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Essential Spirituality  By  cover art

Essential Spirituality

By: Roger Walsh MD PhD, His Holiness the Dalai Lama - foreword
Narrated by: Roger Walsh M.D.#Ph.D.
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Publisher's summary

Based on more than 20 years of research and spiritual practice, written by a man who is both a spiritual practitioner and award-winning scientist, Essential Spirituality shows how you can apply the seven practices central to all the world's major religions in your daily life. Filled with stories, myths, case histories, prayers, and practical advice, this extraordinary work has the power to change your life.
©1999 by Roger Walsh, M.D., Ph.D. (P)2000 by Penton Overseas, Inc. Published by Penton Overseas, Inc. and Audio Scholar, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Its power is rooted not only in Dr. Walsh's formidable intellectual capacity...but in his own deep spiritual practices." (Ram Dass)
"An invaluable guidebook for modern spiritual seekers." (Stanislav Grof, M.D.)

What listeners say about Essential Spirituality

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Highly recommended

Beautifully written and narrated. Roger Walsh has a gift for getting to the roots of the world's religions and distilling the essence in a very accessable way. This is not as much study in world religions as a revelation of the core teachings they have in common. Great quotations from each tradition and a continuous pointing to the source of all. Very enlightening.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

orientation in the jungle of spirituality

you just started to read about spiritual traditions, and you are confused about the multitude of wisdom and world views? listen to this book. roger gives a profound overview of how to jump-start your own spiritual path with comparisons (non judgmental) between the major traditions. you will see: they have so much in common...

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent and enlightening

I have been on a spiritual journey for most of my life, but this book so far is the best thing that I have encountered. It has clarified many of my thoughts and questions. I would not hesitate to buy this book again. I highly recommend it. Sincerely !

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

An excellent, practical guide to enlightenment.

Read it. Do what it says to do with devotion. Love God and love one another.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

For the truly spiritual seeker

Wow I have listened to this fantastic narrative about living and embracing life for the tenth time since I purchased it.Mr Walsh genuinely is trying to reach his listeners through his series of the Seven Perennial Practices , based from the different traditions of religions from around the world.Incorporating his wisdom for us to learn and live a more fulfilling life.His background in psychology, neuroscience,physiology,psychiatry and medicine comes through as part of the holistic nurturing of the human person.A very gifted and inspiring author for these turbulent times.His works have won numerable awards and it is easy to see why.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A Concise and Profound Book

This book is an amazingly concise and lucid book that goes right to the heart of the world’s many spiritual traditions and expounds on a beautiful, rich, and integrated set of practices to live an actualized human life.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I finally found it!

This is the best book I’ve ever read/heard on spirituality. I was looking for this kind of spiritual guidance for years. Very practical, down to the Earth and enlightening!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good Intro to Spiritual Practices

This quick read is packed with information and ends with a series of very simple but challenging practices that anyone can use to bring more depth and meaning to their life. Full of great quotes. Very understandable. Definitely worthwhile.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Insight and Gentle Encouragement

As a Buddhist, I was interested to see all the parallels the different religions had, and encouraged to continue to pursue my own practice as a way of bringing good to the world.

I would have liked it better if a professional reader, as opposed to the author, had read the book. You can hear his interest and desire in the topic, but his voice is not fluid or easy to follow for the listening ear.

Nothing groundbreaking. I learned a lot, and felt motivated when it was over.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Monotonous Narration

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I couldn't get past the first few chapters. The narration was awful. I was looking forward to the content but trying to pay attention was painful.

What could Roger Walsh#M.D.#Ph.D. (foreword by His Holiness the Dalai Lama) have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

A narrator / actor should have read this rather than the author.

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