|
ECSTASY:
YOUR
BIRTHRIGHT
AND YOUR SHIELD--
RESOURCE LIST: BOOKS, CDS, TAPES, LINKS
TO BRING ECSTASY TO YOU |
SHE
HOVERED ABOVE ME, QUIVERING IN THE LIGHT
The
story behind this drawing is presented in the
Series Introduction.
A
RESOURCE LIST FOR ECSTATIC READING & LISTENING
In
selecting books & CD's, I tried to follow the
words of my meditation teacher. He traveled from one
end of India to another for almost 30 years seeking
God and enlightenment. He studied every philosophy
he could find-- and there are lots in India.
Sooner or later, he found that every philosophical
system concluded: "I'm the best. You're reading
the best, highest, most valid philosophy in the world.
The rest are nuthin' compared to me." My teacher
was looking for God, not self proclaimed superiority.
He concentrated on meeting and studying with spiritual
masters, people who knew God, the inner Self, Buddha
nature, the Holy Spirit, intimately. I use the same
criteria: get it from the horse's mouth. I've included
works directly written by saints or spiritually advanced
people rather than commentaries about them. Most of
these books/CD's are my personal favorites. I have
relied on friends to supply some titles in areas where
I'm weak. I'll put a note describing my experience
by books/CD's that I've read/listened to. I haven't
included the major religious texts: The Koran, Vedas,
Bible, Torah, etc.. These are best chosen with the
advice of clergy and your own heart.
A few days into this task I realized I couldn't possibly
do a comprehensive survey of ecstasy. I said to myself,
"Sandy, are you out of your mind? You're an overachiever,
but you're not crazy, too, are you?" I scaled
back the job to putting up a few things that speak
to me, and asking some friends for their "Greatest
Hits on the Spiritual Parade." This is as much
as I can take on right now-- though the list will
grow over time. And I'll leave it up past the Holiday
Season. Ecstasy is a year round phenomena. The major
traditions are sort of in alphabetical order-- other
than that, order is random.
If
you've not ventured very far outside Judeo Christian
culture, some of the music may sound weird. The concepts
in the books may seem very odd, perhaps even dangerous.
I remember the first time I attended a Hindu meditation
program. My mind shrieked, "Get me out of here!"
I'm so glad that I realized I was in culture shock
and stayed. I discovered a wonderful way to find peace
and harmony which I would have missed had I run screaming.
So-- some of the CD's below may not be for everyone.
But they're worth a listen via Amazon. In addition
to culture shock, some of the chants are trance inducing.
That's what they're for: to relax your logical mind
so that a different level of reality can shine through.
Saints wrote some of the books--you can feel their
elevated state in their words. This may make you feel
odd, dizzy, and/or absolutely ecstatic! Exploring
the texts and music below is an adventure!
Don't
trust my evaluation blindly: use your own good judgment
and tastes in making a selection. Almost all the titles
are linked to Amazon-- use the reviews there to supplement
my comments before buying. (In a few cases, items
are available only through the Seminary or Ashram
producing them. The link takes you to that institution.)
Our rebates from all purchases through this site go
to charity. You may want to check our Bookstore
for additional reading.
Experiencing
and sustaining ecstatic energy requires strength.
For this you need a clean, healthy body and disciplined
mind and lifestyle. If you are addicted to anything,
you may have a brief experience of ecstasy, but you
will be unable to hold it. A resource list for financial
recovery and on line addiction is attached. A link
takes you to Self Help resources for many types of
addiction. Please, please, take care of yourself.
You are very, very valuable. You are your link to
the infinite.
I
hope all good comes to you at this Holiday Season
and throughout your life,
Sandy
Nathan
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BUDDHIST
& ZEN:
HIS
HOLINESS, THE DALAI LAMA:
CHOGYAM
TRUNGPA:SHAMBALA: Sacred Path of the Warrior
My
literary agent, a Tibetan Buddhist, said this
is a must read for anyone interested in Buddhism.
CHOGYAM
TRUNGPA: CUTTING THROUGH SPIRITUAL MATERIALISM
(Shambahala Dragon Editions) My
literary agent, a Tibetan Buddhist, said this
is a must read for anyone interested in Buddhism.
SOGYAL
RINPOCHE: THE TIBETAN BOOK OF LIVING & DYING
Stunning
book presenting Tibetan Buddhist philosophy
in an easily understood and moving way. I
bought this to help myself as I grieved for
my mother. I'm not all the way through it,
but, boy what I've read so far! Buddhists
say you can know only two things for sure
in life: 1. You will die. and 2. You don't
know when. Makes the time you have on earth
precious.
ALAN
W. WATTS, The Book : On the Taboo Against
Knowing Who You Are Great "change your life" book from
the famous Zen scholar. I read it years ago,
still remember it.
