I want to know what spirituality can offer (before I get involved)

This section holds a wealth of resources; feel free to pick what resonates with you.

Watkins is a historic bookshop in London, specializing in esoterica for over 120 years. They publish a magazine, Mind, Body, Spirit, featuring articles on a wide range of spiritual topics.

Another interesting site is David Hoffmeister’s online searchable database of spiritually-themed films, complete with commentary and reviews, called Movie Watcher’s Guide to Enlightenment (MWGE).

You can also find numerous interview shows on YouTube and popular podcast platforms like Spotify. Here are a few of my favorites:

• SuperSoul Conversations hosted by Oprah Winfrey
• Buddha at the Gas Pump (BATGAP) hosted by Rick Archer
• Conscious TV hosted by Iain and Renate McNay
• Spirit Matters hosted by Philip Goldberg
• The Freke Show hosted by Tim Freke

For those looking to begin reading, here are some recommended books:

• The Surrender Experiment by Michael Singer
• The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer
• A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
• Falling into Grace by Adyashanti

If Buddhism piques your interest, consider exploring the online magazine Lion’s Roar.

I want to be happy

Everyone desires happiness, right? According to the Dalai Lama:

We all want to be happy and avoid suffering, and we all have a right to be happy. That’s why I say we are all the same.

In fact, he posits that the ultimate purpose of life is happiness, as articulated in a beautiful article.

I appreciate the Dalai Lama’s simplicity; he focuses on relatable human qualities like kindness, joy, and compassion instead of lofty Buddhist ideals like Enlightenment.

With this perspective, I recommend:

• The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu
• The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living by the Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler

Have you heard of Lester Levenson? Doctors once sent him home to die, but he instead discovered the secret to life and continued living. Read his remarkable story here. His book is:

Happiness Is Free: And It’s Easier Than You Think! by Hale Dwoskin and Lester Levenson.

I want peace of mind

This desire, along with the next, motivated my own spiritual journey. If this resonates with you, I recommend:

Love is Letting Go of Fear and Teach Only Love by Jerry Jampolsky.

I want to be free of suffering

When I first encountered Buddhism, I was intrigued, rather than deterred, by its focus on suffering as central to its teachings, particularly the Four Noble Truths.

Later, I discovered Byron Katie and her four questions for alleviating suffering, which drew me in just as much.

For this category, I highly recommend Byron Katie’s initial book: Loving What Is.

I want to live more in the present moment

I’ll be straightforward: Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle.

I want to be free

Some individuals I’ve met simply desire freedom. If this describes you, I suggest exploring the personal freedom teachings of don Miguel Ruiz.

Another great option is Osho, particularly his book Love, Freedom and Aloneness and his Kundalini meditation practice.

And don’t forget to blast Queen’s “I Want to Break Free” at least once a week while dancing around your living room.

I want to be free of my addictions

This topic is particularly close to my heart for various reasons, including my own experiences with addictive behaviors and the challenges faced by loved ones. We all grapple with some form of addiction until we don’t.

Here are some key figures in this field:

Tommy Rosen Website: Recovery 2.0

Gabor Maté Book: In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction

Russell Brand Book: Recovery: Freedom From Our Addictions

Scott Kiloby Tool: The New Model of Recovery

I want to heal

Most of us carry childhood wounds and face illnesses throughout life. Here are my favorite healing resources:

• Gabor Maté again. Documentary: The Wisdom of Trauma
• You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay
• Secrets of Aboriginal Healing: A Physicist’s Journey with a Remote Australian Tribe by Gary Holz.

I want more meaning in my life

While we may never fully ascertain if life holds inherent meaning, we can certainly seek to discover our own. Here are two spiritual classics focusing on meaning:

• The Shift: Taking Your Life from Ambition to Meaning by Wayne Dyer (book and documentary)
• Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl.

I want to know about Western mysticism

Each of the Abrahamic faiths—Christianity, Islam, and Judaism—has a mystical aspect.

For Christian mysticism, consider exploring works by Mirabai Starr and the early writings of Tim Freke.

For Jewish mysticism, I suggest:

• Kabbalah for Beginners: Understanding and Applying Kabbalistic History, Concepts, and Practices by Brian Schachter
• I and Thou by Martin Buber
• Dani Antman.

