Mystics, Masters, Saints, and Sages
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PRAISEFOR
MYSTICS,MASTERS,SAINTS,ANDSAGES
“A fascinating collection of first-person accounts—across centuries and across
religious traditions—of the experience of awakening, all held together by the
commondenominatorof‘SurprisedbyJoy.’”
SylviaBoorstein,authorof It'sEasierThanYouThink:TheBuddhistWayto
Happiness
“Each time you read of one of the encounters with the infinite you feel the tug for yourownrealization.”
RabbiZalmanSchachter-Shalomi,pastholderoftheWorldWisdomChair,Naropa
University
“Equanimityofthemind,contentment,self-reflection,andassociationwithspiritual
seekersarethefourwaystospiritualenlightenment.Anaspirantofthespiritualpath
can choose any one of the four. Association with spiritual seekers includes reading the life histories and teachings of saints and sages, spiritual masters, and God-intoxicatedpeoplewhoaremergedintheirdevotiontoGod,bothhistoricallyandin
the present. Through this book, Bob Ullman and Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman have
helpedothersfulfillthatneedofassociationwithspiritualseekers,saints,andsages of the East and West, historical and present. I wish them success in their efforts to servepeoplebyvariousmeans.”
BabaHariDass,authorof SilenceSpeaksfromtheChalkboardofBabaHariDass
“Finally,abeautifullyconciseandreadableoverviewoftheenlightenedconditionas
it is expressed through a wide variety of personalities, both historical and
contemporary.”
Adyashanti,OpenGateSangha,authorof TheImpactofAwakening
“Mystics,Masters,Saints,andSages offers a myriad of reflections of the profound potential we have for awakening to our true nature. These inspiring life stories of personaltransformationinspireustodiscoverandembodyatrulyuniversalspiritat
theheartofourhumanityandtoliveinawaythathonorsit.”
Dr.JoelandMichelleLevey,authorsof LivinginBalanceand SimpleMeditation
&Relaxation
2
3
Copyright©2001byRobertUllmanandJudythReichenberg-Ullman
AllRightsReserved.Nopartofthisbookmaybeusedorreproducedinanymanner
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ConariPressbooksaredistributedbyPublishersGroupWest.
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LIBRARYOFCONGRESSCATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATIONDATA
Ullman,Robert.
Mystics,masters,saints,andsages:storiesofenlightenment/RobertUllmanand
JudythReichenberg-Ullman.
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Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
ISBN1–57324–507–0
1.Religiousawakening.2.Spirituallife.I.Reichenberg-Ullman,Judyth.II.Title.
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WededicatethisbooktoBabaHariDass,asilentyogiwhohaspatientlyguided andinspiredusandisalivingexampleofwhatitmeanstobeliberated.
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MYSTICS,MASTERS,SAINTS,ANDSAGES
Acknowledgments
Foreword
Introduction
1Gautama,theBuddha(624–544B.C.E.,Nepal)
FromSufferingtoNirvana
2Hui-Neng(638–713,China)
FromIlliterateWoodcuttertoSixthZenPatriarch
3YesheTsogyal(757–817,Tibet)
LadyoftheLotus-Born
4JalaluddinRumi(1207–1273,Afghanistan)
IntoxicatedwiththeBeloved
5ADiscipleoftheKabbalisticSchoolofAbrahamAbulafia(1240–1291,Spain)
Kabbalah:TheSecretNamesofGod
6SaintCatherineofSiena(1347–1380,Italy)
TheBrideofChrist
7Kabir(circa1440–1518,India)
BeyondDogmatoDivinity
8GendunGyatsoPalzangpo(1475–1541,Tibet)
PoemsofaMadDalaiLama
9SaintJohnoftheCross(1542–1591,Spain)
TranscendingtheDarkNightoftheSoul
10Hakuin(1686–1769,Japan)
FallingDownLaughing
11TheBaalShemTov(1698–1760,EasternEurope)
TheHeavenlyHasid
12Bahá'u'lláh(1817–1892,Iran)
InBondage,YetFree
13RamakrishnaParamahamsa(1836–1886,India)
TheEcstaticLoverofMotherKali
14RamanaMaharshi(1879–1950,India)
IAmNottheBody,IAmtheSelf
15Swami(Papa)Ramdas(1884–1963,India)andMotherKrishnabai(1903–1989,
India)
ThereIsOnlyRam(God)
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16ParamahansaYogananda(1893–1952,India)
BringingCosmicConsciousnesstotheWest
17MeherBaba(1894–1969,India)
TheUniversalLoveofanAvatar
18Krishnamurti(1895–1986,India)
IAmGodIntoxicated
19FranklinMerrell-Wolff(1897–1985,UnitedStates)
PathwaysThroughtoSpace
20PeacePilgrim(Early1900s–1981,UnitedStates)
WalkingforWorldPeace
21GopiKrishna(1908–1984,India)
TheAwakeningoftheKundalini
22LesterLevenson(1909–1994,UnitedStates)
ReleasingforUltimateFreedom
23JeanKlein(Circa1916–1998,Czechoslovakia)
FromIndividualtoImpersonal
24RameshBalsekar(1919–present,India)
ItHadtoHappen
25RobertAdams(1928–1997,UnitedStates)
TheSilenceoftheHeart
26BernadetteRoberts(1931–present,UnitedStates)
TheJourneytoNo-Self
27DeepaKodikal(1941–present,India)
BecomingtheCosmosWithoutLeavingHome
28Gangaji(1942–present,UnitedStates)
WhoAreYou?YouAreTHAT!
