Wisdom of the Masters

Selected teachings and quotes from Tsokknyi Rinpoche from the text "Open Heart, Open Mind."  Tsoknyi Rinpoche or Ngawang Tsoknyi Gyatso (born 13 March 1966) is a Nepalese Tibetan Buddhist teacher and author, and the founder of the Pundarika Foundation. He is considered to be the third in a line of reincarnate lamas, the first of whom was a lama in Eastern Tibet in the last century. The first...

Paramahansa Yogananda (January 5, 1893 – March 7, 1952) was an Indian monk, yogi and guru who introduced millions to the teachings of meditation and Kriya Yoga through his organization Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) / Yogoda Satsanga Society (YSS) of India, and who lived his last 32 years in America.  A chief disciple of the Bengali yoga guru Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri, he was sent by his li...

Selected excerpts from the teaching given by Namkai Norbu entitled: The Mirror: Advice on Presence and Awareness. Chögyal Namkhai Norbu (1938-2018) was a Tibetan Dzogchen master. When he was two years old, Namkhai Norbu was recognized as the 'mindstream emanation', a tulku, of the Dzogchen teacher Adzom Drugpa (1842–1924). At five, he was also recognized as a mindstream emanation of an emanation o...

This is a compilation of some key Ramana Maharshi teachings/pointers that have been formatted for guided meditation purposes. They have been extracted from this source and many of the quotes derive from various texts including "Be As You Are." 🙏 May whatever goodness arises from these readings/offerings be for the benefit of all sentient beings. Disclaimer:   As a Buddhist nun, my intention...

A selection of poems from Hanshan - formatted for meditation. Translated by A. S. Kline.   The poet Hanshan 寒山, a name meaning “Cold Mountain,” ranks as one of the most eccentric and mysterious figures of Chinese literature. He is said to have lived during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), dwelling in a cave or hut in Tiantai Mountain near modern-day Taizhou, Zhejiang. In Chinese and Japanes...

Selected excerpts read from Guru Vācaka Kōvai - the most profound, comprehensive and reliable collection of the sayings of Sri Ramana, recorded in 1255 Tamil verses composed by Sri Muruganar, with an additional 42 verses composed by Sri Ramana. Translated from the Original Tamil by Sadhu Om and Michael James. Music:  Ustad Bahauddin Dagar Raag Patdeep (Pt. 1) Darbar 🙏 May whatever goodness a...

A recording of some key essential pointers of "I AM" quotes from Pradeep Apte's publication:  Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj - The Core of His Teaching.   Music: Meditative Mind - www.bandcamp.com 🙏 May whatever goodness arises from these readings/offerings be for the benefit of all sentient beings. Disclaimer:   As a Buddhist nun, my intention with these podcasts is to offer these creat...

Tilopa's classic 6 words of advice for meditation - translated by Ken McLeod. Ken McLeod has translated the text in two ways: a version that’s as concise and literal as possible, and a version that’s slightly more elaborate but does a better job of unpacking the meaning embedded in those six Tibetan words. The commentary is by Lama Tashi Namgyal - Shenpen Ösel Magazine - Volume 1 - Issue 2  ...

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. Later he became a distinguished professor and taught at different universities. His direct and accessible teachings of a person's closeness to God inspired many people and he became well known throughout Europe. He was...

Anandamayi Ma (née Nirmala Sundari; 30 April 1896 – 27 August 1982) was a Bengali Saint, described by Sivananda Saraswati (of the Divine Life Society) as "the most perfect flower the Indian soil has produced." Precognition, faith healing and miracles were attributed to her by her followers. Paramahansa Yogananda translates the Sanskrit epithet Anandamayi as "Joy-permeated" in English. This name wa...

Bodhidharma is considered the founder of Zen Buddhism in China and regarded as its first Chinese patriarch. He brought the Buddha's teachings to China from India in 520 AD. While much of his biography may be the stuff of legend and his historicity is still in question, numerous early records speak of him (or someone by the name of Bodhidharma) as a wise and compassionate monk. Whether or not he wa...

Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche (1910-1991) — born in the Dergé region of Kham, Eastern Tibet, was recognized as the mind emanation of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo.  Regarded by many as one of the greatest Dzogchen masters of the twentieth century, and the very embodiment of Padmasambhava, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche was the teacher of many of the important lamas of today.    Music: "Morning Breeze"...

