsMichael O'Callaghan, Ph.D.I must confess that I am a "seekers" junky. I love to read books about people on a quest for truth or about their visits to various masters, gurus and/or saints. This book is right up my alley. The author (a female despite her given name "Michael") is a trained psychologist who has practiced TM for 30 years. I am not sure if she is a TM teacher, but she is steeped in the teachings and knowledge of Maharishi, and lives in a meditating community in Austin, Texas. Like a number of long–time practitioners of TM she feels the lack of a personal Guru. Her quest for the personal touch takes her to visit various Indian saints who come to America. Finally, she strongly connects with one of these saints and it results in her undertaking a pilgrimage to India to spend more than a month in an Ashram with Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji. Her experiences are, in many respects, quite extraordinary and very credible. The book is very intimate in its details and not exaggerated or adulterated. Whether or not you have been to India you will identify with the details of her culture shock and with her trying to reconcile her Western fixation on hygiene with the "letting it go" mindset necessary to adapt to Indian life in an Ashram's very primitive facilities. But, there is a lot more in this book than her trials and tribulations with personal hygiene. She gets to the essential elements of truth and the great teachings of this remarkable Swami. She relates a number of fascinating experiences, which include both the paranormal, and the supernormal powers of her Swamiji. She also has chapters dealing with visits to Amachi, Karunamayi, Mother Meera, and Viswamji Viswawaguru, an incarnation of Dattatreya. Ms. O'Callaghan covers a lot of ground in a very succinct and straightforward manner. If you like spiritual adventures, this is a must read. I give it my highest recommendation because it is so honest and profound, in both the knowledge and the experiences. Review by Len Oppenheim. 
$13.95PaperbackDaughters of the Goddess: The Women Saints of IndiaLinda JohnsenGives brief but wonderful mini–biographies based on the author's experience with a number of modern day female saints. Review by Michael Laughrin. 
$25.00PaperbackThe MotherAdilakshmiBiography of Mother Meera, a well known Indian saint now living in Germany. Table of Contets Mother Meera: Her Life and Her Experiences Human Glimpses of the Mother Mr. Reddy: The Divine Messenger Questions and Answers Some Testimonies by Devotees Epilogue Names and Terms Darshan Information 
$15.00PaperbackThe Experience of Ultimate TruthMichael GrahamI am an admitted junkie when it comes to books we have put in the category of "Seeker's Journals". The author Michael Graham has provided me with another excellent narrative relating his 28 years of seeking that culminated with his surrender to Christ and becoming a Christian. I have read many books that were better written. The author could have gone into greater detail about some of his experiences and he has left some troubling gaps in the story. On the other hand, his being one of the early Western disciples and his closeness to Muktananda yields some priceless insights into this great Yogi. Graham was no casual or armchair seeker. His subjective experiences and objective observations are both very rich. Graham combines deep and rich experiences with a very keen intellect. On top of that he had significant relationships with a number of the great teachers of the 20th Century. I love to get first hand insights into recognized gurus or masters from a sincere student who has been close enough to experience these teachers on a very personal level. His ultimate rejection of the Indian paths and New Age teachers and his becoming a Christian makes this a very unique story and one well worth reading. The book definitely captured my interest from page 1. I would almost call it a "page-turner". Review by Len Oppenheim. 
$22.00PaperbackAll You Need Is Love: An Eyewitness Account of When Spirituality Spread from the East to the WestNancy Cooke de HerreraNancy has packed three or four lifetimes of living into one. From riding the desert with Sir Edmund Hillary, meeting the Dali Lama, to friendships with many prominent people in politics and Hollywood… Nancy’s is an amazing life story. About 85 percent of this fascinating autobiography deals with the early beginnings of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) movement in the US. There are many personal stories of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (the founder of the TM Movement) and as I am a long time practitioner of TM myself, I was totally enchanted by this intimate history of my spiritual movement. Nancy spent many precious moments with Maharishi and was able to ask many fascinating questions… this alone I feel is worth the price of the book. Nancy was also in Rishikesh, India at the time the Beatles, Donovan, and Mike Love were there. This section is like opening a time capsule for readers of my generation. This is a wonderful book filled with many priceless photos. Even if you do not practice Transcendental Meditation I would still highly recommend Nancy’s book as a first hand account of the advent of Eastern Spirituality to the Western world and, if you are a practitioner of TM and have yet to read this… well what are you waiting for? Reviewed by Tony Kainauskas. This is one of my all-time favorite books. The author led an incredible life, both hobnobbing with "the rich and famous", and partaking in a unique spiritual quest. This is one of those books that has something for everyone. On the seeking side, she was very early on with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and, at times, very close to him. Her stories are a must for those who have never been up close and personal with this great master. She reveals the authentic "lowdown" and really is a spellbinding storyteller. She spent part of 1968 on a teacher-training course with Maharishi in Rishikesh. It so happens that this was the course attended by such luminaries as Mia and Prudence Farrow, Donavan, and of course, the Beatles. The chapters on this adventure are rated "can’t miss." The book has great recollections and priceless pictures. If you have not read this book you are in for a real treat. Review by Len Oppenheim. 