29EckhartTolle(1948–present,Germany)
ThePowerofNow
30A.H.Almaas(?–present,Kuwait)
FindingEssencethroughtheDiamondApproach
31Shantimayi(1950–present,UnitedStates)
TheCanneryEnlightenment
32MataAmritanandamayi(1953–present,India)
EmbracedbytheDivineMother
33SuzanneSegal(1955–1997,UnitedStates)
CollisionwiththeInfinite
BibliographyandSuggestedReading
InternetResources
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Index
abouttheAuthors
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
WE THANK all of those beings, known and unknown, who have had the sincerity, courage, and unfaltering dedication to put finding God above all else. We express profound gratitude for having the exceptional fortune to have met personally
or to havesatwiththefollowingspiritualteachers.
Adyashanti, Ammachi, Avatar Adi Da, Baba Hari Dass, Byron Katie, Chagdud
Rinpoche,HisHolinesstheDalaiLamaforhiswonderfulforeword,DeepaKodikal,
Eckhart Tolle, Gangaji, Guru Mayi, Jean Klein, Kalu Rinpoche, Karunamayi,
Kriyananda, Tsering Everest, Mother Hamilton, Mother Teresa, Pir Kalimi, Pir
VilayatInayatKhan,RamDass,RameshBalsekar,ReshadFeild,SantKeshavadas,
SatyaSaiBaba,SeungSahn,Shantimayi,SheikhSuleimanDede,ShlomoCarlebach,
ShreeMaa,ShriShivabalayogi,ShriShriAnandamurti,SwamiChidananda,Swami
Ganapati Satchidananda, Swami Krishananda, Swami Muktananda, Swami
Satchidananda,TonyParsons,YogiBhajan.
SpecialthankstoMaryJaneRyan,whobelievedinthisprojectfromthestart,and
toLeslieBerriman,HeatherMcArthur,ClaudiaSmelser,BrendaKnight,andtherest
ofourConarifamilywhohelpedbringthisbooktofruition.AlsotoSatprakashofthe
PiccadillyBookStallinNewDelhi,whohasthemostcompleteyetcompactspiritual
bookstoreintheworld.
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FOREWORD
BYHISHOLINESSTHEDALAILAMA
ASHUMANBEINGS,weallwanthappiness,peace,andreleasefromsuffering.Weoften
thinkthattheenlightenedonesaresomehowspecial,differentfromus,withastateof
mind that is unattainable to an ordinary person. And yet, each human being has an equal opportunity to attain wisdom, happiness, and enlightenment by cultivating a correctmotivation—asincereaspirationtobenefitallsentientbeings—andengaging
indiligentpractice.
Whether in the course of one lifetime or many, it is possible for each of us to overcome ignorance and delusion and find release from the cycle of life and death.
The Buddha, like many of the individuals described in this book, was born an ordinaryperson.Hewasbroughtupasaprince,married,andhadason.Then,after
observingthesufferingofhumanbeings—thattheygrowold,fallsick,anddie—he
totally renounced the worldly way of life in his determination to find a solution to human suffering. Having undergone severe physical penance, he purified and
illuminedhismindthroughintensemeditation,andattainedsupremeenlightenment.
InthiswaytheBuddhasetanexampleforhisfollowers.Purifyingthemindisnot
easy.Ittakestimeandhardwork.Butthisistrueofanyhumanenterprise.Youneed
tremendouswillpoweranddeterminationrightfromthestart,acceptingthattherewill
be many obstacles and resolving that despite them all you will continue until you haveattainedyourgoal.Buthavingattainedenlightenment,theBuddhadidnotretire
intoisolation.Movedbyaspontaneousconcerntohelpothers,hespenttherestofhis
lifeasahomelessmonk,sharinghisexperiencewitheveryonewhowishedtolisten.
HisentiredoctrinecanbepresentedwiththeFourNobleTruths,thesubjectofhis
firstdiscourse.Whatweseekishappiness;happinessistheeffectofacause;whatwe
donotwantissuffering,whichhasitsowncauses.TheBuddha'sviewofdependent
arising and his advice not to harm anyone, but to help whomever you can, both emphasize the practice of nonviolence. The practice of nonviolence remains one of themostpotentforcesforgoodintheworldtoday,forsuchpracticeisservicetoour
fellowbeings.
In this valuable, inspiring book you will find the stories of people known and unknown who have experienced and realized some aspect of the enlightened mind.
