The Spirit of the East

In the last one hundred years, there has been a significant increase in the exchange of ideas between different cultures throughout the world. As those areas traditionally thought of as "the West" began to interact more with the cultures of "the East", certain conceptions on the nature and potential of humankind and its place in the universe became better known to everyone.

While the usefulness of some of these ideas may be limited to the times, places and societies in which they've traditionally circulated, others may be of more general use in the modern world. Additionally, in spite of the widespread diffusion of many of these concepts, some ideas continue to be misunderstood or under-represented. The Spirit of the East playlist explores some Eastern spiritual ideas in the context of their traditional cultures.

Recommended reading:

Shamanism - Mircea Eliade

The Collected Taoist Classics - Thomas Cleary, trans.

Classics of Buddhism and Zen - Thomas Cleary, trans.

Introduction to Zen Buddhism - D.T. Suzuki

The Fighting Spirit of Japan - E.J. Harrison

Magic and Mystery in Tibet - Alexandra David-Neel

The Tibetan Book of the Dead: First Complete Translation - Gyume Dorje, trans.

The Way to Shambhala - Edwin Bernbaum

Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists - Ananda Coomaraswamy

Kalila and Dimna: Classic Fables from India - Ramsey Wood

The Upanishads - Ekniah Easwaran, trans.

The Bhagavad-Gita - Barbara Stoler Miller, trans.

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Chip Hartranft, trans.

Occult Science in India and among the Ancients - Louis Jacolliot

The Spirit of the East - Sirdar Ikbal Ali Shah

The Book of Oriental Literature - Sirdar Ikbal Ali Shah

Lights of Asia - Sirdar Ikbal Ali Shah

Oriental Caravan - Sirdar Ikbal Ali Shah

Oriental Magic - Idries Shah

The Egyptian Book of the Dead - E.A. Wallis Budge