$19.95PaperbackDance of a Rich Yogi: Liberation Through LossEd BeckleyOne day Ed had it all… millions of dollars, beautiful homes, a loving family, direct attention from his Spiritual Guru, and the respect and admiration of his hometown of Fairfield Iowa. The next day he was in a cab being driven to Federal Prison to serve time for fraud. Ed’s journey from material wealth to loss to spiritual fullness intersects various masters from Maharishi Mahesh Yogi to Mata Amritanandamayi (Amma)… and various spiritual disciplines. I most enjoyed the sections on Ed’s stay at Amma’s ashram in India… the pleasures and the hardships of being with Amma at her Indian home makes for enjoyable reading and is a peek at the reality of Ashram life. Also, the prison section was riveting. Ed’s stories of his relationships with the guards and fellow prisoners created an interesting juxtaposition between Ashram and prison life. Ed was a long time resident of Fairfield, Iowa (the US capital of the TM Movement) and during the 1980’s he founded and was head of The Beckley Group, at that time Fairfield, Iowa’s largest employer. Review by Tony Kainauskas. Strictly truthful or somewhat fictional doesn’t really matter when it comes to a good read. This book definitely qualifies as a good read. The author’s life as told here is fascinating. Mr. Beckley pulls you in with a lively, detailed account of dramatic life experiences and frames the whole thing as a cosmic unfolding preceding liberation and enlightenment. He doesn’t try to prove that the events of his life actually caused the enlightenment, just that they preceded it—smart move. The account of his approximately thirteen months in prison is particularly good reading partly because most of us have never had an experience remotely akin to it. He earns an A+ from the reader and the cosmic grader for doing his best to turn lemons into lemonade, or as his friend Satyam Nadeem said, "… onions to pearls." Review by The Literate Lady. 
$12.95PaperbackJourney Within the Self: A Diary of Yogic ExperiencesDeepa KodikalThe author takes us along on a gripping adventure of her vibrant inner awakening into the spiritual unknown; visionary encounters with rishis, yogis, and deities; moments of mystical enchantment; the terror of entering nirvikalpa samadhi the first time; and riding the roller coaster of spiritual excitement into the indescribable bliss and calm of self realization. 
$45.00HardcoverDeath Must Die: A Western Woman's Life-Long Spiritual Quest in IndiaRam AlexanderDeath Must Die gives an intimate first hand account of a courageous woman's spiritual quest in close association with several of India's greatest modern saints. Unfolding against the backdrop of Benares in the 1940's where she lived as a teacher and musician, we are given an in depth picture of her intense relationship with the extraordinary woman who becomes her guru Sri Anandamayee Ma. Atmananda as she came to be known was also closely associated with J. Krishnamurti, and a unique picture is given of him here in comparison with his peers and contemporaries within India. In her almost obsessive desire to understand J.K., as she calls him, she was driven ever deeper into the heart of Indian spirituality, encountering Sri Ramana Maharshi as well as other outstanding Indian sages before ultimately coming to the feet of Anandamayee Ma. 
$14.00PaperbackA Fortune-Teller Told MeTiziano TerzaniThis is a very unique book. The author is Italian born, but he has spent most of his adult life in China and Southeast Asia. He is, by trade, a journalist. He combines the observational powers and cynicism endemic to his profession. He is also an excellent storyteller. In 1973 the author came across a fortune-teller who told him that he must avoid flying in the year 1993, or he would die. Terzani was skeptical, but as 1993 approached he decided that not flying for a year might be a good idea. Ignoring the possibility of death, the attractiveness of traveling by ship, train, auto, etc. might be both interesting and rewarding. In his words, it turned out to be "one of the most extraordinary years I have ever spent". He visited Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia. His observations and experiences developed into a wonderful travel book that most people would certainly enjoy. His observations about people and cultures are first rate. His side trips to visit soothsayers or fortune-tellers add a very fascinating dimension to what would be an excellent read without this little bit of spice. I learned a tremendous amount about Asia and would recommend this book to other armchair travelers who want to see a very interesting part of the world from a very unique perspective. I rate this book very highly and found in very engrossing and easy to read. Review by Len Oppenheim If you like Asia, astrology, traveling, adventure, or just plain old weirdness… you will love this book. I guarantee it. This is one of the best books about fortune telling (and I am a professional astrologer) and travel that I have ever come across hellip; and I own over 150 astrology books and I have read many true-life travelogues. Buy it—you will like it. Review by Michael Laughrin. Warned by a Hong Kong fortune-teller not to risk flying for an entire year, Tiziano Terzani—a vastly experienced Asia correspondent—took what he called "the first step into an unknown world… It turned out to be one of the most extraordinary years I have ever spent: I was marked for death, and instead I was reborn." Traveling by foot, boat, bus, car, and train, he visited Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Mongolia, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia. Geography expanded under his feet. He consulted soothsayers, sorcerers, and shamans and received much advice—some wise, some otherwise—about his future. With time to think, he learned to understand, respect, and fear for older ways of life and beliefs now threatened by the crasser forms of Western modernity. He rediscovered a place he had been reporting on for decades. And reinvigorated himself in the process. 