GRACEFUL
EXITS: How Great Beings Die, Death Stories
of Tibetan, Hindu & Zen Masters, Sushila Blackman
(Editor) This
powerful book tells the death stories of 108
Eastern spiritual masters. Eastern religions
believe one's state of being at the time of
death influences or determines one's progress
after death. Sushila Blackman began to compile
these stories without really knowing why.
A trip to the hospital for chest pain revealed
she had terminal lung cancer: the book was
in fact part of her preparation for her own
conscious death. A magnificent book compiled
by a magnificent person.
BUDDHIST
CHANTS & MUSIC
THE
GYUTO MONKS: Buddhist
chanting is an acquired taste. The extremely
deep and emotionally affecting chanting is
executed deep in the throat. Bells provide
the perfect counterpoint at exactly the right
time. This chanting is likely to sound weird,
if not scary, on first listen. I listened
to Freedom Chants today after a long interval
and found it weird and scary at first. I knew
I really liked the music and was in culture
shock. I also was in the "Holiday Spirit":
exhausted, frazzled and trying to do to much.
After listening to the monks for a while,
I found myself involuntarily taking large
breaths and relaxing. My tension dissipated
automatically. After a while, I felt peaceful
and unconcerned about the Holiday madness.
I looked at the cover of a fashion magazine:
an anorexic model wearing a sparkle top grinned
painfully. Forced, unnatural gaiety. The Holiday
issue put me in culture shock in the other
direction. Why do we do all this? That's what
this music is: a drugless tranquilizer and
life evaluation tool. But you gotta get through
the culture shock.
TAO
TE CHING
(Penguin Classics)"
Traditionally ascribed to Lao Tzu, an older contemporary
of Confucius, the work is more probably an anthology
of wise saying compiled in about the fourth century,
" says the rear cover of this book. Whoever
did it, the Tao Te Ching is wonderful. I have this
version.
GNOSTIC
AND EARLY CHRISTIAN READINGS: In
1945, an Egyptian camel driver searching for fertilizer
300 miles south of Cairo unearthed a clay urn. Inside
were what proved to be the Gnostic Gospels, sacred books
of one of the earliest Christian sects. These books
illuminate the early Christian world and provide a view
of Christianity quite different from the orthodox church.
Fascinating and mind expanding.
CHRISTIAN
MYSTICAL READINGS:
THE
WAY OF PERFECTION, Teresa of Avila, E.
Allison Peers, Trans. Saints are the most honest
people on earth, honest about their imperfection,
about challenging their own delusions. St. Teresa
stuns me with her honesty.
THE
LIFE OF SAINT TERESA OF AVILA BY HERSELF, (Penguin
Classics)
INTERIOR
CASTLE, Teresa of Avila,
E. Allison Peers, Trans. The spiritual journey seen
as a castle with rooms ascending to the highest
levels. A beautiful metaphor conveyed by a master,
a woman who has reached the heights.
CHRISTIAN
& GOSPEL MUSIC:
LIONHEART:
Tudor
chants and songs. My 20 year old daughter's must
include. She saw them live and found them
amazing. Totally inspiring!
MY
FAYRE LADYE -
Tudor Songs and Chants English devotional
chants. Very calming. I found this great music
to pay bills by-- an activity I usually find traumatic.
Soothed me as I cleaned up my desk. What higher
praise?
PARIS
1200 - Paris' greatest hits from the 13th
Century.
ANONYMOUS
4: My
daughter told me about Anonymous 4. She has all
their CD's, plans to see them in New York, said
they should be in this list, period. So do all
the Amazon reviewers. These four women supposedly
make the most beautiful sounds human voices are
capable of making. Even the reviewers waxed ecstatic
and poetic. I've ordered these for us:
BILLY
JOE SHAVER, VICTORY
Billy Joe Shaver is a Texas roughneck's son, considered
one of the most authentic country western singers
around. In this intensely spiritual CD, Billy
Joe sings of his conversion, sings of his love
of Jesus. The album rings with his love of God.
He is raw, present and very beautiful. He talks
about recovery from alcoholism and hard living.
Great guitar picking. Great music.
ARETHA
FRANKLIN, AMAZING
GRACE Oh, Aretha! I have this CD as a 2 disk set from
the 70's. I think it's been reissued as a single.
Try and find the 2 disk set-- used maybe. Man,
this is some fine Gospel! She enters soaring and
then takes off. With Rev. James Cleveland &
the Southern California Community Choir. Some
of the best ecstatic music I've heard. I play
this in my car-- sometimes I just drive past my
house so I can keep listening.
ARETHA
FRANKLIN, GOSPEL
I give this one about 10 stars. Old, scratchy
cuts like someone tape recorded her singing in
church. Some songs were recorded when Aretha was
14 years old! The woman's emotional depth
astonishes. She enters ecstatically and exits
the same way. I like Aretha's Gospel so much I
named a horse after her: Reina de Alma. The Queen
of Soul. Our Aretha's a good horse, too!
