Essential Spirituality: The 7 Central Practices to Awaken Heart and Mind

This is an essential book. Written in accessible language, it describes and synthesizes the 7 central practices common to the world’s great religions. The book is inspiring as well as instructional. There is everyday wisdom soaring to Truth on almost every page.Dr. Roger Walsh conveys these practices with gentle spaciousness. Seen through his lens, (he is a psychiatrist, a psychologist, and a seasoned practitioner of these exercises) Walsh seamlessly orchestrates complicated material and illustrates with teaching stories. His writing encourages implementation.For anyone on a Path, who has ever had doubts along the way, this book will offer experiential suggestions which will take you further. This is a book not to be read once, but to be savored and re-tasted along the way.

This is an interesting and somewhat unique book because the emphasis isn't theological or philosophical at all, but rather on spiritual practices one can apply in daily life.As such, the author doesn't burden himself (or the reader) with trying to rigorously justify the recommended practices, nor does he attempt to build a theoretical framework. Instead, he simply presents the practices and suggests that readers give them a try. I agree with this approach, because it seems that sometimes, especially in spiritual matters, we have to first take action and experience the consequences of that action in order to develop our understanding, rather than the more typical (and skeptically cautious) western approach of first developing understanding on rational grounds, then acting on that understanding.Although the book doesn't include rigorous argumentation, the author does link the practices to a variety of spiritual traditions, including many quotes from sages and spiritual texts. I presume this is mainly to show the universality of the practices, and also to increase the chance that each reader will find things they can resonate with. Here and there, the author also mentions cases in which modern psychology and neuroscience provide scientific evidence supporting the practices, but this is a minor component of the book.The book is divided into short chapters, and I think that reading a chapter a day will work well for most readers. I've read the book once, and I think it's valuable enough that I'll periodically reread it in the future.Overall, I highly recommend the book to anyone motivated to grow spiritually, and who is open-minded enough to not be troubled by seeing references to many different spiritual traditions. Also be sure to check out  50 Spiritual Classics: Timeless Wisdom from 50 Great Books on Inner Discovery, Enlightenment and Purpose , which I think nicely complements this book.As a final note, please remember that the key is to implement the practices in your daily life, not just read about them and understand them intellectually.

I got what I wanted I am satisfied

Great read. I recommend it passionately...

Such a great book... This book was like my bible for many years. I kept it on my bedside to remind myself of the important things every day. It contains so many beautiful messages about life and growing up as a human being. I still go back to it every once in a while and engage in the practices suggested in this book. It is written with a sincerity and honesty that I rarely see in these kind of books. Thank you, Dr. Walsh! Now I have a book called, "Two One None: Conversations on Meditations" by my bedside. Being at a later stage of life now, this book, written by Toru Sato helps me go a little deeper and further into the path of inner growth. I'm really loving it!

Like the Rosetta Stone of ancient languages, "Essential Spirituality" is a translation key to our ancient wisdom traditions, including the world's religions. Each religion and spiritual tradition is unique, of course, but in this age in which the world's diverse peoples are forced into closer contact, it is essential that the jagged edges of our traditions be smoothed out to avoid injuring our relationships with others.The spiritual path, as Roger Walsh reveals, is neither an esoteric and arcane journey, nor a homogenized generic info-mercial. Instead, it is a rich and diverse river of compassion and kindness that has always been recognizable to those who have taken the time to observe it. Most of those reading this book will not quite hear the rushing currents of passion, and yet something in them may be cleansed as the debris of prejudice and ignorance are slowly eroded by the force of humanity's timeless, universal aspirations for meaning and peace. "Essential Spirituality" is an immensely hopeful book for those seeking global understanding, respect and peace.

When I read this book in 2008, it changed my life in such a positive way. I especially love the integration of the ahared greater good across spiritual paths, and the guides exercises and practices for cultivating spirituality and meaning in a very experiential way. These practices inspired me to finish my Ph.D. and to spend my time in a way that is better aligned with my beliefs. I have reread and referred to it several times since then and it is great every time. I have also shared a couple of the guided visualization exercises on envisioning your life in the future and looking at forward to the end of life and beyond with students and friends who are experiencing change or soul searching, and they have also found it to be very helpful. Read and enjoy this book!!!

