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Ramana Maharshi

Throughout the history of mankind spiritual giants have appeared on very rare occasions to exemplify the Highest Truth, guiding followers by their conduct in every moment of their lives; Sri Ramana Maharshi was such a giant. Unique in our time, He perfectly embodied the ultimate truth of Self-realization, or complete immersion in God.

Known as the Sage of Arunachala, He spoke and wrote very little. He preferred to communicate through the power of overwhelming Silence, a silence so deep and powerful that it stilled the minds of ardent seekers who were attracted to Him from all over the world.

Aisha Nuria

"...Spanish Muslim settlers established this community of Sunnis 13 years ago when an armed rebellion for indigenous rights brought global attention to Chiapas. Today Muslims here have their own separate community complete with school and restaurant and some 300 new believers..."

Aisha Nuria: "Teaching Koran early in the day is fundamental. It relaxes the children and warms their hearts."

Eckhart Tolle

Eckhart Tolle claims to have attained enlightenment at the age of 29 after suffering long periods of depression. Tolle's non-fiction bestseller, The Power of Now, emphasizes the importance of being aware of the present moment as a way of not being lost in thought.

In Tolle's view, the present is the gateway to a heightened sense of peace. "Being in the now" also brings about an awareness that is beyond the mind. This awareness helps in transcending "the pain-body" that is created by the identification of the mind and ego with the body. His later book, A New Earth, further claims to explore the structure of the human ego and how this acts to distract people from their present experience of the world. His other works include Stillness Speaks, a book that modernizes the ancient sutra form.

Pilgrims at Mt. Arafat

"From all over the world and all walks of life they are crossing the main roads of the plains of Arafat towards this spot The Mount of Mercy. Arafat is the climax of Hajj, a day of high religious significance for Muslims. They pledge allegiance to God and ask for his mercy.

"It is a day of repentance, prayers and shedding tears renouncing past sins. In this site prophet Mohammad delivered his last sermon - a farewell to his followers. All in white, draped in a plain sheet, called the dress of the haram, to stress the importance of equality. In Arafat a prince and a pauper are alike.

"The crowd of Hajjis will spend all the day here and with the sunset will move to Mosdelifa where they will spend all the night and gather pebbles for the symbolic stoning of the devil..."