MAHALIA
JACKSON, 16 MOST REQUESTED SONGS Tons
of Mahalia Jackson around. I picked this one because
it contains all her greatest songs and has a terrific
story about Mahalia in the CD cover. A cross cultural
reference: Mahalia means "Highest One or
Highest Lord" in Sanskrit, the ancient language
of India.
BILL
MILLER, HEAR OUR PRAYER Bill's
one of favorite artists. This CD challenged
me. I wrote an entire article about it: Inspiration.
Native American Gospel. Check it out.
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STEPPING OFF THE EDGE: LEARNING & LIVING SPIRITUAL PRACTICE
A MODERN SPIRITUAL COMPANION
|
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NUMENON
A TALE OF MYSTICIAM & MONEY MENON
"BILL GATES MEETS DON JUAN." |
 |
TECOLOTE: THE LITTLE HORSE THAT COULD
BORN PREMATURELY ON A FREEZING NIGHT, THE COLT HAD TO FIGHT FOR HIS LIFE. |
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THE ANGEL & THE BROWN-EYED BOY
A FUTURE WORLD ONLY HEARTBEATS FROM OUR OWN |
|
Click the covers above to go Sandy Nathan's books on the Amazon Kindle store. All Kindle books are 99 cents.
They are also available as print books at Amazon.
The Angel and Numenon are also at the Nook store. The Angel is an iBook, as well.
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AUTHOR SANDY NATHAN IS THE WINNER OF SEVENTEEN NATIONAL AWARDS!
HINDU
TEMPLE IN INDIA
HINDUISM:
India gives us the world's oldest religious writings.
Hindu spiritual, religious and cultural traditions
are unbelievably broad, running the gamut from
simple villagers' practices to the beliefs and
understandings of some of the most spiritually
sophisticated people in the world. My daughter
has studied Asian religions in college. She reports,
"There are probably as many forms of Hinduism
as Hindus." Readings are beyond voluminous.
Some readings are intended for intellectuals and
members of religious orders-- they are difficult
and require much esoteric knowledge. Later writings
distilled these texts into stories meant for common
folk (yay!).We'll look at some of these. Hindu
devotional poetry is exquisite. Getting an idea
of such an ancient and diverse philosophy/religion
is very difficult. Literally thousands of names
and forms of God exist, all manifestations of
the one God, Brahman. Additionally, thousands
of teachers and spiritual adepts present their
own versions of the classics in Ashrams in India
and around the world. I have attempted to pick
a few texts which convey a glimpse of the heart
of Hinduism in an understandable form. I have
also included a number of books and CD's from
my meditation tradition. It is closest to my heart.
THE
MAHABHARATA:
The Vedas and many other texts give us
the high form of Hinduism. And then we have the
Epics, written to help ordinary folk understand
the esoteric teachings of the Hindu scriptures.
The epics were often presented as plays in Ashrams
all over India and form the basis of many Indian
dances. The original texts of even these "easy"
renditions are long. The Mahabharata runs about
17 volumes. The Mahabharata tells the story of
the five righteous Pandava brothers' who are robbed
of their position as heirs to the kingdom by their
evil cousins, the Kauravas. This is great theater!
The best action drama you can imagine! The Mahabharata
has everything: valor, betrayal, jealousy, lust,
supernatural thrills, and a great battle. Also
includes the Bhagavad Gita-- the Song of God--
in it's center. The Gita is a short jewel presenting
the heart of Hinduism as a pre-battled conversation
between the great general Arjuna and his cousin,
Lord Krishna-- who is God in human form. Read
the Mahabharata as an adventure epic if nothing
else. All the versions shown below are (necessarily)
condensations of the original.
THE
PLAY OF GOD: VISIONS OF THE LIFE OF KRISHNA,
by Devi Vanamali This inspired "cheat sheet" was produced
by Devi Vanamali in her Ashram. I love this
book. Lord Krishna occupies a place similar
to Jesus in HInduism--Krishna is God incarnated
in a human body. Krishna's life is not presented
in one place in Hindu scripture, being spread
over the Shrimad Bhagavatam and the Mahabharata.
Devi Vanamali cleverly lifted Krishna's story
from these texts, preserving the flavor of the
original but making it shorter and easier to
read. This is beautiful prose and tells the
story of the Mahabharata war and the Bhagavad
Gita.
THE
CONCISE SHRIMAD BHAGAVATAM by Swami Venkatesananda This
is the short form of the Shrimad Bhagavatam--
which runs 18,000 verses complete. The other text
where the life of Krishna appears. For those highly
motivated souls.
TH E
BHAGAVAD GITA:The
crest jewel of the Mahabharata. If you read one
Hindu text, let it be the Gita. The great general
Arjuna faces a spiritual crisis on the eve of
the battle which will restore him and his brothers
to their kingdom. He is counseled by his cousin
Krishna on the battlefield, surrounded by the
massed armies of his friends and enemies, who
are also his relatives. Krishna explains the heart
of Hindu philosophy in 18 short chapters. Stunning.
