Eknath Easwaran selects key verses from his acclaimed translation of the Buddha's Dhammapada, and explains in these informal talks to his close students how the Buddha's timeless words can guide us in our lives today.

Meditation is the key to finding the Self, and Easwaran recommends this prayer, which begins "Lord make me an instrument of thy peace . . . ," as the first passage to use when learning to meditate. In this talk Easwaran explores the four pillars of wisdom and then gives a line-by-line commentary on the prayer.

The Imitation of Christ is a classic devotional work on how to live like Jesus. In its entirety, there 50 separate talks, Easwaran goes through each chapter, bringing it to life for the modern listener. This is the first talk in the series.

Controlling the mind is easier said than done. Easwaran uses the metaphor of a house, fine on the outside but internally in disarray, to illustrate the challenges in controlling the mind and the techniques we may use to achieve that control.

Easwaran's classic manual is a unique source of practical spiritual support for new and experienced meditators and gives all the instruction needed to establish a vibrant meditation practice and keep it going. In passage meditation you focus attention on passages, or texts, drawn from all the world's sacred traditions. You choose the passages that appeal to you, so this universal method stays fresh and inspiring, prompting you to live out your highest ideals.

Easwaran links meditation and the inner spiritual life with the imperative of work in the world.

In this series of informal talks to close students, Eknath Easwaran comments on short extracts from the Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis, a classic 15th-century Christian text. Recognizing that these gems of spiritual counselling are expressed in difficult, medieval language, Easwaran takes care to place them in a contemporary context. He shows how this great text contains much sound, sensitive psychology that can guide us in making wise choices today.

Anger is a powerful force. Easwaran inspires us to transform it into a constructive, healing friend.

Uncover the core of goodness within. Love, compassion, meaning, hope, and freedom from fear are not qualities we need to acquire. We simply need to uncover what we already have. "Original goodness" is Eknath Easwaran’s phrase for this spark of divinity hidden in every one of us, regardless of our personal liabilities or past mistakes. Commenting on the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount, Easwaran shows how this spark of divinity can energize our lives - beginning with a simple method of meditation that gradually removes the conditioning that hides our native goodness.

The mantram, or mantra, is a short, powerful spiritual formula from the world’s great traditions, repeated silently in the mind, anytime, anywhere. Use it when you’re ill or anxious, tired, or restless, and the mantram will guide and comfort you like a true friend. The mantram can help you to steady the mind and focus your thoughts, replenish your energy and willpower, free your mind from anxiety, anger, or resentment, access your deepest resources of strength, patience, and love.

Easwaran explains how we can clear our minds of the clutter that prevents us from living our lives the way we want to live.

In this historic recording Eknath Easwaran, who taught meditation and spiritual living for over 40 years, reads his selection of lifeaffirming writings from the saints, sages, and scriptures of the Christian, Hindu, Sufi, Jewish, Buddhist, and Taoist traditions. This collection includes passages from Easwaran’s translations of the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads, and the Dhammapada. Easwaran’s reading is sonorous and deep, slowing down the mind and drawing us into a world of timeless wisdom where our worries and concerns fall back into perspective.

Feeling trapped by unwanted thoughts and emotions can seem an inevitable part of life. But Eknath Easwaran, who taught meditation for 40 years, teaches us a way to break free. Just as a fitness routine can create a strong, supple body, spiritual disciplines can shape a secure personality and a resilient, loving mind. Easwaran takes the timeless teachings of the Buddha and other mystics and tells how we can train the mind not just during meditation but throughout the day.

Easwaran's classic manual is a unique source of practical spiritual support for new and experienced meditators, and gives all the instruction needed to establish a vibrant meditation practice and keep it going. In passage meditation, you focus attention on passages, or texts, drawn from all the world's sacred traditions. You choose the passages that appeal to you, so this universal method stays fresh and inspiring, prompting you to live out your highest ideals.

Stress and anxiety affect many of us as we struggle with work pressures, money worries, strained relationships, and the nagging sense that life may be running out of our control. But in the midst of chaos, we can find balance, peace, and wisdom, Easwaran says, if we learn to steady our minds. It’s a simple idea, but one that runs deep - a truly calm mind can weather any storm.