Library Contents: Books

Some book suggestions to attune to and work with.

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Great Song: The Life and Teachings of Joe Miller. In addition to reading the information that Joe Miller gives, you can get a taste of him and the way. This is best read with feeling and attuning instead of just intellect. I am not aware of any places you can download or read these for free. Should you find one, please contact and let me know. There are some excerpts from this book on the download page. See Excerpts from the Great Song.

Zen Flesh, Zen Bones: A Collection of Zen and Pre-Zen Writings by Paul Reps and Nyogen Senzaki. You can read a free copy at openlibrary.org/. The direct link to this work is Zen Flesh, Zen Bones. The Centering Practices are on this site.

Zen Dawn In the West and The Three Pillars of Zen. Both of these are by Philip Kapleau. I am not aware of any places you can download or read these for free. Should you find one, please contact and let me know.

The complete works of Samuel Lewis. These are available for free at The Murshid Samuel Lewis Archive. This is a very large selection of works, including some media. By the way, you can find some benefit by reading "In the Garden". While much of this book are writings by SAM, much is also about him. Read with attuning and feeling. You can get a taste of a Real Person.

The complete works of Inayat Khan. These are available for free at the Nekbakht Foundation. His writings (many taken from classes) are very clear. Keep in mind that the was bringing so called Sufi to the west and had to tailor his speech and approach to the attitudes and conditions found there and then. Because of that, many of his statements are ways to connect to the prevalent approaches of that time and place. This is a very large selection of works, including some media.

• Aphorisms of Inayat Khan. A comprehensive selection of short sayings which can be used to lead to Truth. Use them as you are guided. They will unfold with persistence and sincerity.

• The Nature Meditations of Hazrat Inayat Khan
  The Nature Meditations were dictated by Hazrat Inayat Khan in 1921 and first published in 1980. The phrases were given so that they could be repeated silently on the breath. Hazrat Inayat Khan called the Nature Meditations "the cream of the Message.
  This writing is available by permission. You may order a copy of the book itself through various sources. Just do a search.

• Centering Practices
  112 ways to open the invisible door of consciousness. Transcribed by Paul Reps. From Zen Flesh, Zen Bones.

• In The Way A Primer on Teaching and Learning

• 10 Ways to Meditate by Paul Reps

• A Saying a Day
  365 Sayings to use as a regular daily practice for a year.

• Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism by Chogyam Trungpa

• The Gulistan of Sa'di Translated by Sir Edwin Arnold

• The Diamond Sutra

• Hafiz: 13 Versions of One Ode: by 13 translators
  An example of some of the different way that various people can see, translate, and express one single writing. Good for comparison and use, and a reminder to be aware that translations can vary in accuracy and perspective

• Teachings and poems of Hafiz by Gertrude Lowthian Bell

• The Heart Sutra: Two Versions

• The Masnavi, by Rumi: Translated by E.H. Whinfield

• The Bhagavad Gita

• The Gospels of the Naghamaddi Manuscripts

• The Religions of Man by Houston Smith

• The works of Idries Shah. "Learning How to Learn" is a good start.

• The works of Samuel Lewis. "In the Garden" is a good start.

• The works of Inayat Khan

• The works of Philip Kapleau. The Three Pillars of Zen is a good start.

• The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

• The writings of Swami Ramdas, (1884-1963)[Anandashram]
• The works of Sri Auobindo

• Zen Flesh, Zen Bones by Paul Reps

• The Conference of the Birds by Farid ud-Din Attar

• The Tale of the Reep Pipe by Massud Farzan

• Seven Arrows by Hyemeyosts Storm

• The works of Kahlil Gibran

• The works of Confucious

• Sufis of Andalusia by Ibn 'Arabi

• The works of Rumi

• The Walled Garden of Truth by Hakim Sanai

• Stories of Jesus in the Koran

• The gospel According to Islam by Ahmad Shafaat

• The Secret Garden by Mahmud Shabistari

• Journey to the Lord of Power by Muyhiddin Ibn 'Arabi

   

  Following is a short and very incomplete list of some of the writings considered as "sacred texts" or source material of some of the major religions. There is benefit in reading many of these; however it is also full of difficulties. That is because of the nature of the translations. In many cases they no longer represent the work, sayings, or writings of the inspirer. They often tend not to carry forward many of inner meanings. However, that does not mean that they should be disregarded. Much can be gained on many levels by working with these and other similar materials. Care should be given to attempt to attune, especially through the breath, to the intent of the writings and writer. Adequate time, preparation, and patience is needed to do so.

• The Bagavad Gita

• The Upanishads

• The Tao

• The Jap Ji

• The Bible

• The Hebrew source writings

• The Koran

• The Nag Hammadi Manuscripts