Like the Mahabharata, about a million editions
of the Gita exist.
POCKET
BHAGAVAD GITA by Winthrop Sargeant This
great little edition fits in you pocket. I carry
it with me for those odd moments when I want a
spiritual pick me up. I associate the car wash
with the Bhagavad Gita. So many opportunities
to study the scriptures of your choice.
JNANESHWAR'S
GITA: A Rendering of the Jnaneshwari by Swami Kripananda All
the Gita you'll ever need. Jnaneshwar, an Indian
Poet Saint, completed his commentary on the Bhagavad
Gita in 1290. The Jnaneshwari (his commentary)
were translated in a scholarly form by Vitthal Pradhan in 1948. Swami Kripananda took Pradhan's
translation and that of Winthrop Sargent and put
them into understandable, contemporary English.
This text includes the Bhagavad Gita in Sanskrit
letters, in phonetic English, and translated into
English. Each verse of the Gita is followed by
Jnaneshwar's comments on the verse in English.
Unbelievably beautiful! This is not a dry academic
commenting on a sacred text-- this is a poet saint's
heart flaming about something he loves. The best
Gita, in my opinion.
THE
SACRED POWER by Swami Kripananda, Angela Trinca (Illustrator) This
is a good book about Kundalini, the "coiled
serpent" of energy that lies dormant at the
root of the spine until awakened. There's so much
written about kundalini and tantra yoga, might
as well get some information from an expert. Swami
Kripananda has studied kundalini more than 20
years-- since her own kundalini awakening. She
was a professor before taking monastic vows and
is a great writer. I particularly like the description
of kundalini manifestations around the world in
the beginning of this book. I've taken courses
with Sw. Kripananda and admire her for her intelligence
and compassion. And knowledge.
MIRABAI:
THE ECSTATIC POETRY India's
poet saints are among the world's finest. At a
certain point in spiritual life, the aspirant's
soul breaks into song. That song is God's gift
to humanity, the fire of a heart in love with
the divine. Mirabai was born about 1498 to a noble
family. She was devoted to Lord Krishna, the incarnation
of the loveliness of God, as well as a great warrior.
She was persecuted for her devotion, and left
us exquisite poetry. My edition of Mirabai's poetry,
The Devotional Poems of Mirabai, edited by
A.J. Alston, was printed in India in 1980 &
is apparently out of print. The following seemed
good:
MY
TRADITION: Here
are a few works from my meditation tradition,
Siddha Yoga Meditation. Hundreds or thousands
of meditation lineages exist in India, each with
it's adherents. These works fit my mind and heart
to a "t". You may find the same:
SWAMI
MUKTANANDA, PLAY OF CONSCIOUSNESS An
absolute must for anyone interested in Hinduism
and enlightenment. Not a beginner's book, however.
This is big. Sw. Muktananda was an Indian meditation
master who died in 1982. I studied with him for
7 years. Breaking Hindu tradition, Muktananda
wrote his spiritual autobiography as a teaching
device for his students. The book opens with a
tightly written and comprehensive guide to Hinduism
and yoga. The second part describes his spiritual
experiences. They read like sci-fi, but you sense
their utter authenticity. Likely to produce culture
shock: The language is flowery, exquisite, and
somewhat antiquated. Muktananda talks about gurus
and disciples. The word ÒguruÓ has been maligned
in the West. ÒGuruÓ means ÒteacherÓ. Muktananda's
essential energy roars through POC. You may find
yourself nodding off or falling into meditation.
You may only be able to read a page to two at
a time. That's fine. Just keep reading.
SWAMI
MUKTANANDA, Bhagawan Nityananda of Ganeshpuri
Bhagawan
Nityananda was Swami Muktananda's teacher. Muktananda
gives credit for his own spiritual attainment
to Nityananda's guidance and patronage. Nityananda
was and is a beloved spiritual figure in India,
though he died in the 1960's, I believe. Silent
and strange to Western eyes, Nityananda has an
incredible spiritual presence. Healings and miracles
abounded wherever he went, or wherever he was
revered. A loving portrait by his most prominent
student.
RAM
DASS: The
Harvard Ph.D. who dropped acid, dropped out and
went to India in search of enlightenment. Ram
Dass may be the best known introduction to Hinduism
in the West. The man who might be your mother's
greatest nightmare has attained something worth
attaining: Ram Dass hung in there, bringing comfort
and light to people for the last 40 years. He
now does grief counseling.(See his book in the
section on Grief and Death and Dying below.) I'm
told by a friend that Ram Dass was at his most
impressive last year, leading a seminar after
a stroke that left him barely able to speak. He
credited that stroke with teaching him humility.
The hard way. A heavy hitter.
RAM
DASS, BE HERE NOW The
classic from the 60's! Blew my mind then. Blows
it now.
