Epilogue
So why did you write this book?
To make some money.
Really?
Well partly that’s true. You know I want a new carbon road-racing bicycle, a fiberglass kayak, and one of those cool portable ultra-sharp telescopes. But really, the main reason is that when I felt the truth, I was driven to write it down.
Driven?
Yes, driven. I was unable to stop writing once we got started. We wrote this in one week.
One week? That felt like months.
I guess that’s in dog time compared to human time. You know, seven years in dog time is like one year in human time.
Actually, the way we dogs compare our years to human years, we are 21 human years-old at the end of the first calendar year, and we add 4 human years for every additional calendar year.
Well, eexxuussee, me.
So, if you get your road bike, kayak, and a new telescope, what do I get out of this book.
What would you like?
A new collar and leash, and new food and water bowls. They are getting pretty ratty looking. May be a black collar with cool looking spikes sticking out all around.
I don’t think the kids will go for the spikes. Besides, black Labradors need thick red collars. They are the coolest looking.
OK. I really do like my red collar. Just get me a cleaner one. Also, put one of those red bandannas around my neck once in a while. I can look like those dogs that catch Frisbees in the park.
But, you don’t catch Frisbees.
So. Put the bandanna on me, maybe I’ll start. Now that the book is done, what next?
I guess you go back to being a dog and I’ll start to catch up with my other responsibilities. This really has been a lot of fun.
You bet. For me too. I’m ready for a walk in the woods.
Me too.
Annotated Bibliography
In each of these books are “fingers pointing at the moon,” magnificent portions of words pointing at Source. Some of these words made me fall to my knees before the powerful truths that resonate. Of course, in essence, there is no me, no one, no person, no self. So to who do these words resonate? I hope you will feel the truth. I know the truth is already there. Vastness, Unity Conciousness, Source, Great Space. May all that you are, and are not, realize recognition.
Ratings: Spiritual resonance = SR; from least (*) - to most (*****)
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Argagh, Arjuna Nick. 1998. Relaxing into clear seeing. Interactive tools in the service of self awakening. Self X Press, San Rafael, CA
***SR
Personal record of transformation
Program for transformation
A workbook of exercises along with case histories. Uses methods related to hypnosis along with meditation as a series of steps to take for spiritual awakening. Can be practiced by yourself or with a partner.
Benares, Camden. 1977. Zen without Zen masters. Falcon Press, Phoenix, Arizona.
****SR
A book in the radical Zen tradition. The first part is a collection of stories filled with humor, a radical Zen set of koans. The second part are exercises in meditation, relaxation, visualization, and masturbation. A short book, an easy read, well worth the time to help you stop taking yourself and life too seriously.
Heckler, Richard. The anatomy of change. A way to move through life’s transitions. North Atlantic Books, Berkeley, CA
***SR
Describes his program for “holistic education.” He uses psychology and physical movement exercises derived from aikido to treat patients. A strong argument that the way we practice psychology today could be greatly improved, and made much more powerful, if we simply added movement exercises in therapy.
Kabat-Zinn, Jon. 1990. Full catatrophe living: using the wisdom of your body and mind to face stress, pain, illness. Bantam Doubleday Dell, New York
***SR
Program of transformation
A wonderful program. Down to earth, practical instruction in mindfulness meditation, roots in vipassana Buddhist training. Also includes body scanning, yoga, and advice on eating well. Dr. Kabat-Zinn has published several important scientific papers documenting the success of his program in chronic pain and even psoriasis. I recently conducted a study with him showing small but significant increases in response to influenza vaccine for subjects undertaking this meditation training. Probably most people would benefit from taking the 8-week course, taught by practicioners in many cities, but tapes can be helpful if you can not find a certified teacher.
Kabat-Zinn, Jon. Wherever you go, there you are.
Kornfield, Jack. 1993. A path with heart: a guide through the perils and promises of spiritual life. Bantam, New York.
****SR
Oh, Oh, Oh, what a practical book. His short autobiographical introduction gives us a glimpse of the road we all need to travel. Different paths perhaps, but, we must all face the hurdles of living spiritually and in the day-to-day physical world. A course in vipassana Buddhist meditation, also known as mindfulness or insight mediation. Great practical advice ranges from finding a teacher you can trust to how to run an ethical Buddhist community.
Leonard, George., Murphy, Michael. 1995. The life we are given. A long-term program for realizing the potential of body, mind, heart, and soul. G.P. Putnam, New York
***SR
Program of transformation
An aikido teacher and the founder of the Esalen Institute, respectively, outline a method for living. A spiritual practice for those who have a family and a job. Movement and meditation, advice on diet and simply living on a higher path.