$12.95PaperbackHoly Cow: An Indian AdventureSarah MacDonaldFor someone who has never been to India, I sure have read a lot of books about India. Most of them have a certain message that they are trying to get across: how spiritual India is, how crowded India is, how insane India is., but most of them miss the mark in 3 dimensionality. Holy Cow is an irreverent, complaining but ultimately uplifting true life story of a woman who spent 1 year in India – hating it at first but loving it at the end. For some strange reason I loved this book but then again I love spicy food and this book is both in you face, tender and transcendental all at the same time ( and is cheaper than a round trip ticket to India) Review by Michael Laughrin. Before my first trip to India a good friend who had been there a number of times told me what to expect. He said: “India is a country that went on an acid trip and never quite came all the way back.” After my first visit to India I knew he had given me a perfect description. The cover of Holy Cow has a psychedelic look and feel to it. The book captures the uniqueness of India, from its psychedelic ambience to the upside down and chaotic nature of the various aspects of Indian society. Whether you have been to India, are contemplating going to India, or would never set foot in India this is a book for you! The author, Sarah Macdonald is a 30 something Australian lady who moves to Delhi to live with her boyfriend who works for an Australian TV network. Sarah really experiences modern India on many levels. She is perceptive and cynical enough to be extremely entertaining. Not your typical “seeker” Sarah still manages to explore all the great religions in India. She explores and encounters Hinduism, Jainism, Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, Sikhism, Parsis and even Sufis. Her explorations are both entertaining and enlightening, not to mention often hilarious. She does a great job of catching the unique aspects of modern India and its changing social mores, with the traditions that bind it to its past. If you like truth and honesty and a refreshing view written with great skill and obvious joy you will thoroughly enjoy this book. My wife, Dena, and I, have very different tastes in reading. This is a book we both enjoyed immensely. This means it is likely to appeal to almost everyone. Review by Len Oppenheim. 
$16.95PaperbackNever to Return: A Modern Quest for Eternal TruthSharon JanisSharon Janis is an award winning television and film producer., this is her spiritual biography: sensitively written with clarity and a sense of humor. "Never to Return is a cry of the soul that longs to break free from the illusory world of limitation and confusion and rediscover its own true nature." Sharon was a long time devotee of Muktananda. This book provides a fascinating peek of life in Muktananda's Ashram in South Fallsburg, New York, with many interesting stories of Muktananda. 
$23.00HardcoverBABA: Autobiography of a Blue-Eyed YogiRampuriI have read almost every book that I can get my hands on which describes the journeys or pilgrimages of seekers looking for Truth, Enlightenment, or "The Holy Grail." Most of them I enjoy. Most of them I recommend. Most of them have a great deal in common. This one is quite unique, and it will definitely keep you interested and give you insights you will not have read elsewhere. Rampuri (the given name of the American author, born in 1950 in Chicago, and raised in Beverly Hills) is the name given to the author when he took the vows as a Sanyassin and became a true yogi in a little known (by Westerners) ancient tradition of wisdom in India. Some of us, familiar with the Naga Baba's, who get famous every 12 years or so when there is a big Kumbha Mela in Allahabad, may know a tiny bit about this ancient and honorable tradition, but for the first time, the practices, knowledge, and day to day lifestyle of the Babas is presented from an insider's viewpoint. I can't really begin to describe this book, this incredible journey. It is very authentic and will really blow your mind. This is clearly a unique story and has some very unique knowledge and experiences contained in it. Rampuri was 19 when he arrived in India in 1969. He was 20 years old when he met Hari Puri Baba, who became his guru. Rampuri was the first and perhaps only foreigner initiated in Juna Akhara, the ancient order of the Renunciates of the Ten Names. In 1984 Rampuri established his own ashram in Hardwar. Rampuri has clearly gone places, done things, and arrived at certain knowledge that few, if any Westerners have ever experienced. I think anyone who reads this book is in for a treat and will certainly experience a few "eye-openers." There is a big dose of mysticism and quite an interesting angle on the Vedas that flow from Rampuri. The book must be read, as I feel inadequate to do justice in trying to describe the uniqueness and esoteric aspects of the journey. Review by Len Oppenheim 
