Wisdom of the Masters

Thich Nhat Hanh, a Buddhist monk and peace activist, discusses mindfulness, transcending suffering, embracing restlessness, compassionate awareness, and the harmony of light and darkness in meditation and self-discovery.

Shyama Charan Lahiri (30 September 1828 – 26 September 1895), best known as Lahiri Mahasaya, was an Indian yogi and guru who founded the Kriya Yoga school. He was a disciple of Mahavatar Babaji. According to the book America's Alternative Religions by Timothy Miller, Lahiri Mahasaya's life was described in Paramahansa Yogananda's Autobiography of a Yogi as a demonstration of the spiritual attainment that could be achieved by a householder "living fully in the world." 🔆 These podcasts are not monetized. 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://paypal.me/VivekaHermitage⁠⁠⁠⁠ or become at Patron at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/jayasara⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🙏 May whatever goodness arises from these readings/offerings be for the benefit of all sentient beings.

Explore the teachings of Mazu Daoyi, a prominent figure in Zen Buddhism, known for his remarkable presence and profound wisdom. Discover how the Way requires no cultivation and that the normal mind is inherently complete. Learn the importance of not clinging to good or bad experiences and how even a single wandering thought can sustain the cycle of samsara. Understand that true realization arises from knowing the mind without attachment, reflecting life's authenticity through everyday actions.

Spanish mystic St Teresa of Avila discusses the Prayer of Quiet, emphasizing the soul's journey into divine peace and stillness. She explores finding peace in prayer, staying connected to God, and surrendering to divine goodness.

Annamalai Swami, a direct disciple of Sri Ramana Maharshi, shares his wisdom on achieving the thought-free state through self-inquiry. Topics covered include the power of solitude, challenging emerging thoughts, detaching from the mind, directing attention inwards, and the illusionary nature of the mind.

Delve into the profound teachings of Padmasambhava, uncovering the essence of Dzogchen, the highest Tibetan Buddhist practice. Explore the concept of intrinsic awareness, discovering the mind's true nature and shedding misconceptions. The text emphasizes self-liberation through seeing, guiding listeners toward realizing their insubstantial essence. This enlightening discussion invites introspection and a deeper understanding of one's own mind, making it a compelling meditation on the journey to Buddhahood.

A clear and powerful teaching given by Upasika Kee Nanayon - taken from the book "An Unentangled Knowing" - translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. Upasika Kee Nanayon or Kor Khao-suan-luang was a realized female practitioner from Thailand. She was mostly self-taught, reading the Pali canon and other Buddhist literature. She considered the Buddha's Dhamma as her primary teacher. Her dhamma talks and poetry were widely circulated. As word of her spread, she became one of the most popular meditation teachers in Thailand. This, and many of her talks, have been translated into English by Thanissaro Bhikkhu who sees her as "arguably the foremost woman Dhamma teacher in twentieth-century Thailand." 🔆 These podcasts are not monetized. 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://paypal.me/VivekaHermitage⁠ or become at Patron at: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/jayasara⁠ 🙏 May whatever goodness arises from these readings/offerings be for the benefit of all sentient beings.

Ryōkan Taigu 良寛大愚 (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. He renounced the world at an early age to train at nearby Sōtō Zen temple Kōshō-ji, refusing to meet with or accept charity from his family. These selected excerpts and poems by Ryokan have been taken from the text "Great Fool" translated by Ryuichi Abé & Peter Haskel. Music track: "Voices of the Land" by Swami Madhuram Puri 🔆 These podcasts are not monetized. 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://paypal.me/VivekaHermitage⁠ or become at Patron at: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/jayasara⁠ 🙏 May whatever goodness arises from these readings/offerings be for the benefit of all sentient beings.

Bede Griffiths (17 December 1906 – 13 May 1993), born Alan Richard Griffiths and also known by the end of his life as Swami Dayananda ("bliss of compassion"), was a British-born Catholic priest and Benedictine monk who lived in ashrams in South India and became a noted yogi. Griffiths was a part of the Christian Ashram Movement. In 1968, Fr. Bede Griffiths immersed himself in the study of Indian thought, attempting to relate it to Christian theology. He went on pilgrimage and studied Hinduism. Under Fr. Bede’s guidance Shantivanam Ashram in South India became a center of contemplative life, of inculturation, and of inter religious dialogue. He contributed greatly to the development of Indian Christian Theology. In 1973 he published Vedanta and the Christian Faith. These reflections from Bede's writings have been taken from numerous sources. 🔆 These podcasts are not monetized. 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://paypal.me/VivekaHermitage⁠ or become at Patron at: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/jayasara⁠ 🙏 May whatever goodness arises from these readings/offerings be for the benefit of all sentient beings.

The Anattalakkhaṇa Sutta (Pali) or Anātmalakṣaṇa Sūtra (Sanskrit), is traditionally recorded as the second discourse delivered by Gautama Buddha. The title translates to the "Not-Self Characteristic Discourse", but is also known as the Pañcavaggiya Sutta (Pali) or Pañcavargīya Sūtra (Skt.), meaning the "Group of Five" Discourse. In this discourse, the Buddha analyzes the constituents of a person's body and mind (khandha) and demonstrates that they are each impermanent (anicca), subject to suffering (dukkha) and thus unfit for identification with a "self" (attan). Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu 🔆 These podcasts are not monetized. 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://paypal.me/VivekaHermitage⁠ or become at Patron at: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/jayasara⁠ 🙏 May whatever goodness arises from these readings/offerings be for the benefit of all sentient beings.