For Islamic mysticism, known as Sufism, you might start with:

The Illuminated Rumi, translated by Coleman Barks and beautifully illustrated by Michael Green.

I want a scientifically-oriented spirituality

In my view, spirituality and science are intertwined and should enhance one another. Spirituality must be rooted in experience—even if subjective—while science examines matter, leading to deeper truths.

If you lean towards scientific perspectives, consider these recommendations:

• The Dancing Wu Li Masters by Gary Zukav
• The Field by Lynne McTaggart
• The Tao of Physics by Fritjof Capra
• My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey by Jill Bolte Taylor
• War of the Worldviews: Where Science and Spirituality Meet — and Do Not by Deepak Chopra and Leonard Mlodinow.

Other notable figures to explore include Bernado Kastrup, Donald Hoffman, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Bruce Lipton, John Hagelin, and Gary Weber—all male, I regret to say.

I want to know more about the human mind

Freud and Jung come to mind, and between the two, I would lean towards Jung. In fact, this may have been my starting point, even when I should have been studying programming (yes, I’m that old).

A Road Less Travelled by M. Scott Peck is an excellent introduction to the intersection of psychology and spirituality.

Next, delve into Ken Wilber’s early works: No Boundary and The Spectrum of Consciousness. If you enjoy those, continue exploring his extensive writings.

I want to know more about psychedelics

Stanislav Grof is a pivotal figure in this realm. A brief paragraph cannot do his contributions justice; he is a master explorer of inner experiences. Begin with his intriguing autobiography: When the Impossible Happens: Adventures in Non-Ordinary Realities.

I also recommend Michael Pollan’s: This is Your Mind on Plants, along with fascinating interviews conducted by Sam Harris, Joe Rogan, and Tim Ferriss.

Additionally, don’t overlook Aldous Huxley’s classic: The Doors of Perception.

I want to be more loving to myself and others

If this is your motivation, you’re in luck, as many of the finest spiritual teachers are Buddhist: Tara Brach, Jack Kornfield, Pema Chödrön, and Sharon Salzberg.

Here’s one recommendation from each:

• Tara Brach: Radical Compassion: Learning to Love Yourself and Your World with the Practice of RAIN (Recognize, Allow, Investigate, Nurture).
• Jack Kornfield: A Path With Heart.
• Pema Chödrön: When Things Fall Apart.
• Sharon Salzberg: Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness.

I also appreciated Teal Swan’s Shadows Before Dawn: Finding the Light of Self-Love Through Your Darkest Times and the work of self-love mentor Pernilla Lilarose.

I want to know more about the great Indian modern sages

Where to begin? Many start with Autobiography of a Yogi by Sri Paramahansa Yogananda. After that, explore the works of David Godman, who has dedicated his life to studying enlightened masters like Sri Ramana Maharshi, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, and Papaji. His website is a treasure trove of interviews and videos.

Another remarkable sage is Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, whose disciple Vivekananda established the Ramakrishna Vedanta Society.

Two other revered figures are Sri Anandamayi Ma and Mata Amritanandamayi (Amma), known as the hugging saint.

I want to learn about nonduality

Nonduality, or Advaita in Sanskrit, translates to "not two." While some classify it as a new religion in the West, I don’t view it that way.

Navigating this field can be complex, but I recommend starting with:

Jeff Foster—brilliant, grounded, and kind.

Rupert Spira—precise, experienced, and sensitive.

Consider checking out The Science and Nonduality Conference.

For further exploration, visit the Unbroken Self website. If you feel confident in your understanding and wish to dive deeper, consider these books (though I wouldn’t recommend starting with them):

• Consciousness Speaks by Ramesh S. Balsekar
• I Am That by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj.

I want to learn about intimate relationships

Many of us join Yoga classes, explore the Law of Attraction, or attend Tantra workshops seeking connection, and that’s perfectly okay. Relationships, especially intimate ones, hold significant value.

For insights, read David Deida—his work is enlightening for anyone, regardless of gender identity. Additionally, Esther Perel offers profound insights into relationship dynamics.

