5 Books on The Essence of Life to Read this Year-End
As we enter this season of giving, I would like to encourage every one of you to find the time to enlighten yourself with a few good reads. That said, we have listed some of the most amazing books that explain so profoundly about the essence of life which are shared by ancient sages and authors of the awaken one. What we are currently experiencing is nothing new, and these sages and masters have gone through life challenges and from reading their books, we will learn how to cope with them. Above all, it is about understanding and realizing the nature of things and the essence of life. Thus, in this time of gifting, why not give a loved one or even yourself one of these books to end the year and to start the new year afresh with wisdom, love and light. Read on to find out more about these 5 books that I highly recommend as you continue to search for the essence of your life.
“What we are currently experiencing is nothing new, and these sages and masters have gone through life challenges and from reading their books, we will learn how to cope with them.”
As we enter this season of giving, I would like to encourage every one of you to find the time to enlighten yourself with a few good reads. That said, we have listed some of the most amazing books that explain so profoundly about the essence of life which are shared by ancient sages and authors of the awaken one.
What we are currently experiencing is nothing new, and these sages and masters have gone through life challenges and from reading their books, we will learn how to cope with them. Above all, it is about understanding and realizing the nature of things and the essence of life.
Thus, in this time of gifting, why not give a loved one or even yourself one of these books to end the year and to start the new year afresh with wisdom, love and light. These are the 5 books that I highly recommend as you continue to search for the essence of your life.
1. Conversations with God: An Uncommon Dialogue by Neale Donald Walsh
We all have puzzling questions that we want to ask God about: our existence, love and faith, life and death, good and evil. And what if God can provide clear and understandable answers? This book is about Neale Donald Walsh, who was able to have conversations with God and it can also happen to you. All you need is to start the conversation with God.
About the author: Neale Donald Walsh is a modern-day spiritual messenger whose words touch the world in many profound ways. With an interest in religion and a deep-felt connection with spirituality, he has spent most of his life as a professional while searching for the meaning of spirituality.
2. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by Patanjali, Alistair Shearer
The Yoga Sutras were formed in their present form in India in about the third century B.C. The word ‘yoga’ originates from the Sanskrit root that means “union” while a sutra is a thread or aphoristic verse. That said, each new generation has often asked these questions “Who am I?” “Where am I going?” “What is the purpose of life?” And through this book, you will find Patanjali’s answers which form one of the oldest and most vibrant spiritual texts in the world. In this book, he also explains what yoga is, how it works, and exactly how it can purify the mind and let it settle into absolute stillness.
About the author: Patanjali is the compiler of the Yoga Sutras, an important collection of aphorisms on Yoga practice, and also the author of the Mahābhāṣya, a major commentary on Pāṇini’s Ashtadhyayi.
3. Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda
This is a beautifully written account of an exceptional life of a Yogi and also a profound introduction to the ancient science of Yoga and its honored tradition of meditation. This biography presents a fascinating portrait of one of the greatest spiritual figures of our times. With engaging candor, eloquence, and wit, Paramahansa Yogananda tells the inspiring chronicles of his life.
About the author: Paramahansa Yogananda was an Indian yogi and guru who had introduced many westerners to the teachings of meditation and Kriya Yoga through his book, Autobiography of a Yogi.
4. The Essence of The Ashtavakra Gita by Ramesh S. Balsekar
In this book, you will learn that you are not the body that is composed of the five elements. However, you are the Consciousness that has
provided the inert body with the sentience that makes the senses function regarding their objects. Through this book, you will also learn
that “you” are not the physical organism but Consciousness which works not as the one in charge of the operations of the physical organism but merely as the onlooker of the operations.
About the author: Ramesh S. Balsekar was a disciple of the late Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, a renowned Advaita master. From early childhood, Balsekar was drawn to Advaita, a nondual teaching, particularly the teachings of Ramana Maharshi and Wei Wu Wei. He wrote more than 20 books, was president of the Bank of India and received guests daily in his home in Mumbai until shortly before his death.
5. Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
Written more than two thousand years ago, this book also famously known as The Classic of the Way and Its Virtue, is one of the true classics of the world of spiritual literature. In the Tao The Ching, it teaches the qualities of the enlightened sage or ideal ruler are identical with those of the perfected individual. Today, Lao Tzu’s words are used in mastering the arts of leadership in business and politics where it helps to develop a sense of balance and harmony in daily life. To follow Tao or the Way of all things, and realize their nature is to embody
humility, spontaneity, and generosity.
About the author: Lao Tzu was a mystic philosopher of ancient China, best known as the author of the Tao Te Ching (often simply referred to as Laozi). His association with the Tao Te Ching has led him to be traditionally considered the founder of Taoism (pronounced as “Daoism”). He is also revered as a deity in most religious forms of the Taoist religion.
Credit: Goodreads
Michael Teh, 7th December 2021.
Michael Teh is a meditation coach devoted to a personal mission of awakening more people to higher consciousness. He teaches self-realization through meditation, qigong, yoga and philosophy. Michael Teh Signature Workshop: The Essence of Life Series explores meditation as a powerful tool to realize our true potential. Michael has designed multiple workshops in this series to support his participants’ self-realization journey. Workshop Series 1 is currently running every few months on-ground in Kuala Lumpur, titled “Knowledge of The Self and Fundamentals of Meditation. Be sure to follow Michael’s social media channels and website for more updates: FB: https://www.facebook.com/
