His Excellency Ben Ammi Ben-Israel was the beloved founder and anointed spiritual leader of the African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem. After having a divine vision in the 1960s, he led a group of African American Hebrew Israelites on a pilgrimage, eventually settling in Israel, “the Promised Land.” In Dimona, Israel, he established the now-thriving Kingdom of God (or Yah) spiritual community. Dri

A venerated enlightened Master, humanist, poet, and theologian, Mawlānā Jalāl-ad-Dīn Muhammad Balkhi Rūmī, known simply as Mawlana in Persian and around the world as Rumi, embodies universal love and understanding that is unfettered by the bounds of tradition. Master Rumi’s early spiritual education was under the tutelage of His father Bahauddin, a professor of religious sciences. When the great s

In the early years of His time in Pondicherry, Sri Aurobindo reread the Vedas in its original Sanskrit text, discovering its true meaning: “…I found, first, that the mantras of the Veda illuminated, with a clear and exact light psychological experiences of my own, for which I had found no sufficient explanation either in European psychology or in the teachings of Yoga or of Vedanta.” Together with

Sri Aurobindo was a 20th-century enlightened Master, poet, and writer. He founded Integral Yoga, a spiritual system that conceptualizes “all life is Yoga.” In His “Letters on Yoga,” Sri Aurobindo wrote about the practice: “[It] does not proceed through any set mental teaching or prescribed forms of meditation, mantras or others, but by aspiration, by a self-concentration inwards or upwards, by sel

“That man, he was respected by the whole country – kings, officials, prime ministers, rich and poor people. And many of the monks, Buddha’s monk-disciples, were in awe of him. So when he pretended, he was sick... He may have manifested being sick. Maybe he was sick. Because he saved so many people, of course he got sick. And they came and asked him, ‘Why are you sick?’ For example, ‘If you are so

Bodhisattva Vimalakirti was a renowned lay disciple and wealthy patron of Shakyamuni Buddha. He is also the legendary figure of “The Teaching of Vimalakirti,” a scripture that is included among the classic Mahayana sutras. His story, as well as the teachings recorded in the Vimalakirti Sutra, are important and highly respected in Buddhist history. The name Vimalakirti means “pure reputation.” Ever

During His spiritual mission, Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj went on three world tours. The first was held in 1955. Sant Kirpal Singh Ji spent months in the United States and Europe instructing Western truth seekers on the path of Sant Mat, the Way of the Masters. In 1957, Sant Kirpal Singh Ji was unanimously elected President of the World Fellowship of Religions. He communicated and interacted acti

In 1924, at the Ashram on the banks of the Beas River, Sant Kirpal Singh Ji met Baba Sawan Singh Ji. Immediately, He knew that He had finally met His beloved Master, the One that had constantly appeared to Him in radiant form during His meditations. Hazur Maharaj Sawan Singh Ji gave Sant Kirpal Singh Ji the sacred initiation into the spiritual discipline of Surat Shabd Yoga. At last, Sant Kirpal S

Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj was an enlightened Master of Surat Shabd Yoga, the yoga of inner Light and Sound Current, a path leading directly to God. Like His name, meaning “Lion of Mercy or Compassion,” the venerated Master was regally mighty and immensely humble, devoting His every moment to uniting humanity with God. Born in a Punjab village in Rawalpindi district, in 1894, Sant Kirpal Singh J

Since ancient times, numerous Masters have graced our precious planet with their divine presence and have helped to uplift humanity’s spirit and level of consciousness. These Master courageously share their wisdom with the world through their holy teachings and continue to touch the lives of countless beings through their kindness and compassion. One such venerated Master was Prophet Mani, the fou

As we recall from Part 1, Saint Roch dedicated his life to walking the way of Lord Jesus Christ and traveled to plague-stricken cities to treat those afflicted with the devastating disease. Alas, he himself became infected with the plague and quietly retreated to the forest. At the sight of Saint Roch’s sickened body lying on the ground as he serenely awaited his death, God made a water stream mir

Mainly invoked for protection against the plague and other contagious diseases, Saint Roch is also a patron saint of dogs and dog trainers, wrongly accused people, bachelors, surgeons, pilgrims, skin diseases, knee problems, the Faculty of Pharmacy in Montpellier, and more. In this 2-part series, we look at the inspiring life story and legends surrounding Saint Roch to better understand why such p

Maharishi Patanjali was a venerated Indian Sage who lived sometime around the 2nd century BC. He compiled the Yoga Sutras, widely considered the foremost text on yoga, which offers a system for attaining self-realization. “pat” denoting falling from Heaven, and “anjali” indicating prayer. The great Sage is said to be swayambhu, or self-manifested, a highly evolved spiritual Being who incarnated in

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. Marp

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 nig

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. T

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

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

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 c

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