$14.00PaperbackMy Life in Orange: Growing Up with the GuruTim GuestMy Life in Orange: Growing Up with the Guru is a unique account of the author's experiences as a child, growing up in ashrams, or communes, of his mother's guru, Bhagwan Rajneesh, later known as Osho. Tim Guest is a very skilled writer and seems to be gifted with an extraordinary ability to recall his childhood experiences and feelings. Rajneesh/Osho was famous (perhaps infamous is a better term) for being the "sex guru" with a mischievous grin whose aborted experiment in Oregon (where he owned and drove ninety-three Rolls Royce automobiles) ended with criminal trials and his ouster from the U.S. If you have an interest in Osho, or just want to find out what it was like to grow up in a commune, this is definitely a book for you. I thoroughly enjoyed this unique memoir, and found it riveting, informative, and even, at times, quite humorous. Guest's humor and insight is revealed in the following statement: "… it was apparent to us— the kids as well as the adults—that the world at large had begun to use the term 'Bhagwan' as shorthand for 'flamboyant religious conman'." If you don't know much about Osho, or wish to learn more about this fascinating character, I also highly recommend Autobiography of a Spiritually Incorrect Mystic. Review by Len Oppenheim London journalist Guest (The Guardian; The Daily Telegraph) shares the bittersweet story of his nomadic childhood as a member of the sannyasin, a group of people who swathed themselves in orange and lived in the various communes of the infamous Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. In 1979, when Guest was six, he was brought into the group by his mother, a lapsed Catholic who "surrendered herself to the world without a second thought," moving to England, Germany, India, and Oregon to work for the cause of Bhagwan's Eastern mysticism (which involved, among other things, engaging in sexual freedom and inhaling laughing gas.) Guest played with the ragtag children of the hippie adults working in these ashrams, sometimes going for long periods of time without his mother's love or guidance. He systematically observes the daily lives of the sannyasin and their master, refusing to trash the devotees or their spiritual beliefs, instead targeting the manipulations of Bhagwan, whom he depicts as a power-mad holy man who taught restraint, poverty, and obedience yet collected Rolls-Royces and told jokes "cribbed from Playboy." Guest forgives his neglectful mother as he records Bhagwan's fall from grace through American tax evasion, lawsuits, and denials of admittance from country to country until his empire crumbled. Honest and vivid, this is an absorbing book about survival and good intentions gone awry. © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier, Inc. 
$16.00PaperbackResting in the Cave of the HeartAnne CourtneyWho are you? What do you really want? These questions are an invitation to discover the deepest calling of your heart. Rest in the eternal stillness of your true nature before any thought arises. The possibility is to stop all searching and open to the underlying reality of radiant being that is your Heart and abide here where you already are. Revelation of the author's awakening in spare writing like Hemmingway's, well chosen words, many human touches, uncompromising honesty. —Victoria Ritchie, Editor, Practicing the Power of Now I love it! It reads well, it's true, and it will be immensely helpful to all who read it. —Gangaji, Author, The Diamond in Your Pocket This book is a warm gentle rain of Love… what a pleasure to raise my face to it and drink. —John Mizelle, Marriage Family Therapist About the AuthorAnne Courtney was thirty-three when she met her teacher, in Oakland, California. In this meeting with Gangaji the true fulfillment she had been seeking throughout her life was revealed. Gangaji has asked Anne to share her direct experience with all who are drawn. Anne lives and works in the Bay Area. 
$15.00PaperbackAn Autobiography: The Story of My Experiments with TruthMohandas GandhiI have just finished Mahatma Gandhi's An Autobiography: The Story of My Experiments with Truth. It is, quite simply, the most uplifting book I have ever read (about 10,000 books in all) other than scriptures and 'holy' books. What impressed me the most was the extreme clear-mindedness and straightforwardness of the author. His personal discipline and integrity were matched only by his desire to serve and his commitment to non-violence and to Truth itself. Dear reader, do yourself a favor and BUY THIS BOOK no matter what your religion, politics, or other personal preferences may be. It clearly shows what one man can accomplish through will, coupled with integrity. Review by Michael Laughrin 
$23.00PaperbackAwake in the Heartland: The Ecstasy of What IsJoan TollifsonAwake in the Heartland offers clear non-dual understanding, not in the abstract, but grounded in the actuality of daily life with all its messiness, complexity, uncertainty, paradox, and apparent imperfection. If there seems to be a gap between what the enlightenment books describe and what you find in your own life, if you still think enlightenment is something that will happen to you in the future (or not at all), if you're still chasing experiences or self-improvement, then this book may be just what you need to wake up to the truth that what you are seeking is already here. About the AuthorJoan Tollifson writes and talks with people about the nature of reality. She has an affinity with Advaita and Zen, but belongs to no formal tradition. Her first book, Bare-Bones Meditation: Waking Up from the Story of My Life, was published by Bell Tower in 1996 and has been translated into German and Dutch. Joan has lived in California, New York, and currently resides in Chicago. Some of the teachers who have touched her most deeply include Toni Packer, Joko Beck, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Ramana Maharshi, and Tony Parsons. Awake in the Heartland takes a fresh look at questions of addiction, free will, good and evil, authority, and identity. It encourages the reader to look for him or herself without clinging to old opinions or relying on outside authorities. Honest, funny, and profound, this is a book that invites you to discover who or what you really are. 
