Core references
Vedanta
For understanding the big picture
Why, what and how of liberation, salvation
The most ancient and yet the perenially evergreen wisdom. Vedanta comprises of many Upanishads, each dealing with the same unchanging reality, God, soul, the innermost Self, whatever you may call it. Each is “written” by a different sage and offers different paths/perspectives to IT. The beauty is each is thematic, with different approaches and emphasis, and yet totally devoid of sectarian or prejudice, uplifting, unifying, and clarifying for every genuine seeker.
The author of this site is a “specialist” in one of them, the shortest Upanishad, the Ishavasya Upanishad, which you find in the knowledge section of this site. In the process of understanding, the author has read many others and would recommend the following.
1.Swami Parthasarthy: Books – Choice Upanishads, The Vedanta Treatise https://www.vedantaworld.com/
2. Swami Dayanand Saraswati: Books – Who am I?, In the vision of Vedanta, The fundamental problem https://www.arshavidya.org/
3. Swami Prabhavananda: Books – The Upanishads. https://www.sriramakrishnamath.org/
Dada Bhagwan
For Karma and Relationships
Purify the heart
Dada Bhagwan was a seeker, sage, spiritual rationalist who had a very questioning mind. He lived recently, leaving his physical body in 1988. He gave discourses and answered questions after his enlightenment, which provides incredibly insight into karma and the human condition. His understanding and exposition of Karma is path breaking and forms the basis of the book, “How Karma works” listed in the knowledge section by the author. The authors own quest on who runs the world, and what decides our future was satiated once he came in contact with his works.
His recomended set of spiritual practices are based on becoming aware of and sensitising oneself to the hurt one causes others – this can transform the individual and relationships. The Charan Vidhi, a daily reading recommendation goes to the spiritual core with a lot of positive affirmations. All in all, a must for every human being to know.
There is an organisation which promotes and disseminates his teachings. https://www.dadabhagwan.org/
Iyengar Yoga
For Mind, Body and Breath
Quieten the mind
Yoga is popular throughout the world today and so is Iyengar Yoga, yoga methods and practice attributed to Shri B.K.S Iyengar or Guruji as we was respectfully referred to. What however has happened over the decades is it has been associated exclusively as an alternative excercise system, streching excercises, resotrative, therapetuic and rehabilitation etc. In itself, it is a complete spiritual system which comprehensively deals with the mind, body and breath, and that aspect is not known so well.
The classical Patanjali Yoga Sutras elucidiate the path of yoga. If you are genuniely intrested, this for the framework, along with the complete Iyengar Yoga system of Guruji, Gitaji and Prashantji (his children) can be an invaluable part of your journey.
https://bksiyengar.com/
Other references
Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
The direct no frills approach
The most simple, rustic, uneducated teacher, whether in the spiritual sense or in conventional sense sage you can find. He speaks from direct perception and is authentic and genuine. His question and answer which he spoke in his native Marathi are translated and the books are available. The first and most complete book is “I am that”
Non-duality links
A number of resources on the internet
In the last few decades, non-duality, advaita vedanta, and enlightenment have become increasingly familiar around the world, especially in the west. There are now a number of western teachers who in some ways are delinked from Indian spiritual and cultural traditional approaches. It could be helpful for those looking for what is perceived as a more rational and modern approach. The author occasionally goes through these sites, more out of curiosity rather than serious reading. No particular recommendation here.
These sites themselves are an aggregation of resources and links.
Shinzen Young
For quality meditation techniques
I have been to a few meditation courses, Vipassana by Goenka and others. Shinzen Young is really good. I would think he is the numero uno as far as meditation is concerned. But you may know somebody better, of course. While I attended his online course and was impressed, I dont practice his meditation. Just did not happen. My core practice is now in Iyengar Yoga. I would recommend this over the Vipassana retreats by Goenka any day – in fact I would recommend you not go to the Goenka Vippasana retreats. I will have a blog on it in the blog section on why.