100 Books Like Natural Awakening

I love how Francis Lucille’s teaching stays rooted in the most essential question—“Who am I, really?—in ways that are, in turn, serious and playful, gentle and fierce. Love and Beauty and Truth are deeply honored throughout this lovely book, which presents a series of dialogues between Francis and students asking questions about him.

As Francis is fond of saying, “A true answer dissolves not only the question but also the questioner.” I appreciate the opportunity to witness this process, again and again, as Francis so skillfully points (like the proverbial finger to the moon) to “that which can’t be spoken”—but can be most intimately known. 

Both John Wheeler's books and audio interviews have blown my mind—in the best way! I simply adore his unwavering commitment to clear, direct pointers to the self-evident fact of "being" and "awareness" as our true nature and most essential identity.

Again and again, John Wheeler reminds me that this being-awareness—this continuous background of clear, steady presence—is the “space” in which all thoughts, sensations, and perceptions appear and disappear. It is what always remains unchanged, like a vast blue sky through which various clouds come and go. John invites me to clearly understand and joyfully affirm: I am the sky of awareness. 

This is one of those books that I almost couldn’t put down, and I was genuinely sad about its end. Unlike many manifestation manuals, this one avoids the twin pitfalls of New-Age wishful thinking and blaming the victim for circumstances beyond their control.

These techniques are rooted in brain science as well as loving-kindness and compassion. They demonstrate how the power of our human mind, when properly understood and employed, may appear to be “magical.” I loved learning about the author’s own rise out of poverty to billionaire-level wealth, then losing that all and rebuilding it on a firmer foundation of true wisdom and compassion. And how skillfully I was guided along a step-by-step path toward fulfilling my most cherished intentions/goals/dreams. 

I’ve read the 52 stories in this book repeatedly, and each time—despite their familiarity—they seem fresh and new. They put a smile on my face and make my heart sing. This is due, in no small part, to how great a storyteller Lex Hixon is.

I love his artful weaving of deep wisdom into each tale of the intimate relationship between master and disciple and his descriptions of that blessèd moment when the disciple himself or herself becomes a master. I’ve long been fascinated by the question: What really happens during spiritual awakening, aka enlightenment? This book explores this question and at least hints at some sublimely satisfying answers. 

I’ll confess right off the bat that I’m the only person I know who genuinely enjoys reading Spira’s books. His philosophical, highly conceptual, contemplative chapters might not be for everyone. But if you take the time to carefully read and contemplate what Spira discusses, his books can be deeply impactful.

Spira is a “Direct Path” teacher, who conveys some of the deeper teachings of Tantra, Advaita Vedanta, Sufism, and other nondual traditions in a secular, direct, philosophical way. If you want to dive deep into what experience is, what can make life a struggle, and how to experience greater happiness, Spira can be a powerful teacher. The Transparency of Things is a great introduction to his work, but the concepts Spira discusses cannot be understood intellectually. Ultimately, they must be directly experienced to be grasped, and that can take a bit of time, work, and luck.

In this book, Suzanne has done a remarkable job of giving us a feel for the transcendent self. An everyday event thrust her into the non-self, which she found confusing and disorienting. However, as she eventually settles into the state and unpacks it for us, we find a clear and refreshing description that is beautiful. Highly readable if you can get your hands on a copy.

This book is at the leading edge of providing expert insights and techniques for advanced use of psychedelics, particularly 5-MeO-DMT. Martin Ball validated the profundity of my years of working with psychedelics and fractal energetic yoga. He provided me with new techniques and thought forms for working one-on-one with others in sharing consciousness, clearing energetic blockages, and delving into the infinitude of nonduality.

I found his description of the ego as an energetic construct particularly valuable for understanding how we navigate the physical world and its positive and negative impact on the body's energetics. I also benefited from his knowledge of the opportunities and challenges associated with using psychedelics.

For many years the Science and Nonduality (SANDs) conferences have been bringing together scientists and mystics to discuss where science and spirituality meet.

This beautifully arranged collection of essays and insights highlight SANDs topics on the convergence of spirituality and science, weaving scientific theory and spiritual wisdom from some of the most influential thinkers of our time, with pieces that get straight to the heart of the matter. This volume offers timeless wisdom and new insight into humanity’s age-old questions that encourage our spirit and challenge our mind.

I admire the author’s attempt to approach the conceptual universe of the Nāth Yogis with a focus on their philosophy. Not an easy task, given the fact that their semi-legendary founder, guru Gorakhnāth, was not a systematic philosopher. Leaving aside the issue of actual authorship, what has been exposed here contains a great deal of metaphysical depth and complexity.

It is a pity that the Sanskrit text mentioned in the subtitle is not translated. “Some seek nonduality,” the text commences, “while the others seek duality. They don’t know the full truth, which is devoid of both nonduality and duality.” While the lack of translation is lamentable, the ideas expressed in this relatively short Sanskrit text are copiously discussed in this book, which makes it a great read.       

Cutting a tangent across the cultural background of most healers, this work is redolent of a worldview that was lost when the great tides of modernity swept away our native awareness of the depth and complexity of nature, natural processes, and how they affect our health and well-being. It is with something approaching joy, therefore, to encounter a tradition that counts its continuous, uninterrupted heritage by the millennia rather than the years! This work, above all others, has done more to help me to re-connect with and relate to nature, natural processes, and their healing potential than any other and served to illuminate a greatly expanded view of the healer’s path. Secure in its ageless worldview, strong on its metaphysics, filled with practical self-development exercises; and yet this work delivers all of this in a clear, easily understandable language.