Four books that millions of readers have wished for as a life changer: The Boy Who Saw True, Shantaram, Autobiography of a Yogi and Meditation: Man-Perfection in God-Satisfaction; each is a first-hand account of experiences that transformed its author’s life for the better.
1. The Boy Who Saw the Truth (1953) – Cyril Scott
The Boy Who Saw True is the true story of the life of a late 19th century English boy with an extraordinary gift: the ability to see the dead, the auras of the living, and a variety of other spiritual phenomena. The author of The Boy Who Saw True has never been identified; the book is a children’s diary published after the death of his writer, and was only published by his wife on condition of anonymity. Equal parts inspiring and fascinating, this daily diary of the ordinary and the extraordinary is a rare look into the world beyond normal perception, and could very possibly change the way you see the world around you.
2. Shantaram (2003) – Gregory David Roberts
It’s not every year a first novel sparks a bidding war between A-list movie actors desperate to appear in its adaptation, but the story of poet turned bank robber turned maximum security fugitive Gregory David Roberts did just that. : Johnny Depp beating Oscar winner Russell Crowe for future movie rights and the lead role. Shantaram is both a spiritual journey and a story of redemption told straight from the heart; invites the reader to share and learn with the protagonist as he battles inner demons from which no man can escape. At once heartbreaking and uplifting, Shantaram is a memoir whose contained sincerity rings true on every level, a book the author believes he lived to write. Few leave this hard-hitting kind of life without sharing at least some of Roberts’s demonstrable inner growth; the story of a radically changed life could change yours.
3. Autobiography of a Yogi (1946)– Paramahansa Yogananda
One of the first written accounts of the secrets of the inner worlds by a practicing adept, Autobiography of a Yogi is also among the best, a candid and eloquent introduction to the ancient Indian science of yoga in a modern context, clearly explaining the subtle laws. beneath everyday events and phenomena that are generally considered miraculous. Paramahansa Yogananda’s introduction to the journey of self-realization is a contemporary spiritual classic and has inspired millions to follow his shining example. Reading it might also inspire you.
4. Meditation: Man-Perfection in God-Satisfaction (1989)–Sri Chinmoy
There are countless books on the subject of meditation, but very few explain this ancient practice in clear and simple terms, or are written by a spiritual teacher who has surpassed the heights he seeks to reach. Sri Chinmoy’s Meditation: Man’s Perfection in God’s Satisfaction is one such book, a current master’s manual comprehensively explaining meditation in everyday language; from tips to get you started, with a variety of techniques and exercises to try, to the benefits of regular practice: inner peace, deep happiness, and spontaneous joy. Will reading Meditation: Man-Perfection in God-Satisfaction change your life? Not necessarily, but according to this authority, practicing it certainly will.