What book has made such a difference in your life that you made lasting changes in perspective or behavior?

I remember when you could only find "esoteric" books in old houses and out of the way places. When I got the call to my spiritual path I used to go to this store that was filled with books you could not find anywhere. It felt as if you were doing something naughty. As many of you can attest, some of the books would literally fall off the shelves as if some invisible force was guiding the path. The Spiritual path is like this. When you need to know something your Spirit Guides will make sure you get the message. I had many books that influenced my path in the earlier days. I was very privileged to hear a lecture with Manly Hall in the late 1980s. He was already in his 90s and I think it was one of his last public appearances. Manly Hall was the founder of the "Philosophic Research Society." When I followed up with reading his work, all of which is inspiring and illuminating, I came across a passage that basically said: It is easier to be Spiritual when you live on the mountaintop. When you bring it into your life it is far more challenging. I am paraphrasing. It helped me understand that the spiritual path is more of a "soul-odyssey" which has been the basis of my own spiritual work and writing ever since.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Deborah Herman on April 27, 2012 at 8:45pm

These books sound wonderful. I will have to add them to my list.

Permalink Reply by Sharon Lindenburger on April 23, 2012 at 9:56pm

A Path With Heart by Buddhist teacher Jack Kornfield is one of the most beautiful spiritual books. I also love two other books by him "After the Ecstasy the Laundry" and "The Wise Heart."

Permalink Reply by Deborah Herman on April 27, 2012 at 8:45pm

Jack Kornfield is an amazing author. Thank you for the recommendation.

Permalink Reply by Patricia Herlevi on April 27, 2012 at 9:12pm

Paulo Coelho's books fall into this category for me, especially "The Pilgrimage" and "The Alchemist," also Joseph Campbell's "The Power of Myth," Julia Cameron's "The Artist's Way" and Lynn V. Andrew's medicine women series. Really, I could go on because many books have changed my spiritual perspective.

Permalink Reply by Marshall Barnes on June 19, 2012 at 3:54pm

The Prydain series by Lloyd Alexander. In particular, The Book of Three, Taran Wanderer, and The High King. The series is a fantasy series for youth which I read between ages 10 and 12. Nothing else has given me truer insights to life, which I have used again and again, and I mean nothing.

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