Around when Marpa Lotsawa was in his 50s, He departed on a third and final voyage to India. Marpa received the final teachings and instructions which were the innermost essence in Pullahari Monastery. Marpa completed a further three years of training and Naropa formally declared Marpa to be His Dharma successor. Upon His return to Tibet, He gave Milarepa every initiation that He had received. Marpa worked very hard to establish the Kagyu lineage in Tibet. He spent many years translating Buddhist scriptures and established a Buddhist Monastery in Zanskar. He gave teachings and transmissions of the complete Buddhadharma to many students in Tibet, including Milarepa. Not only did Marpa translate Sanskrit to Tibetan, but He brought Buddhism to Tibet. Marpa studied, practiced, and translated for over 40 years to make His experiences available to others. Marpa Lotsawa passed away in 1097 at the age of 84. Master Marpa’s incredible selflessness, devotion, and wisdom continue to elevate Buddhists and Truth seekers.

One of Marpa Lotsawa’s principle disciples was Milarepa, who became one of the most well-known and beloved of the Tibetan saints. Before becoming Marpa’s disciple, Milarepa had committed many negative actions. He knew that He needed to practice Dharma in order to atone for His past sins and attain Buddhahood. So, Milarepa was sent to Drowolung in southern Tibet to train with Marpa Lotsawa. The night before Milarepa got to Marpa’s house, both Marpa and His wife Dagmema had dreams that foretold of Milarepa’s arrival. “For several years, He seemingly made sure Milarepa went through many difficult tests. Later, His Master explained to Him, ‘I did that to clean You up. If it wasn’t for that, I wouldn’t have done all that.’” Finally, Master Marpa gave Milarepa initiation and the secret oral instructions of the teachings.

While following Mahasiddha Sri Naropa, Marpa Lotsawa received permission to study with Naropa’s disciple, the great Mahasiddha Maitripa, who became Marpa’s second main Guru. At the Radiant Flower Monastery on Blazing Fire Mountain, Marpa received two important traditions from Maitripa. The first is the Vajrayana practice of singing spontaneous songs of experience and realization, known as dohas. The teachings of Mahamudra is the second tradition that Marpa received from Maitripa. Afterwards, Marpa travelled home to Lhotrak, where He was greeted by the locals with respect. Meanwhile, He continued to work to support His family as well as His growing followers. After his son Tarma Dode was born, Marpa Lotsawa went to India a second time, and for the next six years, He continued to study with Masters Naropa and Maitripa. As He was preparing to leave, Naropa instructed Him to return to India for a third time to complete His training.

Marpa the Translator, or Marpa Lotsawa in Tibetan, is one of the most renowned Saints in Tibetan Buddhist history. A great Master and scholar, Marpa Lotsawa was a founding father of the kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. He was a disciple of the great Indian Buddhist yogi, mystic, and Master, Mahasiddha Sri Naropa. Marpa Lotsawa brought many Vajrayana and Mahamudra teachings from India to Tibet and translated them into Tibetan. Born Tarma Wangchuk in Lhodrak Chukhyer, southern Tibet, to wealthy landowners and farmers, Master Marpa was the youngest of four children. He was a very energetic child. To obtain the Dharma, He had to make long and dangerous trips to India against the wishes of His parents and relatives. Therefore, Naropa immediately welcomed Marpa to assume the role of His future lineage holder. Marpa was given abhisekas.

After becoming a renunciate in 1945, Master Nguyễn Thành Nam was always diligent in His meditation. He said: “You need to meditate every day to open your wisdom quickly. Practicing as such, you will gradually progress, and will also have the opportunity to meet an enlightened Master who will guide you.” With deep respect for the peaceful way of living, Master Nguyễn Thành Nam insisted that people be vegan, lead a virtuous life, and love one another. Master Nguyễn Thành Nam predicted that a Buddha will come to Earth to save the world and its citizens. Master Nguyễn Thành Nam also made the prediction that the world would enter a Golden Age after a Buddha is born in the country of Âu Lạc. Based on His disciples’ words, before leaving this world, Master Nguyễn Thành Nam again instructed all His devotees to be vegan in order to avoid destruction. He left them with these words: “…You should practice spiritually without any delay Otherwise, when the end comes, do not complain why Heaven hears not your prayer. It is because you do not believe to practice Or you practice spiritually, but do not keep the vegan diet.”