$26.50PaperbackAmritsar to Lahore: A Journey Across the India-Pakistan BorderStephen AltetAfter reading Sacred Waters, I read this, another book by Stephen Alter and was amused, impressed, and saddened. The tale of Amritsar to Lahore deeply involves the reader in an exploration of the physical reality and historical complexity that is India and Pakistan: Split by partition, and separated by politics, although truly of one spirit. Stephen Alter describes his short journey from Punjab in India by railroad on an infrequent cross-border train, and his travels for a month inside of Pakistan. This travelogue, like his other writing, is a wonderfully captivating portrait of people, cultural memories, and political reality. Review by Sam Oppenheim 
$12.00HardcoverParamahansa Yogananda: As I Knew HimRoy Eugene DavisExperiences, Observations, and Reflections of a DiscipleThe author of this book, Roy Eugene Davis, had a very significant effect on my life. I met him in 1969 when I went to visit his late wife, Carolyn, in connection with a project on astrology in which I was involved. The astrology project never got very far off the ground, but when I met Roy my life was changed. He had a "presence" that was so strong and tangible that I wanted to know what it was and how I could achieve a similar state of being. Roy explained that he had been a discipline of Yogananda, and that his presence, or consciousness, had been developed by following the path of Kriya Yoga. I attended Roy's lectures about the Bhagavad-Gita and read Autobiography of a Yogi. Roy initiated me into a form of Kriya, and my path as a seeker and meditator had commenced. In this book Roy shares some intimate accounts of his relationship with his Guru, Yogananda. It is very personal and at the same time very universal. Anyone who has read Autobiography of a Yogi, (and who hasn't?) will probably enjoy the views, reflections, and insights shared in this very intimate and pleasing book. I found it very enjoyable and uplifting, and I highly recommend it. Review by Len Oppenheim 
$21.99PaperbackAt The Feet of Mother Meera: The Lessons of SilenceSonia L. LinebaughSonia Linebaugh's spiritual journey goes straight to the heart of the Western seeker of spiritual light and wisdom, within the framework of family life. It's as familiar as a visit home and as wonderful as a new life. "This trip is not just to another country but to another way of living," writes Linebaugh. "It's filled with the stunning strangeness of pushing the habitual self out into the fine atmosphere of consciousness with language and customs for which there is no guidebook." Linebaugh's clear writing brings us effortlessly into the fine atmosphere at the feet of Mother Meera, the silent, beautiful Indian woman who is her teacher. Mother touches Linebaugh's head and looks into her eyes as she does thousands who visit her German home. It is this touch and gaze that Linebaugh credits with opening her to the inner teachings. Encompassing ten years, At the Feet of Mother Meera: The Lessons of Silence describes the unfolding process of finding spirituality in everyday living. There are lessons in learning how to ask for guidance and help, lessons in acceptance, in understanding the normality of life, and, finally, in seeing the Divine face of love in every happening. Linebaugh's descriptive and intimate writing bring the lessons of silence to life. 
