Life Changing Books on Spirituality

Life Changing Books on Spirituality: Many people think that spirituality is a genre for religious people, or older people or for deep, philosophical people. Nothing is further from the truth. Spirituality is not this inaccessible, profoundly unintelligible field that eludes laymen. Rather, the efforts of most spiritual masters have been concentrated on making their life philosophies accessible to people like us. So here is a list of the best spiritual books that have the potential to change your life, and aren’t very difficult reads.

The Fifth Mountain by Paulo Coelho

This book is Coelho’s interpretation of the Biblical story of Elijah, and his struggles with spirituality. In the ninth century, Jezebel, who is the wife to the king of Israel, orders the execution of all prophets who do not worship the pagan god Baal. And so the young prophet Elijah flees Israel and takes refuge in Zarephath, where he falls in love with a young widow. However, the love story is severed abruptly in Coelho’s power allegorical tale.

The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield

This book is one of a kind – an adventure in pursuit of a spiritual mystery. It is absolutely impossible to put down because of the adventure element – the search for a manuscript lost in Macchu Picchu, Peru. But also, it provides deep insight into the intangible philosophies of life – coincidences, infinite energies of the world, conscious evolution and intimate relationships. It has both pace as well as depth, which is a rarity for this genre.

And the Flowers Showered by Osho

In this Zen book which distils the simple yet profound teachings of the Zen life, Osho compiles parables, anecdotes and fables of Zen masters. These are deceptively simple stories, but then Osho explains them in depth. This reveals to readers the light and profundity they truly possess. Osho’s writing is lucid and lucrative, but also very easy to understand. This book is a gem in the world of Zen spirituality.

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

As the title suggests, this book revolves around the philosophy of living in the moment. Even though this is an oft-repeated phrase in the world of philosophy and even by “wannabe deep” people, it’s very hard to realize. The human mind is trained to learn from the past and dream about the future. However, this book offers great advice and even better meditations on this philosophy that might just change your life.

The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh

Mindfulness refers to a state of intense awareness of the world, a kind of realized consciousness. It is the ultimate state of meditation, which leads to the deepest awakening and complete bliss. In this lucid and effective guide, the Buddhist monk offers practical advice and exercises as well as abstract philosophies and examples to make his point. Mindfulness in every moment, he reminds us, is the only true way to be alive.

The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak

In this book, which is part historical fiction, a woman discovers a lost manuscript belonging to the great mystic poet Rumi. What unravels is the epic story of the soulmates Rumi and Shams of Tabriz, a wandering dervish, which has deep spiritual undertones. Written in the typical Sufi style which celebrates love for God and humanity over all else in the world, this is both an engaging read as well as a profoundly spiritual book.

Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse

German writer Hesse was impressed by Indian transcendental spirituality, and this came through in this brilliant classic which has taken the world by storm since. At its heart, this is the story of Siddhartha, a boy born into Brahminical luxury. However, he discards this in search of his spiritual fate – living the life of both the hermit and the householder in search of salvation. Finally, he finds enlightenment through the life of a boatman.

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

Aurelius was essentially an emperor of Rome but he was also a great philosopher. In this spiritual treatise, he offers reflections on the nature of life and the world. This book is packed densely with introspection about himself and observations about the universe at large. The best part is that Aurelius doesn’t claim to have all answers and know all secrets of spirituality. He is a seeker, and so are we, so his thoughts are merely food for our thought.

The Art of War by Sun Tzu

By its name, this book feels like a military treatise aimed at war and destruction. But nothing could be further from the truth. Many spiritual masters equate the life and mind of a warrior with that of an enlightened being. Sun Tzu is no different. In this book, he includes strategy and psychology in a way that can be adapted into business, politics and even spirituality. Everything, in this case, depends on interpretation.

The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran

In this book, a prophet while parting from a village, delivers a series of sermons to the inquisitive villagers. These sermons span the breadth of life. From joy, sorrow, love, marriage and kids to work, leisure, clothing, housing, beauty and art – there’s everything. This book is not religious in any way, but it is still spiritual in its references to God. It celebrates God and even includes a sermon on religion, but the philosophy transcends everything here.

Also Read: 10 Small Lifestyle Changes to Make You a Better Writer