PhilosophersNotes (42)

• 

  Discover the Power Within You

  A Guide to the Unexplored Depths Within

  by Eric Butterworth

  Eric Butterworth was a prolific author and Unity minister—one of the great spiritual teachers of the 20th century. We featured another one of his books called Spiritual Economics. That one transformed my consciousness around money/ambition/etc. (I *highly* recommend it.) Butterworth was also Maya Angelou's spiritual teacher. And, Oprah says that this book is one of her all-time favorites. Big Ideas we explore: Where to find the Divine (hint: look within!), the great decision, the true meaning of “meek” (it's not what you think), going the second mile, and how to create a heaven (or hell) right NOW!

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  Self-Image

  Spirituality

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• 

  Beyond Religion

  Ethics for a Whole World

  by Dalai Lama

  I got this book after Ray Dalio strongly recommended it in Principles. It’s always a joy to read the words of a wise master. The Dalai Lama’s incredible thoughtfulness, humility, and grounded wisdom is inspiring. Big Ideas we explore include how to rethink secularism and create an ethics for a whole world, moving from knowing to doing, emotions (helpful or not vs. feel good or bad), contentment (material vs. mental), plus some meditation tips.

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  Meditation

  Buddhism Ethics Religion Spirituality

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• 

  Strength in the Storm

  Transform Stress, Live in Balance, and Find Peace of Mind

  by Eknath Easwaran

  As I mentioned in the other Notes on his work, Eknath Easwaran is one of my favorite teachers. He was a professor of English literature in India before coming to America on a Fulbright scholarship. He taught at UC Berkeley and became one of the world’s leading meditation and spiritual teachers. In this book, we learn how to love storms—how to use simple tools to find strength in the inevitable storms of life as we “transform stress, live in balance and find peace of mind.” Big Ideas we explore: “I love storms.” -Gandhi, Eudaimantra (how I came up w/the perfect mantra for myself), how to end all boredom, time as an infinite cosmic carpet, the secret of life (in one sentence) and Gandhi 101: how to become fearless.

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  Conquering Anxiety & Meditation

  20th Century Classics courage Mind Spirituality

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• 

  Knowledge of Higher Worlds and its Attainment

  by Rudolf Steiner

  I got this book on the recommendation of Phil Stutz (author of The Tools). I recently hired Phil as my coach and he *loves* Rudolf Steiner. I love Phil and I love following Joseph Campbell’s advice to study the books the teachers you admire studied so here we are. Rudolf Steiner was a remarkable man. Born in 1861, he was a philosopher, architect, and social reformer. Big Ideas we explore: the fundamental attitude of your soul, the importance of cultivating courage (and how to do it), spiritual perfection (it’s your ultimate goal), unfailing mastery (is the key), and using all your powers to serve profoundly.

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  Optimal Living & Purpose

  20th Century Classics courage soul Spirit Spirituality

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• 

  Spiritual Evolution

  How We Are Wired for Faith, Hope, and Love

  by George Vaillant

  George Vaillant is a psychiatrist and Harvard professor who, for 35 years, led Harvard’s 70+ year Study of Adult Development. (You learn a thing or three when you follow the development of teenagers as they grew into great-grandparents.) In this book, he tells us that we can evolve spiritually. Leaning on his experience running Harvard’s study plus cultural anthropology, ethology and neuroscience, he walks us through the biological underpinnings of the positive emotions that make up our spirituality: faith, love, hope, joy, forgiveness, compassion and awe.

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  Faith Hope Modern Classic soul Spirit Spirituality

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• 

  The Way to Love

  The Last Meditations of Anthony de Mello

  by Anthony de Mello

  This is a tiny little pocket book featuring thirty-one inspiring, challenging meditations on how to love by Anthony de Mello, a mystical Jesuit priest who also wrote the great book Awareness that we cover. The book is a powerful, challenging look at how to break free from our conditioning, reprogram our minds and truly love. Big Ideas we explore include what it means to love, enjoying the symphony of life (by no longer clinging or renouncing), the art of looking (How are you THAT?), how to create freedom to make a fool of yourself, plus effort, effortlessness and fun.

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  Connection & Love

  20th Century Classic Heart Spirit Spirituality

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• 

  Passage Meditation

  Bringing the Deep Wisdom of the Heart into Daily Life

  by Eknath Easwaran

  This book could have been called “The Eight-Point Program for Daily Living” as Eknath Easwaran walks us through not just his approach to “passage meditation” but also the other key tenets of spiritual living. Big Ideas we explore include deciding whether you *really* want to get over your problems, how to tame your mind (and why it’s like an elephant’s unruly trunk!), making your mind one-pointed, swimming upstream and doing the work (vs. just attending lectures).

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  Conquering Depression & Meditation

  20th Century Classic Buddhism soul Spirit Spirituality

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• 

  Take Your Time

  The Wisdom of Slowing Down

  by Eknath Easwaran

  This book was written in 1994—WAY before we blew up our brains with the Internet. Yet, the need to slow down and cultivate a calm, unhurried mind has been discussed by all the great teachers for 2,500+ years. We need the wisdom now more than ever. Big Ideas we explore include how use a red pencil, changing the channels of your mind, a quick quiz on whether meditation is right for you, and how to drive your mind safely (no tailgating thoughts!).

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  Meditation & Self-Care

  20th Century Classic Happiness soul Spirit Spirituality

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• 

  Waking Up

  A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion

  by Sam Harris

  Sam Harris is part philosopher, part neuroscientist (with a Ph.D. from UCLA) and part contemplative seeker. His writing is smart, incredibly clear, and unapologetically direct. In Waking Up, he applies his intellect to the subject of discussing spirituality rationally—devoid of the baggage of both religious superstition/dogma and New Age woo woo-ness. Big Ideas: Mindfulness + meditation, stages of spiritual development, cultivating choice, and accepting while striving.

