[Cubeoid]

To begin with, I'd like to clarify that this thread is not about religion, but rather spirituality (or books dealing with) which I consider something much deeper and important. It is also nothing too serious, please don't be affraid to inerupt and joker around like we do here so often little community.

I wouldn't class myself belonging to any paricular religion or following a certain belief system. As a young adult, I still struggle with life and at times question the day to day events which present themselves to me, I continue to search for my own truth and the path which will get me there.

Besides being open minded and observant, I am keen and take to reading material which deals with life's philosophies and spiritual issues. Of particular interest to me has been Eastern thought. I could go on and on sighting examples and ideas which move and influence me, but I don't want to turn this into an emotional outlet.

I'd like to know which spiritual guides, books, "gurus" do MacNN members devote their time to and use to help their spiritual quests (everyday lives). It can be anything from anywhere; the bible, budhist scriptures, the side of a cereal box, anything.

In brief, if there is a book or an author which has really made a difference in your life, and/or helped you overcome a loss/problem..please share.

[turtle777]

Spiritual guides besides the Lounge ?

That would be the Bible.

-t

[saddino]

Anything by Alain de Botton. For example: The Consolations of Philosophy or How Proust Can Change Your Life

[Sherwin]

The Bible (King James Version).

[MacNStein]

I know what you mean, despite some people's opinions around here, I'm not a relgious person. However, I do consider myself to be deeply spiritual. For my entire adult life, I've been a student of western esotericism. In fact, I'm fast approaching my 20 year "anniversary" (that's right, I started at 14).

As far as books go, my library is packed with all manner of spiritual/esoteric material; some half-baked, others insightful, and a few which are truly enlightening. I'll mostly touch upon western influences, I'm sure others will cover the "East".

Over the years there have been several constants:

- The work of Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, probably the greatest Theologian of the last 200 years.
- The writings of Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa, the founder of western occultism.
- A. Crowley's early and mid-life work.
- The poetry of Rumi and Hafiz.
- The published works of the PRS (Philosophical Research Society).
- The writings of the desert Christian "fathers", the early Syrian, Coptic, and Oriental churches.

Other work has had impact on my life, but none so much as these.

[malvolio]

Classics like the Bhagavadgita and the Diamond Sutra, and among modern authors, the works of Tarthang Tulku.

[Sherwin]

Originally posted by MacNStein:
- A. Crowley's early and mid-life work.

Surely you're not suggesting that a spiritual newbie (essentially looking for a self-help book) reads this? Dude, he'll fry his brain.

[Cubeoid]

Seeing some great responses here, thnaks for sharing and keep em comin'

[MacNStein]

Originally posted by Sherwin:
Surely you're not suggesting that a spiritual newbie (essentially looking for a self-help book) reads this? Dude, he'll fry his brain.

What? What you got against "Uncle Al"?

Crowley's work with Yoga and meditation is top-notch, and completely safe. As for his Magickal study, I'd consider it "mostly harmless" until you get into his late years... then you run into his obsession with goetic/demonic invocation (which I mostly oppose) and sex magick (which in and of itself isn't a bad thing, I simply wouldn't recommend it to a neophyte).

[Sherwin]

An eastern monk walks up to his master.
"Master, what should I do?"
"Have you had your breakfast?"
"Yes master".
"Then wash your bowl".

[Sherwin]

Originally posted by MacNStein:
What? What you got against "Uncle Al"?

Crowley's work with Yoga and meditation is top-notch, and completely safe.

Fair enough. But one must stress to the newbie that just because he's reading this he ain't ready to join the G:.D:. or go holding hands with Abramelin - with this new Internet thingy there's a little too much rope around for people to go hang themselves with these days.

[MacNStein]

Originally posted by Sherwin:
Fair enough. But one must stress to the newbie that just because he's reading this he ain't ready to join the G:.D:. or go holding hands with Abramelin - with this new Internet thingy there's a little too much rope around for people to go hang themselves with these days.

Actually, I fully recommend the G:.D:. I've been a member for going on 15 years and it's a great organization, even for those just starting spiritual study. But then again, that does largely depend on the temple or lodge you belong to. Some are better than others.

As for Abramelin magick (aka. the Abramelin Excercise), you're quite correct. That can kill a person who isn't ready for it (if anyone ever truly is), but the warnings in the text are enough to scare most people away.

[Deimos]

There's too many personalities to list, but here's some that have had an impact on me over the years:

Nichiran
Alvin Boyd Kuhn
Al Ghazali
Jilani
Moshe Cordovero

[Superchicken]

This whole spirituality = hip, religion = windows, drives me nuts. I understand that what you're attacking is people who say they're a member of a religion and have not given it any real thought or internalized anything and haven't thought things out themselves. But the fact is you can be part of a main line religion like Christianity and still be "spiritual". Even here at school it's hip to be spiritual... but be doctrinally sound at your own risk.

That said the main book I read is my Bibles (NIV, and NET currently) and Oswald Chamber's My Utmost For His Highest (amazing book, actually published by his wife after his dead based on transcribed sermon notes). Also if one wants a good spiritual read try Lewis's the Chronicles of Narnia, that said, remember Aslan = Jesus.

[Deimos]

Originally posted by Superchicken:
This whole spirituality = hip, religion = windows, drives me nuts. I understand that what you're attacking is people who say they're a member of a religion and have not given it any real thought or internalized anything and haven't thought things out themselves. But the fact is you can be part of a main line religion like Christianity and still be "spiritual". Even here at school it's hip to be spiritual... but be doctrinally sound at your own risk.