Master Nguyễn Thành Nam was born in 1909 in Bến Tre City to a well-to-do household. In 1945, with His family’s permission, He renounced world life. In 1950, Master Nguyễn Thành Nam went to Phước Thạnh Commune and constructed the Eight-Trigrams Tower that was about 14 meters (46feet) high. Every night, Master Nguyễn Thành Nam sat and meditated at the top of the tower. He lived on fruits and drank coconut juice. In 1964, He went to Cồn Phụng Island in Bến Tre Province and built the Âu Lạc Buddha Temple where Coconut Buddhism first began. He always advised people to be vegetarian, do good deeds, and pray for world peace.

While Dazu Huike continued to give discourses everywhere, Sengcan followed His Master’s instructions and left the city. He headed south, hiding in the Wan Gong Mountains of Shuzhou. Afterwards, Dazu Huike returned to the city of Ye. Many of those who had affinity with Him came to take refuge in His teachings and became His disciples. A number of the rich and affluent in the city were very jealous and fearful of the Venerated Patriarh. Dazu Huike had to change His course of action to maintain His safety. He disguised Himself and acted like a madman, travelling to wherever the people gathered in order to expound the Dharma. Occasionally, He would even stay overnight in butcher shops to try to persuade the people to stop killing, and every now and then He would spend the night in the wild. At the age of 107, the Venerated Dazu Huike selflessly passed away to Nirvana. His immense sacrifice and steadfast conviction in spreading the Dharma continues to inspire and touch the hearts of truth seekers to this day.

Seeing that Shenguang was determined to seek the Truth, Bodhidharma accepted Him as a disciple and changed His name to Huike. Huike studied for six years under Bodhidharma. On the day Bodhidharma prepared to pass on the mantle to His successor, He had His four main disciples report their understandings of the practice. After Dazu Huike answered the Patriarch’s question with silence, Bodhidharma earnestly told Him, “In the past, Shakyamuni Buddha passed down the Supreme Method to Mahākāśyapa. It has then gone through many generations before it was passed down to me. Now, I pass it to you.” Having received the mantle, Dazu Huike became the second Patriarch of Chinese Zen. As per the Venerated Patriarch Bodhidharma’s instructions, Dazu Huike practiced for 40 years in Seclusion before He risked His safety and went out. He first gave discourses at Shaolin Temple. In 582 A.D., Dazu Huike passed down the mantle, robe, bowl, and sutras to Jianzhi Sengcan in Sikong Mountain.

The Venerated Dazu Huike, the Second Chinese Patriarch of Buddhism, was born in the city of Hulao. He became a monk at the age of 30, received the name Shenguang, meaning “God’s Light.” Let’s continue our story about Master Huike and His encounter with Bodhidharma. While Dazu Huike was teaching under name of Shenguang, He noticed that Bodhidharma sometimes nodded His head, and sometimes shook His head. Shenguang asked, “Have I said anything wrong?” “Although it is well said, what use is it?” It was December of 528 AD, and there was heavy snowfall on Mount Song. Seeking the Dharma, Shenguang trekked through the wind and snow with no regard to the freezing weather. Shenguang dared not disturb His meditation and stood amidst the heavy snow for the whole night. …Shenguang immediately used His knife to cut off His left arm, to show His determination to seek the Truth. Patriarch Bodhidharma was touched by Shenguang’s determination and accepted Him as a disciple.

We had the honor of visiting the Sanctuary of the Stripping and learning more about Saint Francis from Brother Carlos, the vice parish priest of Santa Maria Maggiore. So, we want our shrine, with the grace of God and the help of Saint Francis, to become a door, to help us move on in a new way. Because we also need today’s stripped, freed people, as long as you can clothe yourself with Christ. It is a stripping. Undress yourself. It is an opportunity to bring the poor into the heart, the last ones, the sick, the wife, the daughters, the husband, and sometimes, you will find God.

