Wisdom of the Masters

This is a guided meditation on applying the paradigm of the Four Noble Truths as taught by the Buddha. For more information on this topic, I recommend this priceless booklet by Luang Por (Ajahn) Sumedho which you can download for free here: https://amaravati.org/book-authors/ajahn-sumedho/?fpmtp_languages=english 🔆 If you benefit from these podcasts and would like to support our nun's hermitage,...

The Maitrayaniya Upanishad is an ancient Sanskrit text that is embedded inside the Yajurveda. It consists of seven lessons, many of which discuss metaphysical questions about the soul (Atman), concluding that humans are the Ultimate Self – the immortal Brahman. 🔆 If you benefit from these podcasts and would like to support our nun's hermitage, there are two options to donate - via Paypal using th...

This is a selection of some profound pointers from Nagarjuna, including some verses from the MMK (Mulamadhyamakakarika) for meditation. Nāgārjuna (c.150 – c. 250 CE) was an Indian Mahāyāna Buddhist thinker, scholar-saint and philosopher. He is widely considered one of the most important Buddhist philosophers. He is also considered one of the greatest thinkers in the history of Asian philosophy. Nā...

Selected verses and teachings taken from Sermons of Meister Eckhart and Selected Writings.  Johannes Eckhart was one of the greatest of Christian mystics. He was born at Hochheim in Thüringen, Germany, in 1260 and died c.1327. He entered the Dominican order when he was 15. 🔆 If you benefit from these podcasts and would like to support our nun's hermitage, there are two options to donate - vi...

This is a meditation on the teaching entitled "Pointing the Staff at the Old Man" from the book - Advice from the Lotus Born - A Collection of Padmasambhava's Advice to the Dakini Yeshe Tsogyal and Other Close Disciples. Translated by Eric Pema Kunsang. 🔆 If you benefit from these podcasts and would like to support our nun's hermitage, there are two options to donate - via Paypal using this email...

This is a reading of the SUPPLEMENT to Reality in Forty Verses for meditation. Translated by Prof. K. Swaminathan This supplement consisting of a second forty verses was added to the original "Reality in Forty Verses". So indifferent to authorship was Bhagavan that he did not write all those supplementary verses himself. When he came upon a suitable one he used it - mostly translations from Sanskr...

Selected key pointers from Maharaj Nisargadatta formatted for meditation. 🔆 If you benefit from these podcasts and would like to support our nun's hermitage, there are two options to donate - via Paypal using this email address: vivekahermitage@gmail.com with PayPal or using this direct link: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/VivekaHermitage or become at Patron at: https://www.patreon.com/jayasara...

The Sutta Nipāta (literally, "Suttas falling down") is a Buddhist scripture, a sutta collection in the Khuddaka Nikaya, part of the Pali Canon of Theravada Buddhism. All its suttas, thought to originate from before the Buddha's parinibbana, consist largely of verse, though some also contain some prose. Some scholars believe that it describes the oldest of all Buddhist practices. Others such as Bhi...

John of the Cross (1542 -1591) was a Spanish Catholic priest, mystic, and a Carmelite friar of converso origin. John became a priest in 1567 and considered joining the Carthusian Order where monks lived cloistered in individual cells. 🔆 If you benefit from these podcasts and would like to support our nun's hermitage, there are two options to donate - via Paypal using this email address: vivekaher...

Swami Vivekananda (1863 -1902), born Narendranath Datta was an Indian Hindu monk. He was a chief disciple of the 19th-century Indian mystic Ramakrishna. Influenced by Western esotericism, he was a key figure in the introduction of the Indian darsanas (teachings, practices) of Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world, and is credited with raising interfaith awareness. 🔆 If you benefit from these podc...

Ryōkan Taigu (1758–1831) was a quiet and unconventional Sōtō Zen Buddhist monk who lived much of his life as a hermit. Ryōkan is remembered for his poetry and calligraphy, which present the essence of Zen life. 🔆 If you benefit from these podcasts and would like to support our nun's hermitage, there are two options to donate - via Paypal using this email address: vivekahermitage@gmail.com with Pa...

These selections from Gibran's poems and verses have been formatted for contemplation and meditation purposes. Lebanon-born writer and artist Kahlil Gibran  (1883 – 1931) became known for his mystical Arabic and English works, most notably the 1923 publication, 'The Prophet.' 🔆 If you benefit from these podcasts and would like to support our nun's hermitage, there are two options to donate -...

This is a short selection of pith pointers taken from Milarepa's 60 songs. Translated by Garma C. Chang.  Milarepa is one of the most important yogis and spiritual poets in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, but very little of his life is known with any historical certainty. Even the dates of his birth and death have been notoriously difficult to calculate. In any case, it is clear that he lived...