I first read this book very slowly when I needed to find my way out of conventional thinking that was not serving my young family. I listened to an abridged version while walking the track over and over - hearing something new each time as I opened to the different perspective of compassion, nonclinging and freedom. Fifteen years later, my gratitude and affection for this book still shines. Thank you.

i bought this book more than 10 years ago and many times have returned to its chapters, as over the years some practices are becoming more in line with the flow of life at that period. It's a great book with many wonderful stories that leave a lasting imprint thus changing the views on many things and shaping the spiritual path sometimes in very obvious and sometimes in very subtle ways. one way or another it makes a profound change.

How do we strive to live from a greater level of consciousness, to be of service to others, whilst living from a place of joy and bliss?This may sound like a tall order, but in Roger Walsh’s book, Essential Spirituality, many of these vital lessons and answers are given. Delving into the major religions, minimising their theories and discarding the nonsensical, Walsh presents ideas and exercises that have been proven to be the most practical and effective for our everyday modern life.There are so many great teachings within this book to guide us to more happiness whilst reducing suffering. This includes detaching from what makes us suffer – as the Buddha wisely taught, but also teaches us to recognise that we are so much more – we are boundless in spirit. Sages such as Shankara recognised that we are more than our body, describing our soul as “resting within it, as if within a carriage.”Most of us are chasing the physical pleasures in daily life to make us feel better – which are fleeting, leading us to want more and and fuel the cravings. Walsh discovers that to destroy craving is to realise one’s true self. Also, once we recognise what causes our pains, we can then look for the attachment that underlies it. All of us want to live a happy life, and if we truly want this, then we may need to change with the help of the spiritual exercises within this book. These guide us to greater awareness, whilst weakening cravings and their destructive force.Essential Spirituality also looks into our soul’s desire. We often become consumed with the problems in our lives, which can get in the way of living in freedom. Releasing our negative beliefs and old thought patterns can then open up space for new thoughts and desires, for us to then further evolve. The great spiritual teachings within this book, help us direct our attention, our thoughts and our actions, so we can go in the direction of our dreams, leaving behind the often petty and insignificant distractions of life. If we can master this, we will have a less frenetic and more peaceful life.For most of us, life appears to blow us around in the breeze, but Essential Spirituality helps us to focus our attention on where we truly want to be headed and what we really want to be doing. In dedicating our daily actions to why we do something, for example improving others lives, will give us greater motivation and meaning to the action. This then takes the attention off of the self and moves it onto the all, giving a greater purpose in our doing.This book also helps us to gain clarity and a deeper understanding of negative emotions such as fear and anger, helping us to investigate and challenge our own thoughts and experiences, so that we can overcome our challenges. Each section gives us exercises to help quash these often destructive emotions, so we cannot allow them to build and then we can move on with our lives. Walsh also writes on understanding real love for ourselves and all about us. Through the words of wisdom within this book, love is always the key.Essential Spirituality shows us ways to heal the past and make us responsible for our own actions. This will not only improve our own lives, but those around us. We can then heal from our own mistakes,Walsh also writes on ethical living, and why it is sought-after in every religion. In making more ethical choices, helps free us up to enjoy new experiences.There are also great practices within the book to train the ‘wild monkey mind’, helping us to become more focused and grounded. We are then able to attain more clarity and become calmer, whilst looking at the world and ourselves as they really are. The many mindfulness exercises help us to live more in the moment, and to enjoy every day. We can then become more conscious and rejuvenated.In allowing these great teachings and learnings into our hearts, with a deeper understanding, we will then have more to give others, which in turn will help us to develop further.One personal note I will make:I was a carer for many years, looking after my disabled and palliative care husband. As with over 70% of carers, I fell mentally and physically ill from being too generous with my love and compassion. Although Walsh writes in extent on compassion and of being service to humanity, even writing of the Helpers High – which most carers will understand – if you are not careful, and give too much, you will be of service to nobody, including yourself, and others will have to come to your aid.Although we are all at different points in our spiritual journey; wherever you are, this book will have something to offer you, to help you continue on the path of enlightenment.

thanks

Beautiful book!

Love this book. It's unbiased and offers views and opinions and teaching from all the major religions. It gives practical advise on every day living and how you can improve your life and how to make the most of it. How to live in the moment and detach yourself from things that aren't really that important. You don't have to read from cover to cover, you can dip in and out at whatever catches your eye. Highly recommended. This books one book I'll keep forever