Turning Toward the Mystery: A Seeker's Journey – The World-Renowned Spiritual Teacher's Intimate Memoir of Inner Transformation

by Stephen Levine

In his most intimate book, the world-renowned spiritual teacher shares his inner journey of transformation and wisdom.

Genres: Buddhism, Spirituality

272 pages, Paperback

Published February 4, 2003

About the author

Stephen Levine was an American poet, author, and spiritual teacher best known for his groundbreaking work on death, dying, and grief. A central figure in the conscious dying movement, he helped bring Theravāda Buddhist teachings to Western audiences, alongside contemporaries like Jack Kornfield and Sharon Salzberg. His work, however, was uniquely shaped by devotional practices drawn from Bhakti Yoga and his spiritual connection to Neem Karoli Baba, blending Buddhist insight with heart-centered mysticism.
With his wife Ondrea, Stephen spent over three decades offering workshops, counseling, and writings that supported the terminally ill, trauma survivors, and caregivers. Their book Who Dies? remains a foundational text in end-of-life care. Levine’s teachings also explored “everyday grief”—the quiet accumulation of life’s disappointments—and emphasized the healing power of mindfulness and compassion.
A former heroin addict who transformed his life through spiritual practice, Stephen lived his final years in quiet seclusion in New Mexico. He passed away in 2016, leaving behind a legacy of deep insight and loving presence that continues to influence seekers, caregivers, and teachers around the world.

Reviews

[James]

Stephen Levine has led an extraordinary fife. One of North America's revered spiritual teachers shares the "heart's hunger" of his troubled youth, his work with the seminal figures of the Beat poetry and jazz scene in New York and the psychedelic sixties in San Francisco, and the seeker's journey that led him to encounters with Ram Dass, Elisabeth K#65533;bler-Ross and the Dalai Lama. In this intimate account of compassion and healing, Levine's narrative turns progressively inward as he describes his life's path toward a deeper understanding of "the way of things." A former drug addict become spiritual teacher, Levine describes how he learned to use his life as a jumping-off point from which to teach healing principles and guided meditations. The author lays bare his own understanding of mindfulness, loving kindness, and service (the fundamental pillars of Buddhism) in an account of a life rich with characters immediately recognizable as leaders of the modern Eastern spirituality movement. Levine, through his life and work, embodies the message that personal peace and transcendence are possible for all.

[Steve Woods · Rating 3 out of 5]

The journey proceeds in its own way at its own pace. This is a very personal account of aspects of that journey as they unfolded for one man. It is almost stream of consciousness in style, not unusual nor unexpected in light of experience; the process itself unfolds in the same way. There were some real gems here for me, especially since I opened this book at a time of spiritual crisis. It certainly offered at points of commonality, reassurance that this is the way for me and its unfolding in me is most certainly well underway. So, I am not so crazy after all and that towards which I have worked for years with dedication and discipline seems to be upon me now. Careful what you wish for!~

[Bethany Royer · Rating 1 out of 5]

His message was very profound but the layout of the stories made it very difficult to follow.

[Abigail]

Happiness is a superstition, but joy is our birthright." (244)



RAM RAM RAM