RAM
DASS, FINDING & EXPLORING YOUR SPIRITUAL
PATH: An Exploration of the Pleasures and Perils
of Seeking Personal Enlightenment/audio cassette
RAM
DASS, THE ONLY DANCE THERE IS; Talks Given at
the Menninger Foundation, Topeka, Kansas,
1970, and at Spring Grove Hospital, Spring Grove,
Maryland, 1972.
FARABI
is
a Jewish/Middle Eastern band. Our friend Jonathan
Kessler plays in Dreamtime
Continuum as well as Farabi. Fantastic,
ecstatic music, superb musicianship. Check the Amazon
reviews for these CD's.
RUMI:
We Are Three : New Rumi Poems by Coleman Barks (Translator),
Jalaluddin M. Rumi
HEARTWOOD:
Meditations on Southern Oaks, by William Guion (Photographer),
Rumi, Coleman Barks (Translator), John Moyne (Translator),
Dinrumi Jalala, Jelaluddin Rumi "In
the years that I have observed the patient lives
of the oaks, sat on their roots, walked under their
arched alleyways, and recorded their many moods
on film, they have taught me how to listen more
with my third ear - the heart. At the same time,
a growing compassion toward all life has taken root
in my heart. This has been the gift of the oaks
to me. My gift in return to them and to you is these
images on paper of that haunting and beautiful light
around the oaks." -- W. Guion. This lovely book
combines author William Guion's photos of Southern
oaks with the poetry of Rumi. A sure hit on the
ecstasy parade.
TRANCE
MUSIC FROM AROUND THE WORLD:
HE'S
IN TRANCE NOW [IMPORT] Nyanyo Addo Nyando
Addo was born in Labadi, Ghana to the Ga-people. He
was raised by his grandfather, a well-respected Won
or priest, and learned to play the drum at an early
age. This recording features music of the Tigari festival
which features a trance ceremony. Nyanyo Addo plays
about every instrument in Africa on this great CD.
This is a super picker-upper that I highly recommend.
FLY,
FLY MY SADNESS [LIVE] Huun-Huur-Tu, Angelite. Huun-Huur-Tu,
Angelite. Features
the Bulgarian singer Angelite and the Ukrainian Hun
Huur throat singers.
This
music is supposed to be similar to the Tibetan monks
deep throat singing. I don't have the CD, but I'm
ordering it. Amazon reviewers said things like, "I
have to listen to this alone because a grown man shouldn't
cry in public." "This will make you blast
off." "If you listen to this outside, tie
yourself to a large object such as a tree." Hmm.
Apparently ecstatic to the max. I tried to listen
to this on my computer, and the sound died. That powerful?
NON
& MULTI-DENOMINATIONAL:
WOMEN
IN PRAISE OF THE SACRED: 43 Centuries of Spiritual
Poetry by Women, Jane
Hirshfield, ed.
PRAYERS
FOR A THOUSAND YEARS, Elizabeth J. Roberts, ed.
This book came out at the end of the last century--
1999. Contains prayers for the next thousand years
from every tradition you can think of-- all the
great religions, world cultures, indigenous leaders,
writers,contemporary singers. You name it. Special
messages from living masters for the next millennium.
Great reading.
THE
SOUL IS HERE FOR ITS OWN JOY: Sacred Poems from
Many Cultures, Robert Bly, ed.
Beautiful book, arranged like the spiritual journey:
At first, you feel the call, have a big experience,
make a commitment, then forget it all, do your
thing in the world until you get in trouble, then
commit to spirit again, forget it, go back to
the world, mess up, back to spirit, etc. Until
you finally really commit. Takes the reader through
poetry demonstrating a deeper and deeper commitment
to and knowledge of the sacred. Many traditions.
Great introduction to the Indian and Middle eastern
poets: Poems by Rumi, Kabir, Mirabai, Lalli, all
in one volume.
HEARTWOOD:
Meditations on Southern Oaks, by William Guion
(Photographer), Rumi, Coleman Barks (Translator),
John Moyne (Translator), Dinrumi Jalala, Jelaluddin
Rumi "In
the years that I have observed the patient lives
of the oaks, sat on their roots, walked under
their arched alleyways, and recorded their many
moods on film, they have taught me how to listen
more with my third ear - the heart. At the same
time, a growing compassion toward all life has
taken root in my heart. This has been the gift
of the oaks to me. My gift in return to them and
to you is these images on paper of that haunting
and beautiful light around the oaks." -- W. Guion.
This lovely book combines author William Guion's
photos of Southern oaks with the poetry of Rumi.
A sure hit on the ecstasy parade.
PEACE, AT LAST
Sandra Nathan
Resin & marble casting
"OTHER":
The
"other" category includes humanistic,
psychological and non-deistic approaches to higher
states of being/feeling. Includes the transpersonal
psychologies, Jung's work. Take a look at Buddhism,
too. Buddhism is non-deistic. This is a huge area--
I could cover it much more thoroughly, but I'm
getting tired. It's Thanksgiving. Enjoy-- and
thanks for reading!
