A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose (Oprah's Book Club, Selection 61), Eckhart Tolle (also available in audio)

"Building on the astonishing success of The Power of Now, Eckhart Tolle presents readers with an honest look at the current state of humanity: He implores us to see and accept that this state, which is based on an erroneous identification with the egoic mind, is one of dangerous insanity.

Tolle tells us there is good news, however. There is an alternative to this potentially dire situation. Humanity now, perhaps more than in any previous time, has an opportunity to create a new, saner, more loving world. This will involve a radical inner leap from the current egoic consciousness to an entirely new one.

In illuminating the nature of this shift in consciousness, Tolle describes in detail how our current ego-based state of consciousness operates. Then gently, and in very practical terms, he leads us into this new consciousness. We will come to experience who we truly are—which is something infinitely greater than anything we currently think we are—and learn to live and breathe freely."

"This work, A New Earth, supersedes all of Tolle's previous writings. It has better and clearer explanations and is replete with examples which are packed with a great density of meaning. That means you will inevitably "unpack" more and more meaning from these ideas each time you read them. Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion, but, to me this book is an enduring treasure. I hope millions read it and take away from it whatever they can carry."

An Open Heart: Practicing Compassion in Everyday Life, Dalai Lama XIV, Nicholas Vreeland, Richard Gere (Also available in audio)

In the summer of 1999, the Dalai Lama addressed an audience of over 40,000 in Central Park on how to live a better life. Open Heart is derived from this and other popular lectures given in New York. Here, the Dalai Lama progresses beyond his bestsellers The Art of Happiness and Ethics for the New Millennium by introducing specific practices that can engender happiness.

Spiritual practice, according to the Dalai Lama, is a matter of taming unwanted emotions, which means becoming aware of how the mind works. Through the methods of analytical and settled meditation, the Dalai Lama shows how we can cultivate helpful states of mind and eliminate harmful states, leading us to develop compassion for others and happiness for ourselves. But there is no preaching of a single, right method. This revered but humble monk merely invites the reader to understand the causes of one's suffering and consider how best to alleviate it. Open Heart should draw crowds to the bookstores and lead us all to more satisfactory living." ~ Brian Bruya

Eckhart Tolle's Findhorn Retreat, Eckhart Tolle ~ I've an especial fondness for teachings coming out of the Findhorn Community. It was at Findhorn in 1978 that I was introduced to Hands-on-Healing. Until then I had explored only "talk" forms of therapy for transformation and healing. Read the following review and consider adding this audio collection of Eckhart's Findhorn Retreat to your library.

Tolle is well known for his teachings on stillness and inner peace, including his bestseller The Power of Now; he's also known for Findhorn, a spiritual community and retreat center in Scotland. Listeners can experience Tolle and Findhorn themselves in this audio production, which includes four talks he gave during a two-day retreat.

Each CD contains one hour-long talk and focuses on a different aspect of stillness and learning how to live in the moment. Tolle's charming delivery is gently humorous but also pointed in his instruction. It's a delight to hear the audience laughing in the background as he softly encourages attendees to grab hold of the magic of the moment.

No table of contents is provided with the set, and while the packaging is compact and lovely, the CDs tend to fall out easily. But for Tolle's followers who can't make it to Findhorn, this is the next best thing. Listeners eager to learn more about Tolle's teaching will glean much. Simultaneous release with the New World Library hardcover and DVD set. (Jan.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

 

The Diamond in Your Pocket, Gangaji

"Writing in a series of short contemplations, Gangaji describes our never-ending search as human beings to find the fulfillment that already exists within each of us if we would but stop long enough to experience it. She teaches us how to let go of our need for control, to cultivate vulnerability, and unearth the root causes of our suffering."

"Gangaji is not an avatar, nor is she a guru in the usual sense of that word; she has no special powers that I've been able to detect. She is physically beautiful. Her voice is soft and inviting, and her speech is eloquent, but she is no orator, no gifted preacher; she makes no sermons that will lift your spirit and make your heart sing. She will not give you ecstatic experiences. She is, as she is fond of saying, "just like you", and if you find anything special in her, it is but your own specialness, your own eternal radiance that you find, masquerading as her. What she is, is absolutely fresh, and radically simple, and true to all the great masters who have gone before her."