Therichdiversityoftheirexperiencesisvast,yettheirrealizationshaveauniversal quality. From each of their stories, we can develop a greater awareness and
appreciationoftheirspiritualjourneys,thepositivequalitiestheyembodied,andthe
understanding and realization of the nature of life that they experienced. It is important to understand that each of these saints and sages was born an ordinary person. Some underwent intensive spiritual practices, including fasting, meditation, physical hardships, and great sacrifices in pursuit of Truth. Others were
spontaneouslyawakened,perhapsasaresultofpositivespiritualmeritaccumulated
frompreviousbirths.
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Alltheworld'sspiritualtraditionshaveprovideduswithexamplesofpersonswho sought wisdom and practiced compassion in their lives. We can see that the
illuminationofmindisauniversalphenomenon.ItcanhappenintheEastandWest,
North and South, among all races and religions, even among people who have no religion.
Wemustthinkofourselvesashumanbeingsfirstandforgetthedistinctionsthatin
our imagination divide us. In this era of great change and upheaval, we must work urgently and diligently to ensure that everyone has the basic necessities for life, to ensure that everyone has political and religious freedom, and to protect the Earth fromenvironmentalexploitationanddevastation.
June16,2001
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INTRODUCTION
WHATISENLIGHTENMENT?
TO “ENLIGHTEN” means, literally, to provide knowledge or spiritual insight, to illuminatewhatwaspreviouslydarkorobscured.Thosewhodescribeenlightenment
experiences recount a shift out of their ordinary frames of reference. Their
worldviews become markedly different from what they had been before the
experience.Manyindividualsreportneveragainbeingthesameandthattheirsense
of individuality and separateness evaporated, often permanently. This alteration leavestheseenlightenedbeingsinastateoffreedom.Theyarestillthemselves,and
yettheyarenot.Theycontinuetoliveouttheirlivesintheirphysicalbodies,yettheir identificationisnolongerconfinedtothebodyorthemind.Forsome,eventheworld
itselfas anything morethan an illusion disappears.Those who attainenlightenment become liberated, released from the attachment to suffering and limitation of any kind.Theyareabsolutelyfree,andextraordinarilyawakened.
Enlightenmentisanaspirationofmanyseekersregardlessofreligionorbirthplace,
often pursued over the course of decades or lifetimes. There are those who believe enlightenment occurs primarily at birth. Some say whether or not one attains
enlightenmentduringthecourseofhisorherlifetimeisamatterofdestinyorkarma.
Othersdescribeitasanaturaloutcomeofseriousanddiligentspiritualpractice,and
stillotherssayitcanhappentoanyoneanytime,byrealizingwhathasalwaysbeen
one'struenature.Infact,someteachersofnondualismwouldgosofarastosaythere
is no one to be enlightened because there are no separate beings. The focus of this book is on those beings who were not fully awakened at birth but went through a describableprocessoftransformation.Thisprocessisforsomeblissfulandecstatic,
forothersarduousorterrifying.
There is something palpably different about someone who has undergone an
experience of revelation and transformation that leads to enlightenment. His or her countenancemayexhibitserenity,humor,andinnocentjoy,ortheseverefeaturesof
yearsofausterity,orevenapparentinsanity.Thereisaprofoundrealizationofliving fully in the present moment: a deep sense of relaxation that arises from the understandin
gthatthereisnowhereelsetogoandnothingelsetodo.Amagnanimity
and spaciousness is observed as compared to the finite, limited nature of the individualself,andacompletesenseofapparentindifferenceornonattachmenttothe
world or social norms may also be present. Enlightened beings often exude a
sweetness that draws others to them like bears to honey, or contrarily, some may displayacrusty,obnoxious,orobsceneisolationismthatdrivesawayallbutthemost
persistentandworthyaspirants.Thoughmanyenlightenedbeingsseekseclusionand
remainunknown,othersattractthousandsofseekerswhocometothemforblessings
andteachings,theanswerstotheirinnermostquestions,freedomfromtheirworldly
problemsandconcerns,and,ultimately,theirownliberation.Enlightenmentappears
mysteriousandelusivetotheunawakenedyettheordinaryandnaturalstateofbeing
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forthosewhoareliberated.
The mystics, masters, saints, and sages here, drawn from the world's spiritual traditionsorfromtheirownindividualpaths,haveexpandedtheirhumanexperience
toembracethecosmicoruniversalaspectsofhumanlife.Theyhaveachieved,orat
least tasted, that which is desired but eludes the vast majority of human beings: profound peace, extreme happiness, and a deep understanding of truth. Although these masters and saints can inspire us, teach us, and show us the way they found peace, each of us in our own way must ultimately discover our own paths to self-realization,peace,andhappiness.Mayweallawakentowhowetrulyare.
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CharacteristicsoftheEnlightenmentExperience
Theactualexperienceofenlightenmentisuniquetotheindividualandiscolored,to
some degree, by her prior experience, spiritual tradition, and culture temperament.
Thoughthisishardlysurprising,theredoseemtobe,however,certainfeaturesthat
arecommontoallofthosewhosharethephenomenonofawakening.
To consider enlightenment as an experience at all can seem to contradict our notionsofno-mind,absorptionintotheinfinite,andemptiness,yetsomethingindeed