Books that influenced my spiritual growth

You Are Your Own Guru

Guru means teacher and often is misinterpreted as something outside yourself to be worshipped or followed in the western world. I want to set the record straight that although I am born into an Indian family with roots in India, Africa, and even Pakistan, spiritual fakes and frauds are plenty known in those cultures. That spiritual co-dependency is something I encountered in my yogic studies and created unecessary confusion. All you need is a pure heart, an eagerness to learn and the ability to enact critical thinking and thought on how those teachings can apply and enrich your life. There is no "one size fits all" when it comes to personal yogic understanding of the self. Here are some books that helped me get through and understand some of life's challenges.

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Grief

Proof of Heaven is a great read for anyone who has lost a loved one, is facing a life-threatening illness, or is a skeptic of the afterlife. Written by neurosurgeon, Dr. Eben Alexander who firmly believed that there is no existence after the death, found himself contracting a disease that forced him into a coma. The book is his near-death experience as he recollects his account in that coma and is written in the most honest and sincere way. Through that experience, he is forever changed and has a message to spread to anyone who doubts that we are not all here for a reason. A quick, simple, read for the skeptics that will change your heart and make your mind expand on what is possible.

Connection

When Steve Jobs passed away they gave everyone The Autobiography of a Yogi, but my introduction to Swami Yogananda's books was The Yoga of Jesus. This book was a connector for me. I was born into a Sikh family, attended a Christian school, and was exposed to Hindu and Islamic practices from Bollywood movies and close friends growing up in the Greater Toronto Area. My mom loves God and truly believes that all things come from God and all things go to God. This book helped me understand Hindu concepts and Christ consciousness. It married those Christian concepts with Eastern beliefs and really integrated the existence of God and how we really are one family under the stars.

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Sex, love & marriage

From the Mating Dance to the Cosmic Dance was the first book I ever read on Kundalini Yoga. I had taken my first class and was in love with that form of yoga but I wanted to know more. What was so intriguing about this book was that it was written by a woman, a Ukranian female Swami. I didn't even know they existed. Swami Radha was a dancer and had a dream of Swami Sivanada who told her to come to India and learn yoga. She stayed for about 3 months or less and learned devotional dance only to return to go to British Columbia and establish Yasoshara Ashram. The book is divided into chapters about life on sex, love, and marriage and more and gives unique guidelines on what Swami Radha integrated in her life. Not all marriages work the same and this was a refreshing read on rethinking marital norms and personal development.

depression

Osho is a yogic teacher that a lot of people have strong opinions about but I absolutely love the lessons I learned from Joy. If you are an over-thinker, highly intelligent, and an overachiever - you will find value from reading Osho's books. He is highly thorough and describes the feelings of a person who has much to be grateful for but still feels spiritually unfulfilled. His book joy describes the opposite feelings of deep depression to give context on how to approach life differently with a fresh perspective that helps you really love life.

FEAR & INSECURITY

Fear: Understanding and Accepting the Insecurities of Life helped me through depression. I lost my sister to colon cancer in 2018. She was diagnosed in March and passed away in November. She was my best friend, my yoga partner, my business partner, and almost every career or personal decision I passed through her. When she passed away, I didn't have a steady support system. My immediate family was there but I couldn't talk to them about my next career or life moves as they were more conservative and traditional in their values. They didn't know me. I knew a lot of people and had achieved some success in my life so when I spoke about feeling unfulfilled in my career as a real estate salesperson, my friends couldn't relate. The loneliness I felt was alienating until I read this book. I found it at my kirtan teacher's home. The universe really sends you messages when you need them most. Read this is you feel insecure in life and want to grow into a more secure life.

Tantric Sex

Deepak Chopra, a renowned advocate for holistic health and spiritual well-being, explores the profound connection between soul mates and tantric sex. He believes that finding a soul mate involves a deep, spiritual connection that transcends physical attraction. Tantric sex, in this context, becomes a sacred practice that goes beyond mere physical pleasure. It is about creating an intimate bond that elevates both partners spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Chopra emphasizes that through mindful and conscious intimacy, couples can experience a deeper sense of unity and divine connection, fostering a relationship that nourishes the soul and enhances their journey toward enlightenment. This non-fiction book, Soulmate, gives an account of how sex can be an out-of-body spiritual experience with your partner when you love sincerely.

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SPIRITUAL TRAUMA

Listening to Deepak Chopra's Total Meditation audiobook is a transformative experience, offering insights from an enlightened soul still walking and talking on this planet. Chopra guides listeners through practices designed to cultivate inner peace, awareness, and a deeper connection to the present moment. His soothing voice and profound wisdom make the audiobook a unique journey into the depths of meditation and mindfulness, providing practical tools to integrate into daily life. Experience the serenity and enlightenment of one of the world's leading spiritual teachers, right through your speakers.

This book can help with spiritual trauma, the insights Deepak looks at when there are pitfalls for meditation and spiritual practitioners are interlaced throughout this audiobook. Listen and re-listen to deprogram yourself from teachers who have let you down and find solitude in no longer blaming yourself for their overactive spiritual egos. I love Deepak Chopra, he healed this for me and his mixture of science, intuition, practical experimentation and background in medicine is a solid foundation in his teachings and knowledge about spiritual growth. When I met him and heard him speak, I felt like I was meeting a man smarter than Einstein. In Indian culture, if I ever meet him again, I will call him Uncle Ji. Its a form of respect in Indian culture and for those of you who don't know "Ji" means soul.

God is real

Heaven is for Real is a touching account that transcends religious boundaries, offering insights that resonate with people of diverse faiths. Even if you're not Christian, you may find intriguing correlations between the experiences described by young Colton Burpo and the teachings of other spiritual traditions, such as the presence of Krishna and the Holy Ghost as blue light. The book underscores a universal truth: that the divine is accessible to all, regardless of one's religious background. It reminds us that in this modern age, spiritual experiences and connections to God are not confined to a single belief system but are a testament to the enduring and inclusive nature of divine love and presence. God is limitless and regardless of age, you can experience God. Note: Please do not watch the movie first, the book is so well written. His parents sincerely did him a great service by helping share his story.

JapJi Sahib

Japji Sahib, authored by Guru Nanak, a nomadic saint who claimed no religion—neither Hindu, nor Islam (Sikhism wasn't even a term back then) as he proclaimed himself as a mere seeker of truth. This spiritual text came as a Eureka moment for Guru Nanak (Guru means teacher not God as it is often misinterpreted), written in the sound current of Gurmukhi. Gurmukhi is a language different than Punjabi as it has the same vibrational value as Sanskrit that is why it is often called Shabad Guru (or Sacred Sound Teacher). Japji Sahib has been interpreted by many great spiritual leaders, including Osho, who although controversial could not deny the message of the author. Osho has written an entire book on how he interprets the messages. It's on my list to read as I only recommend books I have actually integrated and understood as beneficial to students.

Ambar Yoga offers the best English translation of Japji Sahib, making it accessible and relevant for today's audience. This modern spiritual book, which takes about 20 minutes to read, is used in our Japji Sahib classes due to its deep applicability to our multifaceted world. "Jap" means to say out loud, "Ji" means Soul or sound current, and "Sahib" is a term of respect, as if the words are living things similar to how Maya Angelou described words as having vibrational power. In an age where we navigate various realities—virtual, cosmic, physical, and ethereal—simultaneously, Japji Sahib provides timeless wisdom and guidance. Its teachings resonate with the complexities of modern life, offering clarity and spiritual insight in our ever-evolving social media landscape.