"This book is a true jewel in every sense." SCIENCE OF MIND magazine, July 2005

The Power of Intention, Wayne W. Dyer (also available in audio)

After years of spiritual study and reflection, inspirational speaker and bestselling author Wayne Dyer has emerged a highly esteemed teacher. His current message about tapping into the power of intention may sound like good old positive thinking: just stay focused on what you want, rather than focusing on the lack of having what you want. But the teaching here goes deeper than just controlling thoughts (although he does acknowledge that thought control is a surprisingly challenging and significant endeavor).

This book might help readers land a better job, but it's more relevant for those who are ready to detach from an ego-driven life filled with quick fixes of happiness and step into a more authentic, joyful, and spiritually fulfilling life. His core teachings speak to tapping into a universal source of energy that can also be called the "power of intention." He calls people who are consciously co-creating with this energy source "connectors" and describes them as "individuals who have made themselves available for success...They don't say With my luck things won't work out. Instead, you’re more likely to hear something like, I intend to create this and I know it will work out."

Connectors are also committed to Dyer's "seven faces of intention"--creativity, kindness, love, beauty, expansion, abundance and receptivity, which he speaks to throughout the book. Each chapter concludes with five suggestions for becoming stronger connectors, such as how to monitor one's inner speech or shift out of low-energy beliefs. Dyer has tapped into a growing conversation about co-creating with "source." Other leading-edge voices in this conversation include Eckhart Tolle (The Power of Now), Shakti Gawain (Creative Visualization ) and Lynn Grabhorn (Excuse Me, Your Life is Waiting)." ~ Gail Hudson

"For this very popular speaker and bestselling author of the classic Your Erroneous Zones, intention is not dogged determination, but an inner awareness "that exists in the universe as an invisible force of energy." This conviction, gleaned from Dyer's professional experiences, metaphysical studies and contacts with personal mentors, has allowed him to link to the force of intention and use it to enhance his life and work.

For Dyer, there are seven faces, or energy fields, of intention: creativity, kindness, love, beauty, expansion, abundance and receptivity. Drawing on a variety of spiritual traditions and gurus, Dyer first describes how to surmount the barriers that may get in the way of connecting to this power, such as negative thinking, relying on the opinion of others or retaining a controlling ego.  Dyer's soothing voice and gentle prescriptions for happiness remain uniquely his own, as fans will recognize. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Ask and It Is Given, Esther Hicks, Jerry Hicks, Wayne W. Dyer (also available in audio)

"For almost 20 years Jerry and Esther Hicks have been presenting workshops, producing tapes and writing books to help people create the life they desire. And desire is no small word in this agenda. According to the teachings of "Abraham"--a collective name for the spiritual entities that are channeled through Esther--desire is a good and natural force within us. In fact, we are all here to fulfill our desires, according to Abraham. Yet the reason so much of us feel frustrated, is that we have difficulty knowing how to ask and receive whatever we want to be, do or have.

Although Jerry and Esther are listed as the authors, Ask and It Is Given is actually a collection of channeled messages from Abraham. Fans of Abraham and the Hicks may not find new information, but will probably be delighted to have an inspiring, updated book that speaks to the familiar conversation of attracting the life we want. Newcomers may also be intrigued by this excellent, in-depth discussion on how to change one’s life by matching the vibrational energy of one’s desires--taking the power of positive thinking to a whole new level.

Because this material is channeled, it often reads like The Power of Now or A Course in Miracles--not a fast food book to be devoured in one sitting. Rather, this is a book to be read in passages, with a soothing gestation period in between. It includes much advice on working with energy and emotions as well as specific chapters on increasing prosperity, reclaiming health, working with meditation, and clearing clutter for clarity. For those who are onboard with the "Laws of Attraction" and the "Art of Receiving" that Abraham speaks of, this could be one of those deliciously mysterious books that you can open to any page and it seems to offer the exact advice or insight you need right now."--Gail Hudson

"Ask and It Is Given, by Esther and Jerry Hicks, which presents the teachings of the nonphysical entity Abraham, will help you learn how to manifest your desires so that you’re living the joyous and fulfilling life you deserve.

As you read, you’ll come to understand how your relationships, health issues, finances, career concerns, and more are influenced by the Universal laws that govern your time/space reality—and you’ll discover powerful processes that will help you go with the positive flow of life.

It’s your birthright to live a life filled with everything that is good—and this book will show you how to make it so in every way!"