These selections of quotes/teachings from Nisargadatta have been formatted for Guided Meditation purposes and were compiled by Pradeep Apte. 🔆 If you benefit from these podcasts and would like to support our nun's hermitage, there are two options to donate - via Paypal using this email address: vivekahermitage@gmail.com with PayPal or using this direct link: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/Viveka...

Persian lyric poet Hafiz (born Khwāja Šamsu d-Dīn Muḥammad Hāfez-e Šīrāzī) grew up in Shiraz. Very little is known about his life, but it is thought that he may have memorized the Qur’an after hearing his father recite passages. He is one of the most celebrated of the Persian poets, and his influence can be felt to this day. Selected poems from Daniel Ladinsky's book - "I heard God Laughing." 🔆 I...

Ajahn Mun Bhuridatta Thera (Thai: มั่น ภูริทตฺโต,) (1870–1949) was a Thai bhikkhu from Isan region who is credited, along with his mentor, Ajahn Sao Kantasīlo, with establishing the Thai Forest Tradition or "Kammaṭṭhāna tradition" that subsequently spread throughout Thailand and to several countries abroad. 🔆 If you benefit from these podcasts and would like to support our nun's hermitage, there...

These poems/stanzas of profound pointings written by Ilie Cioara have been formatted for the purpose of a guided meditation. Excerpts taken from the book by Cioara, "Boundlessness" - translated by Petrica VerdesIlie Cioara (1916 - 2004) was an enlightened mystic who did not belong to any lineage. He is unique in a way, in the sense that he lived in almost complete isolation, in Romania, Eastern Eu...

Nāgārjuna (c.150 – c. 250 CE) was an Indian Mahāyāna Buddhist thinker, scholar-saint and philosopher. He is widely considered one of the most important Buddhist philosophers. He is also considered one of the greatest thinkers in the history of Asian philosophy. 🔆 If you benefit from these podcasts and would like to support our nun's hermitage, there are two options to donate - via Paypal using th...

Selected teachings of Ma's taken from the text "Sad Vani" - as reported by Bhaiji - translated by Atmananda. 🔆 If you benefit from these podcasts and would like to support our nun's hermitage, there are two options to donate - via Paypal using this email address: vivekahermitage@gmail.com with PayPal or using this direct link: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/VivekaHermitage or become at Patron at...

This is the complete version of Shodoka - Song of Awakening or Enlightenment. This is one of the four essential Zen texts. It was written by Yoka Daishi in the seventh century in China. It is a testimony to his awakening; his writing and spiritual approach is simple in style. The Shodoka has been nicknamed “the Mahayana sutra that solves all problems.” 🔆 If you benefit from these podcasts and wou...

The Gospel of Mary is found in the Berlin Gnostic Codex (Papyrus Berolinensis 8502). This very important and well-preserved codex was discovered in the late-nineteenth century somewhere near Akhmim in upper Egypt.  Scholars do not always agree which of the New Testament people named Mary is the central character of the Gospel of Mary. Arguments in favor of Mary Magdalene are based on her stat...

'Abū 'Abdullāh Muḥammad ibn 'Alī ibn Muḥammad ibn `Arabī al-Ḥātimī aṭ-Ṭāʾī  was a Sufi mystic, poet, and philosopher born in Murcia, Spain on the 17th of Ramaḍān (26 July 1165 AD). He was one of the great mystics of all time. Through the richness of his personal experience and the constructive power of his intellect, he made a unique contribution to Shi'ite Sufism. He was considered a Saint....

Teachings of the Buddha - Bāhiya Sutta - from the Udana 1.10 - translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.   In this brief teaching, the Buddha taught Bahiya to put aside all views of self arising from confused and deluded thoughts based on clinging and craving. Bahiya was right to understand the immediacy of needing to awaken through the Dhamma. No one can know when sickness, aging and d...

Sri Brahmajna Ma (21 February 1880 – 5 November 1934) was an Indian advaitin saint from East Bengal. What little is known about her reveals her as an illumined soul who was established in non-dual realization. Like Ramana Maharshi, she had no guru, but attained enlightenment through her own efforts at self-inquiry. 🔆 If you benefit from these podcasts and would like to support our nun's hermitage...

A pinnacle teaching! This profound and sublime teaching by the Great Master, Longchenpa, is suitable and intended for experienced meditators who have an in depth understanding and practical insight into Dzogchen's perfection. Longchenpa's teaching on the Three Aspects of Meditative Absorption - read from the text: A Treasure Trove of Scriptural Transmission. Excerpt from the chapter on Natural Med...