‘Chekhov advised, “If you want to work on your art, work on your life.” That’s another way of saying that in order to have self-expression, we must first have a self to express’
~ Julia Cameron, “The Complete Artist’s Way”
We owe it to ourselves to discover who we are and what we really want, and in the process we can learn more about the nature of reality, contemplate life and death, cultivate wisdom and compassion, and live a more complete life. Here are some of the books that have done that for me. I must also make special mention of Aldous Huxley’s “Island” which is my favourite novel and in my mind, lays out a roadmap for building thriving island societies.
A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose
By Eckhart Tolle
This book was my gateway to the spiritual realm. Extremely accessible, yet profound.
“With his bestselling spiritual guide The Power of Now, Eckhart Tolle inspired millions of readers to discover the freedom and joy of a life lived “in the now.” In A New Earth, Tolle expands on these powerful ideas to show how transcending our ego-based state of consciousness is not only essential to personal happiness, but also the key to ending conflict and suffering throughout the world. Tolle describes how our attachment to the ego creates the dysfunction that leads to anger, jealousy, and unhappiness, and shows readers how to awaken to a new state of consciousness and follow the path to a truly fulfilling existence.
Illuminating, enlightening, and uplifting, A New Earth is a profoundly spiritual manifesto for a better way of life—and for building a better world.”
The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching: Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation
After reading “A New Earth”, I realized much of it was a summation or translation of Buddhist teachings. This book is one of the most concise and beautiful descriptions of a path to wisdom and compassion.
With poetry and clarity, Thich Nhat Hanh imparts comforting wisdom about the nature of suffering and its role in creating compassion, love, and joy – all qualities of enlightenment.
Quote from the book:
"When we look at the ocean, we see that each wave has a beginning and an end. A wave can be compared with other waves, and we can call it more or less beautiful, higher or lower, longer lasting or less long lasting. But if we look more deeply, we see that a wave is made of water. While living the life of a wave, the wave also lives the life of water. It would be sad if the wave did not know that it is water. It would think, 'Some day I will have to die. This period of time is my life span, and when I arrive at the shore, I will return to nonbeing.'
“Thich Nhat Hanh shows us the connection between personal, inner peace, and peace on earth.”
– His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Living Buddha, Living Christ: 20th Anniversary Edition
Two enlightened beings with similar messages. My second glimpse that Truth with a big T is universal and eternal.
Buddha and Christ, perhaps the two most pivotal figures in the history of humankind, each left behind a legacy of teachings and practices that have shaped the lives of billions of people over two millennia. If they were to meet on the road today, what would each think of the other's spiritual views and practices?
Thich Nhat Hanh has been part of a decades-long dialogue between two great contemplatice traditions, and brings to Christianity an appreciation of its beauty that could be conveyed only by an outsider. In lucid, meditative prose, he explores the crossroads of compassion and holiness at which the two traditions meet, and he reawakens our understanding of both. "On the altar in my hermitage," he says, "are images of Buddha and Jesus, and I touch both of them as my spiritual ancestors."
Bhagavad Gita as it is
By Swami A.C. Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada
I was given this book in college and decided to give it a read. The big surprise for me was that despite Hinduism having multiple gods, there was one ultimate God with many similarities to the New Testament Christian God. Written in beautiful verse, another wink that “The Big T” Truth might be universal. Strip away the culture and time period, and the message of the diffferent religions start to sound awfully similar.
“The Bhagavad-gita is universally renowned as the jewel of India's spiritual wisdom. Spoken by Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead to His intimate disciple Arjuna, the Gita's seven hundred concise verses provide a definitive guide to the science of self realization. No other philosophical or religious work reveals, in such a lucid and profound way, the nature of consciousness, the self, the universe and the Supreme.
Tao Te Ching
Everyone knows the Yin-Yang symbol. But did you know it comes from Taoism? This is the shortest book, written in seeming contradictions, but pay attention, and you’ll see that black needs white, light needs dark, that things aren’t as contradictory as they seem. Beautiful, and refreshing for the spirit!
Lao-tzu's Tao Te Ching, or Book of the Way, is the classic manual on the art of living, and one of the wonders of the world. In eighty-one brief chapters, the Tao Te Ching looks at the basic predicament of being alive and gives advice that imparts balance and perspective, a serene and generous spirit. This book is about wisdom in action. It teaches how to work for the good with the effortless skill that comes from being in accord with the Tao (the basic principle of the universe) and applies equally to good government and sexual love; to child rearing, business, and ecology.
Stephen Mitchell's bestselling version has been widely acclaimed as a gift to contemporary culture.
Strengths Finder 2.0
Figuring out what your strengths are, and what your passions are is crucial to achieving your potential. I read this book in college around the time I switched my major from business to film, and never looked back!
Loaded with hundreds of strategies for applying your strengths, this new book and accompanying website will change the way you look at yourself--and the world around you--forever.
The Artist’s Way
Recommended to me by my producer from Uncivilized, Nikki Abban, this book helped me respect myself and my time as an artist and to connet back into my creativity, which the author argues is innate within all of us from a higher power. If you feel blocked, or have been finding reasons not to pursue your artistic endeavours, read this book.
Since its first publication, The Artist's Way phenomena has inspired the genius of Elizabeth Gilbert and millions of readers to embark on a creative journey and find a deeper connection to process and purpose. Julia Cameron's novel approach guides readers in uncovering problems areas and pressure points that may be restricting their creative flow and offers techniques to free up any areas where they might be stuck, opening up opportunities for self-growth and self-discovery.
A revolutionary program for personal renewal, The Artist's Way will help get you back on track, rediscover your passions, and take the steps you need to change your life.