If you can’t go out on a real spiritual retreat this spring and summer, fear not: You can still benefit from the wisdom of some of the world’s best teachers. Online, no less. Right here at your computer.

The husband/wife team of Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, authors of the bestselling book Spiritual Literacy, and creators of the website Spirituality and Practice, are offering spiritual e-courses like “Practicing Spirituality with Pema Chodron” (May 21 – June 29), “Practicing Spirituality with Children” (July 9 – August 17), “Practicing Spirituality with Thich Nhat Hanh” (September 10 – October 19, 2007), and “Practicing Spirituality with Henri Nouwen” (November 1 – December 10, 2007).

Here’s how it works: Participants in these seminars will receive emails for 40 days, each with a short passage from the teacher’s writings and a practice suggestion to do during the day, many focused on bringing more spirituality into daily life. Participants also get access to an online private “Practice Circle” where they can converse with other e-course participants (including the Brussats), react to passages and talk about the practices. All this, for $19.95 each course, or $60 for all four. Pretty reasonable!

If you’re curious about this, the upcoming May 21-June 29 Pema Chodron course is a nice opener since this most wise Buddhist nun’s teachings are practical and down-to-earth. The Brussats have profiled her here. Of Chodron, Mary Ann Brussat says, “She makes us all feel so welcome with her advice; she calls our messy stuff our ‘wealth’ and somehow lets us all start where we are.”

Check out the remarks of others who’ve enjoyed the Brussats’ thoughtful e-offerings. Some 17 more on-demand courses are also available.