These are books I’ve read and loved over the years — many of them worn and tattered from repeated readings. They sit proudly on my shelf as companions on the path.
Drawn from a wide range of traditions — Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Stoicism, Greek philosophy, western and eastern poetry, and more — each book has touched me in some way. Some are from saints, some from seekers, some from poets, skeptics and philosophers. All, in their own way, have deepened my understanding of life, spirit, and self.
I hope you find something here that lights a spark.
Enjoy.
Autobiography of a Yogi – Paramahansa Yogananda
Autobiography of a Yogi – Paramahansa Yogananda
Another early discovery in my teens, Autobiography of a Yogi was nothing short of magical. Reading about levitating yogis, the mystical Babaji, and the great saints of India opened my heart to the deep mystery of existence — and made me realise just how much we don’t understand.
Yogananda’s writing is extraordinary. His command of English is so fluid and vivid, he could’ve been a great novelist — yet what he delivered was far more: a spiritual guide disguised as a life story. The photos in the book are etched into my memory, especially those that introduced me to Lahiri Mahasaya and Swami Sri Yukteswar-ji.
This was also where I first encountered the radiant Sri Anandamayi Ma — the blissful mother. I now have a photo on my wall of Yogananda and Ma together. Maharaj-ji, too, was close to Ma, and Ram Dass tells some charming stories of their luminous friendship.
This book was one of the earliest “dot-connectors” on my path — one that lit up many threads that continue to unfold in my life today.
Awakening The Buddha Within – Lama Surya Das
Awakening The Buddha Within – Lama Surya Das
This was the first spiritual book of its kind I ever picked up — plucked off my mum’s bookshelf as a curious 13 or 14-year-old. I was completely absorbed. The way Lama Surya Das (or LSD, as I like to call him) explained the Noble Eightfold Path was both accessible and profound. He somehow made ancient Tibetan Buddhist teachings feel completely at home in a suburban teenage mind.
The writing is playful, poetic, and wise — filled with humour and humility. It wasn’t about worship or doctrine, but it still managed to plant a seed of bhakti in me without ever naming it. I’ve reread this book several times over the years, and it still cuts through, gently but directly. It shines a light inward every time I return to it.
I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Miracle of Love – Ram Dass
Miracle of Love – Ram Dass
This book was spellbinding. A collection of wonderful stories about Neem Karoli Baba — shared by both Westerners and Indians — capturing their personal experiences and the quiet, miraculous presence of Maharajji.
I absolutely love this book.
The photo shows my two copies. One I picked up years ago from a second-hand bookstore in New York — likely an early edition. The other I bought at the Kainchi Dham Ashram during my pilgrimage. I read from the newer one now, as the original is worn, nearly falling apart — more of a cherished souvenir on my bookshelf.
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