Best Spiritual Writing (2011) by Unknown author

A treasure trove of beautifully crafted, radiant, and heartening gifts – that is how Thomas Lynch describes the collection in his endorsement of the 2010 edition. The Best Spiritual Writing 2011 offers a curated selection of exceptional spiritual writings from various journals and magazines. This anthology brings together the most outstanding pieces of spiritual literature published in the United States over the past year. Taking the form of poetry, short fiction, memoir, and essays, these writings provide profound insights and provoke thought. Esteemed authors such as Rick Bass, Philip Yancey, Terry Teachout, Robert D. Kaplan, and others contribute to this extraordinary compilation.

Phyllis Tickle, reflecting on the previous edition, affirmed that the content within The Best Spiritual Writing 2011 is abundant enough to satiate the longing of hearts for many years to come. With diverse genres and esteemed authors, this collection promises to nourish the soul and offer a transformative reading experience.

Dean Sluyter’s 10 Best Spiritual Books: A Journey Through Awakening and Enlightenment

Hello and welcome! Joining me today to share the stories behind his 10 best spiritual books is Dean Sluyter, an award-winning author and meditation teacher who has been teaching natural approaches to meditation and awakening since 1970. Dean gives talks, workshops, and retreats throughout the United States and beyond. In addition to writing and teaching, he narrates audiobooks and sings with the Threshold Choir, which brings songs of comfort to the dying.

Dean shares that books, at their best, are like dharma gates opening into boundlessness, offering insights and experiences that can be life-changing. He emphasizes that these books were significant to him at specific times in his life and were like lifelines that supported and guided him.

One of the books on his list is Mad Magazine, which he encountered as a child and had a profound impact on him. The magazine’s humor and satire exposed the fakery of American culture and taught him not to take things too seriously.

Another book is The Rubyiat of Omar Khayyam, which he read during his teenage years. This book’s message of living in the present moment and not worrying about the future resonated with him.

Dean also discusses the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita, which he encountered in high school. These texts introduced him to the concepts of Brahman, the boundless, and Atman, the true self. This understanding of the fundamental essence of consciousness and being sparked his interest in meditation and spiritual awakening.

Throughout the interview, Dean shares stories and insights from other books on his list, such as Walden by Henry David Thoreau, Miracle of Love by Ram Dass, The Crystal and the Way of Light by Chogyal Namkhai Norbu, I Am That by Nisargadatta Maharaj, and Presence: Volume 1 by Rupert Spira.

Dean’s latest book, The Dharma Bums Guide to Western Literature: Finding Nirvana in the Classics, is a compilation of his insights and connections between spiritual teachings and Western literature. He explains how books like Oklahoma and The Cat in the Hat can offer profound spiritual lessons and awakenings.

Lastly, Dean highlights his involvement with the Threshold Choir and the importance of singing for people at the end of life as they transition into new phases. He describes the powerful effect of singing simple songs to dying individuals, providing a sense of peace and comfort.

Overall, Dean’s story and book selections remind us of the transformative power of literature and how it can illuminate our spiritual journeys.