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  Meditation & Mindfulness

  Modern Classic Spirituality

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• 

  The Great Work of Your Life

  A Guide for the Journey to Your True Calling

  by Stephen Cope

  Stephen Cope is the director of the Kripalu Institute for Extraordinary Living—the largest yoga research institute in the Western world. In this great book, Stephen brings the Bhagavad Gita to life and helps us apply this ancient wisdom to our modern lives. Big Ideas include the four keys to living your dharma, creating the right conditions, dealing with difficulties, training elephants, and reducing yourself to zero!

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  Purpose

  Dharma Modern Classic soul Spirit Spirituality Yoga

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• 

  One Spirit Medicine

  Ancient Ways to Ultimate Wellness

  by Alberto Villoldo, Ph.D.

  Alberto Villoldo is a fascinating blend of medical anthropologist and practicing shaman—having explored, practiced and taught these ideas for decades. Alberto walks us the healing wisdom at the nexus of ancient shamanic wisdom and modern science. Big Ideas include how (and why!) to optimize our gut-brain, removing two of the most toxic things in our diet, adding superfoods and detoxing from news and TV while cultivating stillness.

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  Conquering Cancer & Nutrition & Self-Care

  Body Modern Classic Spirituality

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• 

  Fear

  Essential Wisdom for Getting Through the Storm

  by Thich Nhat Hanh

  A Vietnamese Buddhist Zen master, Thich Nhat Hanh is, essentially, a living saint. In this great little book, Nhat Hanh delivers his essential wisdom on how to navigate the storms of life with more grace and poise as we cultivate fearlessness/nonfear. Big Ideas range from breathing in the moment, reflecting on interbeingness (= huge), and enhancing our energy of mindfulness and concentration.

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  Conquering Anxiety & Mindfulness

  Buddhism courage Modern Classic soul Spirit Spirituality

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• 

  The Buddha in Your Mirror

  Practical Buddhism and the Search for Self

  by Woody Hochswender, Greg Martin, Ted Morino

  Looking for the Buddha? Cruise on over to your mirror and you'll find him (or her). YOU are the Buddha and this book shows us how to realize that fact and live from that awareness. Big Ideas range from rockin' your swan legs and cleaning your face to become who you are truly are.

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  Meditation & Mindfulness

  Buddhism Modern Classic soul Spirit Spirituality

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• 

  The Undefeated Mind

  On the Science of Constructing an Indestructible Self

  by Alex Lickerman, M.D.

  How'd you like to have an undefeated mind while constructing an indestructible self? (I'll take 'em!) Alex Lickerman, MD shows us how--blending Western science with practical Eastern mysticism in this powerful book. In the Note, we'll explore how to find your mission and turn poison into medicine.

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  Antifragility & Confidence

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• 

  Your Life Is Your Message

  Finding Harmony With Yourself, Others, and the Earth

  by Eknath Easwaran

  Eknath Easwaran is one of my favorite teachers and one of the most beloved spiritual teachers of the 20th century. He walked with Gandhi in his native India and shows us to be the change while making our life our message. We'll explore how to change the gears of our thinking, detox from mas media and engage in practical idealism.

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  Leadership & Purpose

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• 

  The Seven Spiritual Laws of Superheroes

  by Deepak Chopra, Gotham Chopra

  What do you get when you mashup Deepak Chopra’s The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success with his son Gotham’s passion for comic books and superheroes? This great little book. In this Note, we’ll have fun looking at what makes a superhero so super and how we can rock it as well. Big Ideas include learning how to rise to the occasion as we live our ideals and commit ourselves to service. Will *you* be a superhero?

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  Hero Training & Love

  Modern Classic soul Spirit Spirituality Volume II

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• 

  The Untethered Soul

  by Michael Singer

  Michael Singer is a great writer, storyteller and spiritual teacher who has a profound ability to communicate complex spiritual ideas in a simple, easy-to-grasp manner. The book is packed with wisdom. In the Note, we explore Big Ideas on how we can best relate to that voice in our heads as we develop our witness perspective and create real transformation in our lives.

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  Mindfulness & Optimal Living

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  The Way of the Bodhisattva

  by Shantideva

  The Way of the Bodhisattva is one of the classics of Buddhism that teaches us the key elements of the Bodhisattva—one who has dedicated his or her life to serving the world and releasing all sentient beings from suffering. In this Note, we’ll check out the importance of cultivating bodhichitta (an “awakened mind”) and how we can do it. (Hint: It’s all about “diligence in virtuous ways”! :)

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  Connection & Meditation

  Buddhism Heart Old School Classic Spirit Spirituality Volume II

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  When Things Fall Apart

  Heart Advice for Difficult Times

  by Pema Chodron

  Pema Chödrön is a Buddhist teacher and prolific author with an incredibly strong, yet compassionate and grounded perspective. This book is all about facing challenging times with courage as we lean into our fears and grow. We'll explore a bunch of Big Ideas on everything from why we should meditate to how long the process of actualizing takes (roughly the rest of our lives :)!

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  Confidence & Conquering Anxiety

  Buddhism Modern Classic soul Spirit Spirituality Volume II

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• 

  Wherever You Go, There You Are

  by Jon Kabat-Zinn

  Jon Kabat-Zinn is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Massachusetts and one of the world’s leading advocates for mindfulness training. He’s demonstrated the phenomenal health benefits of integrating meditation into our daily lives and in this Note we’ll learn about meditation—what it is, how we can rock it and what we can gain from doing so.

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  Meditation & Mindfulness

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