Recommended Books

I am often asked to recommend books.

Here is a list, placed in alphabetical order, so that there is no implied assignment of value.

If, however, I were to choose only one book to take with me to the proverbial desert island, it would be, without hesitation, I Am That, by Nisargadatta Maharaj. The following are also by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj:

Seeds of Consciousness.  Jean Dunn, ed. New York: Grove Press, 1982.

Prior to Consciousness.  Jean Dunn, ed.  Durham: Acorn Press, 1985.

Consciousness and the Absolute.  Jean Dunn, ed.  Durham: Acorn Press, 1994.

The Wisdom of Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj.  Robert Powell. New York: Globe Press, 1992.

The Ultimate Medicine.  Robert Powell.  San Diego: Blue Dove Press, 1994.

The Experience of Nothingness.  Robert Powell.  San Diego: Blue Dove Press, 1996.

* * *

Ashtavakra Gita.  Thomas Byrom, trans.  Boston: Shambhala Dragon Editions, 1990.

Atma Bodha Deepika (The Lamp of Non-Dual Knowledge). Tiruvannamalai: Sri Ramanasramam, 2002.

Atma-Darshan (At the Ultimate). Sri Krishna Menon - Atmananda. Austin: Advaita Publishers, 1978.

Advadhut Gita. Swami Chetanananda. trans. Calcutta: Advaita Ashrama, 1994;  or by Hari Prasad Shastri, trans. London: Shanti Sadan, 1968.

Be As You Are: The Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi.  Sri Ramana Maharshi.  David Godman, ed.  Arkana Penguin Books, 1989.

Bhagavad Gita

The Conference of the Birds.  Farid al-Din Attar.  Dick Davis, trans. Penguin Classics, 1984.

Diamond Sutra.  A.F. Price & M.L. Wong, trans. Boulder: Shambhala, 1969.

I Am That (Talks With Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj). Maurice Frydman, trans. Durham: The Acorn Press, 1996.

Jnaneshvar. Swami Abhayananda.  Delhi: Sri Satguru Publications, 2000. Included in this edition are the complete texts of Amritanaubhav, Haripatha, and Changadev Pasashti.

Journey to the Lord of Power: A Sufi Manual on Retreat.  Ibn 'Arabi.  Rabia Terry Harris, trans. Rochester: Inner Traditions International.

Hsin Hsin Ming, Verses on the Faith Mind. Sengstan, Third Zen Patriarch. Richard B. Clarke,   trans. Virginia Beach: Universal Publications.

Mishkat Al-Anwar (The Niche of Lights).  Shaykh Muhammad Al-Ghazali. David Buchman, trans. Brigham Young University Press.

No Mind - I Am the Self, The Lives and Teachings of Lakshamana Swami and Mathru Sri Sarada.  David Godman.  Tiruvannamalai: Bhanumathy Ramanadham, Publisher.

Pointers From Nisargadatta Maharaj. Ramesh Balsekar.  Durham: Acorn Press, 1982.

Ribbu Gita. Dr. H. Ramamoorthy and Master Nome, trans.  Santa Cruz: Society of Abidance in Truth, 1995; or by N. R. Krishnamoorthi Aiyer, trans. Tiruvannamalai: Sri Ramanasramam, 2003.

Shankara's Crest Jewel of Discrimination (Viveka-Chudamani). Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood, trans. Hollywood: Vedanta Press, 1978

Silence of the Heart, Robert Adams. Ananda Devi, ed. Sedona: Nicole Adams, publisher, 1997.

Spiritual Enlightenment: The Damnedest Thing. Jed McKenna. Scotsdale: WiseFool Press, 2006.

Tripura Rahasya. Tiruvannnamalai: Sri Ramanasramam.

The Way of Life According to Laotzu. Witter Bynner, trans. New York: Perigee Book, 1972.

Who Am I?  Sri Ramana Maharshi. Tiruvannamalai: Sri Ramanasramam, 2003.

Whoso Knowest Himself (The Treatise on Being).  Muhyiddin Ibn 'Arabi. Cecilia Twinch, trans.

World Within the Mind (Extracts from the Voga-Vasishtha). H.P. Shastri, trans. London: Shanti Sadan, 1975.

The Zen Teaching of Huang Po. John Blofeld, trans. New York: Grove Press, 1958.

Transcripts of talks, and/or books by the following sages:

Alan Watts

Jean Klein

Sri Ramana Maharshi

Jelaluddin Rumi (recommended: Colman Barks, trans.)

Sailor Bob Adamson