BOOKS OF MY LIFE

 

This post is about the books I've read during my life, that have made permanent impact on me. Because my native tongue is Finnish, I've read them in Finnish, but I have assured they exist as English versions as well. Some may be so old, that I don't know if you are able to find them anymore. Some are available even online. I start with "spiritual books", but it's obvious that fiction can also nourish your soul, so I provide a list of my favorite fictional books too. 

First, couple of books by my "spiritual mentor", Pekka Ervast (see the link list beside). They are English translations in pdf-files: 

The Sermon on the Mount or the Key to Christianity

The Esoteric School of Jesus

It was through Pekka Ervast that I felt like I finally understood what Christianity was about; it just made sense, unlike Church dogma. 

The Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception or Mystic Christianity by Max Heindel, is not so much important to me because of its content, but because I own a copy of rare Finnish translation from 1920's. It is one of my book treasures. 

The Gnostic Gospel of Pistis Sophia, is also important to me for aforementioned reason! So sometimes it's the physical object, not the spiritual essence. It's especially true for old books, for they are surrounded by the aura of their own. Also I don't like reading books by electric device; it's totally different than reading a proper paper book! 

The Nag Hammadi Library as a whole opens up a new world of early Christianity. The Gospel of Thomas is probably my favorite. 

The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ by Levi H. Dowling. This is an interesting one, because I don't really believe in a story how it came to be, and neither in a story it tells about Jesus travelling around the world. Yet I think it contains profound wisdom completing some Biblical accounts. 

So Have I Heard by Axel Fredenholm. I couldn't find information in English about the author or the book, but this one actually made a deep impact on me. The author was Swedish, and in a frame story he is travelling with Indian Sage, who shares their wisdom of life during the journey. 

The Mirror of Light - From the Notebooks of Rodney Collin. This is based on the Fourth Way of Gurdjieff. 

Kahlil Gibran, all his works, but most notably The Prophet. So beautiful and uplifting! 

Martha and Mary by J. Anker Larsen. Another book and author without English information. Author was Danish, and you might think it's about the Biblical figures, but it's not. It's a novel about two sisters named after them, and the other one (Mary) has some kind of Enlightenment and tries to share her experience with others. I guess their names are also an allegory. Another good book by the same author is called The Philosopher's Stone. J. Anker Larsen was praised when I was a pupil in a Gnostic Mystery School, Lectorium Rosicrucianum, and that's how I found him. He was considered a Gnostic. His works were available in Library, but they were already quite old. 

Esoteric Christianity or the Lesser Mysteries by Annie Besant. I must say I'm not fond of Annie Besant, but this book is an exception. It is recommendable. 

The Inner Reality: Jesus, Krishna, and the Way of Awakening by Paul Brunton. I especially enjoyed what Brunton has to say about Christianity. In the light of Eastern wisdom it is more understandable.

What is Karma? by Paul Brunton. A collection of aphorisms, one might say, that are really deep and explain a lot!

Tao Te Ching. This must be the most beautiful Holy Book of the world, thanks to its poetical language and mysticism; you can't just draw dogma out of it. 

Bhagavad Gita. Another Holy Book you simply must know. 

Dhammapada. The Buddha's path of wisdom. Likewise. 

Paradise Lost by John Milton.  I have actually read it from cover to cover, which I'm very proud of, but it was not easy! This book has been so influential so widely, and as a former Luciferian I feel I need to give it a credit. 

Then let's get to the fiction! I admit that sometimes the line between "spirituality" and fiction might be a little blurry. There are examples of spiritual novels above, and who is to say some spiritual "knowledge" isn't just fiction? Also, it's possible to symbolically analyze fiction for deeper meaning; I've seen this done, for instance, with Tolkien. 

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. As a child I think I got this for Christmas present, and I actually liked it a lot! 

Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne. This one I have read as an adult. I like the original story, not Disney versions. 

Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. As stated above.

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. I must have been rather young when I first read this; there were no movies back then (but I do like the movies too!). 

Tales from Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin. Another fantasy world I have enjoyed! These wizards appeal to me more than those of Harry Potter (seen the movies, not read the books). 

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. And yet another. I also read the books long before the movies existed. 

Dracula by Bram Stoker. I also like horror, but this is the only book of that genre I can approve on this list. Knowing the story, whenever they make another movie supposedly based on it, I always can tell how unfaithful they are to original plot. 

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. I think I first saw the movie and liked it a lot. When a movie is based on a book, it's always recommendable to read it, because it really deepens the story. There is so much more you can express by written words! Coming-of-age stories appeal to me. Maybe it's because I have felt I completely missed my youth; I didn't have friends, I didn't live - I just existed. 

Lord of the Flies by William Golding. I remember how this story kept living in my head after I finished the book. 

Captains Courageous by Rudyard Kipling. Perhaps the one book I've read the most. It's just so compelling. Especially I liked the depiction of friendship between two boys from very different backgrounds.

Maurice by E.M. Forster. Again it might be that movie was first, then I read the book. Both were powerful experiences in a phase of life, when as a pupil of Gnostic Mystery School I actually thought I could never have a relationship with another man! 

As you can see, I have read books that are considered "Classics", and I'm proud of that! I'm sorry that for many years I haven't felt the urge to read fiction. And I'm also blaming the internet for the fact that nowadays it seems to be difficult to focus on reading for long enough. 

But the most of these books I have read when I was under 30. It must mean something. They have come to me at right time to shape my consciousness somehow.