Distance Studies Course - Supplemental Reading List

Note: This course reading list and the instructions below are now outdated. The course is now based on Joel's book The Way of Selflessness.

Instructions: For each phase of the course, select two of the four books on the list for that phase to read. The books for each phase are arranged in the order of their accessibility, with the most accessible listed first. Note that some of these books may be available for loan from your local library or from a friend.

Phase 1

Wilber, Ken. No Boundary: Eastern and Western Approaches to Personal Growth. Shambhala, 1985. ISBN 0394748816.

Goldstein, Joseph. Insight Meditation: The Practice of Freedom. Shambhala, 2003. ISBN 1590300165.

Upanishads. Translated by Juan Mascaro. Penguin Books, 1965. ISBN 0140441638.

Underhill, Evelyn. Mysticism. One World Books, 1999. ISBN 1851681965.

Phase 2

The Way of a Pilgrim and The Pilgrim Continues His Way. Translated by R.M. French. Harper SanFrancisco, 1991. ISBN 0060630175.

Your Word is Fire: The Hasidic Masters on Contemplative Prayer. Edited by Arthur Green and Barry Holtz. Jewish Lights Publishing, 1993. ISBN 1879045257.

Keating, Thomas. Open Mind, Open Heart: The Contemplative Dimension of the Gospel. Continuum, 1992. ISBN 0826406963.

Campbell, Joseph. The Hero With A Thousand Faces. Princeton University Press, 1972. ISBN 0691017840.

Phase 3

The Dhammapada. Translated by Ananda Maitreya, edited by Rose Kramer. Parallax Press, 1995. ISBN 0938077872.

The Bhagavad Gita. Translated by Juan Mascaro. Viking Penguin, 1987. ISBN 0140441212.

The Cloud of Unknowing and the Book of Privy Counseling. Edited by William Johnston. Image Books/Doubleday, 1996. ISBN 0385030975.

Nurbakhsh, Javad. The Path: Sufi Practices. Khaniqahi Nimatullahi Publications, 2003. ISBN 093354670X.

Phase 4

Chodron, Pema. Start Where You Are: A Guide to Compassionate Living. Shambhala, 1994. ISBN 1570628394.

Lawrence, Brother. The Practice of the Presence of God: With Spiritual Maxims. Spire Books/Revell Reprints, 1999. ISBN 0800785991.

Ramana Maharshi. The Spiritual Teaching of Ramana Maharshi. Shambhala, 1988. ISBN 0877730245.

Baxbaum, Yitzhak. An Open Heart: The Mystic Path of Loving People. Jewish Spirit Publishing, 1997. ISBN 0965711226.

Phase 5

Lao Tsu. Tao Te Ching. Translated by Gai-Fu Feng and Jane English. Vintage Books, 1989. ISBN 0679724346.

Yeshe, Lama. Introduction to Tantra: A Vision of Totality. Edited by Jonathan Landow. Boston: Wisdom Publications, 1987. ISBN 0861710215.

Teresa of Avila. Interior Castle. Translated by E. Allison Peers. New Image Books/Doubleday, 1961. ISBN 0385036434.

Merrell-Wolff, Franklin. Franklin Merrell-Wolff's Experience and Philosophy: A Personal Record of Transformation and a Discussion of Transcendental Consciousness: Containing His Philosophy of Consciousness Without an Object and His Pathways Through to Space. State University of New York Press, 1994. ISBN 0791419649.

Phase 6

Ngakpa Chogyanm, and Khandro Dechen. Spectrum of Ecstasy: The Five Wisdom Emotions According to Vajrayana Buddhism. Shambhala, 2003. ISBN 1590300610.

Anandamayi Ma. Matri Vani Volume II: From the Wisdom of Anandamayi Ma. Translator Atmananda. Shree Shree Anandamayee Charitable Socity, 1982. ISBN 9990001758. (Availability as of August, 2008: Blue Dove Foundation. Also available from Anandamayi Ma's Books On-Line.)

John of the Cross. Dark Night of the Soul: A Masterpiece in the Literature of Mysticism. Translated by E. Allison Peers. Image Books/Doubleday, 1959. ISBN 0385029306.

Chittick, William. The Sufi Path of Love: The Spiritual Teachings of Rumi. State University of New York, 1983. ISBN 0873957245.

Phase 7

Zen Teachings of Wang Po: On the Transmission of Mind. Translated by John Blofeld. Grove Press, 1959. ISBN 0802150926.

Nisargadatta, Maharaj. I Am That: Talks with Sri Nisargadatta. Translated by Sudhaker S. Dikshit and Maurice Frydman. Acron Press, 1990. ISBN 0893860220.

Norbu, Namkhai. Dream Yoga: and the Practice of Natural Light. Revised and enlarged edition. Edited by Michael Katz. Ithaca, New York: Snow Lion Publications, 2002. ISBN 1559391618.

Bonaventura, Saint. Bonaventura: The Mind's Road to God. Translated by George Boas. Prentice Hall, 1953. ISBN 0023112506.

Phase 8

Sengtsan. Hsin Hsin Ming. White Pine Press, 2001. ISBN 189399614X.

Shankara. Shankara's Crest Jewel of Discrimination. Translated by Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood. Vedanta Press, 1970. ISBN 0874810388.

'Arabi, Ibn al-. "Whoso Knoweth Himself...". Beshara Publications, 1976. ISBN 0904975061.

Eckhart, Meister. Part Two: German Works: 1. Selected Sermons. In Meister Eckhart: The Essential Sermons, Commentaries, Treatises, and Defense. Translated by Edmund Colledge O.S.A. and Bernard McGinn. Paulist Press, 1981. ISBN 0809123703.

ADDITIONAL READING

If, in addition to the list above, you are interested in reading other books, please see our comprehensive bibliography of recommended reading.