THE
DENIAL OF DEATH by Ernest Becker (Free
Press Paperback)
Becker's
Pulitzer Prize winning book was written while
he was dying-- it is his final gift to humanity.
Praised by Elizabeth Kubler Ross, The New York
Times Book Review, Sam Keen, you name it. One
of my brightest, most humane friends described
it as, "The only book I've ever read twice."
Becker says-- very thoroughly, too-- that everything
we humans do is to blot out the understanding
that we die. That includes all the monuments to
our egos we leave behind: shopping centers, vineyards,
hotels, motels, cities, piles of stuff for our
relatives to clean up, as well as poetry, art,
and literature. What is your legacy?
ABRAHAM
MASLOW: Maslow
was one of the first to investigate the higher
end of the human psychological spectrum. Understandably,
psychiatrists and psychologists tended to focus
on the lower feeling and emotional states: depression,
anxiety, traumatic responses, various weird behaviors,
and so on. That's what they saw in their practices.
Not too many people get into treatment because
they feel too much joy or contentment. Maslow--
and others-- questioned this. "What about
the upper end of human experience? What about
supremely healthy people?"
RELIGIONS,
VALUES, AND PEAK EXPERIENCES by Abraham Harold
Maslow Classic
book. Maslow describes "peak experiences"--
experiences of clarity, unitive consciousness,
joy, grace. The experience of the hawk I describe
in the Introduction to this series is a peak experience.
Maslow says some people have them, some don't.
I'm glad I do.
ROBERT
A. JOHNSON, ECSTASY: UNDERSTANDING THE PSYCHOLOGY
OF JOY Johnson
is a Jungian analyst. I liked this book. Amazon
reviews were mixed-- one said it should be removed
from all bookstores shelves and burned. What a
hoot. Check it out.
ROBERTO
ASSAGIOLI- PSYCHOSYNTHESIS. Roberto
Assagioli was an Italian Psychiatrist and contemporary
of Freud. He broke with Freud, feeling Freud's
theories denied the upper reaches of the human
psyche. Assagioli set forth his own theory of
the structure of the psyche and its healing process.
When I was in graduate school in counseling, this
theory captured my heart. It also fit my experience,
allowing for "peak experiences", mystical
experiences and related states. Psychosynthesis
meshes perfectly with Eastern philosophy &
religion and provides a needed intellectual background
for my meditation practice. Assagioli's theories
are set out in Psychosynthesis. The Act of Will
provides deeper exploration of the development
of will, which Assagioli considered crucial to
a full, adult life. Unfortunately, both of these
books seem to be out of print or "on order".
I'd check with Amazon, the z-shops, etc. These
are professional caliber writings and must
have's for serious students of consciousness.
THE
ACT OF WILL, Roberto Assagioli
MORE
PSYCHOSYNTHESIS: Here
are some Psychosynthesis resources. The fact
that Amazon is out of these great books should
not deter you! This is a theoretical basis worth
knowing!
THE
SYNTHESIS CENTER, AMHERST, MA This
center provides training in Psychosynthesis
for mental health professionals, also counseling
using Psychosynthesis techniques, workshops
and a
Bookstore offering Assagioli's books
and more.
DEATH
& DYING, GRIEVING, LIVING WITH LONG TERM ILLNESS
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BARBRA
MINAR, WALKING INTO THE WIND: Being Healthy with
a Chronic Disease This
book is so good it hurts. Barbra is a friend of
mine, a member of my Writers' Workshop. She has
suffered from Lupus Erythematosus, a disease of
the immune system, since 1960. Before that she suffered
from residual effects of rheumatic fever. Despite
her illnesses, Barbra has lived a full life, sustaining
a marriage and raising 3 children. She has written
four books, worked, lead retreats,
and helped fellow sufferers. Walking into
the Wind is Barbra's latest and most personal
book. I was hooked on page one, read Walking...
nonstop. I laughed, cried, and wished Barbra had
written 50 books. This simple, elegant volume presents
letters and journal entries from 1985 to 1997. Tips
on handling almost every situation a physically
challenged person can face are beautifully woven
into a poetic fabric. This should be a best seller.
Barbra writes from a Christian perspective.
RAM
DASS: STILL HERE: Embracing Aging, Changing, and
Dying
The Harvard Ph.D. who dropped acid, dropped out
and went to India in search of enlightenment.
Your mother's nightmare. Your mother would be
glad to know that Ram Dass hung in there, bringing
comfort and light to people for the last 40 years.
He has attained something worth attaining. I'm
told by a friend that Ram Dass was at his most
impressive last year, leading a seminar after
a stroke that left him barely able to speak. He
credited that stroke with teaching him humility.
