Creating Affluence. Deepak Chopra. Wealth Consciousness in the Field of All Possibilities. New Age

Creating Affluence. Deepak Chopra. Wealth Consciousness in the Field of All Possibilities. New Age

Two books by Deepak Chopra are apparently intended to be read as a pair. "The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success" and this one, "Creating Affluence." I read the first one a while ago, and am finally getting around to reading through the other half.



In this remarkable book lies the secret to creating affluence. Here you will discover that you are the dancer and the dance, the creator and the creation, and unlimited wealth is yours merely for the asking. With clear and simple wisdom, Deepak Chopra explores the full meaning of wealth consciousness and presents a step-by-step plan for creating affluence and fulfillment on all levels of our lives.
According to the author, affluence is our natural state, and the entire physical universe with all its abundance is the offspring of an unbounded, limitless field of all possibilities. Through a series of simple steps and everyday actions, Creating Affluence gently fosters the wealth consciousness needed to tap into this field and create anything you desire.

Awakening the Buddha Within. Tibetan Wisdom for the Western World. Lama Surya Das. Dzogchen. Buddhism

Awakening the Buddha Within. Tibetan Wisdom for the Western World. Lama Surya Das. Dzogchen. Buddhism

Lama Surya Das is an American (born as Jeffrey Miller in New York) who has dedicated most of his life to the study and teaching of Tibetan Buddhism. He has a wonderful clarity to his words while communicating Eastern spiritual ideas to a Western audience. Originally published in the 1990s, "Awakening the Buddha Within" is probably his best known work.



Lama Surya Das, the most highly trained American lama in the Tibetan tradition, presents the definitive book on Western Buddhism for the modern-day spiritual seeker.
The radical and compelling message of Buddhism tells us that each of us has the wisdom, awareness, love, and power of the Buddha within; yet most of us are too often like sleeping Buddhas. In Awakening the Buddha Within, Surya Das shows how we can awaken to who we really are in order to lead a more compassionate, enlightened, and balanced life. It illuminates the guidelines and key principles embodied in the noble Eight-Fold Path and the traditional Three Enlightenment Trainings common to all schools of Buddhism:
Wisdom Training: Developing clear vision, insight, and inner understanding—seeing reality and ourselves as we really are.
Ethics Training: Cultivating virtue, self-discipline, and compassion in what we say and do.
Meditation Training: Practicing mindfulness, concentration, and awareness of the present moment.
With lively stories, meditations, and spiritual practices, Awakening the Buddha Within is an invaluable text for the novice and experienced student of Buddhism alike.

Mindfulness in Plain English. Bhante Henepola Gunaratana. Vipassana Insight Meditation. Buddhism

Mindfulness in Plain English. Bhante Henepola Gunaratana. Vipassana Insight Meditation. Buddhism

I'm enjoying "Mindfulness in Plain English" by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana. It is a straightforward "how to" guide to vipassana, or insight meditation.



Mindfulness in Plain English was first published in 1994, is one of the bestselling and most influential books in the field of mindfulness. It’s easy to see why.
Author Bhante Gunaratana, a renowned meditation master, takes us step by step through the myths, realities, and benefits of meditation and the practice of mindfulness. The book showcases Bhante’s trademark clarity and wit as he explores the tool of meditation, what it does, and how to make it work.

This book is:
A best-selling introduction to mindfulness
Full of practical advice on developing a meditation practice
Written in approachable, clear language
Containing chapters on loving-kindness and concentration

The reader can gain deeper understanding, inner peace, and clarity through meditation practice with the thoughtful guidance of this classic book. Written for those without any meditation background, but also an essential handbook for established students, Mindfulness in Plain English is a must-have for anyone exploring the benefits of Buddhist meditation.
This expanded edition includes the complete text of its predecessor along with a new chapter on cultivating loving kindness, an especially important topic in today’s world. For anyone who is new to meditation, this is a great resource for learning how to live a more productive and peaceful life.

How to Practice. The Way to a Meaningful Life. His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Mindfulness. Buddhism

How to Practice. The Way to a Meaningful Life. His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Mindfulness. Buddhism

I'm enjoying a read through of "How to Practice" by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. In this relatively short book, His Holiness examines the principles of Mindfulness and offers advice on how to apply those ideas in one's day to day life.