A selection of essential pointers from Nisargadatta - taken from the text "Prior to Consciousness" - edited by Jeanne Dunne.   Music: 'Joy' by Indiajiva 🙏 May whatever goodness arises from these readings/offerings be for the benefit of all sentient beings. Disclaimer:   As a Buddhist nun, my intention with these podcasts is to offer these creative adaptations of spiritual teachings for...

Excerpts from the text "The Golden Letters" translated by John Myrdhin Reynolds.  The lineage of Dzogchen, unbroken to the present day, is traced from the dharmakaya Samantabhadra (‘Kuntuzangpo’ in Tibetan) to the sambhogakaya, represented by the five buddha families and Vajrasattva, and then to the first human master Garab Dorje. It then passed to Mañjushrimitra. At the time of his parinirva...

A selection of exquisite Rumi poems and verses for meditation. Designed to get us out of our heads and into our hearts. Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī  (30 September 1207 – 17 December 1273), was a 13th-century Persian poet, faqih, Islamic scholar, theologian, and Sufi mystic originally from Greater Khorasan in Greater Iran. Rumi's influence transcends national borders and ethnic divisions. Music...

These poems/stanzas written by Ilie Cioara have been formatted for the purpose of a guided meditation. Excerpts taken from the book by Cioara, "The Silence of the Mind" - translated by Petrica Verdes.   Ilie 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 Europ...

An amazing teaching/terma from the Master intended for deep meditation and contemplation. Text taken from the book "Treasures from Juniper Ridge" - translated by Erik Kunsang and Marcia Schmidt. Music by: Karunesh 🙏 May whatever goodness arises from these readings/offerings be for the benefit of all sentient beings. Disclaimer:  As a Buddhist nun, my intention with these podcasts is to offer...

Tilopa's Song to Naropa - Translated by Lex Hixon.  Tilopa (988–1069) was born in Bengal in India. He was a tantric practitioner and mahasiddha. He practised Anuttarayoga Tantra, a set of spiritual practices intended to accelerate the process of attaining Buddhahood. Naropa is considered his main student.  It is believed Tilopa received Mahamudra teachings from primordial Buddha Vajradha...

These poems/stanzas written by Ilie Cioara have been formatted for the purpose of a guided meditation. Excerpts taken from the book by Cioara, "The Silence of the Mind" - translated by Petrica Verdes.  Ilie 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 Europe...

A text belonging to the same cycle as The Tibetan Book of the Dead, this instruction on the method of  self-liberation presents the essence of Dzogchen, The Great Perfection, regarded in Tibet as the highest and most esoteric teaching of the Buddha. Teaching the attainment of Buddhahood in a single lifetime, this text was written and concealed by Guru Padmasambhava in the eighth century and r...

Text reading taken from:  Treasures from Juniper Ridge (Padmasambhava's Advice #3)  by Padmasambhava by Tulku Urgyen, Erik Pema Kunsang (Translator) , Marcia Binder Schmidt (Translator). 🙏 May whatever goodness arises from these readings/offerings be for the benefit of all sentient beings. Disclaimer:   As a Buddhist nun, my intention with these podcasts is to offer these creative...

The Spandakarika, or "Song of the Sacred Tremor," is one of the most important Tantric texts in the tradition of Kashmiri Shaivism.  It is said to have been transmitted directly to the sage Vasugupta from the hands of Shiva on Mount Kailas. In his commentary on these fifty-two stanzas, the sage Ksemaraja described them as the heart of the Mahamudra, the Great Cosmic Gesture.  Translated...

A selection of key pointers from the Great Master, Nisargadatta, taken from the text "I am That" and "The Nisargadatta Gita" - intended as a guided meditation.  Original text of "I am That" edited and compiled by Maurice Frydman. The Nisargadatta Gita edited by Pradeep Apte. 🙏 May whatever goodness arises from these readings/offerings be for the benefit of all sentient beings. Disclaimer: &n...

Excerpts from the teaching/chapter, "Buddha Nowhere Else" taken from the text "As It Is" - Volume 1. Translated by Erik Pema Kunsang. Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche (1920 - February 13, 1996) was a Buddhist master of the Kagyü and Nyingma lineages who lived at Nagi Gompa hermitage in Nepal. Urgyen Rinpoche was considered one of the greatest Dzogchen masters of his time.  Born in Kham in Eastern Tibet,...

Reading from the text - Be As You Are - by Sri Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi. I have omitted the questions for ease of flow.  Edited by David Godman. 🙏 May whatever goodness arises from these readings/offerings be for the benefit of all sentient beings. Disclaimer:   As a Buddhist nun, my intention with these podcasts is to offer these creative adaptations of spiritual teachings for the purp...