From His stripping on, Francis will not put a penny in His pocket and will ask the friars to do the same. And so in this place, it remains clear that it is not true that what makes the world turn is money, but it is love. It must be so. We have not been created for the good of this world, but the good of this world is at the service of the human being, especially those who need it most. And so, Francis will help us to rediscover the joy of being children of God and brothers of all. Peace and love.

“Praised be You, my Lord, for those who give pardon for Your love, and who sustain Your infirmities and tribulations, as in so doing, blessed are those who endure in peace, who by You, Most High, will be crowned.” It is true; He called the animals His brothers, perhaps the first person in history who called the animals brothers. And this is a very strong thing that makes you understand the soul of Francis. There was a connection with the Creator of everything, the Father of everything, who wants all His creatures to live together.

The venerated Saint Francis of Assisi is greatly admired for His love of peace and for all of God’s creations, a true champion of the Earth. His dedication and faith towards God was expressed through His reverence for all living creatures as brothers and sisters. As the Patron Saint of animals and ecology, He delivered sermons to animals and showed compassion for the unwell and underprivileged. The life of Saint Francis is celebrated on October 4th each year. On this special day, Catholic and Anglican churches traditionally hold a ceremony to bless the animals.

During His meditation, Swami Vivekananda concluded that only with the renewal and restoration of the people’s highest spiritual consciousness could India rise again. He reminded them: “Religion is not in books, nor in theories, nor in dogmas, nor in talking, not even in reasoning. It is being and becoming.” “You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul.”

Swami Vivekananda was a 19th-century Indian Hindu monk and venerated spiritual leader. A principal disciple of Venerable Ramakrishna Paramahansa, founder of the Ramakrishna Order, Swami Vivekananda played a key role in the introduction of the Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world. He preached the importance of Self-realization and contemplating on God within.

In Satguru Kabir's world, all life is the interplay of two spiritual principles: the individual soul (Jivatma) and the Supreme Godhead (Paramatma). “I care not if you call me Moral or immoral, Nor do I care if I am Honorable or dishonorable. I am steadfast in my faith upon one, the Father, yours and mine.” We are honored to continue our interview with Dr.Jagessar Das, founder of the Guru Kabir Association of Canada, as he shares more about the spiritual life and work of the venerated Satguru Kabir.

Satguru Kabir is considered one of India’s most popular Saints and greatest poets. Clever, wise, and with a keen sense of humor, He helped narrow the distance between the Hindus and Muslims. Kabir spoke out against the pretensions and delusions of empty orthodoxies. Kabir said: “You do not know the One that you are, and you’re trying to know everything else. What benefit is that to you? That One is you, God dwelling in you.” His teachings mainly embodied in inspirational songs and poems. Some of His verses are included in the Adi Granth, the sacred scripture of Sikhism.

Satguru Kabir is considered one of India’s most popular Saints and greatest poets. Clever, wise, and with a keen sense of humor. At a young age, He was drawn to the great Bhakti Saint Ramananda of North India, who preached perfect love for God and the universal brotherhood of humankind. Our special guest Dr.Jagessar Das, he is also the founder of the Guru Kabir Association of Canada. Dr.Jagessar Das shared his knowledge on Satguru Kabir, beginning with a recitation of an insightful poem by the great weaver Saint.

During his intense spiritual quest, he had a vision: a being appeared to him in the form of a man and told him that what he sought could be found in the Mahavairocana text. In order to gain a fuller understanding of this tantric Buddhist text, Kūkai decided to visit China. In 804, at 31, Kūkai undertook a dangerous voyage, crossing the Sea of Japan to study with the great masters in China and bring the teachings back home. His destination was Chang’an, the capital of the Tang dynasty and the center of Buddhist learning of Asia.

Soon after His birth, amazing stories about Sheikh al-Gilani, the “child wonder,” began circulating. His virtuous mother tended to His upbringing and instilled many fine virtues in the Boy, guiding Him on a saintly path. Sheikh al-Gilani was 26 when He left Baghdad and undertook rigorous ascetic practices in the surrounding wilderness. For some 20 years. His leadership and expansive actions resulted in an Islamic revival spread beyond Iraq to many parts of the world. He breathed the spirit of charity, and made no distinction between race or creed, and prayed for all of humanity.