I’m often asked for book recommendations. Here I’ll offer not an exhaustive list, but a list that has been incredibly transformative and helpful on my path to self-realization. Feel free to reach out to me personally for more recommendations. The following list will continue to grow, so check back often!
(Last updated 3/8/2024)
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Alan Watts
The Wisdom of Insecurity – This is the first Alan Watts book I ever read, and I’ve read it a few times since. In this incredible book, Alan explores the paradox of seeking security in an ever-changing world. He argues that embracing the unpredictability of life is a key to finding true happiness. He offers an invitation to question one’s beliefs about certainty and encourages one to find comfort in the insecurity of existence. This is a great primer for a walk with Watts!The Book – The second book I read by Watts is an insightful and thought-provoking work in which Watts draws upon Eastern philosophy, religion, and spirituality to offer a fresh perspective on life and existence. It’s a refreshing challenge to question all beliefs and assumptions about the world and to seek a deeper understanding of the self and the universe (wink wink).The Way of Zen – This is a book I absolutely love. Every time I read The Way of Zen it unexpectedly unfolds itself on a deeper level! I highly recommend this enlightening and entertaining work of art. Watts explores the teachings and philosophy of Zen in a way that only Watts can. The western mind will be hard pressed to find a more approachable book on Zen than this one.Tao-TheWatercourse Way – This is a special book in that it was the book that Alan was working on when he passed in 1973. It’s perfectly incomplete in that Alan felt that he had finished the technical part of the book, and so the rest of the book would be the playful outworking of the first part. However, this is beautifully poetic as the reader now is left to playfully work out the expression of Alan’s writings for themselves. This is one of my absolute favorite Watts’ books! It’s an exploration of the ancient Chinese philosophy of Taoism, the concept of living in harmony with the flow of the Tao/existence, which leads to the deepest sense of contentment and inner peace.In My Own Way – This is Alan Watts’ autobiography. The good, the bad, the entertaining, the strange, the interesting…I find it an amazing read. As with most of Alan’s books, I’ve read it a couple of times at least. It’s a rare philosophical autobiography where one not only gets a glimpse of Alan’s life, but also of his philosophical journey and the path that lead to the anomaly he was.
I Am That – This is not a book written by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj; these are transcriptions of dialogues with Maharaj in question and answer form bound in a book. I Am That falls within the Advaita Vedanta (nonduality) tradition. At times you may have to wade through some of the cultural and religious references, but this book gets to the heart of the matter of who you really are. I recommend reading the book as the questioner and letting Maharaj guide you to the heart of reality, an awakening to the infinite consciousness that pervades all things.Who Am I – This book is a profound and simple approach to self-inquiry, a practice for realizing one’s true nature as pure consciousness. It’s an incredibly short book (more of a pamphlet), but don’t let the size fool you. It cuts deep as it turns the focus inward to uncover the nature of the self, which is not the body or the mind, but the unchanging, infinite consciousness that pervades all things.Ashtavakra Samhita – This is an ancient Hindu text of Advaita Vedanta that presents the teaching of the sage Astavakra on the nature of ultimate reality and the path to liberation. The text is in the form of a dialogue between King Janaka and Astavakra in which Astavakra explains the nature of the self, reality, and the illusory nature of the world. I highly recommend this book. It is a clear and direct path to self-realization and freedom! In fact, it doesn’t get much more direct than this one.
Zen
Hsin Hsin Ming – This is a work of the Third Chinese Patriarch of Zen named Seng-ts’an. Another direct writing, the Hsin Hsin Ming presents the teachings of Zen without fluff. It emphasizes the importance of letting go of all thoughts, desires, and even dualistic ideas of right and wrong. It brings one to a point of awakening to their true nature which brings about the experience of deep, inner peace and freedom which come with self-realization.Three Zen Sutras – Red Pine is a respected Zen teacher and translator who is known for his many incredible translations of ancient Zen texts. Three Zen Sutras is his translations in one book of The Heart Sutra, The Diamond Sutra, and The Platform Sutra, which are among the most influential and widely studied texts in Zen Buddhism. My personal favorite is The Platform Sutra written by the Sixth Zen Patriarch Huineng.
An Introduction to Zen Buddhism – D. T. Suzuki unveils the profound and spiritual essence of Zen Buddhism to the Western world. Suzuki is a renowned scholar and Zen practitioner who demystifies Zen, delving into its meditative techniques, historical evolution, and the transformative impact it has on the human mind and spirit. This book is a great gateway for readers seeking a deeper understanding of Zen, inviting them on a transformative journey towards inner peace and enlightenment.
The Heart of Understanding – Thich Nhat Hanh offers this small but powerful commentary on one of the most important texts in Zen Buddhism, The Heart Sutra. Thich Nhat Hanh explores and explains the core teachings of the sutra, such as the nature of emptiness and the interdependence of all things, and how these teachings can be applied to daily life to help one live mindfully, compassionately, and peacefully.
The Other Shore – This is the new and expanded version of The Heart of Understanding seen above. In The Other Shore Thich Nhat Hanh provides a new translation of The Heart Sutra along with a greatly expanded commentary to the sutra that is simply incredible and beautiful! It illuminates the essence of nonduality, mindfulness, and interconnectedness with poetic grace. It profoundly guides the reader towards peace and liberation. This has become one of my absolute favorite books! I cannot recommend it enough!
Other Important Books
Waking Up – This book is exactly what the subtitle suggests, a guide to spirituality without religion. If you know anything about Sam Harris, it’s probably his association with the so-called “new atheists”, in which he was known as one of the four horseman. If you find yourself a little scared of the “A” word, don’t let it scare you away from this incredible piece of literature. As a neuroscientist/philosopher Sam Harris brilliantly explores the nature of consciousness and the human experience, while suggesting that a scientific investigation of the mind can deepen our understanding of the nature of reality. He argues that a spiritual life can be lived without the need for religious beliefs. This book is filled with practical exercises for developing mindfulness and self-awareness which can aid in one’s experience of the interconnectedness with all things.Tao Te Ching – Ah, the classic Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu… This is an ancient Chinese Taoist text of 81 verses believed to have been written in the 6th century BCE. Although Lao Tzu begins by saying, “The Tao that can be named/told is not the eternal Tao,” he spends the rest of the book exploring the concepts of Tao (the Way or the Path), Te (virtue), and the relationship between them. The book awakens one to the way of living in harmony with the natural world and the flow of the Tao, which entails the non-action of something called Wu-Wei. This is a must read for anyone on the path to self-realization.The Jewish War – For those wanting a deeper understanding of the background and very purpose of the New Testament of the Christian Bible, this is a must read. Written by the eye-witness and Jewish historian, Josephus, The Jewish War is a historical account of the war between the Romans and the Jews around the year 70 CE, during which the Romans utterly destroyed Jerusalem and the Jewish temple.
