Since 2010 I can fairly say I've been nothing but a bookworm. Not that that's anything I'm bragging about, in fact, I think that pretty much means I'm a huge nerd. I've been able to read countless books of all different genres, ranging from sci-fi and fantasy, to self-help classics, to religion and spirituality. I have absolutely loved the time I've spent in each one of these books, but to say that all of them have impacted me as much as the last one would be a lie. So, I wanted to share with you all 3 of the books that I feel have been most influential in my life up to this point. Enjoy​​!

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1. The Tao Te Ching [dow de ching]

 

"Just what is the Tao Te Ching​?" you may ask. Great question. It's a spiritual classic which roughly translates from Chinese as "The Scripture to the Way of Virtue." It is supposed to have been written more than 2,500 years ago by a man named Lao-Tzu. There are many different myths and legends as to the life of Lao-Tzu and the origin of the Tao. I'll share with you one of them. Lao-Tzu lived in China, was well respected and viewed as somewhat of a sage. Wanting to get away from the chaos caused by the warring states of China at the time, he attempted to flee the country. He headed west and was stopped by the gatekeeper, Yin Xi. Yin Xi, knowing that Lao-Tzu was wise, asked him if he would leave behind some of his teachings for the world before moving on. Lao-Tzu contemplated this, departed, and returned to Yin Xi the next day with the 81 verses now known as the Tao Te Ching. Filled with wisdom and light varying from what you find in nature and how to treat others, all the way to how a nation should be governed, one can't help but gather some insight from it.

 

As for what I've learned in the numerous times of going back to this beautiful little book I can hardly begin to express. I will say that the greatest lesson I learned from the Tao Te Ching would be the understanding that everything is working for my good. Too often we tend to define events as "good" or "bad" not really having the foresight to see the reason for its occurrence. All is pushing us toward our purpose and path, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Magic just can't help but manifest in your life when you believe that all is working toward your ultimate good. For example, my wife and I recently bought a new TV on a discounted price. It was what we thought was a very good deal. We brought it home, excited to pop some popcorn and watch a movie on the new TV. We opened it, pulled it out of the box, and found that there was a huge crack in the screen! We tried to trade it in for a new one, but the company didn't have anymore in stock. So, long story short, we had to do a little running around to finally get a hold of someone who said, "I'm sorry you had to go through all of this. Of course we'll make it right. Come in and we will give you any TV you want of the same size." So, we were able to get a TV that was four times more expensive and far nicer, for the original sale price. That's just a small example of things working out for those who believe they will.

 

I will admit, this book has a lot of symbolism and the meaning may not be outright clear, but if you take the time, you'll find some amazing nuggets! I have read a good handful of translations and I feel that the easiest for me to understand and pull from was the Jonathan Star translation. Click here if you want to check it out!

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2. The Bhagavad Gita [Bha-ga-vad GÎ-tâ]

 

The Bhagavad Gita is an ancient and sacred Hindu text, taken from the Mahabharata. It is a story of a man named Arjuna who has, unfortunately, found himself about to take part in a battle against friends and relatives. Arjuna begins to be sad that he will have to shed the blood of those he knows and fears that he will commit sinful acts. As the battle is about to commence, time is stopped and Arjuna comes to learn that his chariot driver is actually Krishna, who is considered the Supreme Personality of Godhead by the Hindu people. So, there he is, all the time in the world, with God Himself. Of course he asks questions, and Krishna answers. Much of this book is spent with dialogue between the two as Krishna tutors Arjuna in the ways of spirituality, virtue, and the things of import. 

 

My greatest lesson from the Bhagavad Gita was to learn that I am not this body. What I am is something so much deeper than that. I am the observer within. Pain and affliction cannot reach who I am. Not even the deepest wound could pierce what is found within. Infinite, unborn, and eternal. So often we get stuck with the idea that we are our title. We say things like, "Oh, I'm the manager of..." or, "I'm a mailman." But those things aren't what we are. When we shed our masks, titles, and beliefs, what we have underneath it all is the same thing that anyone else has: their eternal soul, and the true definition of Self. This has really helped me gain perspective in life and to not sweat the small stuff. No matter what may happen to the body, the soul that I am will always be free. I know that was a lot of info to breeze over like that, but if you want to go more in-depth, check it out here!

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3. The Anatomy of Peace

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The other two books I've recommended have been very ancient Eastern texts, this one is much more modern. Written by the Arbinger Institute and published in 2006, this book is full of wisdom to enhance our daily lives. It's a fictional story that teaches many valuable, real-life lessons. It has its focus on a family which consists of a prideful father who's business is failing, a mother who doesn't know how to stand up for herself, and a son who struggles with drug abuse and has had several run-ins with the law. The story is set in a court-ordered rehabilitation center of sorts where the parents think they are dropping off their son to be helped and find that it was just as much for them as it was for their son.

 

This book is filled with all kinds of easy to understand charts and diagrams to help us better understand who we are and why we are that way. It really helps one to get to the root of any issue they may have and discover how to overcome negative habits and belief patterns. The greatest lesson I took from this book was the understanding that we are all worthy of compassion and love. I left this book with the realization that everyone else has needs, wants, and fears as real to them as mine are to myself. So often in life we see the people around us as just objects to be ignored or used for our benefit, but this helped me to remember that everyone you meet, from the cashier at your local grocery store to the police officer you see out and about are real people! They deserve to be seen and treated as such. Click here to get yourself a copy!

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There you have it. Likely the 3 most influential books that have shaped me into who I am today. Look into them, tell me what you think, and I hope they help you as much as they've helped me. Thanks for reading!