Notable Books

Something New

The Pilgrim Soul:  A Path To The Sacred, Ravi Ravindra, Theosophical Publishing House, Quest Books, 2014, Pages 140, $15.95.

Dr. Ravindra’s book originally began as a monograph based on a series of lectures delivered in 2002.  This was expanded in 2003, and finally greatly expanded into this present form. I have reviewed several books over time by Ravi. I have served with Ravi on various theosophical committees in the past; especially during the Dora Kunz presidency in the American T.S. I have always found him engaging, interesting, worth listening to, and worth reading. This book is no exception. It comes with my highest recommendation. 

Notable Books 31

Something New

Yoga Beyond Fitness:  Getting More than Exercise from an Ancient Spiritual Practice, Tom Pilarzyk, PhD, Theosophical Publishing House, Quest Books, 2008, Pages 269, $17.95.

Certainly, for anyone in the west, this book should be a must read. Dr. Pilarzyk saw about ten years ago, where the ‘Yoga’ from the east was being transformed into something quite different and now we are living with the results today in the west. 

Notable Books 30

Something New

Everyday Dharma: Seven Weeks to finding the Buddha in You, Lama Willa Miller, Theosophical Publishing House, Quest Books, 2009, Pages 268, $15.95

This is a Quest book that has been around for seven years or so. It is an excellent presentation to Buddhism in the Tibetan tradition.  It is very clear in its arrangement of topics and extremely well written. I think it should be more widely known. Perhaps one of the reasons it is not as well-known as some Quest books is because it also falls under the classification of ‘Self-help’ books. The author has apparently anticipated this and in her introduction includes the following:

“Many new students of spirituality and Buddhism do not initially have contact with a teacher.  They start with books, so it seems to me there should be books available that show people how to start a practice”

Something New

The One True Adventure: Theosophy and the Quest for Meaning, Joy Mills, Foreword by John Algeo, Theosophical Publishing House, Quest Books, 2008, Pages xiv + 361, $24.95 paperback.

Joy Mills has left us Theosophist quite a legacy with her talks and her writings. This book is a collection of some of her best presentations and publications. It is perfect for any study group, or individual. The compilers explain how the selections were chosen and best of all, Joy seems to have the last word on their selection and order.

The book is divided into four themes: The Human Condition, Our Hidden Potential, Esoteric Teachings, and Self-Transformation. There are numerous items in the Reference section for follow-up and an adequate Index.

Something New 

Masters of Wisdom: The Mahatmas, Their Letters, and the Path, Edward Abdill, Tarcher/Penguin (May 19, 2015), 288 pages. This book was previously reviewed on Theosophy Forward in March 2015; however, the review was short and offered few details.

Because Ed, along with his wife Mary, will be speaking during The European School of Theosophy later this year in Austria and the School’s theme will be similar to his book title, we decided to have another and more in-depth look at this excellent book.

Details of the upcoming event can be found here:  http://www.europeanschooloftheosophy.com/ 

Something New

Invisible Worlds: Annie Besant on Psychic and Spiritual Development, Essays compiled by Kurt Leland, Theosophical Publishing House, Quest Books, 2013, Pages xii + 411. 

Simply stated: This is a terrific book! How I wish this well-organized book had been available when I first began reading the works of Annie Besant. Starting over forty years ago I read Besant somewhat arbitrarily without any plan. Frequently, I felt her books and articles were, to some extent, random. Kurt Leland has taken the randomness out of the picture and arranged selected talks such that the power and coherency of thoughts are front and center.   

The subtitle of this book is: Annie Besant on Psychic and Spiritual Development.  Besant already thought she had accomplished this goal for herself and wanted to share this with others. Leland stresses, “…the goal of occult training, as taught by Besant, was to develop the bodies as vehicles of consciousness so that student could rise to the spiritual plane, where they might be further educated by the Masters.”