Wisdom of the Masters

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1. St Joseph the Hesychast ~ Prayer of the Heart

   30 oktober 2026 · 40 min

   Afspelen
   St Joseph the Hesychast (1897–1959) was a Greek Orthodox monk and spiritual elder of Mount Athos, renowned for his life of profound prayer, asceticism and inner stillness. Born Francis Kottis on the island of Paros, Greece, he arrived on Mount Athos in 1921, dedicating himself to solitude, fasting, vigils and the unceasing practice of the Jesus Prayer: 'Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.'Joseph gathered a small brotherhood of disciples whose spiritual influence contributed significantly to the renewal of Athonite monasticism and the contemplative prayer tradition. He reposed on 15 August 1959 and was formally recognised as a saint by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 2020.These passages for prayer and reflection have been taken from the text, 'Monastic Wisdom: The Letters of Elder Joseph the Hesychast.' Lees meer

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

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2. Master Hongzhi Zhengjue ~ The Original Light ~ Zen Buddhism

   22 oktober 2026 · 31 min

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   A meditation on the 'Original Light' - verses extracted from the 'Hung-chih Sermons'. From the text, 'The Five Houses of Zen, Translated by Thomas Cleary. Lees meer

   Hongzhi Zhengjue (1091–1157) was one of the most accomplished Chan masters of the Song dynasty who authored or compiled several influential texts. Hongzhi's conception of silent illumination is of particular importance to the Chinese Caodong Chan and Japanese Sōtō Zen schools.

   Hongzhi's distinctive teachings are well illustrated in the poetic practice instructions he left behind and are beautiful lyrical celebrations of our Buddha Nature and of all existence. However, they are not merely celebrations, but practice instructions and descriptions of meditative experience.

   Music: Swami Madhuram - 'Home'. With deepest thanks to Swami Madhuram Puri for his kind offering of this exquisite music for this channel.https://insighttimer.com/swamimadhuram

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

   🔆 Thank you to everyone who has written to inquire about offering a donation or gift to support this channel. You are welcome to do so, and all offerings will go towards supporting monastic requisites and overheads at Viveka Hermitage.

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3. Ganga Maa ~ The Truth is in the Heart ~ Advaita

   13 oktober 2026 · 28 min

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   Ganga Maa is a contemporary Advaita teacher based in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, where she gives regular satsang at Hridaya Kshetram. Her teaching is rooted in the non-dual Self-enquiry tradition of Sri Ramana Maharshi and the sacred presence of Arunachala. Amma does not regard herself as a guru, nor those who attend her satsangs as her disciples; instead, she points to Arunachala, Ramana Maharshi and the one Supreme Self as the true teacher. Her satsangs emphasise direct Self-knowledge, surrender and the recognition of the Self as the ever-present reality. Her teachings have been collected in books including Silent Presence and Jnana Ganga (edited by David Godman).You can purchase the book from David's site here:https://www.davidgodman.org/book/silent-presence-satsang-with-ganga-maa-vol-1/ Lees meer

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4. Longchenpa ~ The Enlightened Mind ~ Dzogchen

   7 oktober 2026 · 15 min

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   These pointers from the Master, Longchen Rabjam, have been compiled for meditation/contemplation and point to the natural state of the mind - free from contrivance, beyond all characterization, and inconceivable.Passages have been drawn from the texts, 'Finding Rest in the Nature of the Mind' (Padmakara translation) and Natural Perfection: Longchenpa's Radical Dzogchen (Dowman translation). Lees meer

   Longchenpa (Longchen Rabjam, 1308–1364) was one of the greatest philosophers and meditators of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism and the most influential systematizer of Dzogchen (Great Perfection) teachings. A prolific scholar and contemplative, he synthesized centuries of esoteric instruction into a coherent vision of mind, reality, and liberation that remains central to Dzogchen practice today.

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

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5. Simone Weil ~ Decreating Ourselves ~ (from Gravity and Grace)

   28 september 2026 · 30 min

   Afspelen
   Selected passages read from the text Gravity and Grace - specifically from the chapters on 'The Self' and 'Decreation'.Simone Weil (1909–1943) was a French philosopher, mystic and spiritual writer whose short life was devoted to the search for truth and God. Although born into a secular Jewish family, she was profoundly drawn to Christianity and experienced several deep mystical encounters with Christ.Her spiritual writings explore attention, prayer, suffering, grace, compassion and the surrender of the ego. She called this radical self-emptying 'decreation' — the relinquishment of the self so that divine love might enter. Lees meer

   Weil never formally entered the Catholic Church, but remained deeply influenced by Christ and the Christian mystical tradition. She died in England in 1943, aged only thirty-four, leaving behind writings that have become highly regarded for their spiritual depth and originality.

