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This is one of the first spiritual books I ever read. It helped me recognize my ego and conditioning, and accelerate my awakening. Once you read it, you can’t go back to the old way of seeing yourself, the world, and other people, and there is freedom in this.

I deeply love and appreciate Mooji and his pointings. He is an Advaita Vedānta master, and his guidance is clear and direct. In this book, he shares wisdom and leads you through deep inquiry to reveal our true essence of love and peace.

H.W.L Poonja (Papaji) was a devotee of Sri Ramana Maharshi. Visitors from around the world sought his guidance. Some of his students are now spiritual teachers, including Mooji & Gangaji. This book contains Papaji’s essential teachings on spiritual liberation and Advaita Vedānta.

This spiritual book has a Christian feel, but the message is Advaita. I found myself reading this with a lot of resistance in the beginning, but the more I read, the more it brought me peace and I saw the truth within every word. It contains 3 parts: the text, the workbook for students, and the manual for teachers. Overall, I love this book and I felt like it came to me at a time when I needed it. It’s a difficult read, so it may not be for everyone. However, it is a book I will continue to return to for guidance.

The Upanishads are the last chapters of the Vedas, an ancient Indian scripture. There are 108 Upanishads and this book contains the major ones. It also offers thorough descriptions and introductions for those needing more background of the text. As I read, it quieted my mind and pointed me back to the Self. It felt natural to meditate after each sitting with this book. The Self is eternal, deathless, and the power which created the universe. The words of the Upanishads are a direct encounter with truth.

Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj is another great sage from India. He is an Advaita Vedānta master and his teachings will transform your life.

To give you an idea of the depths of his teachings, you can hear some of his words of wisdom in this YouTube video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbOvjBchKkg

If this video resonates, I highly recommend diving into his teachings. They are so clear and direct.

This is another gem from Eckhart Tolle. Stillness Speaks contains simple and short sections for easy reading and reflection. It offers concise guidance to re-establish yourself in the present moment and to find peace within. I have used this book before meditating by reading a small section at a time and pausing wherever feels natural. It helps to quell the mind before meditation and offers clear guidance.

Ramana Maharshi, is one of the greatest sages of India. He taught through silence and the method of self-inquiry (vichara). Self-inquiry is a potent & direct method for self-realization. I constantly refer to it because this is the method that brought me into direct recognition of my true Self. So, if you are ready to awaken, go straight to Ramana’s teachings.

This is a classic Chinese text, full of ancient wisdom that is still relevant today, and it reads like poetry. Not much is known about the author Lao Tzu, he may have been a contemporary of Confucius. The text is over 2,400 years old and only contains around 5000 words. Yet, each line of this book goes straight to the heart. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in Taoism.

The Power of Now has a simple yet powerful message about living in the present moment. Eckhart Tolle teaches us that the only time we can truly be happy is when we embrace the now. This moment is all there ever is and the past and future only exist in the mind. Only this moment is real. So, why do we resist it and spend so much time thinking about the past and future? This book connects you to peace and joy that is available in the timeless now.

This book is an excellent starting point if you are looking to deepen your spiritual practice and have not yet read any of the other spiritual books listed here. If you don’t know how to move beyond your suffering, The Untethered Soul is an excellent place to start. It offers an introduction to Eastern Philosophy from a Western perspective. It teaches you to witness your thoughts and experiences rather than getting swept up in them.

The Dhammapada means “the path of Dharma” and it contains teachings from the Buddha. It is in the form of verse and it is one of the most popular Buddhist scriptures. One of my teachers, a Buddhist Monk, told us that he reads from the Dhammapada every night because it provides him with inspiration and wisdom. I think this will be a good option for anyone who is drawn to the Buddha’s teachings and wants to learn more. It is a simple and enjoyable book.

This is a transformative text from India, attributed to Dattatreya (who was an incarnation of the Divine Trinity). In the Avadhūta Gītā, Dattatreya describes the liberated state and the nature of one who is spiritually free. This is the state of complete oneness, that is apart from form. The venerated Dattatreya eloquently describes spiritual liberation and the highest reality. Two translations are available below.

The Bhagavad Gita is perhaps the most famous spiritual text from India. It is a dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna. What Lord Krishna is teaching Arjuna comes from the Upanishads. It’s said that the Upanishads are the cow, while the Bhagavad Gita is the milk. If you have the milk, you won’t need the cow. In other words, if the Bhagavad Gita resonates with you, you may not need to read any other scripture.

The Ashtavakra Gita is a classical Advaita Vedanta text. As most traditional teachings were in the form of a dialogue, where the student asks the master for guidance, this too is a dialogue between the sage Ashtavakra and Janka, a king. This spiritual book reads like poetry and has the power to dispel illusion and ignorance. Each verse is illuminating and effortlessly radiates the power of spiritual truth. It’s one of my favorites.