Soul Making: The Desert Way of Spirituality

Julia Baird (Author)

Bright Shining: How Grace Changes Everything

5,'A powerful book from one of my favorite writers on something we all need more of...and could give more of.' -- Ryan Holiday, bestselling author of The Obstacle is the Way and Ego Is the Enemy"Luminous. . . . A work to both devour and savour, Baird has, once again, written a book the world needs now.'"-- GuardianFrom the bestselling author of Phosphorescence comes a beautiful and timely exploration of that most mysterious but necessary of human qualities: grace.Grace is hard to define. It can be found when we create ways to find meaning and dignity in connection with each other, building on our shared humanity, being kinder, bigger, better with each other. If, in its crudest interpretation, karma is getting what you deserve, then grace is the opposite: forgiving the unforgivable, favoring the undeserving, loving the unlovable.Sadly, we live in an era when grace is increasingly rare. Our growing distrust of the media, politicians, and each other has choked our ability to trust, to accept, to allow for mistakes, to forgive.What does grace look like in today's world, and how do we recognize it, nurture it in ourselves and express it, even in the darkest of times? In this luminously ...

Karen Sinotok (Author)

The Little Book of Sanuk: The Thai Secret to a More Joyful Life

3, We all need a little more sanuk in our lives Sanuk is a Thai concept that can loosely be translated as meaning 'fun'. Though sanuk is in fact much more than that; it's about achieving pleasure and joy in all aspects of life. For Thai people, if it's not sanuk, it's not worth doing. Thai people believe that it's the little things that add up to a joyful life. Whether it's raising happy kids, enjoying a quick chat with your neighbour or having a laugh with friends, they try to bring a sense of joy into their daily routines. This easygoing, fun-loving way of life is why Thailand is often called The Land of Smiles. But how can we learn to prioritise this sense of fun and pleasure in our own lives? With recent clinical studies showing a clear link between a person's outlook on life and their health, a mindset of optimism and positivity has obvious benefits. Being a glass half full kind of person doesn't just help us live longer, it helps us live better. Embracing sanuk and approaching life a glass-half-full attitude can make you happier, healthier and more productive - and this book will show you how.

Thomas Merton, William H. Shannon

The Inner Experience: Notes on Contemplation

7,Thomas Merton's groundbreaking last major work--a provocative and pivotal look into contemplation and the true meaning of spirituality"True contemplation is not a psychological trick but a theological grace."--Thomas MertonRevised directly before his untimely death and released in full for the first time ever, Merton's book on contemplation has captivated readers for decades. In it, Merton takes us down a different spiritual journey than his previous books, one that bridges eastern and western religions in his signature brilliant insightfulness.Thought-provoking and challenging, The Inner Experience delves into contemplation by exploring both Catholic monasticism and mysticism alongside Buddhism and the ancient traditions of meditation and spirituality.Merton was still tinkering with this book when he died; this was profoundly the book he struggled with most during his career as a writer. But now Merton's legacy lives on, through evergreen discussions on what a spiritual path can look like when you relinquish the need to be all-knowing, and how a lack of self-reflection and inner trust is actually the ultimate sin. Merton's last words are for anyone seeking faith in a higher ...