Eastern spirituality encompasses a diverse culture that blends Hinduism, Buddhism, and other religions. The ancient texts of Eastern spirituality contains knowledge on achieving self realization and spiritual enlightenment.
Hinduism talks about concepts like Dharma (living righteously), karma (law of action and consequences), and more. Additionally, meditation and yoga practices are also mentioned to help build our connection between the mind and the energy within our bodies.
For anyone seeking spiritual growth, this millennia-old religion can hold the answers. While many people are more familiar with Western spirituality, which has topics like law of attraction and manifestation, it actually draws it’s information from Eastern spirituality. Eastern spirituality tends to dig a little deeper and get you more in depth answers than Western spirituality.
The following books are must read Hindu spiritual books for a beginner who is interested in learning about Eastern spirituality and use it in your everyday life.
The Bhagavad Gita by Eknath Easwaran
Overview:
The Bhagavad Gita is a Sanskrit poem that holds the most important teachings of Hinduism. It has the foundation of Hindu beliefs and serves as a guidebook for how to live our lives spirituality.
It tells the story of a conversation between Prince Arjuna and the God Krishna. Through out this conversation, you will learn about what the meaning of life actually is and more.
Why should you read it:
Although the original Bhagavad Gita is practically impossible to read to the average person, the information is still accessible. The Bhagavad Gita by Eknath Easwaran is a translation of the original Bhagavad Gita that is concise and readable. It covers the important points from the original text.
While the Hindu religion has many religious texts, the Bhagavad Gita is a good overview of all that information. Starting with this book can help you grasp the basics and then you can explore specific topics in more depth later on.
Healing Mantras by Thomas Ashley-Farrand
Overview:
Mantras play a significant role in Eastern Spirituality and are an essential part of many Hindu rituals. Mantras are like sound affirmations that can help you vibrate at the correct vibration of what you’re trying to manifest.
In Western spirituality, affirmations are commonly used for manifestation, but mantras are an alternative approach. These short chants use vibrations to connect your energy with the energy of the universe.
Why should you read it:
Healing Mantras by Thomas Ashley-Farrand is a great book to learn about mantras and easy chants. The author explains what mantras are, gives various mantras to try, and explains specific mantras that should be used in specific situations.
The author even talks about the meanings and the origins of each mantra. Plus, he talks about the advantages of using each mantra in our daily lives. This book is the complete guide to mantras all in one place.
The science of self realization
by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Overview:
Prabhupada, a guru, gave lots of talks and interviews about different lessons he has learned through his spiritual journey. This book brings together his most important teachings from those interviews and lectures. You’ll find lessons on karma, reincarnation, yoga, and much more.
Why should you read it
This book is a complete guide to achieving self realization. It covers important topics that can help you better understand yourself. It talks about the connection between your mind and body. It also delves into intuition, that inner sense that guides us in making good decisions. Plus, it explores the topic of reincarnation. Understanding these topics can open doors to a deeper understanding about yourself.
The Hindu Way by Shashi Tharoor
Overview:
The Hindu Way by Shashi Tharoor is an ideal starting point to learn about Hinduism. This book takes you on a journey through the belief systems, rituals, and festivals of this ancient religion.
Why should you read it:
If you’re new to Hinduism or don’t have much experience, this book is a must read. The author explains the basic concepts of Hinduism and shows how they can be applied in todays world. It is perfect for those seeking to incorporate the teachings into their daily life.
Self-Knowledge: Atmabodha by Swami Nikhilananda
Overview:
“Self-Knowledge: Atmabodha” by Swami Nikhilananda is a translation of the sacred text called “Atmabodha”, which literally means self knowledge. Atmabodha is a scared book that talks about the divine nature of the soul. It talks about the nature of ourselves and our soul (atman) and our connection to the universe. It even talks about the illusions that we face or Maya. Through out this discussion, this text teaches us many lessons for our spiritual growth.
Why should you read it:
“self-knowledge” helps us understand our true selves. It explains that we are energy and that we are connected to the universe’s energy. This book enlightens us about our inner essence and the powerful energy that is within each of us.
Classic Tales from India by Vatsala Sperling and Harish Johari
Overview:
When you explore Easter spirituality, you’ll come across various gods and goddesses being mentioned. Hindu mythology plays a significant role in Hinduism. Each god has unique qualities and teaches us different lessons. Hinduism was able to be passed down from generation to generation through these stories.
Why should you read it:
To fully grasp the meaning of Hinduism, it is important to know some stories from Hindu mythology. This book contains many well-known Hindu mythology stories, written like bedtime tales. Remember that each story has hidden meanings, so it’s important not to take them too literally.
The Ramayana by R. K. Narayan
Overview:
This is another mythology book about a story in Hinduism. It goes in depth about the story of Rama and Sita. Rama is the reincarnation of the God Vishnu. Vishnu is known as the maintainer. He appears in different forms on earth to teach different lessons to mankind.
Why should you read it:
This is another fascinating mythology book that goes deep into the story from Hinduism. It is about the epic tale of Rama and Sita. This is story is very popular and contains many lessons. Hence, it is mentioned often in other Hindu spiritual books.
Shakti Mantras by Thomas Ashley-Farrand
Overview:
This book serves as a guide to mantras, particularly those that have originated from feminine archetypes. We all have both feminine and masculine energy inside us. This book explores the power and significance of mantras that resonate with the feminine energy inside us.
Why should you read it:
In this book, we can learn how to connect with our feminine energy through chanting feminine mantras. The author talks about the origins of these mantras and the stories behind them.
Light on Yoga by B. K. S. Iyengar and Yehudi Menuhin
Overview:
In Hinduism, yoga plays a significant role. To connect with the universe’s energy and elevate our consciousness, we must have a strong mind-body connection. That’s where yoga comes in. By practicing yoga, we can enhance the connection between our mind and our body, leading to a deeper sense of harmony and inner peace. It is the perfect way to align our mental and physical selves.
Why should you read it:
Light on Yoga contains more than 600 photographs that show various postures and breathing exercises. For each post, the book explains its benefits for both the mind and the body. It offers a comprehensive guide to yoga, making it easier to understand and practice different poses and breathing techniques.
