Here is a highlight of what we have been reading, why we find these titles so impactful, and where you can pick up a copy for yourselves. (You can also see these recommendations in the Timeless app by following this link.)
Work, Sex, Money
Chögyam Trungpa’s modern portrayal of Buddhist philosophy is a must-read. It illuminates daily life as fresh and full of opportunities for enlightenment. Removing any dogma or religiosity, Trungpa takes a straight-forward, almost obvious approach to how we view our experiences and their significance. Each chapter reveals to the reader “Duh!” moments — those life-transforming lessons that are so obvious that we often forget them. Work, Sex, Money, while steeped in philosophy and Buddhist practice, reads more like a crystal clear window into the inner workings of our own lives.
Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind
We like reading this one slowly. We try to adopt the perspective of each and every sentence, making this read less an exercise of the intellect and more a genuine spiritual practice.
This work is a compilation of live teachings from the esteemed zen master Suzuki Roshi, who came to California from Japan in the late 1950s. As a teacher, he is at once audacious and subtle, gentle and bold. This is his method: present seemingly opposite sides of reality and allow the student to resolve any conflict, opening the mind along the way. This is a true masterpiece of zen and contemporary Buddhism, and a book worthy of reading and re-reading again and again.
This work is a compilation of live teachings from the esteemed zen master Suzuki Roshi, who came to California from Japan in the late 1950s. As a teacher, he is at once audacious and subtle, gentle and bold. This is his method: present seemingly opposite sides of reality and allow the student to resolve any conflict, opening the mind along the way. This is a true masterpiece of zen and contemporary Buddhism, and a book worthy of reading and re-reading again and again.
The Dhammapada, translated by Eknath Easwaran
The Dhammapada is the best written record we have of the teachings of Gautama Buddha some 2500 years ago. Compiled by his most-engaged students, the Dhammapada is both a manual to the spiritual path and an illuminating philosophical adventure.
Each verse is a distillation of lectures and episodes from the Buddha’s life: they are clear, concise, and easily memorized. The intention behind this compilation was to make the path of the Buddha available, not just to monks and nuns, but to regular people as well. In spirit of this democratization effort, Eknath Easwaran’s modern translation is accessible and readable, while honoring the depth and precision of the original teachings. It is the translation that we read (and re-read), and the one we recommend to students.
Each verse is a distillation of lectures and episodes from the Buddha’s life: they are clear, concise, and easily memorized. The intention behind this compilation was to make the path of the Buddha available, not just to monks and nuns, but to regular people as well. In spirit of this democratization effort, Eknath Easwaran’s modern translation is accessible and readable, while honoring the depth and precision of the original teachings. It is the translation that we read (and re-read), and the one we recommend to students.
The Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali
Composed roughly 1600 years ago by a master of yoga, the Yoga Sutras provide a detailed map of the yogic path. ‘Sutras’ are threads that weave together to form an illuminating tapestry. They are aphorisms, both technical and precise, that not only serve as guidance on the spiritual path, but also lay out the landscape to provide meaningful context.
The text is designed so that if you are ready, the first word of the first sutra will be enough to attain enlightenment. If, like us, you’re not there yet, keep reading. Subsequent sutras and chapters provide further instruction that is more actionable. Like the spiritual path it describes, this book is intense, challenging, and deeply rewarding. It is a powerful guide for dedicated yogis and meditators.
We love and recommend Iyengar’s translation and commentary, ‘Light on the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali.’
The text is designed so that if you are ready, the first word of the first sutra will be enough to attain enlightenment. If, like us, you’re not there yet, keep reading. Subsequent sutras and chapters provide further instruction that is more actionable. Like the spiritual path it describes, this book is intense, challenging, and deeply rewarding. It is a powerful guide for dedicated yogis and meditators.
We love and recommend Iyengar’s translation and commentary, ‘Light on the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali.’
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