If divine sexuality interests you, consider:

Divine Sexuality: The Joy of Tantra by Ma Ananda Sarita.

Also, Tantra: The Art of Conscious Loving by Charles Muir and Caroline Muir.

I’ve written about Tantra here:

I want more energy

We all crave energy, don’t we? To maintain good energy levels throughout the day, prioritize sleep, rest, and relaxation, as emphasized in this Scientific American article: Why Your Brain Needs More Downtime.

Once you’ve mastered that, consider:

The incredible Wim Hof and his Wim Hof Method.

And the equally impressive Qigong Master, Mantak Chia.

I want to know the truth

This is a challenging quest. What do we mean when we seek truth? The ultimate truth? Our personal truth? With that in mind, I point you to Alan Watts, who brought Eastern wisdom to the Western world.

Additionally, Sam Harris has curated a collection of Alan Watts’ talks for his Waking Up app, comprising 19 albums, 180 unique talks, and over 142 hours of audio.

I would also recommend William James’ The Varieties of Religious Experience.

I want to be of service

There are countless ways to serve and give back. Here are three non-profits co-founded by William MacAskill worth exploring:

• Giving What We Can
• 80,000 Hours
• Centre for Effective Altruism

Also, check out MacAskill’s book: Doing Good Better: Effective Altruism and a Radical New Way to Make a Difference.

I want to be more successful in life

Some people see success and spiritual growth as separate paths, but I believe they can coexist harmoniously.

Here are my top recommendations for achieving success:

Law of Attraction materials—particularly the Abraham teachings, especially Ask and It Is Given.

Rhonda Byrne’s The Secret (both book and film), with her latest work, The Greatest Secret, fitting into the nonduality category mentioned earlier.

Tony Robbins, the ultimate life coach, offers numerous informative books without requiring participation in his costly retreats.

Also, consider the life transformation platform, Mindvalley, and their podcast.

I want to be one with the divine

This is a beautiful journey—the path of devotion, or Bhakti Yoga in Hinduism.

Numerous teachers from India can guide you, but two notable Western teachers are Mooji and Mirabai Starr.

And, of course, immerse yourself in music:

• Krishna Das
• Snatam Kaur
• Deva Premal & Miten.

I want to know about NDEs and if there is life after death

NDE stands for Near Death Experience, and many have experienced them. Notable figures in this area include Anita Moorjani, Eben Alexander, and Mary Neal.

The Near-Death Experience Research Foundation is also a resource, claiming to be the largest NDE website, featuring over 4900 experiences.

For further exploration, consider: The Big Book of Near-Death Experiences: The Ultimate Guide to the NDE and Its Aftereffects.

While not strictly about NDEs, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross is regarded as the foremost expert on death, dying, grief, and mourning.

I want to learn to meditate

Where to begin? Consider this:

In the beginner’s mind, there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s, there are few.

This quote opens Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind by Shunryu Suzuki, a spiritual classic.

Another classic is The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh.

Here are more meditation books I recommend:

• Deep Meditation by Yogani
• Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life by Jon Kabat-Zinn
• How to Meditate: A Practical Guide to Making Friends with Your Mind by Pema Chödrön
• The Mind Illuminated: A Complete Meditation Guide Integrating Buddhist Wisdom and Brain Science for Greater Mindfulness by John Yates (also known as Culadasa; his website offers fascinating writings).

Giovanni Dienstmann’s Live and Dare website is excellent, with the motto: Master your mind, master your life.

While Headspace is popular, I prefer Sam Harris’ Waking Up App.

I want a spirituality that relates to the world we live in

As poet Alfred Lord Tennyson, quoted by Marianne Williamson, once said:

Come, my friends, ’tis not too late to seek a newer world.

We don’t know what lies ahead, but let’s strive to be part of the solution. Here are some remarkable individuals to follow:

• James Lovelock (originator of Gaia theory)
• Graham Hancock
• Charles Eisenstein
• David Loy.

I want to wake up now

Sorry, that’s likely not feasible.

But you could try this…

F**k It: The Ultimate Spiritual Way by John C. Parkin.

That’s all! Feel free to leave comments if you think I’ve overlooked anything.