Description
Book SynopsisA master spiritual teacher invites us on a journey – to the summit of self-discovery. This is a book to lift the spirit of anyone aiming to live a kinder, calmer, more meaningful life, in the midst of all the challenges facing the world today.
Fifteen warm, engaging essays present different aspects of meditation and the spiritual life, showing how we can rearrange our lives, little by little, to fit a higher purpose. Featuring saints and mystics from East and West, and a host of stories and anecdotes, this book reads like a conversation with a wise friend, with deep spiritual insights that you’ll want to come back to again and again.
Easwaran writes, “When you travel within, every day is fresh with discoveries and challenges, inspiration and profound peace. The scenes I paint for you in the following pages are just a fleeting glimpse of the continuing adventure that awaits you as you enter this world.”
The final essay, “Climbing the Blue Mountain,” which gives the book its title, is a moving account of the spiritual quest. Easwaran compares this with a long journey that he makes from the hot, dusty plains of Central India, up through jungle and plantations, to his home in the cool hills of the Blue Mountains, where his mother waits for him – reminding us that on the spiritual path, we too will one day find our true home.
Trade Review“Edited from his extemporaneous talks, this inspiring collection of essays gives the flavor of hearing this great spiritual teacher and storyteller in person. Easwaran successfully combines his Eastern and Western wisdom, which includes a thorough knowledge of English literature, into an eight-point program usable by followers of all religious traditions.” — American Meditation Institute
“These essays sparkle with the humor and insight that have made Eknath Easwaran a popular teacher for over 30 years . . . Easwaran clarifies spiritual practice with vivid, concrete metaphors drawn from his years of observing people, animals, and the natural world. “He certainly doesn’t downplay the difficulty of the meditative quest, which in order to be successful will cost us everything we have. But he does present its rewards so persuasively that it’s hard to resist the impulse to sit down and start right away.” — Yoga Journal
Table of ContentsTable of Contents Preface 7 Introduction 9 Taking the Plunge 17 The Jewel in Our Hearts 29 Spiritual Wealth 37 The Forgotten Truth 47 The Supreme Ambition 57 Chasing Rainbows 65 The Secret of Happiness 73 The Ticket Inspector 81 The House of the Mind 93 The Internal Witness 105 The Hound of Heaven 117 The Path of Meditation 127 Deepening Meditation 137 The Candle of the Lord 149 Climbing the Blue Mountain 159
Glossary 171
