I hate to admit it – but I’m a bit of a sucker for spiritual books.
You may have noticed that I love reading psychology and self-help literature, and although I probably skew towards the scientific end of spectrum, I also like to explore the philosophical side of the genre.
So in this article, I wanted to share with you what I believe are the 5 best spiritual books for any wisdom-seeker.
The Best Spiritual Books
1. The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle
The Power of Now is a book about living in the present moment and how to achieve happiness by doing so.
The book is written by Eckhart Tolle, a spiritual teacher and author who has been teaching about the power of now for over 20 years.
Tolle believes that the present moment is the only moment that truly exists and that by living in the present, we can achieve a state of peace and happiness.
The book is divided into two parts.
- Part one discusses the concept of the now and how to live in it.
- Part two discusses how to deal with difficult emotions and thoughts.
Tolle begins part one by discussing the origins of anxiety and stress, arguing that they are caused by our thoughts about the future or past, which pull us out of the present moment.
Tolle then goes on to discuss the power of now and how it can be used to overcome anxiety and stress, proposing that when we are fully present, we are free from our thoughts and emotions, which can cause us problems.
Tolle believes that when we are living in the now, we are connected with our innermost being, which is peaceful and happy.
In part two, Tolle discusses how to deal with difficult thoughts and emotions, suggesting that when we experience these emotions, we are often pulled out of the present moment.
Like the Buddhist doctrine, Tolle believes that it is possible to deal with these emotions without becoming attached to them.
He teaches readers how to observe their thoughts and emotions without judging them or getting involved in them.
By doing so, readers can learn to accept their thoughts and emotions without becoming overwhelmed by them
Check out more books like this.
2. The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Miguel Ruiz
The Four Agreements is based on the Toltec philosophy and its basic principles, which is a blend of pre-Columbian and Catholic teachings.
- The first agreement is to be impeccable with your word, which means to always say what you mean and mean what you say. It also means to speak with integrity, and to not gossip or speak badly about others.
- The second agreement is to not take anything personally. This means that you should not take things people say or do to heart, because it is not about you. It is about them and their own inner journey.
- The third agreement is not to make assumptions, meaning that you should not assume that you know what someone else is thinking or feeling. You should ask them instead.
- The fourth agreement is to always do your best. This means putting your best effort into everything you do, and not giving up no matter how difficult things get.
The Four Agreements (and similar books) provides a simple but powerful framework for living a more authentic life.
It teaches that if we can live our lives by these four agreements, we will be happier, more peaceful, and less reactive.
3. The Road Less Travelled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth by M. Scott Peck
The Road Less Travelled is a self-help book that encourages people to take a more proactive and introspective approach to life.
Peck believes that life is a journey, and that the best way to live is by taking the road less traveled.
This means being honest with oneself, accepting responsibility for one’s own life, and making choices based on what will bring about the most happiness and fulfillment.
According to Peck, there are four basic truths that everyone needs to accept in order to live a fulfilling life:
- Life is difficult
- We are responsible for our own lives
- Growth is a lifelong process
- Love is the most important thing.
These truths can be difficult to accept, but they are essential if we want to be happy and fulfilled.
One of the main themes of The Road Less Travelled is that it is important to face reality.
We need to be honest with ourselves about who we are and what we want from life and be realistic about the obstacles that stand in our way.
If we ignore reality, we will only end up feeling frustrated and unhappy.
Another theme of The Road Less Travelled is that it is important to take responsibility for our own lives.
We can’t blame others for our problems or expect them to solve them for us.
Rather, the only way to achieve happiness and fulfillment is by taking control of our own lives and making choices based on what will bring us closer to our goals.
The last theme of The Road Less Travelled is that growth is a lifelong process.
We never stop learning or evolving as people and need to embrace change and continue growing throughout our lives.
If we don’t, we will eventually become stale and unfulfilled.
4. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values by Robert M. Pirsig
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is a philosophical novel by Robert M. Pirsig, first published in 1974.
The book is about the narrator’s journey on his motorcycle from Minnesota to California, and his time spent there.
In the course of the novel, the narrator has an encounter with a former philosophy professor and engages in a long conversation with him about the nature of philosophy and art.
The narrator also reflects on his own life and how it has been changed by his experiences on his motorcycle trip.
The main theme of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is the importance of quality in life, the narrator suggesting that quality is more important than quantity, and that it is essential to appreciate the quality of life in order to be truly happy.
He also discusses the concept of zen, which he defines as the “quality of attention” that one brings to experience.
Pirsig believes that zen can be found in all aspects of life if one is willing to look for it.
The narrator’s encounter with his former professor is an important part of the novel.
The professor challenges the narrator’s beliefs about quality, and argues that it is impossible to achieve a perfect understanding of quality.
The professor also claims that art cannot be created without first understanding quality, which leads to a discussion about the nature of art itself.
The professor ultimately believes that art is a way for humans to communicate their understanding of quality to others, while the narrator believes that art is more than just a means of communication.
The narrator’s reflections on his own life are also important in understanding the themes of the novel.
He discusses how his experiences on his motorcycle trip have changed his perspective on life, and how he has come to appreciate the importance of quality more than ever before.
He also reflects on his relationships with other people, and how those relationships have been affected by his new-found appreciation for quality.
See similar books here.
5. The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael A. Singer
The Untethered Soul focuses on the idea of inner peace.
The book is divided into three sections:
- The first section deals with the idea of the ego and how to let go of it
- The second section is about love and relationships
- The third section is about transcending the body and reaching a state of inner peace
Singer begins by discussing the ego and its role in our lives, arguing that the ego is responsible for our fear, anger, and other negative emotions, and that it keeps us trapped in our own minds.
He then discusses how to let go of the ego and achieve a state of inner peace.
In the second section, Singer discusses love and relationships, positing that love is not about getting what we want, but rather giving ourselves to others without expecting anything in return.
He also discusses how to overcome negative emotions like jealousy and resentment in relationships.
In the third section, Singer discusses transcending the body and reaching a state of inner peace, suggesting that we are not our bodies, but rather spiritual beings who have temporarily taken on physical form.
He discusses how to let go of our attachments to physical things and reach a state of inner peace.
Summary
Even if you’re a skeptic like me, there is a lot of food for thought in the books above, assuming you maintain an open mind.
Many of us are seeking existential answers or at the very least, to improve our lives in small ways.
These books have definitely helped me in that regard.
If you’re looking for some spiritual guidance, or just want to explore some new ideas, these books are a great place to start.