$12.95CDTen New SongsLeonard CohenWe do not usually sell music CD's online… this is an exception. One of the most spiritually progressive cd's I have come across in recent memory. Highly recommended by Arjuna in his book Translucent Revolution. Cohen's music rings a truth deep inside to your inner core. Anyone who has an interest in Advaita philosophy will get the lyrics immediately. Highly recommended. Review by Tony Kainauskas 
$14.95HardcoverAll the Fishes Come Home to Roost: An American Misfit in IndiaRachel Manija BrownThis is a personal memoir of great charm, wit, and incredible honesty. At the age of seven, "Mani" Brown was taken by her parents to live in the ashram of Meher Baba, an Indian Spiritual Master who had dropped his body in 1969. In 1980 the Brown family moved to Ahmednagar, an obscure backwater town in the west-central state of Maharashtra, India. Located 300 or 400 miles east of Bombay, Ahmednagar was hot, dry, and ugly. The author describes the location of this spiritual commune, or ashram, as "desolate." Her story is very revealing and she pulls no punches in describing her own experiences, the weird people at the Ashram, and the eccentricities of her parents. According to the author, Meher Baba was born in 1894 in Pune to a Parsi family. Parsi's followed the ancient religion of Zoroastrianism. Merwan Irani (Meher Baba's birth name) was an ordinary, intelligent youth until at the age of nineteen he befriended a Muslim holy woman who lived under a tree. One day she kissed him on the forehead and he went into a semi-catatonic state. His parents took him to doctors and psychiatrists and after a year he became more functional, but not the same as he had been before. Merwan wandered around India for a period of time until he met another holy person, male and Hindu. This holy man pitched a rock at the boy's forehead and Merwan declared he had become enlightened. Baba developed an eclectic following of Muslims, Hindus, and foreigners. He claimed to be God, and to be the reincarnation of Jesus, Mohammed, Zoroaster, Krishna, Buddha, and Rama, plus a few other minor incarnations. The author's parents, hippies of Jewish descent, attended U.C. Berkeley, where they saw a picture of Baba and ultimately became part of his following. They then chose to move to his Ashram with their seven year old daughter. I found this book to be fascinating, enjoyable, quite entertaining, funny, and even enlightening. Mani (who later changed her name to Rachel) was one tough, observant, and intelligent kid. She grew up to be an accomplished writer. Her descriptions of the people and events at the Ashram, and her travels in India are unique and riveting. Her intelligence, humor, and skeptical outlook make this an absolute must read. I think just about everybody, no matter what tastes or background one comes from, will enjoy this book. Even the title is very clever. Review by Len Oppenheim 
$24.95PaperbackIndia: Mirror of Truth: A Seven Year PilgrimageSteve BriggsIndia: Mirror of Truth is the true story of an American Purusha (celibate devotee of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi) sent to India by Maharishi to teach meditation. The author's life-transforming seven-year spiritual odyssey took him from the coastal waters of Kerala to the high Tibetan plateau. Along the way, he encountered saints and shamans, politicians and pundits, astrologers and ascetics, villagers and artisans. He visited ancient holy sites, met swamis living at the source of the Ganges, participated in arcane purificatory rituals, experienced the excitement of thirty million pilgrims at the Kumbha Mela as guest of a maharaja, initiated India's elite into meditation, and shared the company of lamas at Tibetan monasteries in Ladakh in an awesome journey that is as culturally rich as it is spiritually stirring. Former University of Arizona athletic star and tennis coach, Steve Briggs, spent 21 years on Purusha, his last seven teaching Indian managers to meditate. After seven years teaching meditation in India, the author settled into a remote ashram in the Himalaya before returning to the west in 2002 where he wrote India: Mirror of Truth. Steve lives in Fairfield, Iowa with his wife, Bhumi, and her son. 
$15.95PaperbackDeeksha: The Fire from HeavenKiara Windrider"Enlightenment is very easy," says Bhagavan, "and everyone should get enlightened." This quote is lifted from the back cover of perhaps the most remarkable book I have ever read. The author, Kiara Windrider, describes his experiences of enlightenment along with the experiences of many others. This "gift" of enlightenment comes from an Indian man of God, formerly known as "Kalki," but now self-described as "Bhagavan." The enlightening process is a transmission of energy called deeksha. Bhagavan says that enlightenment is a neurobiological process, and that all it takes is a little adjustment in the brain, which then allows the cosmic energies to flow through and dissolve the concept that we carry around of a separately existing "self," which is in fact only an illusion of perception. The book claims that we are entering into a new, golden age and enlightenment will be more and more easily attained. The book is well written, the experiences of enlightenment are compelling and credible, and I would think that any "spiritual seeker" would find this book fascinating and perhaps most inspiring. Review by Len Oppenheim 
$19.95PaperbackLiving Reality: My Extraordinary Summer with "Sailor Bob Adamson"James BrahaThank you so very much for the copy of Living Reality. I have read hundreds of spiritual search books but your book ends the search. My quest has lasted 35 years. I am 59 and now I have times when I am nothing. The feeling is that my life is all down hill now, containing more understanding and non-duality each day, even though there is no time. Is that a paradox? Oh well. I must say "Chapter Seven: I Am That, Thou Art That - Now What?" is the bomb! No one else I have ever read approached those concepts. The whole book is beautifully written. I love you and Sailor Bob for the understanding that is created by your books and presence. Review by John Kendall This book will become a modern classic representation of "the message." Living Reality is a very refreshing and a welcome addition to non-duality. The writing has a friendly atmosphere and is a comfortable read. Many will find it to be of considerable value. If one reads it with relaxed attention, some otherwise difficult topics may well open up in a new way. The main message comes through loud and clear. Anyone who is a bit tired of the "heavy" non-dual literature should get this new book —it is a welcome sharing of this living reality! Review By Gilbert Shultz, Host of www.shiningthroughthemind.net 
$19.95PaperbackWhat is Self: A Study of the Spiritual Journey in Terms of ConsciousnessBernadette RobertsThe latest hot non-duality book, written by a former cloistered nun. She writes from the Christian perspective and gives a nice balance to previous titles on this subject that tend to emphasis Eastern shadowing. Her views on the inherent differences between Eastern and Western views are very thought provoking. Her previous book, Experience of No Self, has been a constant seller at our store. Review by Tony Kainauskas About the AuthorBernadette Roberts is one of the most extraordinary contemplatives of our time. The child of a devout Catholic family, Roberts' contemplative experiences began at an early age. At fifteen, they began to fit into a frame of reference within her Christian tradition. Ten years of seclusion in a monastery followed, during which Bernadette realized an abiding state of oneness with God. According to the Christian mystical tradition, this egoless, unitive state is as far as one can progress in this life. 