The hard way. A heavy hitter worth reading. Ram
Dass writes from a Hindu/Eastern perspective,
though he is a trained Western psychologist.STEPHEN
LEVINE: WHO DIES? : An Investigation of Conscious
Living and Conscious Dying Levine
is widely considered the best grief counselor
in the United States. He is a Buddhist, so his
methods use Buddhist philosophies. I purchased
this book while grieving my mother's death. Classic
and helpful. I found Levine's taped meditation
on grieving more helpful than the book. I'll post
it if I can find it.STEPHEN
LEVINE: MERCIFUL AWARENESS: Natural Pain Management
Audio
tape. Haven't heard it, but if it's as good as
the one on grieving, buy it. GRACEFUL
EXITS: How Great Beings Die, Death Stories of
Tibetan, Hindu & Zen Masters, Sushila Blackman
(Editor) This
powerful book tells the death stories of 108 Eastern
spiritual masters. Eastern religions believe one's
state of being at the time of death influences
or determines one's progress after death. Sushila
Blackman began to compile these stories without
really knowing why. A trip to the hospital for
chest pain revealed she had terminal lung cancer:
the book was in fact part of her preparation for
her own conscious death. A magnificent book compiled
by a magnificent person.
SOGYAL
RINPOCHE: THE TIBETAN BOOK OF LIVING & DYING
Stunning
book presenting Tibetan Buddhist philosophy in
an easily understood and moving way. I bought
this to help myself as I grieved for my mother.
I'm not all the way through it, but, boy what
I've read so far! Buddhists say you can know only
two things for sure in life: 1. You will die.
and 2. You don't know when. Makes the time you
have on earth very poignant.
JEAN-DOMINIQUE
BAUBY, THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY Feeling
sorry for yourself? Life got you down? Read this.
In 1992, the author was the 43 year old editor
of the French Elle. A witty bon vivant
with two children and a full life, Bauby suffered
a massive stroke that left him completely and
permanently paralyzed. He could blink his left
eye-- that's it. This book was written by Bauby
blinking as a reader read a special alphabet aloud.
Blink= Write that LETTER. The book was
written like that, letter by letter. It's short.
Depressing? No. Lovely. A lovely, moving, haunting
memoir of a man who used his mind to entertain
and delight himself when that's all he had. He
tells of the hard parts: His children's visits.
Old acquaintances calling him a vegetable. A magnificent
final song. Bauby died 2 days after the French
edition of this book came out. It was the #1 International
Best Seller in Europe. Praised universally by
critics. Inspiring.
Return
to top
PERSONAL
& FINANCIAL RECOVERY RESOURCES: SELF HELP
RESOURCES Click
on the title above for a link to a variety of self
help programs.
ON
LINE ADDICTION , COMPULSIVE SHOPPING AND FINANCIAL
RECOVERY:
VIRTUAL
ADDICTION: Help for Netheads, Cyberfreaks, and Those
Who Love Them. David
N. Greenfield, Ph. D. Dr. Greenfield is a clinical
psychologist, founder of a multidisciplinary behavioral
practice in Connecticut. He is one of the pioneers
in detecting and treating Internet addiction, conducting
one of the largest surveys on Internet use: the
ABC News.com Internet Addiction Survey. I initially
read about him in a magazine article. Dr. Greenfield
knows his subject inside out. He's personally aware
of the online pull. He offers great information,
great self help techniques. I inhaled this book.
It was one of my early steps to recovery. The book
is user friendly and easy to read.
CAUGHT
IN THE NET: How to Recognize the Signs of Internet
Addiction and a Winning Strategy for Recovery.
Dr.
Kimberley S. Young. Like
Dr. Greenfield, Dr. Young is a pioneer in detection
and treatment of Internet addiction. She also authored
a survey of Internet abuse, finding it analogous
to gambling addiction. Like Dr. Greenfield's book,
I found this book horrifying and absolutely necessary
reading. I inhaled it. Dr. Young is a clinical psychologist
with wide and deep experience. She is personally
familiar with the pull of the Web and offers great
info and a self help plan. This book has a slightly
different feel than Dr. Greenfield's, coming from
a different person. I recommend them both. This
book is also user friendly and easy to read.
THE
PSYCHOLOGY OF THE INTERNET. Patricia Wallace.
This
book approaches the Internet from a different direction.
Dr. Wallace is Executive Director of the Center
for Knowledge and Information management a the Robert
H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland.
Dr. Wallace is not so specifically interested in
addiction as what happens on the Net psychologically.
The Net is new territory-- we don't have research
based studies on why people do what they do on line.
Dr. Wallace gives a fascinating and professional
look at the personal dynamics of the Web, covering
a broad range of topics: Aggression: flaming and
fighting-- why?. Increased and rapid intimacy over
the Net. Disinhibition: why people tell all and
do all with On-line communities. Differences in
male and female use and abuse. Pornography-- how
much and how dangerous? The Web as opportunity for
entrepreneurial success. The web as time waster.
