Category: meditation

Catholic, Christian, inspiration, meditation

You Are the Beloved

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Henri J.M. Nouwen
Publisher: Convergent Books
Genre: Christian Inspiration
ISBN: 978-1-101-90637-8
Pages: 416
Price: $26.00

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Henri J.M. Nouwen was a Dutch-born Catholic priest, professor, and pastor, who gained international renown as the author of over 30 books on the spiritual life, including such classics as The Wounded Healer, The Inner Voice of Love, and The Return of the Prodigal Son. In You Are the Beloved, editor Gabrielle Earnshaw has compiled some of his most inspirational passages into a daily meditation book.

Each day’s reading is one page or less, making it easy to squeeze into a busy day. These beautiful meditations focus on God’s deep and eternal love for us, and encourage us to see that God is more intimate, more loving, and more longing to be in a relationship with each of us than we have ever imagined. Reading these inspiring and uplifting messages would be a perfect way to begin or end each day. I highly recommend You Are the Beloved.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Christian, meditation

The Listening Day Vol. 1

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Paul J. Pastor
Publisher: Zeal Books
Genre: Christian / Meditation
ISBN: 978-0-9970669-6-8
Pages: 112
Price: $8.99

Author’s website
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God’s voice comes to us through sacred Scripture, but many of us long to hear Him speak directly to us in our circumstances. Drawing on Bible quotes, Paul J. Pastor provides a simulated dialogue between God and the reader in a series of meditations.

These one page meditations resemble prayer, where the reader asks God questions and God responds. But rather than the harsh responses many expect, God reassures us of his love and care. Visiting topics such as pain and suffering, sin and repentance, relationships, and many others, Pastor shares the words God might say to us. The reader can enjoy them sequentially, or thumb through the book for the topic that speaks to him most in that moment.

In The Listening Day, God’s perspective is limited by our human understanding, as interpreted by Pastor. But these words are powerful and full of meaning for all of us. I highly recommend this innovative and inspirational meditation book.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

art, meditation

Dot to Dot NYC

Bergers Book Reviews

Dot to Dot NYC
Author: Narae Kim
Publisher: powerHouse Books
Genre: Art / Meditation
ISBN: 978-1-57687-815-6
Pages: 48
Price: $14.95

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Have you fallen in love with adult coloring books? Have you started eyeing your kids’ connect-the-dots books, thinking of how much fun it might be to do one, yourself? And once it’s completed, it would be great to give it some color.

Dot to Dot NYC is the adult connect-the-dots book you’ve been waiting for. This unique art-meditation book contains 23 hidden pictures, just waiting for a few moments of your time alone with a pencil and your imagination. Since each design has several hundred dots to connect, each group of one hundred is printed in a different color, making it easier to find them. However, those who have difficulty with small print will need to break out the reading glasses to see the tiny numbers. It would spoil the fun if I told you what’s pictured, but these completed images are well-known landmarks from around New York City.

Dot to Dot NYC captures the spirit of the Big Apple in a fun and creative way. This unique book would make a great gift.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

meditation, music

Tibetan Dream Journey

Bergers Book Reviews


Composer: Nawang Khechog
Label: Sounds True
Genre: Meditation
Length: 60 minutes
Price: $14.99

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After a rough period of recovery and grief from an auto accident, Nawang Khechog made the decision to take his hardships and tragedies into his spiritual path. Using his own pain as the catalyst, he has tried to alleviate the suffering of others through prayer. As a result of his spiritual growth in this area, Tibetan Dream Journey was created.

The gentle flute music is healing and soothing, bringing the listener to a meditative state. In addition to the music, one track shares chanting of the beautiful message “May all be kind to each other.” The Dalai Lama’s inspirational “Chant of Universal Compassion” is included in another track.

Khechog’s peaceful and compassionate nature is revealed to us through this beautiful music that leads us on a journey to our own spiritual center. May all who listen find happiness and harmony in their own lives.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Buddhism, meditation, spirituality

A Lamp in the Darkness

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Jack Kornfield
Publisher: Sounds True
Genre: Meditation / Spirituality / Buddhism
ISBN: 978-1-60407-642-4
Pages: 103
Price: $19.95

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Trouble is an inevitable part of being human. Although it’s tempting to simply bemoan our fate when something bad happens, it’s far more effective to accept these upsetting issues and integrate them into our whole life experience. In A Lamp in the Darkness, Jack Kornfield shares his thoughts on dealing with difficult times, in an effort to help us get through them.

Suffering can be caused by many things, and Kornfield reminds us that we already have an inner light – “The One Who Knows” – who will guide us. We may be in so much pain that we don’t feel we’re capable of compassion, forgiveness, healing, and wisdom, but these are some of the topics discussed, followed by meditations to explore these characteristics more deeply. An accompanying CD provides audio recordings of these meditations.

Difficulty doesn’t need to destroy us. We can rise above what happens, with our sense of self and peace of mind intact. A Lamp in the Darkness shows us how.

Reviewer: Alice Berger