Merrell-Wolff, Franklin. 1994. Franklin Merrell-Wolff’s experience and philosophy: a personal record of transformation and a discussion of trancedental conciousness: containing his philosophy of conciousness without an object and his pathways through to space. State University of New York Press, Albany.
*****SR
Personal record of transformation
I love that title. I have never found a longer title to a book. I heard about this book though my Aikido teacher. In many ways this started me down a different path. Here was someone trained in mathamatics that was drawn to a path of contemplation. His background in math resonates throughout the entire book. He constructs a set of aphorisms on “conciousness without an object.” Reading these aphorisms led me to a place of clarity. The more I reread this book the more I find. I must warn the reader that not everyone likes this book as much as I. That must be an indication that we each resonate differently.
Nadeen, Satyam. 1996. From onions to pearls: a journal of awakening and deliverance. New Freedom Press, Toas, New Mexico.
*****SR
Personal record of transformation
Michael Clegg spent a life searching for enlightenment; thought he found the answer in the illegal drug MDMA, ecstasy. Convicted for manufacturing and selling ecstasy, sent to an overcrowded county jail, he finally gave up his search. Only then did he wake up to find enlightenment. A powerful tale. Deep insightful truths. Remember, these truths can only inadequately be placed into words. So, some of what he has to say will not resonate well with everyone. Nonetheless, shook me to my roots.
Packer, Toni. 1990. The work of this moment. Charles E. Tuttle, Boston.
*****SR
How can you be a Zen Buddhist without practicing any religion? Better yet, how can you practice no religion and be the ultimate practicioner of Zen Buddhism? Toni Packer writes with deep insight, removing almost all traces of illusion and conflict. Toni shows us how we can practice without the trappings of religion; yet, practice within the deepest spiritual experience.
Remen, Rachel Naomi. 1996. Kitchen table wisdom. Stories that heal. Riverhead Books, New York.
*****SR
A wonderful story teller. Wit and wisdom flow throught this book like hearing a song, sometimes bright and beautiful, but, also sometimes dark and mournful. Part biography, part stories of patients lives. Should be required reading for very health practitioner.
Segal, Suzanne. 1996. Collision with the infinite: a life beyond the personal self. Blue Dove Press, San Diego, CA
*****SR
Personal record of transformation
A beautiful book. Hauntingly beautiful when she portrays her pain in losing her sense of personal self. Joyfully beautiful when she finds Unity Conciousness. Some great illustrations on how gurus and their minions can “go wrong.” Another book my Aikido teacher turned me on to. She recently died of a brain tumor. A possible explaination for the loss of personal self prior to finding the joy of Unity Conciousness, could be the location of the tumor in an important area of the brain. Perhaps an area in the brain developed by those on an enlightened path?
Walsch, Neale Donald.1995. Conversations with god: an uncommon dialog. G.P. Putnam, New York
**SR
Also books 2 and 3. Again I have to thank Neale for these books. Without them I may never have thought of CWD. My wife loved these books. She had trouble with some of the alien stuff, as did I. Spiritual resonance would be 5 stars for her. I would like to see a male to female breakdown for resonance. Maybe it is a one of those Mars-Venus differences.
Wilber, Ken. 1996. A brief history of everything. Shambhala, Boston
***SR
You just have to read this book. I can not say enough good things about this book. A breathtaking book. Puts the known, and unknown, Universes in perspective. A unified theory of psychology, sociology, biology, physics, philosophy, mysticism, and religion. Shows how the physical and the spiritual intertwine. I have heard from some others that it is a little too intellectual compared to some of the more spiritual books. Read it, then we’ll talk.
Wilber, Ken. 1995. Sex, ecology, spirituality. Shambhala, Boston
*SR
This is the original source of “A brief history of everything.” Even more intellectual, not quite as readable, but, this has all the bells and whistles. The notes are as much fun as the text. Here are all the references missing in “A brief history of everything.”
Wilber, Ken., Engler, Jack., Brown, Daniel. 1986. Transformations of consciousness. Conventional and contemplative perpectives on development. Shambhala, Boston
**SR
More of a textbook on the relationship of psychology and meditation. Includes detailed discussions on the stages of meditation, psychopathology, use of meditation in psychotherapy, and psychiatric complications of meditation.
Wilber, Ken. 1977. The spectrum of consciousness. Quest, Wheaton, IL
*****SR
His first book, written when he was about twenty-four. Much of the contents of this book can be found in his later works, but this book is fun. Chapter XI is one of the most spiritually resonating set of words I have ever read.
Add McTaggert’s 3 books
