Category: The Jewelled Garden

For more about the Chinese hermit and poet Hanshan, or Cold Mountain, see this post. The ‘homeless’ here refers to those who have ‘left home’ to become a monk or Continue Reading →

Fakhruddin Iraqi (1213 – 1289 CE) was a Sufi and poet born in Persia but who travelled extensively, visiting India, Anatolia and Egypt before ultimately passing away in Damascus. For Continue Reading →

For some background on Sri Ramakrishna, see this post. It is not good to say that what we ourselves think of God is the only truth and what others think Continue Reading →

For more about the 13th c. CE Franciscan monk and poet Jacopone da Todi, see this earlier post. Oh, the futility of seeking to conveyWith images and feelingsThat which surpasses Continue Reading →

For some background about this 13th c. Indian Sufi, see this post. This excerpt is taken from his collection ‘One Hundred Letters’ The daily routine of a disciple, in the Continue Reading →

Yung-chia Hsuan-Chueh (665-713 CE) was a Chinese scholar and monk, and is considered one of the greatest and most gifted teachers of Zen Buddhism. These verses are taken from his Continue Reading →

For some background on the Hindu minstrel poet and mystic Namdev, see this post. The thundering resonance of the Wordhas liberated me while living;Such is the service, O Lord,rendered by Continue Reading →

This subtle thought is taken from the Maqalat or Conversations of Shams of Tabriz, the spiritual catalyst of Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi. All the prophets have recognized each other. Jesus says: Continue Reading →

It is reported that the Messenger of Allah, may peace be upon him, said: “By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, you will not enter Paradise until you Continue Reading →

For some background on the revered Tamil poet and mystic Sivavakkiyar, see this post. The slothful     sluggards     say: He is far, far, far     away!But the Supreme Itis spread everywhereon Earth and in Heavens.O Continue Reading →