$19.95HardcoverThe Autobiography/Biography of Dovovan: The Hurdy Gurdy ManDonovan LeitchA folk rocker and early prince of flower power, Donovan (b. 1946) shares wistful memories of his youth growing up in bombed-out Glasgow, Scotland; rambling adolescence in England; and precipitous stardom at age 18. Early on, Donovan (who's known by his first name) contracted polio, leaving him lame. An art student, Donovan left home by 16 to wander with his lifelong friend Gypsy Dave and taught himself how to play guitar by mimicking the folk styles of the Carter Family, Doc Watson, Woody Guthrie and Ramblin' Jack Elliott, among others he credits. After appearances on the British TV show Ready Steady Go! in 1965, he landed a record contract, and Catch the Wind! (with its Bob Dylanesque sound) rode the crest of the British Invasion. Fusing folk with jazz and metal, Donovan forged "Celtic rock," and in his recording sessions, engineered brilliantly by Mickie Most, he worked with all the happening musicians and even collaborated with the Beatles. Donovan toots his own horn, amiably. As he achieves in his music, Donovan writes his bohemian manifesto personably and earnestly, stopping short around 1970, when he reunited with muse Linda Lawrence and dropped out. Color photos not seen by PW. © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 20% off hardcover
$20.76HardcoverHere Comes the Sun: The Spiritual and Musical Journey of George HarrisonJoshua M. GreeneAuthor and film producer Greene focuses on the metaphysical in his examination of George Harrison, choosing to document the Beatle's relationship with Hindu philosophy and Krishna devotees over his more complex—though admittedly well-covered—relationship with his bandmates. The resulting portrait is at times flat, as Harrison gets along with just about everyone on his spiritual path, and Greene is reluctant to cast his subject in a negative light. That's a shame, as the highlights of the book feature a conflicted and embattled Harrison dealing with disappointment, frustration and loss, of which there is plenty in the Beatles' shared history. © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 20% off hardcover
$29.95HardcoverHis Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi: A Living Saint for the New MillenniumHelena & Roland OlsonStories of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's first visit to the US. This a revised version of Hermit in the House. 
$24.00PaperbackMurphy's Laws of the Inner Life: The Unauthorized Adventures of a SeekerMichael William MurphyIn his 40-year quest for truth and inner peace, Michael Murphy ranges from a Roman Catholic seminary in New York to a Shiva temple in Southern India. He rises to a respected position in an international meditation organization while living a double life in which he explores numerous other teachers and paths. Through it all he struggles with one of the greatest tests (and teachers) on the path of the seeker: living in intimate relationship with another human being. This book is more than a spiritual memoir, however. In writing it Murphy, who has taught writing for a decade, explores a new method for using writing itself as a technique for spiritual unfoldment. He details this technique in his introduction and offers the rest of the book as a model for those who wish to uncover their own deepest truths through the writing process. His own deepest truths—uncovered through this process—punctuate the chapters as “Murphy’s Laws.” 
$14.95PaperbackEncountering Bliss: My Journey Through India with Anandamayi MaMelita MaschmannThis book was first published in 1967 under the title " Der Tiger singt Kirtana " (A Tiger sings a Kirtana). It was revised and enlarged and was published in 1990 under the title Eine ganz gewohnliche Heilige" (A very ordinary saint). It was also published in paperback edition in 1992. "The book gives a lively account of Anandamayi Ma’s life and work, of a saint whose both feet were firmly on the ground and who inspired not only people of all faiths, but could also give something to someone what one wanted-whether a believer or an atheist, an artist or a scholar, a politician or a housewife, a writer or a simple farmer. But this book is not only an account of Ma. It is a fascinating account of Melita Maschmann’s encounter with the divine India (for she met only religious people), her trials and tribulations, her joys and sorrows in the constant company of Ma. Melita meandered her way through questions and more questions, doubts and more doubts in her search for the ultimate truth. On her way, she met luminaries like Mother Teresa, who was worried because she was not a saint, Raihana Tyabji, a grand old lady who was an associate of Mahatma Gandhi, a Tantra-Lama and many others to realize finally, like Hermann Hesse’s Siddhartha that she had to look into herself to get the ultimate answer." 
