One of the oldest religions in the world is Jainism, traditionally known as Jain Dharma. Lord Mahavira, who is considered to be the last Tirthankara, was born around the 5-6th century BC, as a prince of the ancient kingdom of Vaishali. He later forsook His royal status to pursue the spiritual path. After attaining kevala jnana, or all-knowing intuitive vision, He spent the rest of His life giving discourses on spiritual truths, which form the present-day tenets of Jainism. We present to you today excerpts from Book I - Lecture 6 from Jainism’s Sutrakritanga Sutra. “This wise and clever great Sage possessed infinite knowledge and infinite faith. Learn and think about the law and the piety of the glorious Man who lived before our eyes! This wise Man had explored all beings, whether they move or not, on high, below, and on earth, as well as the eternal and transient things. Like a lamp He put the law in a true light. He sees everything; His knowledge has got beyond (the four lower stages); He has no impurity; He is virtuous, of a fixed mind, the highest, the wisest in the whole world; He has broken from all ties; He is above danger and the necessity to continue life. Omniscient, wandering about without a home, crossing the flood (of the Samsara), wise, and of an unlimited perception, without an equal, He shines forth (or He does penance) like the sun, and He illumines the darkness like a brilliant fire.”

Eternally moving, eternally striving, eternally aspiring to the heights, eternally manifesting vigilance, affirming Truth, manifesting the radiant thread of the Mother of the World by the armor of infinite beauty, assailing the darkness of ignorance, promising to the abode of humanity the glory of the stars - thus walk, saying, “World, I wish to accept all thy gifts; I wish to fill to the brim the chalice of attainment; I wish, O Lord, to drain the chalice of the Wisdom of Thy Covenants!” Give Us the possibility to manifest Our power, to extend the hand of help. The law of gravity is acknowledged by all. Why not apply this simple condition in life? Joy can attract with a magnetic current the joy from space. But the thought of darkness gives birth to layers of heavy clouds. We vouch for the reality of the gravitation of thought. When the trend of human thought is not toward spirituality, evolution is not accelerated.

The esteemed mystical and philosophical writers Nicholas Roerich and his wife Helena Roerich are two of the most influential spiritual thought leaders from Russia. They are recognized for founding a doctrine called Agni Yoga, also known as Living Ethics. Believed to be a synthesis of all yogas (spiritual disciplines), Agni Yoga focuses on the daily practice of Love, Beauty, and noble Action. Today we’ll read an excerpt from the book “Infinity I” which is part of the Agni Yoga volumes. “Is it worthwhile to speak of Infinity if it is unattainable? But it does exist; and everything great, even if invisible, compels us to think about the ways to it. Thus, even now let us ponder about the ways into Infinity; for it exists, and it is terrifying if it is not cognized. Humanity is distressed because of lost currents, but its explanations of the shiftings on Earth and of the manifestations of cosmic perturbations are geological. Despite these explanations, the factual evidence, the manifestations of fiery, subterranean, and supermundane currents, reveal to the world the concept of Infinity. When we renounce ignorance, we shall understand the entire beauty of Infinity!”

„Milarepa zaspieval: ‚Hľa, všetky prejavy vo vonkajšom svete sú prchavé ako sen minulej noci! Človek sa cíti úplne stratený v smútku, keď myslí na tento odchádzajúci sen. Rechungpa, už si sa úplne prebudil z tejto veľkej rozpačitosti? Ach, čím viac o tom premýšľam, tým viac túžim po Budhovi a Dharme.‘“

„Milarepa zaspieval: ‚Nebojíte sa trápení, ktoré ste zažili v minulosti? Zaiste budete cítiť veľa bolesti, ak vás nešťastie napadne? Zármutky života neustále nasledujú jeden po druhom ako morské vlny, ešte len jedna ledva prešla a už je na jej mieste ďalšia. Kým nie ste vyslobodení, bolesť a potešenie prichádzajú a odchádzajú náhodne ako okoloidúci na ulici.‘“

Devote yourself to God, O mind. Just as birds come to perch in a tree for the night, So is all this marker spread out for a while, All will then go their own way. None is your kith or companion; Lose not your source, O mind. Don’t get lost by looking at worldly things; They are all flowers of the silk-cotton tree. The body is not yours, wealth is not yours, Why are you absorbed in them? Why do you sleep in comfort without God? Why not wake up and see? Cautions Dadu. Repeat the Name of God and forget Him not, Fulfil the purpose of your birth by practicing concentration. Be steadfast in the remembrance of God, Practice meditation with love And sing the glory of God. The human body is the door to salvation. Repeat the name of God, the Creator of the universe. So long as a dreadful disease has not come, So long as death has not consumed your body, So long as the Sound has not been withdrawn, Render service to the Lord.

