The Seeker's Guide

by Elizabeth Lesser

In 1977, Elizabeth Lesser cofounded the Omega Institute, now America's largest adult-education center focusing on wellness and spirituality. Working with many of the eminent thinkers of our times, including Zen masters, rabbis, Christian monks, psychologists, scientists, and an array of noted American figures--from L.A. Lakers coach Phil Jackson to author Maya Angelou--Lesser found that by combining a variety of religious, psychological, and healing traditions, each of us has the unique ability to satisfy our spiritual hunger.
In The Seeker's Guide, she synthesizes the lessons learned from an immersion into the world's wisdom traditions and intertwines them with illuminating stories from her daily life. Recounting her own trials and errors and offering meditative exercises, she shows the reader how to create a personal practice, gauge one's progress, and choose effective spiritual teachers and habits. Warm, accessible, and wise, this book provides directions through the four landscapes of the spiritual journey:
THE MIND: learning meditation to ease stress and anxiety
THE HEART: dealing with grief, loss, and pain; opening the heart and becoming fully alive
THE BODY: returning the body to the spiritual fold to heal and
overcome the fear of aging and death
THE SOUL: experiencing daily life as an adventure of meaning and mystery

Genres: Spirituality, Self Help, Nonfiction, Psychology, Religion, Personal Development, Philosophy

464 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Kira · Rating 4 out of 5]

The section on meditation is excellent and one I go back to often. I used to think I meditated "wrong" until I read this: "Please expect this. Good thoughts, bad thoughts, pleasureable ones, disturbing ones- they will come and go as we sit in meditation, watching our breath...they are the weather of the mind. Our goal in meditation is not to get rid of thoughts. Rather, the goal is to abandon identifying with each thought as it comes and goes; to watch the thoughts as we would watch the weather from an observation tower."

[Diana]

This book is one that I will read for the rest of my life. All I have to do is open a chapter to find the message that my soul needs for this moment.

[Lynecia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elizabeth Lesser's "Seeker's Guide..." is chock full of wonderful spiritual insight, and had some very strong resonances for me. The book is very dense and jam-packed and bursting with information and tools for the eager, but more importantly, SERIOUS seeker of spiritual truth. Having said, it may not be for everyone. It took me awhile to get through not because it wasn't interesting, but because it is so much to take in. Though she's led me to more wonderful concepts, books, principles and teachers to delve into (the index at the back is indispensable) I moreso enjoyed reading about her own personal journey.
And spirituality is just that: a long, beautiful, yet sometimes painful and wrenching journey.
I would have given it 5 stars if it wasn't for the 50 billion meditation exercises. I guess meditation is something that really helped her along the way but its something I haven't scratched the surface of. I'd rather pray than meditate but its a really useful tool that I hope to use as I progress.
I'm looking to get a (cheap!) copy of the book to read again ( this one is a library copy) to highlight passages (and just maybe take a crack at some of her meditations?).

[Jill Quist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just what the doctor ordered. This is a book I'll dig into for years to come. Lesser has so much knowledge and isn't afraid to pick and choose what works on her spiritual path. I applaud the approach and I'm uplifted by many of her recommendations.

[Melissa Conner · Rating 4 out of 5]

The New American Spirituality: A Seeker’s Guide, by Elizabeth Lesser, is a book for those who need spiritual guidance. It presented me with a path to help lead me back to myself, my core, my heart.

Through personal anecdotes and meditations, Lesser leads the reader on a journey through the soul, starting from the outside and working inward. She teaches the reader how to love oneself, how to let go of anger and resentment, and how to heal and cope when life gets you (or a loved one) down.

If you’ve ever found yourself at a loss, at a crossroad, or at a point in your life where you felt confused emotionally or spiritually, this is the book for you. Lesser mixes lessons she’s learned from countless religions and teachers to help lead the reader on a journey of the spirit. As a reader I found comfort in knowing I wasn’t the only one who was experiencing this separation from my core, this disconnection between my soul and my heart.

Let this book be a guide to helping you find yourself or reconnect with what is important to you. As Lesser says, “May you remember who you are. May you awaken. May we all awaken.”