$15.00PaperbackEat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and IndonesiaElizabeth GilbertOne of the most charming and alluring book I have read in many years.. part travelogue , part spiritual journal and part psychological memoir. The author after a painful divorce travels to Italy to experience outer sensual fulfillment and then she journeys to an ashram in India to experience the silent inward solace of spiritual transcendence and then lastly to Indonesia to reconcile the two. Elizabeth writes with deep insight into her personal psychological issues and in turn addresses universal ones. For anyone that loves books about foreign lands, human relationships, spiritual quests, and all written with a good dose of profound humor… I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Please do yourself a favor and do not pass this one by. This is a definite must read. Review by Tony Kainauskas 
$14.95PaperbackBeyond the House of the False Lama: Travels with Monks, Nomads and OutlawsGeorge CraneHaving thoroughly enjoyed Bones of the Master by George Crane, I was happy to find that he had written a later book that goes further into his physical and spiritual journeys. This one is darker than the first with more of Crane’s emotional pain and addictions taking center stage. With less emphasis on the Buddhist master Tsung Tsaai , the subject of Crane’s first book, this memoir is on the most basic level the author’s spiritual log. If you enjoyed Bones of the Master , I would recommend this title to you as well. This book works as both prose and poetry and is filled with the insights of a man trying to make spiritual sense of the human condition. Review by Tony Kainauskas 
$16.00PaperbackThe Heart of the World: A Journey to Tibet's Lost ParadiseIan BakerThe Heart of the World recounts an extraordinary journey into one of the most inaccessible places on earth, and a pilgrimage to the heart of Tibetan Buddhism. Tibetan prophecies proclaim that the greatest of beyul, or mystical sanctuaries, lies at the eastern edge of the Himalayas, veiled by a colossal waterfall in the forbidding Tsangpo gorge. After years of investigation, world-class climber and Buddhist scholar Ian Baker and his National Geographic –sponsored team made worldwide news by finding a magnificent 108-foot-high waterfall—the legendary grail of both Western explorers and Tibetan pilgrims. About the AuthorIan Baker has been a student of Tibetan Buddhism for more than twenty years. He has written several books on Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism and has contributed articles to Explorers Journal and National Geographic . 
$16.00PaperbackSleeping in Caves: A Sixties Himalayan MemoirMarilyn StableinThis is the author’s memoirs of her travels, along with her lover, to India and Tibet. Marilyn is an artist who dropped out of Berkeley in the 60’s to pursue her spiritual quests. Along the way she meets spiritual icons such as Ram Dass , Kalu Rinpoche and the Dalai Lama ( find out the Dalai Lama’s feelings on the spiritual values of LSD). A fascinating look at the culture of India through the eyes of a 60’s counter culturist. 
$17.95PaperbackPilgrimage to the Mother: A Woman's Journey to the Source of the GangesAlakananda DeviThe author, Alakananda, is an English Doctor and former Catholic novice. In the early 80’s she takes a spiritual journey to the source of the river Ganges. Along the way she explores ashrams and holy cities meeting some of the greatest saints of India, including Anandamayi Ma. She encounters a goddess as sensuous as a courtesan, falls in love with an ex-hippie Buddhist, and learns the secret teachings of the spiritual importance of women. This is a wonderful book for anyone interested in the spiritual yearnings of a seeker and her ultimate realization of the spiritual path. 
$21.95PaperbackAghora: At the Left Hand of GodRobert E. SvobodaA classic all time best seller Aghora :At the Left Hand of God is a view of the left path of Tantra. The story of a Hindu Shaman.. a trickster that teaches with sharp dark truths interspersed with humour. The story is fascinating ..the path for the very few. This is one of 21st Century’s all time best sellers.. If you are looking for spirituality from unlikely places this book is one you should not overlook. This explains the tantric path in great detail .. more so then you may even wish to know., showing how the typical western view of Tantra is over simplified and homogenized. 
$35.00PaperbackNew Lives: 50 Westerners Search for Themselves in Sacred IndiaMalcolm TillisA engrossing study of 50 Westerners living ascetic lives in India.. many have been there for decades and have renounced all ties to the Western world. Among the individuals we meet are…
Many of the seekers have left successful material lives behind in exchange for the inner wealth of the spirit. The book is in interview format and is a must for any one interested in the many diverse paths of the spiritual journey. Please note: This title will be put on back order and ship end of May |