One such great spiritual teacher is Sant (Saint) Dadu Dayal from the same tradition as Saint Kabir. He lived during the 16th century. “Dadu” means brother and“Dayal”is “the Compassionate One.” Instead, he concentrated on Japa (repetition of Divine Names) as well as remembrance of the original divine source and his inner connection and whole-hearted devotion to God. The group of Dadu's followers are known as the Dadu Panth and refrain from alcohol and uphold vegetarianism. “The world is a river of suffering, And God is the Ocean of Bliss. Forsake the worthless and go To the Ocean of Bliss, says Dadu. Having no desire for name or fame, let one serve the Lord. Abandoning everything else, take the true Name alone, says Dadu. Kal (time) is a fabrication; never go near him. So long as the heart is set on the Lord, life in this world is well lived. Living without the Lord is useless, O Dadu. If the Lord is obtained, all is obtained. Meeting with the Lord means meeting with all. If the Lord is there, all is there, Otherwise all is naught.”

“‘Subhuti, what do you think? If a person filled the billion worlds with the seven treasures for the purpose of charity, this person’s attainment of blessed deeds would become plentiful, no?’ Subhuti replied: ‘Incredibly plentiful, World Honored One. What is the reason? This blessed deed then would not, again, be of a blessed nature. This is the reason the Tathagata has said that the blessed deeds would become plentiful.’ ‘If again, there is a person who receives and keeps what is in this sermon, even just four lines of verse, and to another person expounds it, that person’s blessedness would overcome the other’s. What is the reason? Subhuti, every one of the Buddhas who reach the Buddhas’ Annuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi Dharma are all from this sermon produced. Subhuti, what is called the ‘Buddha’s Dharma,’ then, is not the Buddha’s Dharma.’”

The Diamond Sutra is also known as “Chin-Kang-Ching” or in Sanskrit “Vajracchedika-sutra” (“Diamond Cutter Sutra”). It is one of the most important historical scriptures in the Buddhist faith. This suta presents a collection of question-answer dialogs between the Buddha and His assembly of monks. Written with a spiritual goal, the Diamond Sutra is meant to alleviate suffering through the achievement of Wisdom. “‘Subhuti, as you have said, the Tathagata is skillfully mindful of the Bodhisattvas, and skillful in entrusting to the Bodhisattvas. If you now listen closely, I shall explain for you in what good sons and good daughters launching the Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi mind should thus abide, and how thus they should regulate their thoughts.’ ‘Subhuti, if a Bodhisattva has the view of a self, the view of a person, the view of beings, or the view of a soul; then he is not a Budhisattva.’ ‘Subhuti, the blessed virtue of a Bodhisattva not dwelling in the appearances of charity is also, again, thus: it cannot be calculated. Subhuti, Bodhisattvas should only thus in this teaching dwell.’”

“Popol Vuh” describes how humans were created from a mix of yellow and white corn. “They (the first four humans) were good people, handsome with looks of the male kind. Thoughts came into existence and they gazed; their vision came all at once. Perfectly they saw, perfectly then knew everything under the sky, whenever they looked. The moment they turned around and looked around in the sky, on the earth, everything was seen without any obstruction. They didn’t have to walk around before they could see what was under the sky; they just stayed where they were. …And they (the first four humans) saw everything under the sky perfectly. After that, they thanked the Maker, Modeler: ‘Truly now, double thanks, triple thanks that we’ve been formed, we’ve been given our mouths, our faces, we speak, we listen, we wonder, we move, our knowledge is good, we’ve understood what is far and near, and we’ve seen what is great and small under the sky, on the earth. Thanks to you we’ve been formed, we’ve come to be made and modeled, our grandmother, our grandfather…’”

