David Steindl-Rast: Essential Writings (Modern Spiritual Masters)

This has not been the easiest book I have ever read, you almost need to read it a chapter a day and take time to absorb it. I like his opinion that if you are doing something worth doing and you are doing it with your whole heart that is like praying. He relates it to the verse in the Bible to pray without ceasing. He also feels that being grateful for the smallest things, a sunset or a cool breeze, will make you feel joyful and in your gratefulness have a fuller life. I'm making it sound simplistic but his outlook will help you rise above the petty stuff we all can get trapped in. It is uplifting.

The varied and engaging works of Br. David Steindl-Rast are written with the lay reader in mind. Br. David has the talent and gift to guide the reader to an appreciation of spiritually important concepts and practices. This book captures important pieces of his many works. The book is ordered around a number of key themes such as Gratefulness, and Time - The Perfection of the Moment. Each theme draws from various works Br. David to unveil the mystery in each. As a style of presentation it works and makes this a book the reader will want to take slowly and thoughtfully. If you give yourself the time to read this book you will feel rewarded, enlightened and inspired to make some changes in how you think and act.

And inspiring collection.

David Steindal-Rast to me is the premier Catholic music. His messages of gratefulness truly are inspirational.

Challenging read but well edited. We need more minds and thinking like Mr. Steindl-Rast!

Very insightful. The distillation of his life and his personal values in very clear and very interesting. He seems like a guy who has got it all together.

Everyone --- regardless of faith or lack there of --should read this book - Brother Steindl-Rast speaks to the heart of all of us!

Must read!

David Steindl-Rast has written many books on Contemplative Religion and this selection gives the seeker an excellent guide to his life, thought and work. The passages chosen from his writings are both illuminating and extraordinarily relevant to our times. The quotations selected by Clare Hallward are springs of water in the waste lands of much that passes for human existence to-day. The great advantage of a collection of "Essential Writings" is that we are able to choose from them a book that most speaks to us personally. Initially I purchased Clare Hallward's excellent selection because I was unable to make up my mind which complete book of the author that was most relevant for my spiritual growth. The "Modern Spiritual Masters Series" books published by Orbis Books is invaluable. I have a number of them and can vouch for their excellence. I particularly love this one.

Wonderful man - well worth reading

Dieses Buch enthält wesentliche Textauszüge von Br. David Steindl-Rast Schriften und Interviews, zum grössten Teil bisher noch nicht veröffentlicht, zu seinen grossen Themen "Leben in Dankbarkeit", "Liebe als Zugehörigkeit", Glauben, Hoffnung, gesunder Menschenverstand, um nur einige seiner immer wieder reflektierten Themen zu nennen und - eine ausführliche Biographie von Clare Hallward verfasst, wie sie bisher noch nirgendswo erschien. Eine wahre Fund- und Schatzkiste.

Sehr gut zusammengestellte Sammlung aus Texten und Büchern von David Steindl-Rasts Werken und Vorträgen.Sie vermitteln tiefe spirituelle Einsichten und können das Leben wirklich bereichern.