As human beings, we all share the desire for happiness and meaning in our lives. According to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the ability to find true fulfillment lies within each of us. In this very special book, the spiritual and temporal leader of Tibet, Nobel Prize winner, and bestselling author helps readers embark upon the path to enlightenment with a stunning illumination of the timeless wisdom and an easy-access reference for daily practice.
Divided into a series of distinct steps that will lead spiritual seekers toward enlightenment, How to Practice is a constant companion in the quest to practice morality, meditation, and wisdom. This accessible book will guide you toward opening your heart, refraining from doing harm, and maintiaining mentaltranquility as the Dalai Lama shows you how to overcome everyday obstacles, from feelings of anger and mistrust to jealousy, insecurity, and counterproductive thinking. Imbued with His Holiness' vivacious spirit and sense of playfulness, How to Practice offers sage and practical insight into the human psyche and into the deepest aspirations that bind us all together.

How to Be Happy. Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Meditation. Tibetan Buddhism

How to Be Happy. Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Meditation. Tibetan Buddhism

Lama Zopa Rinpoche is a Tibetan Buddhist scholar, who has long been esteemed for his ability to communicate Eastern ideas to the West. This little book, "How to Be Happy", consists of his insights on finding peace through kindheartedness and meditation.



In How to Be Happy, Lama Zopa Rinpoche helps us find our good heart, the heart that rejoices in the happiness of others.
How to transform problems into happiness, how to find compassion for our "enemies", how to treat ourselves with kindness; it is on these persistent and universal challenges that Lama Zopa offers his wise and warm teachings. Including three wonderfully rich and evocative guided meditations, How to Be Happy works with the reader to show that happiness in this present moment is dependent on the wisdom of a truly open and generous heart.
Anyone looking for advice on how to be happy—truly, meaningfully happy—will find Lama Zopa Rinpoche to be a trustworthy and skillful guide. He is a tireless teacher of methods that work for us when all is well, and also when life's troubles, big and small, seem unmanageable.

The Essential Yoga Sutra. Patanjali. Geshe Michael Roach. Christie McNally. Karma. Buddhism

The Essential Yoga Sutra. Patanjali. Geshe Michael Roach. Christie McNally. Karma. Buddhism

The Yoga Sutras, by Master Patanjali, was written nearly 2,000 years ago. I'm enjoying this version, "The Essential Yoga Sutra: Ancient Wisdom for Your Yoga" translated by Geshe Michael Roach and Christie McNally. The text features insightful commentary by the translators, both knowledgeable authors on the subject.



The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali is a classic Sanskrit treatise consisting of 195 “threads,” or aphorisms, describing the process of liberation through yoga. Although little is known about Patanjali (most scholars estimate that he lived in India circa 200–300 B.C.), his writings have long been recognized as a vital contribution to the philosophy and practice of yoga. This new, expert translation of the original Sanskrit text of Patanjali’s best-known work presents his seminal ideas and methods in accessible, plain-language English.
Patanjali organized the sutra into four parts: Samadhi (absorption), Sadhana (practice), Vibhuti (supernatural powers), and Kaivalya (liberation). Each represents a step in breaking free of our limited definition of consciousness and training the mind to achieve oneness with the universe. Geshe Michael Roach, one of the most respected teachers of Tibetan Buddhism in America and a renowned scholar of Sanskrit, provides authoritative commentary on each of the sutras. His notes and clarification are straightforward and highly readable, untainted by obscure, academic terminology or New Age jargon. The first edition of the Yoga Sutra to present a Buddhist perspective, this paperback original will be welcomed by students and spiritual seekers alike.

The Chakras. C.W. Leadbeater. Theosophical Society. New Age

The Chakras. C.W. Leadbeater. Theosophical Society. New Age

I'm enjoying "The Chakras" by C.W. Leadbeater. Originally published in 1927 by the Theosophical Society, many consider this to be a classic text on the subject.


Chakra (Sanskrit, "wheel") refers to the ancient Hindu concept of seven vortices of energy located on the spine from the tailbone to the crown of the head. These centers define the physical and spiritual contact points in the human body. In yoga they are bridges to higher consciousness symbolizing the journey from the material world to the divine. Alternative-medicine healers recognize them as a dynamic resource for health.