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

   🔆 Thank you to everyone who has written to inquire about offering a donation or gift to support this channel. You are welcome to do so, and all offerings will go towards supporting monastic requisites and overheads at Viveka Hermitage.There are two options to donate using this email address: vivekahermitage@gmail.com with PayPalor using this link: https://paypal.me/VivekaHermitage Alternatively, donations can also be made via 𝐖𝐈𝐒𝐄 - please contact us on the email above for account details., or use this direct link if you have a WISE account: ⁠https://wise.com/pay/me/margarets448⁠

6. Hazrat Inayat Khan ~ Music of the Absolute ~ Sufi Mystics

   22 september 2026 · 11 min

   Afspelen
   Hazrat Inayat Khan (1882 –1927) was an Indian professor of musicology, singer, exponent of the saraswati vina, poet, philosopher, and pioneer of the transmission of Sufism to the West. He initially came to the West as a representative of several traditions of classical Indian music, and established an order of Sufism (the Sufi Order) in London in 1914. Lees meer

   By the time of his death in 1927, centers had been established throughout Europe and North America, and multiple volumes of his teachings had been published.Inayat Khan's teaching emphasized the oneness of God (tawhid) and the underlying harmony of the revelations communicated by the prophets of all the world's great religions. His discourses treated such varied subjects as religion, art, music, ethics, philosophy, psychology, and health and healing.

   Music: Uppbeat Licensed Music

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

   🔆 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

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7. Resting the Mind ~ Samaneri Jayasara

   15 september 2026 · 25 min

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   This meditation guides you to rest and relax the mind and body, not through force or coercion, but simply by recognising the ever present state of the mind in it natural awareness. Rediscovering our inherent, natural peace within the mind is key to learning how to rest into our meditation practice where "practice" becomes effortless. One can then practice easefully anywhere with eyes open when moving through the world. Lees meer

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   🔆 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

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8. The Fire Sermon ~ Teachings of the Buddha

   4 september 2026 · 14 min

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   Ādittapariyāya Sutta, popularly known as "The Fire Sermon", is the third major discourse delivered by the Buddha. Spoken on top of the Gayasisa Hill to a gathering of 1,000 newly converted ascetics, the sermon provides a psychologically acute formula for breaking free from worldly attachments.This reading is an amalgam of translations including those of Bhikkhu Bodhi, Bhante Sujato, Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu and Ayya Jitindriya. Lees meer

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

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9. The Mandukya Upanishad ~ Advaita Vedanta

   29 augustus 2026 · 17 min

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   The Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣhad is one of the later and shortest of the principal Upaniṣads, consisting of just twelve remarkably dense verses. It belongs to the Atharvaveda and is traditionally attributed to no single author, emerging from the ancient contemplative tradition of India. Lees meer

   Though brief, it became one of the most influential texts of Advaita Vedānta. Its central teaching explores the four dimensions of consciousness — waking, dreaming, deep sleep and Turīya, the “Fourth,” which transcends and underlies them all. Through the symbolism of OM, the Upaniṣad points toward that which is beyond all changing states of experience. Through remarkably concise and penetrating verses, the Upaniṣhad points beyond the mind, beyond experience and beyond every concept of who we believe ourselves to be. What remains when waking, dreaming and deep sleep are understood as passing appearances? What is that which knows them all? The answer cannot be grasped merely as an idea.

   The Māṇḍūkya invites us to turn inward and discover directly the silent awareness that is present before, during and beyond every changing experience.Music: Divine Om Chant

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

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10. Max Picard ~ A Meditation on Silence

    21 augustus 2026 · 22 min

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    Max Picard (1888–1965) was a Swiss-German philosopher, physician, and mystic whose profound vision and work speaks with extraordinary force to our increasingly noisy and distracted age —yet whose voice seems more necessary now than ever. Lees meer

    Born in Schopfheim, Germany, near the Swiss border, to Jewish parents, Picard trained as a physician before abandoning medicine in 1918. Increasingly disenchanted with the mechanistic direction of modern science, he turned away from clinical life and withdrew to the quiet landscapes of southern Switzerland, settling in Caslano and neighbouring villages, where he devoted himself to contemplative writing and exploring silence, solitude, presence, and the sacred power of the human word. In 1939, Picard converted to Roman Catholicism from the Judaism of his youth.

    A deeply original thinker, his life and work were marked by an uncompromising simplicity and inwardness. He deliberately avoided academic institutions, intellectual fashion, and public prominence, yet maintained friendships and correspondence with some of the most perceptive minds of the twentieth century, including Hermann Hesse, Gabriel Marcel, Gaston Bachelard, and Rainer Maria Rilke.

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