Books That Feed Your Soul and Ignite Self-Discovery
Embark on a spitirual journey with these powerful reads.
As humans, we’re born with multiple spiritual gifts.
The sad part? Most of us don’t know how to access those gifts.
We get disconnected from our core values and feel lost in life.
Until a few years ago, I too felt directionless and energetically exhausted most of the time. There was a voice inside me saying that I was meant for more. I couldn’t ignore that inner calling anymore. I felt I wasn’t being true to myself. That’s when I took a step to embark on my self-discovery journey and live a life that heals my soul. After that, I’ve never looked back.
Being an avid reader, I naturally turned to books for guidance.
If you want to get out of the mental freeze and discover your true self, consider reading these books on spirituality and self-discovery. These books shaped the way I think and helped me spiritually level up my life.
Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda
The first book that made me believe anyone can explore their spiritual potential and find their life’s purpose is Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda.
It’s a classic that takes us on a spiritual journey from a yogi’s perspective. The autobiography is divided into several chapters of Yogananda’s life and his quest for self-discovery. At a very young age, Yogananda showed signs of inclination towards spirituality and the divine. In his quest, he met many sages and his guru, Swami Yukteshwar Giri, who taught him the sacred science of Kriya yoga. Things took a turn when he visited the United States and introduced Yoga and rich Eastern philosophies to the West. He aimed to help people attain enlightenment and spent the next thirty years teaching spiritual practices.
Every chapter in this book felt like a spiritual awakening for me. I learned that divinity is not a mystery, but something that anyone can attain through yoga and meditation practices.
Our souls need to evolve at every stage of our lives. This book shares meditation practices to achieve inner peace and connect with your higher self. It book challenges conventional beliefs and gives a new perspective on understanding reality.
The incident of Swami Yogananda’s samadhi and his body showing no signs of decay even after his death says a lot about his spiritual state. It made me contemplate the nature of life and death and their connection with our physical reality. I read and reread The Autobiography of a Yogi to fully grasp the teachings and discover the divinity within me. I advise you to take your time reading this and continue till the end.
My favorite quotes from Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda
“You have come to earth to entertain and to be entertained.”
“The power of unfulfilled desires is the root of all man’s slavery”
“You do not have to struggle to reach God, but you do have to struggle to tear away the self-created veil that hides him from you”
“Stillness is the altar of spirit.”
A Course in Miracles by Helen Schucman
A Course in Miracles by Helen Schucman is a guidebook that gives you actionable steps to find inner peace. The book is divided into three sections namely,
- the Text,
- the Workbook for Students, and
- the Manual for Teachers.
It has mesmerizing lessons on forgiveness, love, and self-discovery. A Course in Miracles looks at miracles as not supernatural events but shifts in perception when we see reality from the eyes of love.
I enjoyed the Workbook for Students part which consists of 365 lessons, each to be practiced daily. You’ll feel lighter as you work on your ego and practice forgiveness. With each lesson, you’ll start releasing all the negativity, judgments, grievances, or illusions.
I felt like I was immersed in divine love as I religiously followed the lessons. I understood that forgiveness and love are a way to heal ourselves as well as others. Try reading this book if you are on a journey of self-discovery or want to teach spirituality and enlighten others.
My favorite quotes from A Course in Miracles by Helen Schucman
“What you think you are is a belief to be undone.”
“Infinite patience produces immediate results.”
“Love holds no grievances.”
Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
The concept of Taoism in Chinese philosophy means formless, eternal, and beyond human comprehension. One who understands Tao or “The Way” lives in harmony with the universe and has to let go of any desires and ego.
Tao explains the duality of nature in the form of Yin and Yang, considered essential for eternal balance.
Every phrase in the book Tao Te Ching unfolds deeper meaning and a way to live life spiritually. I live by the principle of Wu Wie in Tao Te Ching, which means non-action or allowing things to unfold naturally without any interference.
My life has become easier when I let go of the desire to control things that can’t be controlled. Detachment from desires and accepting the unpredictability of life leads to inner peace. And trust me, this is the secret mantra for contentment.
My favorite quotes from Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
“Those who know do not speak. Those who speak do not know.”
“When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everyone will respect you.”
“The truth is not always beautiful, nor beautiful words the truth.”
“Do you have the patience to wait until your mud settles and the water is clear?”
Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach
The journey of self-discovery starts from accepting yourself in the way you are; embracing your bright sides as well as the shadow self.
But criticism from someone we love or small mistakes can make us doubt ourselves. Why so? Because we don’t have acceptance and compassion for ourselves. We inherently believe there’s something wrong with us that needs to be fixed. When life felt like a war and I wanted to get my shit together, Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach came like a warm hug to me.
As I patiently read this book, I realized that even though I was hustling hard, I was missing compassion for myself. Radical Acceptance, through personal stories, case studies, guided meditations, and Buddhist tales, teaches us how to become our authentic selves.
It also tells us to understand the root cause of self-judgment and suffering. Radical Acceptance taught me how practicing forgiveness is crucial for breaking the cycle of suffering and building meaningful connections. Give it a read if you want to free yourself from self-loathing and embrace your true self.
My favorite quotes from Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach
“Imperfection is not our personal problem — it is a natural part of existing.”
“When someone says to us, as Thich Nhat Hanh suggests, “Darling, I care about your suffering,” a deep healing begins.”
“The boundary to what we can accept is the boundary to our freedom.”
“Clearly recognizing what is happening inside us, and regarding what we see with an open, kind and loving heart, is what I call Radical Acceptance. If we are holding back from any part of our experience, if our heart shuts out any part of who we are and what we feel, we are fueling the fears and feelings of separation that sustain the trance of unworthiness. Radical Acceptance directly dismantles the very foundations of this trance.”
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