First published in 1927, this pioneering book by famed clairvoyant C. W. Leadbeater was the first to introduce the chakras to the West. With great clarity, he explains what each chakra means regarding our well-being, insight, and personal power, his color illustrations showing the chakras as they actually appear to those who can see them. Anyone can perceive the chakras, he says. We must merely become sensitive to vibrations finer than those to which we normally respond

The book has sold hundreds of thousands of copies and remains a classic.

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success. Deepak Chopra

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success. Deepak Chopra. Hinduism. Buddhism. New Age

I follow Deepak Chopra on social media and enjoy his posts, but I haven't read many of his books. "The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success" is a distilled synopsis of some of his other writings. There is a lot of useful information in this convenient little book. But honestly, you could discover all of these "Laws" and many more if you just go direct to the source and read some key Eastern religious texts, like the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads and the Dhammapada.


The creation of wealth has always been regarded as a process that requires hard work and luck--often at the expense of others. In this remarkable book, the author of Quantum Healing and other bestsellers reveals how to align with the subtle yet powerful, unseen forces that affect the flow of money in our lives.

Based on natural laws which govern all of creation, this book shatters the myth that success is the result of hard work, exacting plans, or driving ambition. In The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, Deepak Chopra offers a life-altering perspective on the attainment of success: Once we understand our true nature and learn to live in harmony with natural law, a sense of well-being, good health, fulfilling relationships, energy and enthusiasm for life, and material abundance will spring forth easily and effortlessly. Filled with timeless wisdom and practical steps you can apply right away, this is a book you will want to read and refer to again and again.

The Wisdom of the Vedas. J.C. Chatterji. Theosophical Society. Brahmanism. Hinduism. Buddhism

The Wisdom of the Vedas. J.C. Chatterji. Theosophical Society. Brahmanism. Hinduism. Buddhism

This book by J.C. Chatterji has been in print for the past 90 years under a couple different titles. About 50 years ago, it was republished as "The Wisdom of the Vedas" by the Theosophical Society. It is one of the most accessible books on the Vedic system of thought, India's oldest philosophical/religious tradition.


How did the universe come into being? What is the nature of God? Of the human spirit? All who seek understanding will find this book an illuminating presentation of India's oldest and most profound religious and philosophical tradition. The Wisdom of the Vedas was first published in 1931 by Kailas Press under the title India's Outlook on Life. The Theosophical Publishing House published a second edition in 1973, and again in 1980 under the Quest imprint. The present 1992 edition was edited to reflect the modern use of inclusive language, and includes an introduction by Vedic scholar David Frawley. Mr. Frawley explains to the Western reader, "The Vedas are the original scripture or source teaching of the Hindu tradition, from which its many branches of Vedanta, Yoga, and Tantra have emerged through time, and to which they all look back with reverence." The Vedas are also "..the background relative to which the Buddhist religion evolved, and Buddhism also preserves many Vedic terms and practices." The study then, of the Vedas is important to understanding many different Eastern teachings. The author is from India, and has an unusual ability to frame the subtleties of Eastern thought for the Western world.

Bhagavad-Gita. Translated by Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood

Bhagavad-Gita. Translated by Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood

Some peaceful reading for a quiet winter evening...
Few things put my mind more at ease than reading ancient texts. I have a scholarly interest in most all religions, and one of the books that I find to be the most calming is the Bhagavad-Gita. I think I've read it a half dozen times since the start of COVID-19.




"The Bhagavad Gita: The Song of God Retold in Simplified English is the latest title in the Essential Wisdom Library. This unique edition of the timeless epic is designed to be accessible for readers without any prior experience of Hinduism. Not simply a translation of the original, Viljoen has simplified and restated the Gita’s complex ideas, so that a first-time reader can fully appreciate the scope and beauty of this magnificent Indian classic. Written in concise, modern language the retelling vividly captures the power and depth of the original work.
Part of the Mahabharata, the Gita is a dialogue between Prince Arjuna and Lord Krishna. Its verses contain some of the key ideas of Hindu philosophy―Dharma, Moksha, and various yogic practices. Originally written well over a thousand years ago, the Gita has proven to be a timeless source of wisdom, inspiring philosophers and revolutionaries alike in the millennia since it was written.
In addition to the retelling of the text, this edition includes a character list, a glossary of important terms, and chapters exploring the back-story from the Mahabharata and the impact and meaning of the Bhagavad Gita itself. The Bhagavad Gita is an approachable way for today’s readers to engage with one of history's richest spiritual epics."