Books
Favorite Resources
Brother Lawrence found a way to truly sanctify the activities of every day life. By practicing the presence of God as he called it, he devoted himself to communing with God in everything he did. This book is essential in being present with God in all of the ordinary tasks of life and is one I go back to again and again.
This book is helpful in understanding the different states of being, using your will or abandoning yourself to divine providence. It tackles how they are incomplete on their own, employing both states, standing between will and abandonment is necessary in our lives. The special focus on abandoning ourselves to God in this book is very helpful.
There are so many lessons here and an emphasis on naturally living between will and abandonment. When you can act in this way, without thought or premeditation, between will and abandonment, you will become a clear and open channel through which the Mystery flows.
St. Francis wrote about an unusual idea for his time, that one can acheive a higher level of spiritual development while living a normal life in the world. There is still a widespread belief that to truly become holy, a long and rigorous program of purification and mortification is necessary. This book is a guide for anyone seeking spiritual development while fulfilling their roles out in the world.
Moon in a Dewdrop, written by Dogen Zenji, founder of the Soto School of Zen Buddhism teaches on following the Buddah way. In this book practice and enlightenment are explored.
James writes about themes of union, oneness, freedom, and enlightenment. It is a helpful book when considering what true freedom is - surrender to the every day eternal.
Loving God, nature as our teacher, will and desire, the tension between attachment and detachment, a separate self and no separate self are all touched on here, giving the reader much to think about.
Miguel de Molinos’ The Spiritual Guide offers a path to inner stillness and divine union through passive contemplation, teaching that true spiritual freedom comes by surrendering self-will and resting quietly in God’s presence.
This work explores the beliefs and concepts in Buddhism. There is an emphasis that The Buddha Way is not simply something to believe, but must be pursued through practice.
Zen Flesh, Zen Bones is a rich compilation of Zen stories, koans, and teachings that invites readers to experience awakening through paradox, simplicity, and the unspoken truths beyond logical reasoning.
The Miracle of Mindfulness is a gentle and practical guide in which Thich Nhat Hanh teaches how cultivating present-moment awareness in everyday activities can bring peace, clarity, and compassion to one’s life.
The Cloud of Unknowing is a 14th-century mystical text that guides seekers toward union with God not through knowledge or intellect, but by surrendering into a loving, wordless contemplation beyond all understanding.
Ordinary Graces: Christian Teachings on the Interior Life,” compiled by Lorraine Kisly, is a curated anthology of spiritual writings—from early Church Fathers to modern mystics—designed to deepen everyday Christian awareness by exploring themes like grace, prayer, struggle, and love through reflective passages and brief introductions.
D. T. Suzuki’s An Introduction to Zen Buddhism offers a clear and accessible explanation of Zen’s core principles, emphasizing direct experience, non-dual awareness, and the limitations of conceptual thinking in the pursuit of enlightenment.
The Enchiridion by Epictetus is a concise manual of Stoic ethical teachings that encourages inner freedom, self-mastery, and peace through accepting what we cannot control and living according to reason and virtue.
Additional Resources
In The Big Picture, Sean Carroll weaves together physics, philosophy, and human experience to present a naturalistic worldview he calls “poetic naturalism,” arguing that meaning, purpose, and morality can arise within a universe governed entirely by the laws of nature.
In Einstein on Cosmic Religion and Other Opinions and Aphorisms, Albert Einstein reflects on science, religion, ethics, and human responsibility, expressing a deep reverence for the mysterious order of the universe while advocating for a moral life grounded in reason and humility.
The Suttanipāta, in Bhikkhu Bodhi’s translation, presents some of the earliest recorded teachings of the Buddha, emphasizing ethical conduct, renunciation, and the contemplative path to liberation through direct insight and inner discipline.
The Bodhidharma Anthology: The Earliest Records of Zen” by Jeffery L. Broughton compiles and translates the foundational teachings and stories of Bodhidharma, offering insight into the origins and spirit of early Zen practice.
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