ROADSIGNS: Navigating Your Path to Spiritual Happiness

Goldberg spent many years practicing transcendental meditation, but after a while, he began another search for spiritual peace. What he learned—and wants readers to understand—is that the search for spiritual happiness is not a straightforward road. Along the way, people have to make choices, compromises and do some serious self-analysis to figure out what they want. Goldberg divides these choices into four categories: You Can't Do It Alone/You're On Your Own; Lose Yourself/Improve Yourself; Engage the World/Leave the World; and You're Already There/There's a Long Way to Go. Like a travel guide, Goldberg offers numerous tips and strategies. Some of his suggestions are obvious, but others are usefully new. In evaluating a teacher, Goldberg says, "Define the role... Choose wisely... Don't expect perfection... Hold yourself to high standards... The teacher is not the teaching... Be yourself." Goldberg's view on combining different belief tenets is also insightful. "If you assume that making a commitment to a love partner will slow you down spiritually, think again. And think yet again if you're tempted to walk away from the palace, like Buddha, and find a tree to sit under...." While the book might have been more focused, readers interested in spiritual searches will find it appealing. (Apr.)