You sound quite angry for someone who lists the Bible as their main reading material.

Spirituality, the turning of one's mind inwards to experience the outwards, is older than you and I. Was here long before us, and will be here long after we go.

[turtle777]

Originally posted by Deimos:
You sound quite angry for someone who lists the Bible as their main reading material.

Blah. I love these stupid arguments.

Call it Holy Anger, if you will, and et voila, it is scriptural.

-t

[Deimos]

Originally posted by turtle777:
Blah. I love these stupid arguments.

Call it Holy Anger, if you will, and et voila, it is scriptural.

-t

Best get my popcorn then, and crank up the tunes.

[turtle777]

Originally posted by Deimos:
Best get my popcorn then, and crank up the tunes.

-t

[RAILhead]

I'll stick with the Bible: it has yet to fail me, and I don't have to go through 6 moons to get Divine assistance.

The Existentialist in me likes Nietzsche, too. And let's not forget Kierkegaard.

Maury

Edit: opps...kai'nt spel

[Sherwin]

Originally posted by MacNStein:
Actually, I fully recommend the G:.D:. I've been a member for going on 15 years and it's a great organization, even for those just starting spiritual study.

Arh. I'll concede to your knowledge on that then, as you're on the inside - I've always observed from the outside and from there you look like a scary bunch of dudes.

[Sherwin]

Originally posted by Superchicken:
This whole spirituality = hip, religion = windows, drives me nuts. I understand that what you're attacking is people who say they're a member of a religion and have not given it any real thought or internalized anything and haven't thought things out themselves. But the fact is you can be part of a main line religion like Christianity and still be "spiritual". Even here at school it's hip to be spiritual... but be doctrinally sound at your own risk.

That said the main book I read is my Bibles (NIV, and NET currently)

Dude, before you start whining about people mentioning spirituality without religion, I suggest you get a proper copy of The Bible. I know it's hip to read the NIV but when all is said and done the only widely available proper version is the KJV.

[turtle777]

Originally posted by Sherwin
the only widely available proper version is the KJV.

Dude, that is such an UTTER BS !

The KJV has many errors which were not known until later, mainly through discoveries of more original sources.

If you want to go into this discussion AT ALL, then you should refer to the original OT in Hebrew and the NT in Greek, and maybe the LXX.

-t

[Superchicken]

Originally posted by Sherwin:
Dude, before you start whining about people mentioning spirituality without religion, I suggest you get a proper copy of The Bible. I know it's hip to read the NIV but when all is said and done the only widely available proper version is the KJV.

I've been meaning to get me and NKJV, or NASB, however a KJV is not a desire. It's a poor translation at best that got many basic ideas horribly wrong. Actually my real study generally happens from the NET which has so many footnotes it's awesome. And I sometimes hobble my way through the original Greek if the English has me confused.

[Stradlater]

Originally posted by saddino:
Anything by Alain de Botton. For example: The Consolations of Philosophy or How Proust Can Change Your Life

Look good; I'll look out for these.

[MacNStein]

Originally posted by Sherwin:
Arh. I'll concede to your knowledge on that then, as you're on the inside - I've always observed from the outside and from there you look like a scary bunch of dudes.

I can't say much about other temples and lodges, and the truth is, there are several groups who claim to be of the Golden Dawn tradition, but there is truly only one G:.D:..

All that aside, however, there are some "scary dudes" in the occult community. The vast majority of those types, however, just have this image that they're projecting. There's really nothing frightful about them, unless you take into account their hygene and wardrobe. Most people who are involved in esoterica are outwardly indistinguishable from the rest of the population. Our temple in particular is composed of doctors, lawyers, construction workers, professors, technicians, ministers, engineers, etc.. A very eclectic and highly educated group... probably enough "sheep skin" to cover a large wall.

[Superchicken]

I thought you were Gnostic?

[RAILhead]

Originally posted by Sherwin:
Dude, before you start whining about people mentioning spirituality without religion, I suggest you get a proper copy of The Bible. I know it's hip to read the NIV but when all is said and done the only widely available proper version is the KJV.

Heh. Man oh freakin man, I hope you were only kidding. Mayhap you ought to read the introduction to see why, exactly the KJV came into existence. The only "proper" version would the the Hebrew and Greek (with no punctuation, of course).

Speaking of Hebrew and Greek, I *hated* learning Hebrew, but writing it was cool. Greek, OTOH, is a sweet language.

Maury

[MacNStein]

Originally posted by Superchicken:
I thought you were Gnostic?

I am. The two aren't mutually exclusive. In fact, they're rather complementary, IMO.

Long ago I was quite an anti-Christian, but strangely, my involvement with occult study brought me around to an almost Christian perspective. Did you know that priests, rabbis, and ministers have historically been the greatest contributers to western esoterica? A close second would be scientists.

[dcmacdaddy]

Texts that move me spiritually? Here ya go!

Tao Te Ching translated by Stephen Mitchel

100 Love Sonnets by Pablo Neruda

Collected Poems of W.B. Yeats

A KJV for the beautiful language and an RSV (second edition, not the new 3rd edition) for accuracy of the "message".

[Sherwin]

Originally posted by MacNStein:
Long ago I was quite an anti-Christian, but strangely, my involvement with occult study brought me around to an almost Christian perspective.

Barrett?