Sharda’s Recommended Books

Asterisks (*) mark good books to start with

  • A Path with Heart (*) by Jack Kornfield

    A Gradual Awakening (*) by Stephen Levine - one of my early favorites

    Awakening Joy (*) by James Baraz & Shoshona Alexander

    Dancing with Life (*) by Phillip Moffit

    Lovingkindness - the Revolutionary Art of Happiness (*) by Sharon Salzberg - on the Four Divine Abodes

    Mindfulness in Plain English (*) by Bhante Gunaratne

    Radical Acceptance (*) by Tara Brach

    Seeking the Heart of Wisdom (*) by Joseph Goldstein & Jack Kornfield

    The Experience of Insight (*)by Joseph Goldstein - one of the very first dharma books

    The Noble Eightfold Path (*) by Bhikkhu Bodhi also at Access to Insight website under Theravadin Texts

    The Wise Heart (*) by Jack Kornfield

    Being Nobody, Going Nowhere by Ayya Khema

    A Heart As Wide As the World by Sharon Salzberg

    A Year To Live by Stephen Levine

    Faith by Sharon Salzberg

    Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabat-Zin - the classic on working with pain and illness

    Fully Present by Susan Smalley and Diana Winston

    Healing into Life and Death by Stephen Levine

    In the Buddha's Words by Bhikkhu Bodhi - an anthology of Pali suttas with commentary

    Insight Meditation by Joseph Goldstein

    Living in the Light of Death: On the Art of Being Truly Alive by Larry Rosenberg

    One Dharma by Joseph Goldstein

    Satipatthana - The Direct Path to Realization by Analayo

    The Beginner's Guide to Insight Meditation by Arinna Weisman

    The Heart of Buddhist Meditation by Nyanaponika Thera

    The Heartwood of Bodhi by Buddhadasa Bhikkhu - a look at emptiness

    The Life of the Buddha by Bhikkhu Nanamoli - selections from Pali suttas

    The Mind and the Way by Ajahn Sumedho

    What the Buddha Taught by Walpola Rahula - good reference for basics and "lists"

    Wherever You Go There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zin

    Emptiness: A Practical Guide for Meditators by Guy Armstrong

  • The Miracle of Mindfulness (*) by Thich Nhat Hanh

    Being Peace by Thich Nhat Hanh

    Old Path White Clouds by Thich Nhat Hanh

    Peace in Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh

    The Zen Teachings of Huang Po by John Blofeld (translator)

    Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Suzuki Roshi

  • Carefree Dignity by Tsoknyi Rinpoche - Dzogchen teachings

    Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche

    Fearless Simplicity by Tsoknyi Rinpoche - Dzogchen teachings

    Open Heart/Open Mind: Awakening the Power of Essence Love by Tsoknyi Rinpoche - Dzogchen teachings

    The Myth of Freedom and Shambala: Sacred Path of Wisdom by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche

    The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche

    The Places That Scare You by Pema Chodron

    The Wisdom of No Escape by Pema Chodron

    When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron

  • Be As You Are - The Teachings of Ramana Maharshi by David Goodman

    Buddhism Without Beliefs: A Contemporary Guide to Awakening by Stephen Batchelor

    Freedom From the Known by J. Krishnamurti

    How to Be Sick: A Buddhist-Inspired Guide for the Chronically Ill and Their Caregivers by Toni Bernhard

    Finding Freedom in Illness by Peter Fernando

    I Am That by Nisargadatta Maharaj

    Living with the Devil by Stephen Batchelor

    Soul Without Shame by Byron Brown - working with the critical judge

    Facets of Unity: The Ennegram of Holy Idea by A. H. Almaas - One of my favorites

    The Unfolding Now by A. H. Almaas

    Star Bright by Maureen Garth - meditations for children

    The Power of Now by Eckhard Tolle

    The Spiritual Teachings of Ramana Maharshi by Shambhala (publisher)

    Toward a Psychology of Awakening by John Welwood - an interface between Buddhism and Psychology

    Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma by Peter Levine - the classic book on understanding trauma

    Wide Awake: A Guidebook for Teens by Diana Winston

    When the Swans Came to the Lake (*) by Rick Fields - history of Buddhadharma in the west

    Tattoos on the Heart by Gregory Boyle - on the power of boundless compassion

  • Waking Up White: and Finding Myself in the Story of Race (*) by Debby Irving - This book was quite an eye opener about African American history

    White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son by Tim Wise - This book is a personal examination of the way in which racial privilege shapes the daily lives of white Americans in every realm: employment, education, housing, criminal justice, and elsewhere.

    Between the World and Me (*) by Ta-Nehisi Coates - This book is a profound work that pivots from the biggest questions about American history and ideals to the most intimate concerns of a father for his son

    Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We're in without Going Crazy by Joanna Macy & Chris Johnstone - A wonderful guide for social activism, this book shows us how to strengthen our capacity to face our present crisis so that we can respond with unexpected resilience and creative power.

    Mindful of Race by Ruth King - Exploring a crucial topic seldom addressed in meditation instruction, Ruth shines a compassionate, provocative, and practical light into this deeply neglected domain profoundly relevant to all of us.

    Joy Unspeakable: Contemplative Practices of the Black Church by Barbara A. Holmes - This book focuses on the aspects of the black church that point beyond particular congregational gatherings toward a mystical and communal spirituality.

    White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo and Michael Eric Dyson - This book explores the counterproductive reactions white people have when their assumptions about race are challenged.