The ancient Mayan civilization, known to be one of the most technologically advanced of its time, inhabited regions of Central America and southern Mexico several thousand years ago. It is with great awe that we invite you to explore some of the most important and profound insights our ancestors wanted to communicate to us through "Popol Vuh," one of the most important Mayan holy books. "Popol Vuh," or "Council Book," was written by a group of Mayan writers between 1554-1558. It encompasses the story of physical creation, and the history of Mayan people who once lived on the land called Quiché, in the highlands of Guatemala. “The Gods created this world so that it could be nurtured and appreciated. So, humans, according to the Great Plan, have the honored role of caring guardians rather than so-called owners. In the first attempt of such a great plan, animals were created but the results were not successful. However, the attempt shows us the ideal attributes that the Divine Creators wanted us to have: communication and guidance from our Heavenly Home.”

All that which we call ills, all sorrows – if we only understood them as we ought – improve our souls. The sufferings of irrational life lead us to acknowledge the need of rational life. Just as only the darkness of night reveals the heavenly lights, so only suffering reveals the true purpose of life. Great is God who enlightens us. Enlightens us with what? With the very sorrows from which we would flee and hide. In sorrow and suffering it is given to us to seek out the grains of wisdom that cannot be found in any book. If God gave us teachers of whom we knew for a certainty that they were sent of God Himself, we should obey them freely and gladly. But we have such instructors in necessity and in all the vicissitudes of life. Not only is every visitation of Providence profitable to every creature, but it is profitable at the very time when it is sent. The man who does not realize the beneficial nature of suffering has not commenced to live the life of reason, the true life. I pray God to free me from suffering which troubles me. But this suffering was sent to me by God to deliver me from evil.

“Everyone thinks of changing the world but no one thinks of changing himself.” This insightful saying by Leo Tolstoy is a good reminder for all of us to reflect inward. Yearning for more than success, fame, and wealth, Leo Tolstoy eventually established himself as a moral philosopher and spiritual leader during the last 30 years of his life. We would like to share an insightful excerpt from Volume Ⅱ of "The Pathway of Life," a collection of Tolstoy's philosophies on religion, life, death and more. The Ills of Life "All that which infringes upon the happiness of our bodily life we call ills. And yet the whole of our life is a gradual process of delivering our soul from that which constitutes the happiness of our body. Therefore, for him who comprehends life as it really is there are no ills." Ⅰ.That Which We Call Suffering is a Necessary. Ⅱ.Sufferings Stimulate Man's Spiritual Life.

“Get more enlightened and then you’ll be more loving. That’s the purpose of enlightenment. Enlightenment makes us more loving, more tolerant and more understanding. That’s the best outcome of spiritual cultivation.” “It’s not meditation that protects you. It’s the awakening of your own power within that protects you. It’s knowing that you’re God that protects you.” “The more people know God, the more people contact God directly and become happier, the more peaceful the world will be, the less war there will be, and the more we can bring Heaven onto Earth.” “Actually, everything takes care of itself in time. But meanwhile, we should try our best to make life better and always avoid violence. That’s the lesson of all the Shakyamuni Buddha stories – we have to surrender to God’s will and be tolerant and patient. When the time comes, everything will change.”

Supreme Master Ching Hai is a highly gifted, multi-talented and fully enlightened Master. Supreme Master Ching Hai teaches the Truth as did Shakyamuni Buddha, Lord Jesus Christ, Lao Tzu, Prophet Muhammad, (Peace Be Upon Him), Guru Nanak and many others. Supreme Master Ching Hai has infinite love, concern and encouragement for those who wish to improve themselves spiritually. In Her book “Aphorisms Ⅱ,” a compilation of parts of Her lectures, She offers words of supreme wisdom, which deal with spiritual practice, life and philosophy, touching the very source of our being, bringing us enlightenment and Heavenly bliss. Today we share with you the wise teachings of Supreme Master Ching Hai, with excerpts from the book “Aphorisms Ⅱ.” “We should rise to the noble position of a Saint. And to do that we must possess compassion, love, understanding and unselfish sacrifice at all times.” “When a Master comes to Earth not only are the disciples uplifted and shown wisdom, but the whole race of humankind is purified and uplifted to a certain higher level of consciousness.”