"This is the first time I have ever read a book by Esther and Jerry Hicks, and the Abraham teachings, and I have to applaud them for bringing humanity such a profound book that will definitely uplift your consciousness and your life. This book is extremely well written, easy to understand and apply, and will surely bring you wonderful results. It shows how we are all connected to Divine Source, at every moment of our lives to co-create, and manifest all we truly desire and deserve. It is truly a must read, and a must share with others. Thank you Esther and Jerry for your wonderful contribution to humanity!"

Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life, Byron Katie (also available in audio)

"Remember the phrase "question authority"? Loving What Is is a workbook on questioning authority--but in this case, what is in question is the authority of our own fundamental beliefs about our relationships.

Known simply as "The Work," Byron Katie's methods are clean and straightforward. The basis is a series of four questions addressed to your own lists of written assumptions. Whether you're angry with your boss, frustrated with your teen's behavior, or appalled at the state of the world's environment, Katie suggests you write down your most honest thoughts on the matter, and then begin the examination. Starting with, "Is it true?" and continuing with explorations of "Who would you be without that thought?" this method allows you to get through unhelpful preconceptions and find peace.

An integral part of the process is "turning the thought around," and at first this can seem like you're simply blaming yourself for everything. Push a little harder, and you'll find a very responsible acceptance of reality, beyond questions of fault and blame.

The book is filled with examples of folks applying The Work to a variety of life situations, and reading other's examples gets the idea across pretty clearly; chances are you'll find your own frustrations echoed on the pages a few times. Many chapters are divided into specific topics, such as couples, money, addictions, and self-judgments, with one chapter devoted to exploring the method with children.

Questioning your own authority is never an easy process, but it seems well worth the potential rewards--stress-free choices, peace, and affection for those closest to you." ~ Jill Lightner

Turning Suffering Inside Out, Darlene Cohen

"For the past 20 years author Darlene Cohen has had rheumatoid arthritis, a painful and crippling condition. "I became isolated from everyone I knew by my pain and fear and ultimately even by the consuming effort I had to make to do any little thing--like get up from a chair, fix a cup of tea," she writes.

How do we live through catastrophic situations such as Cohen's without being destroyed? For starters, don't go numb, suggests Cohen, a Zen teacher who offers pain seminars in medical facilities and meditation centers along the West Coast. "If we don't acknowledge our pain, we usually don't feel our pleasure either," Cohen explains. "Life takes on a zombie-like tenor."

In fact, many of our most self-destructive habits come from an avoidance of physical or emotional pain, claims Cohen, such as substance abuse, becoming overly scheduled or overly busy, avoiding intimacy to avoid hurt. Through storytelling, attitude adjustments, meditation exercises, and straight-from-the-heart advice, Cohen guides readers into a more alive and joyful life, even in the midst of pain." ~ Gail Hudson

No Boundary, Ken Wilbur
 
"A new, easy-to-grasp map of human consciousness against which the various therapies from both Western and Eastern sources are introduced. Designed to help individuals understand the practice of each therapy."

"One of the best books for helping you to understand the dual nature of consciousness. It also reviews several philosophical viewpoints into one general framework."

The Translucent Revolution: How People Just Like You Are Waking Up and Changing the World, Arjuna Ardagh, Ken Wilber

"At a time when the fate of the world seems increasingly uncertain, The Translucent Revolution provides a compelling and convincing argument that radical positive change is taking place throughout our global society, resulting in increasing numbers of people from diverse and divergent backgrounds who are awakening to a state Ardagh defines as "translucent." In the process, they are becoming part of a potentially critical mass of people capable of triggering a world around awakening of deeper purpose, joy, compassion, self-fulfillment, and service to others.

Ardagh studied this "translucent revolution" for more than a decade, after years of spiritual seeking that culminated in his own awakening of his true inner state of being after famed spiritual teacher H.W. L. Poonja asked him, "Who is the one trying to be free? Who are you really?" What he subsequently discovered was that experiencing his inner awakening was far easier than living and maintaining it, but in the years since, he discovered ways of doing so, finding in the process that many others around the globe are now doing so as well.

As part of his research for The Translucent Revolution, Ardagh interviewed others from all walks of life he are awakening to similar experiences, including Ram Dass, Eckhart Tolle, Jean Houston, and Neale Donald Walsch. In all, he interviewed over 170 people, compiling 250 tapes and 3,000 pages of transcripts, the essence of which he distilled into this book.

