Wisdom of the Masters

Shitou Xiqian – known as Sekito Kisen in Japanese – was an 8th century Chinese monk, a student of Huineng and Huineng’s successor, Qingyuan Xingsi (Seigen Gyoshi). He is credited with writing two of the most famous Zen poems in China – the Sandokai and this, the Song of the Grass Roof Hermitage. The beauty of this poem lies in its humanity and its emphasis on the simplicity of practice – the grass roof hermitage is not a grand temple building inhabited by clergy, but a small, modest dwelling that could be constructed by anyone, and meditation itself is a matter of turning the light around to shine within and just returning. 🔆 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 🙏 May whatever goodness arises from these readings/offerings be for the benefit of all sentient beings.

This is a reading for meditation of the teaching given by Mipham Rinpoche entitled - "The Instruction on Stillness, Occurrence, and Awareness in Mahamudra'  - taken from the text Perfect Clarity. 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 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 🙏 May whatever goodness arises from these readings/offerings be for the benefit of all sentient beings.

Anasuya Devi, an Indian spiritual guru, discusses the concept of Shakti and its relationship to reality and God. She emphasizes the importance of surrendering to divine will and choosing spiritual practices based on individual inclinations. The podcast also explores the idea of perceiving divinity in everything, eliminating the need for rituals.

This is a reading of the Buddha's teaching on the four foundations of mindfulness (The Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta - Majjhima Nikaya 10: ) intended as a guided meditation. Translated by Bhikkhu Bodhi (with a few minor alterations).  As stated by Bhikkhu Bodhi, this teaching, "is generally regarded as the canonical Buddhist text with the fullest instructions on the system of meditation unique to the Buddha's own dispensation. 🔆 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 🙏 May whatever goodness arises from these readings/offerings be for the benefit of all sentient beings.

Excerpts read from the text - Life as Teacher. Vimala Thakar (1921- 2009) was born in Bilaspur District in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. She was a great spiritually enlightened revolutionary and activist; mystic, and a notable Indian figure of the 20th Century who boldly forged a radically independent approach to spirituality and the search for truth. 🔆 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 🙏 May whatever goodness arises from these readings/offerings be for the benefit of all sentient beings.

Atisha was born in the year 982 AD in East Bengal.  He was one of the major figures in the spread of 11th-century Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism in Asia and inspired Buddhist thought from Tibet to Sumatra. He is recognised as one of the greatest figures of classical Buddhism. Atisha's chief disciple, Dromtön, was the founder of the Kadam school, one of the New Translation schools of Tibetan Buddhism, later supplanted by the Gelug tradition in the 14th century, adopting its teachings and absorbing its monasteries. 🔆 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 🙏 May whatever goodness arises from these readings/offerings be for the benefit of all sentient beings.

American author Joseph Benner introduces the concept of Impersonal Life in this podcast, emphasizing the inner wisdom and divine knowledge within oneself. Topics include transitioning into a metaphorical 'Canaan' of abundance, connecting with the divine essence within, and aligning one's will with divine intelligence for spiritual growth.

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, 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 🙏 May whatever goodness arises from these readings/offerings be for the benefit of all sentient beings.

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 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 🙏 May whatever goodness arises from these readings/offerings be for the benefit of all sentient beings.

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. Nāgārjuna is widely considered to be the founder of the madhyamaka (centrism, middle-way) school of Buddhist philosophy and a defender of the Mahāyāna movement. 🔆 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 🙏 May whatever goodness arises from these readings/offerings be for the benefit of all sentient beings.