Today we’ll continue learning more about the different stages of the mystical life, as they were in the past and in our modern world. In the chapter titled “The Mystical Life” from his book “The Sanctuary of Self,” Frater Ralph M. Lewis elaborates on the importance of interconnectedness and balance across all levels of existence in one’s mystical life – from the material to the spiritual. “Traditional mysticism may be reduced to these fundamental principles: the soul is the spiritual self of man; the soul is part of a universal soul, a soul which permeates the entire universe. That soul is God. The material world and the physical body are the negative side of this positive, absolute soul, or God, which permeates the universe – a sort of imperfection, a falling off from the goodness; and when the soul is embodied in a physical form or body, man as a unity of both soul and body is not perfect. The body, the material, must be brought into harmony with the soul, the immaterial. Man will be confined to a body, in various lives, as long as he permits the temptations, the desires and appetites to dominate his nature. He must struggle to overcome them, to suppress them, to give himself over entirely to those spiritual urges within his own nature.”

“Have you ever stopped to realize what the real value or worth of tradition is? We should look upon traditions as signs of encouragement; We should take from tradition the best that it has to offer, and build upon it.” “In our considerations of the mystical life we must begin with man, simply because there is nothing more intimate, nothing to which you are more closely related, nothing that you can feel so strongly or analyze so carefully, as yourself.” “In each thing which has existence there is instilled its function, and, while it has that particular type of existence in its process of development, that function is natural to it and is not ungodly. So, when we approach the mystical life and begin with man, we look upon all things as Divine, because they emanate from the same source, and no being is ungodly unless we are in a position to point out that he has directed his will in opposition to what he knows is best and proper.”

The Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis, also known as the Rosicrucian Order, AMORC, is a worldwide cultural, educational, and philosophical organization that is perpetuating profound and practical teachings of the Rosicrucians. These teachings, as passed down and added to over the centuries from ancient Egypt to Europe and now all over the world, pertain to the mysteries of the universe, nature, and humans themselves. Today we will explore the process that could lead us to the mystical life according to the Rosicrucian Order, in Chapter 1 of the book “The Sanctuary of Self” by the late Rosicrucian leader Ralph M. Lewis. Chapter I THE MYSTICAL LIFE. “The mystical life provides the reason why we live. The mystical life determines the cause of our individual lives and the use to which we should put our bodies and our animal vitality and magnetism. The mystical life, like the physical life, requires certain preparation. If we must study the rules of diet, if we must study hygiene, if we must know the rudiments of good health to be healthy and physically normal, certainly we should give some thought and consideration to the mystical side of our existence as well.”

The gentle Prophet Muhammad peace be upon Him, was a beloved Master who led by His own shining example. His noble teachings live on in the hearts of people today, inspiring them toward a peaceful path to find the Most High. We now invite you to listen to excerpts from the Holy Qur’an: Surah 31 Luqman. “But for those who believe and do good works are Gardens of Bliss, where they shall live forever. The promise of Allah is the Truth; He is the Almighty, the Wise. He created the heavens without pillars that you see and cast on the earth firm mountains lest it should shake with you. We gave wisdom to Luqman (saying): ‘Give thanks to Allah. He who gives thanks, thanks only for himself, but whosoever is ungrateful, surely, Allah is the Rich, the Praised.’ Allah has knowledge of what is innermost in their hearts, But most of them do not have knowledge. To Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and the earth. So do not let the life of this present world delude you, nor let the deluder (satan) delude you concerning Allah.”

Today we’ll read the concluding part of Letter Ⅰ from Karl von Eckartshausen book “The Cloud upon the Sanctuary.” The author reveals how one could lift the veil before the Divine Sanctuary, or our innermost treasured Self. “With, however, its unfoldment, the curtain is all at once raised, the impenetrable veil is torn away, the cloud before the Sanctuary lifts, a new world suddenly exists for us, scales fall from the eyes, and we are at once transported from the phenomenal world to the regions of Truth. God alone is substance, absolute Truth; He alone is He who is, and we are what He has made us. For Him, all exists in Unity, for us, all exists in multiplicity. The great and true work of building the Temple consists solely in destroying the miserable Adamic hut and in erecting a Divine temple; this means, in other words, to develop in us the interior sensorium, or the organ to receive God. After this process, the metaphysical and incorruptible principle rules over the terrestrial, and man begins to live, not any longer in the principle of self-love, but in the Spirit and in the Truth, of which he is the Temple.”