After opening with an examination of what "translucence" is and how it can be lived after the radical awakening that leads to it, Ardagh then explores how translucence can positively transform individuals in terms of their self-identity, personal actions, feelings, relationships, sexual partnering, parenting, and art. From there he examines the affects of translucence in collective society in terms of education, business, health care, religion, and global sense of community.

Throughout the book, Ardagh provides readers with many experiential exercises they can do, both in the form of "Try It Yourself" exhortations and gentler "Nudges" that can be performed individually and with a partner. The end result is a doorway to a transformational journey that literally leaps off the written page." ~ Larry Trivieri

"...a luminous contribution to the individual and collective awakening of all of us." ~ Lama Surya Das - author of Awakening the Buddha Within,

"Must reading for all of us working toward a more positive future." ~ Barbara Marx Hubbard - author of Conscious Evolution

"The Translucent revolution delivers a cumulative punch. It is a rare combination of reason, passion, and spiritual insight." ~ James O'Dea - President of the Institute for Noetic Sciences

"...a brilliant book, full of fascinating information, valuable insights, useful techniques and great wisdom." Jack Canfield - co-creator of Chicken Soup for the Soul®

"A brilliant and timely missive from an author deeply in touch with the pulse of our evolution and our awakening." Lynne Twist - author of The Soul of Money

Mending The Past And Healing The Future with Soul Retrieval by Alberto Villolodo, Ph.D.

"This fascinating book by psychologist and medical anthropologist Alberto Villoldo, Ph.D., explains the practices for healing outside of ordinary time and space. It shows how to enter the timeless now to heal events that occurred in the past, and to correct the course of destiny. Dr. Villoldo discusses ways in which you can heal yourself and your loved ones by employing intention through practices used by shamans of the Americas—which, until now, have been inaccessible to most of the world. The shamans of old called this journeying.

In this book, you’ll discover that you have a four-chambered heart in the same way you have a four-chambered soul. In the first chamber, you store away the memory of a wound that derailed your destiny. In the second, you keep the limiting beliefs and soul contracts that you entered into at the time of your loss. In the third, you recover the grace and trust that will make you whole again; and in the fourth, you remember the calling and mission that you choose to unfold in this lifetime.

"While everyone has a future," Villoldo says, "only certain people have a destiny." This book shows you how to find and manifest yours."

The Healing Power of Water by Dr. Masaru Emoto

Emoto theorizes that since water has the ability to receive a wide range of frequencies, it can also reflect the universe in this manner. He found that water from clear springs and water exposed to loving words shows brilliant, complex, and colorful snowflake patterns, while polluted water and water exposed to negative thoughts forms incomplete, asymmetrical patterns with dull colors. Emoto believes that since people are 70 percent water, and the Earth is 70 percent water, we can heal our planet and ourselves by consciously expressing love and goodwill."

"Half of the earth is water; our body is three-quarters water. Water represents the interface between the 4th dimension in which we live and the 5th dimensional sphere of our soul. Many studies have shown subtle effects of healers upon hydrogen bonding and infrared absorption of water. None of these scientific studies can compare with the beauty and clear messages shown by Dr. Emoto's elegant work. The impact of thought and beauty has never before been demonstrated so well." ~ C. Norman Shealy, M.D., Ph.D. Founding President, American Holistic Medical Association President, Holos University Graduate Seminary Author of 295 publications, including Sacred Healing
 

The Hidden Messages in Water,

"The Hidden Messages in Water is an eye-opening theory showing how water is deeply connected to people's individual and collective consciousness. Drawing from his own research, scientific researcher, healer, and popular lecturer Dr. Masaru Emoto describes the ability of water to absorb, hold, and even retransmit human feelings and emotions.

Using high-speed photography, he found that crystals formed in frozen water reveal changes when specific, concentrated thoughts are directed toward it. Music, visual images, words written on paper, and photographs also have an impact on the crystal structure.

"The Hidden Messages in Water is magnificent. Through his genius photography and superb scientific skill, Dr. Masaru Emoto has created a book that is truly a mystical treasure. His contribution to research in spiritual consciousness is positively masterful." ~ Carolyn M. Myss, author Sacred Contracts and Anatomy of a Spirit