Read more at: http://thehobbeehive.wordpress.com

[Shao Pin Hoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are serious about your meditation, this is definitely the book to have on your shelves. While most meditation books focuses on the techniques, The Seeker's Guide provides a compendium of knowledge, material that will help you overcome various obstacles during your meditative journey.

[Gina Whitlock · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read some chapters and others I skimmed. There is a lot of good material in this book.

[Katie Kelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

i started this book at the beginning of the year and finished it at the end. i think it was my spiritual compass for the year. 🧡

[Callie · Rating 1 out of 5]

No, I didn't read it. I very lightly skimmed it. And it's not for me. Books that have exercises in them. Just. No.

[Hannah Garden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uugghhh so good!!!

[✨Arline✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything many people are learning in 2022 but written years and years ago.

[Melissa Greene · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED THIS BOOK. Wise, expansive, practical, and challenging.

[Laurie (barksbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as an audio and enjoyed the narrator's voice (always a plus) and found her discussion fascinating being an American surrounded by the materialistic society she describes. I find it hard to fathom that this is only an American fault, however. I'm enjoying her honesty in stating that finding your own path isn't something that happens by reading a book or even 100 books, it's something that takes long, hard work and there are no short cuts despite the myriad of books on the shelves that will tell you so. It takes much soul searching and inner work, a place many people don't wish to delve too deeply, to truly find your spiritual path.

This was a great program that has given me motivation to meditate each day. The guided meditations were very nice for beginners and I liked the bit about accepting distractions as they come and the author's guarantee that they will. I've tried this version of meditation but still prefer my "Alpha" countdown and count up or a chakra opening exercise for a more effective experience.

[Kelly J · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this book a decade ago in a moment of deep personal crisis, found it haphazardly at a Half Price Books in Austin. Started re-reading during the height of the pandemic in 2020 when I felt consumed by the unknown and have been slowly going through passages over the past two years. I’m not the same person as a decade ago or even two years ago, but it still brings me a warm comfort in understanding the balms of spirituality in however we decide to create and tap into that sense of interconnectedness for ourselves. There are lots of good reminders on how to (re)access spiritual experience via body, emotion, community, practice, place, perspective, mantra, etc. This book is definitely dated though and I would love to find a similar book written today with an attention to how gender and LGBTQ+ experiences, white supremacy, and capitalism affect notions of the spiritual and journeys to spiritual paths. Feeling peace…

[Dan Tasse · Rating 4 out of 5]

She really makes sense of the modern spiritual search, pretty even-handedly drawing on what's good about a lot of different religious and spiritual traditions, and letting you find your own way. She offers 4 "landscapes": mind, heart, body, and soul, and I think that's a pretty useful and all-encompassing.

[Jamie Sunderland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am sinking my teeth into this one, reading about 25 pages a day - and reading every word. I seem to be on a mindfulness quest these days, searching for some daily peace of mind - I think I'm getting closer. This is a wonderful book thus far.

[Angela Leddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book full of much wisdom. Would recommend to just about anyone who is seeking spiritual guidance. I wish I would have read it three years ago, but I am grateful for having had the opportunity to read and share it with my ministerial studies program.

[Lauren Carrington · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, although sometimes it didn't quite seem to hold my interest. Some of the real value of this book, what makes it invaluable to me personally, are her many reading suggestions in the back of the book, organized by which chapter in the book they expand on.

[Phgoldman]

Co-founder of the Omega Institute, she has a knack for putting the vast history of spiritual seekers into context and includes her own journey to light the way.

[Mercedes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very inclusive and honest and included many pages of suggestions for readings, music and more.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it.

[Wayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great perspective in the vast ocean of Religion and Philosophy. She is very objective, open and honest. Deffinately recommend.

[Etherea · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far I am loving this! I feel like the author really knows her stuff, and we think alike! Excited to continue my spiritual journey with the help of this book.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it!

[Robbin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm currently reading this remarkable book. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is seeking spiritual enrichment. Love this book!!

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

When reading this book I felt it was written for a course on meditation. It contained interesting information on the background of certain theologists, however, it became a task to read.

[Diana Raab · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book may easily be called a spiritual bible for transformation or a manual for transforming your life. From a spiritual and psychological standpoint, it discusses the general quest for spirituality, and offers just about all you need to know as a seeker. The author tries to focus on the message rather than the messenger.

