Books come and go for me. I usually get them as gifts or borrowed from friends and pass them on after I've read them. In recent years, more and more yoga and spiritual books have been added and have accompanied me on my path. Some of them left a lasting impression and I can still remember their statements today. I would like to introduce you to exactly these books that mean a lot to me and are close to my heart.
I've included links to Amazon so you can find the books more quickly. If you order a book through this, I will earn money from the purchase and you will support my work on the Find Your Yoga Blog. Of course, you can also buy your book anywhere else, from the bookstore around the corner (highly recommended!) or used online (good for the environment!). Have fun reading, and let me know which book is close to your heart and which I should add to the list.
The cow that cried.
I borrowed the book from a good friend to read a bit. After two years, I still haven't returned the book and I'm starting to feel guilty about it. I always take out the book before I fall asleep. They are short, memorable stories from Buddhism. They make you smile and show one thing or another in a different light.
The most memorable thing for me is still the story of the wall made of 1000 stones, in which one stone doesn't sit properly. Because of the one crooked stone, the builder judges his entire work as a mishap. By focusing on the one piece that isn't quite perfect, he no longer notices the 999 perfect stones. Maybe we should focus more often on the positive things in life. Even if it sometimes seems to us that almost everything is negative, it could still be that we only see the one negative thing and not the other 999 positive things.
♥ Conclusion: A great book with short Buddhist stories for on the go or before falling asleep. Link to the book on Amazon: The Cow That Wept.
Siddhartha - Hermann Hesse
With Siddhartha, Hesse went on a search for the meaning of life. I don't want to say too many words about this book, it just always fits and leaves you with a pleasant, warm feeling and you'll want to read it again straight away. I prefer to quote Hesse from the book: "And everything together, all voices, all goals, all longing, all suffering, all pleasure, everything good and bad, everything together was the world. Everything together was the flow of events, was the music of life." Haaah. Definitely read!
♥ Conclusion: A classic that has lost none of its relevance. Also nice as a gift. Link to the book on Amazon: Siddhartha
Tuesdays at Morrie, Mitch Albom
This book is based on a true story. Mitch Albom documents his visits to his professor, who is seriously ill and ultimately can only wait for his death. Every Tuesday Albom goes to his ex-professor, notices how much the illness is getting worse each time and listens and writes down what the man still has to say. A wonderful book that makes you empathize, laugh with, cry with - and above all, make you think.
♥ Conclusion: "If you learn how to die, then you learn how to live". The book is easy to read and makes you think about life in the here and now. Link to the book on Amazon: Tuesdays at Morrie
The Yoga Book of Living and Dying, Satya Singh
The book was one of my first yoga book purchases. I attended a Kundalini yoga class and we did the series of exercises for letting go of sadness, anger and fear from the book. What happened in that hour was magical. A great energy flooded us and the yoga room and I really wanted to read more about it. What I particularly like about the book is the many series of exercises and instructions for various meditations, which you can easily practice on your own following the instructions.
♥ Conclusion: A special and sensitive book on the topic of dying from a spiritual perspective. Link to the book on Amazon: The Yoga Book of Living and Dying
The neurosurgeon who forgot his heart - James Doty
At the beginning I had difficulties with the book. I don't like it when the meaning of life is presented to me in toddler language, easily wrapped up in a nice story. That's how I felt reading the first few pages. Why did I still give the book a chance? It was highly praised online and I thought there must be something to it!
It is. James Doty tells his personal life story in the book. From his childhood in rather difficult circumstances, his path to becoming a successful neurosurgeon in Standford and an influential entrepreneur and his fall from the dot-com affair, which cost him a large part of his fortune. Included are 4 simple exercises that Ruth taught him as a child. Methods that should enable him to use the connection of heart and brain to realize “real” desires: relax your body, tame your mind, formulate a clear intention and open your heart. Ruth's important instruction to always keep your heart in the game was forgotten by James over the years.
"Your heart is a compass, and it is the greatest gift you possess. If you ever get lost, just use your heart, it will always guide you in the right direction."
♥ Conclusion: For everyone who wants to listen to their heart (more) again. A beautiful story. Link to the book on Amazon: The neurosurgeon who forgot his heart.
Maria, former operator of the yoga platform Find Your Yoga
Do you have a book that is very close to your heart and that we should add to the list? Then please send us an email to mail[at]findedeinyoga.org . Interested in yoga? Then look for a yoga class near you. On Find Your Yoga, over 5,000 yoga teachers introduce themselves and their yoga - there is definitely a suitable teacher for you. Let's go!
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