On line addictions. This book is a harder read than
the previous two, but necessary if you want to get
the full picture on the psychological impact of
the Net.
CAN'T
BUY ME LOVE: Freedom From Compulsive Spending and
Money Obsession, Sally Coleman, MA, N.C.A.C.,
And Nancy Hull-Mast. This
is a great self help book for those with spending
problems. It's not aimed specifically at on line
shopping and auctions, but its content can be easily
adapted to cover those areas. This book is easy
to read, explains the psychological origin and development
of spending problems, and gives great self help
pointers. Ms. Coleman is a staff psychotherapist
and coordinator of addiction services at the University
of Notre Dame Counseling Center. Ms. Hull-Mast is
a writer with training in addictions and counseling.
I
SHOP, THEREFORE I AM: Compulsive Buying & The
Search For Self, April Lane Benson, Editor.
This
group
of readings is intended for mental health professionals
and those treating compulsive spending disorders.
It is the hardest read presented here, and in many
ways the most satisfying. This goes DEEP. Also wide,
covering every aspect of compulsive spending and
recovery you can think of. There's an article on
collecting-- the new religion-- that should
be posted on all on-line auction bulletin boards.
It also should be published the major interior design
magazines. It would cause a riot, of course, exposing
the not too pretty psychological roots of the collecting
compulsion. I was delighted to discover a chapter
by a good friend of mine, Karen McCall, who does
financial recovery counseling. We'll talk to Karen
in the section on Financial Recovery.
WHEN
SOCIETY BECOMES AN ADDICT, Anne Wilson Schaef.
What
if you took the sum of the substance addictions,
behavioral addictions (such as compulsive spending,
overworking, obsession with money/success/things,
sex, relationships) & the interpersonal glue
that holds it all together (codependent systems,
denial, the whole ball of wax)? What if you took
that sum and it equaled modern society? Anne Schaef
finds just that in this fascinating book combining
gender models, addiction treatment theories and
a broad view of addiction. Schaef presents a new
way of life which is not addiction based. A New
York Times Bestseller.
ESCAPE
FROM INTIMACY, Anne Wilson Schaef. Schaef
tackles the "love" addictions here: Sex,
romance and relationships. Schaef talks about the
difference between compulsive pursuit of sexual
and romantic highs, the need to be in a relationship
( any relationship), and true intimacy. Get
rid of these, and we'll lose popular music. Alas.
Also most of TV and Hollywood. We'll gain our selves
and real love between people. Shaef clearly defines
the addictions and what we need to do to break free.
YOUR
MONEY OR YOUR LIFE, Joe Domingues and Vicki
Robin. A
wonderful book that challenges the basis of contemporary
society. Presents a nine step approach to reclaiming
your life. Is your life about making money? Do
you feel lost in the cracks? The authors gave
up successful careers to gain control of their finances
and live with greater meaning. This is the classic
on the new morality of money management. Talks about
getting out of debt and developing savings, reordering
material priorities to live well with less, values
based spending, and much more. Great how-to advice.
HOW
TO GET CONTROL OF YOUR TIME AND YOUR LIFE, Alan
Lakein.
The most popular time management book written. To
save time, read pages 158, 30, and 11. I read this
20 years ago. Bought it again. It's still fantastic.
Worth owning. HOW
TO GET OUT OF DEBT, STAY OUT OF DEBT & LIVE
PROSPEROUSLY, Jerrold Mundis, Another
classic, Mundis' book is based on the principles
of Debtors Anonymous. Tells how to recognize warnings
of serious debt problems and head them off. How
to negotiate with collection agencies, etc. How
to pay off debts. How to maintain debt free status.
You can do it, folks! Start here.
EARN
WHAT YOU DESERVE: How to Stop Underearning &
Start Thriving, Jerrold Mundis. Repeats some of his first book, but tackles the
topic of "underearning": Perfectly capable,
smart people who earn less than they might. Fit
anyone you know? Presents techniques to remedy this.
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STEPPING OFF THE EDGE: LEARNING & LIVING SPIRITUAL PRACTICE
A MODERN SPIRITUAL COMPANION
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NUMENON
A TALE OF MYSTICIAM & MONEY MENON
"BILL GATES MEETS DON JUAN." |
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TECOLOTE: THE LITTLE HORSE THAT COULD
BORN PREMATURELY ON A FREEZING NIGHT, THE COLT HAD TO FIGHT FOR HIS LIFE. |
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THE ANGEL & THE BROWN-EYED BOY
A FUTURE WORLD ONLY HEARTBEATS FROM OUR OWN |
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Click the covers above to go Sandy Nathan's books on the Amazon Kindle store. All Kindle books are 99 cents.
They are also available as print books at Amazon.
The Angel and Numenon are also at the Nook store. The Angel is an iBook, as well.
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AUTHOR SANDY NATHAN IS THE WINNER OF SEVENTEEN NATIONAL AWARDS!
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