Lesser is the co-founder of The Omega Institute, which is a prestigious adult learning center focusing on wellness and spirituality. She's very aware of the pitfalls of spirituality, and advises readers to be aware of their own spiritual materialism (see Trungpa book review below).

One of the many strengths of this book is that it's part self-help and part memoir, which aids readers in navigating their own journey. We learn about Lesser's own transformation, which informs and guides our our own. By sharing anecdotes from her own spiritual journey, Lesser elicits confidence and accountability because she's "walked the walk." Her candor and transparency inspires us to do the same. She also does a stellar job of simplifying what can be complex philosophies and ideologies about spirituality, making them accessible to both the trade and professional markets.

The book opens with a section called, "My Search," and the rest of the book is sprinkled with shorter personal anecdotes to illustrate the points being discussed. This work covers essential subjects, such as the sacred self, transcendence, gender differences, stress control, faith, wholeness, mindfulness, breathing, stress, and death. It's one of those books that needs to be read slowly, with many pauses for reflection interspersed with journaling time. The Seeker's Guide is worthy of being kept on any seeker's bookshelf-to be referred to over and over again. Bravo to Lesser on so many accounts! Highly recommended!

[Hlyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a few years to finally read this book. I first saw it in Oprah's "Seven Soulful Reads". As I have read and love the other books in the list, I knew I'd definitely love this book also. But...

Since I've been like reading only spiritual books, almost exclusively, for the past couple of years, I was feeling a bit tired and wanting to take a break from spiritual teachings. Reading spiritual books, like self-help books, can sometimes create a sense of "waiting" in you, feeling like you'll be truly ready after you've read this one particular book. And as you may have known, that's never the case.

However, when I read Elizabeth's story - her longing for spirituality since her childhood in a family that was hooked on science; she as a fourteen-year-old girl, pondering over a TIME's coverstory "Is God Dead"; her university years when she participated in the anti-war movent; and the most horrifying moment came when she was surrounded by four girls from a black students' organization and was slapped hard across the face in a dorm elevator- it really drew me in.

Then her spiritual "adventure" - her search in many spiritual traditions and practices- began. Although we all live different lives, we can, as spiritual seekers, relate to her personal stories. And her discussion about the pitfalls in our spiritual journey - including "spiritual materalism" - serves as a reminder for all of us.

She presents spirituality in four landscapes: the landscapes of the mind, the heart, the body and the soul, each of which includes her personal stories and those of her family and friends, and many guidelines for meditations and practices.

Reading this book made me feel like I was on a spiritual retreat, with many enlightening "A-ha!" moments. Her warmth and love radiating from her writing made me feel comfort and courage for my own spiritual adventure.

[T.J. Beitelman · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to read about somebody who actually did the legwork—lived in the communes, studied with the gurus, midwifed about a hundred babies, started up the world-renowned spiritual wellness center—read The Seeker’s Guide. Somewhere in the middle of my own project, I realized that I was, in my way, doing something very similar to Lesser, except I didn’t have half of her New Age bona fides. I eat fast food and shop at Walmart with very few qualms whatsoever. The only thing I’ll say in my defense is that, as I interpret it, The Seeker’s Guide is about writing your own The Seeker’s Guide. Through that iterative process, new knowledge, new adventures come to pass. To borrow from Lesser who borrows from Ken Wilbur, the best ideologies are those that both transcend and include their predecessors. I’m not sure that my endeavor transcends anything, but (conscious or not, noticeable or not) Lesser’s charge—to find Spirit in the life you live—is very much included there.

[Dan Bimrose · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author presents spirituality through a variety of traditions and thoughts, many of which she has studied more than the vast majority of people. It gives a path forward to those who disdain organized religion such as myself and for those who still find solace in the walls of their church or temple. That's a complicated task. The writing was very good, easy to follow and her stories are often entertaining and enlightening. I am one who is more comfortable using the words universe or cosmos rather than God. My church is the woods or the mountains. I worship under the stars. There is where I find my "awe." This book made me feel at home. The five stars are because I shall return to this book for insight many times I feel. There is no greater testament to a book than that.