• Eknath Easwaran

    “The capacity to be patient, to bear with others through thick and thin, is within the reach of anyone”
    EKNATH EASWARAN
    (1910–1999)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Passages for Meditation

These inspired texts from world scripture and the writings of great saints and sages have been selected for reading, study, and use in passage meditation. They come from Easwaran’s collections of inspirational passages, Timeless Wisdom and God Makes The Rivers To Flow. Click on a passage title in the right-hand column below to read and print that passage. If an audio icon is displayed next to the passage title, an audio player will be displayed with the passage; use it to hear Easwaran reading that passage.

Saint Matthew

The Sermon on the Mount

1
 
Blessed are the poor in spirit:
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 
Blessed are they that mourn:
for they shall be comforted.
 
Blessed are the meek:
for they shall inherit the earth.
 
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness:
for they shall be filled.
 
Blessed are the merciful:
for they shall obtain mercy.
 
Blessed are the pure in heart:
for they shall see God.
 
Blessed are the peacemakers:
for they shall be called the children of God.
 
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake:
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
 
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
 
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
 
2
 
Ye have heard that it hath been said,
Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.
But I say unto you,
 
Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
 
For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye?
Do not even the publicans the same?
And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others?
Do not even the publicans so?
 
Be ye therefore perfect,
even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
 
3
 
Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.
Amen


 


From the Gospel According to Saint Matthew, 5:3–16, 43–48; 6:9–13 (King James Version).


Abu Sa'id

If You Want to Draw Near to God

Ansari of Herat

Invocations

Baba Kuhi of Shiraz

Only God I Saw

Bahya Ibn Paquda

Duties of the Heart

Brother Lawrence

The Practice of the Presence of God

Cardinal Newman

Shine Through Us

Kabir

Simple Union
The Unstruck Bells and Drums
The Fruit of the Tree
Weaving Your Name

Lao Tzu

The Best
Mother of All Things
Finding Unity

Mahatma Gandhi

The Path
In the Midst of Darkness

Meera

The Path to Your Dwelling
Come, Beloved
Life of My Life

Narsinha Mehta

The Real Lovers of God

Native American Tradition

Let Me Walk In Beauty

Psalm 100

Serve the Lord with Gladness

Psalm 23

The Lord Is My Shepherd

Psalm 24

The Earth Is the Lord's

Rabbi Abram Isaac Kook

Radiant Is The World Soul

Rabbi Eleazar Azikri

Beloved of the Soul

Saint Anselm

Teach Me

Saint Augustine

Entering into Joy

Saint Catherine of Genoa

The Way of Peace

Saint Francis

The Prayer of Saint Francis

Saint Ignatius Of Loyola

Just Because You Are My God

Saint Matthew

The Sermon on the Mount

Saint Patrick

Christ Be With Me

Saint Teresa of Avila

You Are Christ's Hands
I Gave All My Heart
Let Nothing Upset You
Her Heart Is Full of Joy

Seng Ts'an

Believing in Mind

Shantideva

The Miracle of Illumination

Solomon ibn Gabirol

Adon Olam

Sri Ramakrishna

Songs of Sri Ramakrishna

Sri Sarada Devi

The Whole World Is Your Own

Sutta Nipata

Discourse on Good Will
The Island

Swami Omkar

Prayer for Peace

Swami Ramdas

The Central Truth

The Amritabindu Upanishad

The Hidden Self

The Bhagavad Gita

Living in Wisdom
The Way of Love
What Is Real Never Ceases
Whatever You Do
Be Aware of Me Always

The Chandi

Hymn to the Divine Mother

The Chandogya Upanishad

The City of Brahman
You Are That

The Dhammapada

The Blessing of a Well-Trained Mind
The Brahmin
Twin Verses

The Isha Upanishad

The Inner Ruler

The Katha Upanishad

Perennial Joy
The Razor's Edge
The Tree of Eternity
The Ruler Within

The Kena Upanishad

The Self

The Rig Veda

Prayer

The Shvetashvatara Upanishad

The River of God
The Lord of Life

The Tejobindu Upanishad

The Shining Self

The Torah

The Shema

The Upanishads

Invocations

Thomas a Kempis

The Wonderful Effect of Divine Love
Lord That Giveth Strength
Four Things that Bring Inward Peace

Tukaram

The One Thing Needed

Yoga Vasishtha

The Lamp of Wisdom


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