Curriculum Suggested Books for 1,2,3, Program

Authors:
 

 Bourgeault, Cynthia.  Episcopal priest and mystic who seeks to recover the Christian contemplative and Wisdom path.

 

Brach, Tara.  Blends Western psychology with Buddhism.

Easwaran, Ecknath.  Excellent translator of Indian scriptures and author of interspiritual books.

Nouwen, Henri.  Catholic priest with practical theological ideas that touch the heart.

Thich Nhat Hanh.  Peace activist and world spiritual leader known for his writings on mindfulness.

Rohr, Richard.  Franciscan friar who founded the Center for Action and Contemplation.  Known for progressive Catholicism.

Saltzberg, Sharon.  Co-founder of Insight Meditation Society.  Also a writer and teacher whose works emphasize meditation as a way to overcome personal suffering.

Williamson, Marianne.  Known for founding humanitarian agencies and for writings focused on a Course in Miracles.

Books:

De Waal, Esther.  The Celtic Way of Prayer:  The Recovery of the Religious Imagination. 

New York;  Doubleday, 1997.  Scholarly but accessible.  A unique approach to Christianity, including Celtic poetry and thought which “allows me not only to pray with words but also . . . with the heart, the feelings, using image and symbol. . . “

Fillmore, Charles.  The Revealing Word:  A Dictionary of Metaphysical Terms.  Cranston,

RI: Angelnook Publishing, 2013.   By co-founder of the Unity Movement, this is useful for metaphysical meanings of words, phrases and proper names appearing in New Thought, Unity publications and the Bible.

Fillmore, Charles.  Metaphysical Bible Dictionary.  Unity House:  Unity Village, Missouri, 1995,  A cross-denominational work, this volume, more inclusive than The Revealing Word, offers metaphysical explanations for Biblical names, places, words and phrases.   Especially helpful for creating alternate interpretations for violence in the Old Testament.

Fox, Matthew.  Creativity.  Fox explains how creativity is one of the most powerful ways to commune with the Divine.

Kingma, Daphne Rose.  Weddings from the Heart:  Contemporary and Traditional Ceremonies for an Unforgettable Wedding.  Berkeley, CA:  Conari Press, 1995.  Written from

Kingma’s background as therapist, Kingma includes examples of wedding vows, quotations from traditional customs from around the world and “special personal touches.”

Krishna Das.  Chants of a Lifetime:  Searching for a Heart of Gold.  Carlsbad, CA:  Hay House, 2011.  An autobiographical journey rich with quotations from contemporary and ancient mystics and the author’s commentary on kirtan chant as an effective life change agent.

Moore, Thomas.  A Religion of One’s Own:  A Guide to Creating a Personal Spirituality in  a  Secular World.  New York:  Gotham, 2014.  Autobiographical, this volume tells Moore’s journey to construct an interfaith life.  Varied wisdom from major religions as well as writers, artists and thinkers. Helpful for clients with either deity focus or agnostic/atheistic life.

Morgan, Ernest.  Dealing Creatively with Death:  A Manual of Death Education and Simple Burial.  14th ed.  Hinesburg, VT:  Upper Access:  2001.  A practical, sensitive reference for death-related problems:  death education; living with the dying; right to die; simple (not Costly burial and cremation, death ceremonies, funeral consumer organizations and more.

 

Morjani, Anita.  Dying to be Me:  My Journey from Cancer, to Near Death, to True Healing.  New York:  Hay House, 2014.  An inspiring memoir about a near death experience and the spiritual tenets it taught Moorjani.  A remarkable story of an NDE after which the author became cancer-free.

Novak, Philip.  The World’s Wisdom:  Sacred Tests of the World’s Religions.  San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1995.  Companion volume to Houston Smith’s World Religions and edited by Smith, this volume provides a sampling of scripture segments from major religions.  Segments are chosen for their representative nature and for inspiration. Novak’s commentary links material together seamlessly.

O’Donohue, John.   Anam Cara:  A Book of Celtic Wisdom.  New York:  Harper Perennial, O’Donohue has a gentle, strengthening voice that gives hope as he speaks on friendship, love, death, solitude in a poetic, accessible, unique way.

Parsons, Tony.  As it Is:  The Open Secret of Spiritual Awakening.  Carlsbad, CA: Inner Directions, 2004.  Parsons speaks of spiritual awakening as absent of goals, spiritual path or effort.  Parson’s book is described as very practical and accessible.

Paul, Russill.  The Yoga of Sound:  Tapping the Hidden Power of Music and Chant. Novato, CA: New World Library, 2004.  Written by a famed Indian musician, Paul’s book explains why and how music and chant impact us.  Wonderful exercises for using sound to deepen one’s spiritual practice.

Selig, Paul.  I Am the World;  A Guide to the Consciousness of Man’s Self in a Transitioning Time.  Channeled book which helps one remove the obstacles to authentic life. Provides ways to use personal exercises and affirmations to change self-defeating thoughts and habits.

Singer, Michael.  The Surrender Experiment:  My Journey into Life’s Perfection.  New York Harmony Books, 2015.  Singer’s book tells his own story of the incredible power of surrender In one’s everyday life and how everyday business and spiritual life was woven together to enable him to achieve his big personal dreams.

Singer, Michael.  The Untethered Soul:  the Journey Beyond Yourself.  Oakland, CA:  New Harbinger Publications, 2007.  Singer provides the essence of world spiritual teachings.  He speaks of ways to break free of limiting habits of emotion and thought.

Studebaker, Alden.  Wisdom for a Lifetime:  How to Get the Bible Off the Shelf and Into Your Hands. Unity Books:  Unity Village, MO, 1998.  Using firm biblical scholarship and humor, Studebaker provides practical ways to study Bible including:  how to choose a Bible, how to use Bible reference works, how to metaphysically interpret,  processes for for Bible interpretation and more.

Wangyal Tenzin.  Tibetan Sound Healing.  Boulder, CO:  Sounds True, 2006.  This book and accompanying cd provide access to the ancient Bon Buddhist practice of sacred healing sound though which “you can clear obstacles of your body, your energy, your emotions . . . “

Warren, Rick.  ThePurpose Driven Life:  What on Earth Am I Here for?  Grand Rapids, MI; Zondervan, 2002.  The author guides the reader on a personal forty day journey as together they confront life’s most pressing questions.

Yalom, Irvin D.  Staring at the Sun:  Overcoming the Terror of Death.  San Francisco: Jossey Bass, 2008. Written by Yalom as his death impends, the book includes stories from therapy practice to show kind, skillful methods for working with those fearing death or dying. Useful for atheistic or agnostic clients, as Yalom, himself resistant to a deity, uses ideas from ethics,  ancient philosophers  and fellow therapists.

Media:

 

“Holy Country” by Trevor Hall on Chapter of the Forest CD — song

“Aloha ke Akua” by Nahko and Medicine for the People — song

Gaiam TV.    Fantastic programming.  Subscribe through gaiam.org

Websites:

www.calltoaction.org    catholic progressive website

www.nwffacim.org    Course in miracles and Raj website.

www.progressive Christianity.com

www.robertadamsinfinityinstitute.org  website of Robert Adams, described as an American spiritual master.

www.truthofthepresentmomentblogspot.com  Blog serves as an introduction to the teaching of D.R. Butler.

 

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