Meditations For The Metro

Today’s meditation comes from The Book Of Second Corinthians in The New Testament and from the writings of Eknath Easwaran, with music by Moments.

Passage: Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. —2 Corinthians 5:6-8

Perspective: As long as we think we are the body, we will fight to hold onto the body when death comes to wrench it away. The tragedy, of course, is that death is going to take it anyway. So the great teachers in all religions tell us, “Give up your selfish attachments now and be free.” Then, when death does come, we can give him what is his without a shadow of regret, and keep for ourselves what is ours, which is love of the Lord. 

There is great artistry in this. Death comes and growls something about how our time has come, and we just say, “Don’t growl; I’m ready to come on my own.” Then we stand up gracefully, take off the jacket that is the body, hand it over carefully, and go home. —Eknath Easwaran

Music: “The Light Within” by Moments

Narrator: Ryan Phipps

Today’s meditation comes from The Book Of Job in The Old Testament and from the writings of Graham Greene, with music by Shimmer.

Passage: What is mankind that you make so much of them, that you give them so much attention, that you examine them every morning and test them every moment? Will you never look away from me, or let me alone even for an instant? If I have erred, what is it to you, you who see everything? Why have you made me your target? —Job 7:17-20

Perspective: I hate you, God. I hate you as though you actually exist. ―Graham Greene

Music: “Icarus” by Shimmer

Narrator: Ryan Phipps

Today’s meditation comes from The Book Of Second Chronicles The Old Testament and from the writings of Faraaz Kazi, with music by EVOE.

Passage: The Lord’s eyes scan the whole world to strengthen those who are committed to him with all their hearts. —2 Chronicles 16:9

Perspective: The best kiss is the one that has been exchanged a thousand times between the eyes before it reaches the lips. ―Faraaz Kazi

Music: “Rise Again” by EVOE

Narrator: Ryan Phipps

Today’s meditation comes from The Psalms in The Old Testament and from the writings of Abhijit Naskar, with music by Acreage.

Passage: Those who adore God’s ways are truly happy. Their descendants will be strong. Their offspring will be blessed; abundance will be in their houses. They shine in the dark for others. They are merciful and compassionate. They conduct their affairs with justice. They give freely to those in need and their strength increases. —Psalm 112

Perspective: Your field of work doesn't make you a good person. If you are a good person, you make that field a good field. —Abhijit Naskar

Music: “Lately” by Acreage

Narrator: Ryan Phipps

Today’s meditation comes from The Book Of Hebrews in The New Testament and from the writings of Soren Kierkegaard, with music by Quiet Lake.

Passage: You have believed for so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basics about God. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. —Hebrews 5:12

Perspective: O Luther, you had 95 theses. The matter is far more terrible-there is only one thesis. The Christianity of the New Testament does not exist at all. Here there is nothing to reform. —Soren Kierkegaard

Music: “Waking Us” by Quiet Lake

Narrator: Ryan Phipps

Today’s episode is an update from our host, Ryan Phipps with music by Cast Of Characters.

Music: “Pyaar Kee Seemaen” by Cast Of Characters

Narrator: Ryan Phipps

Today’s meditation comes from The Gospel Of Thomas with music by Shimmer.

Passages: These are the secret sayings which the living Jesus spoke and which Didymos Judas Thomas wrote down.

2 Jesus said, "Let him who seeks continue seeking until he finds. When he finds, he will become troubled. When he becomes troubled, he will be astonished, and he will rule over the all."

42 Jesus said, "Become passers-by."

48 Jesus said, "If two make peace with each other in this one house, they will say to the mountain, 'Move Away,' and it will move away."

67 Jesus said, "If one who knows the all still feels a personal deficiency, he is completely deficient."

69 Jesus said, "Blessed are they who have been persecuted within themselves. It is they who have truly come to know the father. Blessed are the hungry, for the belly of him who desires will be filled."

74 He said, "O Lord, there are many around the drinking trough, but there is nothing in the cistern."

77 Split a piece of wood, and I am there. Lift up a stone, and you will find me there."

95 Jesus said, "If you have money, do not lend it at interest, but give it to one from whom you will not get it back."

108 Jesus said, "He who will drink from my mouth will become like me. I myself shall become he, and the things that are hidden will be revealed to him." —The Gospel Of Thomas, Sayings 2, 42, 48, 67, 69, 74, 77, 95, and 108

Music: “First Snow” by Shimmer

Narrator: Ryan Phipps

Today’s meditation comes from The Gospel Of Thomas with music by Quiet Lake.

Passages: These are the secret sayings which the living Jesus spoke and which Didymos Judas Thomas wrote down.

110 Jesus said, "Whoever finds the world and becomes rich, let him renounce the world."

111 Jesus said, "The heavens and the earth will be rolled up in your presence. And the one who lives from the living one will not see death." Does not Jesus say, "Whoever finds himself is superior to the world?"

112 Jesus said, "Woe to the flesh that depends on the soul; woe to the soul that depends on the flesh."

113 His disciples said to him, "When will the kingdom come?"

Jesus said, "It will not come by waiting for it. It will not be a matter of saying 'here it is' or 'there it is.' Rather, the kingdom of the father is spread out upon the earth, and men do not see it."

114 Simon Peter said to him, "Let Mary leave us, for women are not worthy of life." Jesus said, "I myself shall lead her in order to make her male, so that she too may become a living spirit resembling you males. For every woman who will make herself male will enter the kingdom of heaven." —The Gospel Of Thomas, Sayings 110-114

Music: “Waking Us” by Quiet Lake

Narrator: Ryan Phipps

Today’s meditation comes from The Gospel Of Thomas with music by Outside The Sky.

Passages: These are the secret sayings which the living Jesus spoke and which Didymos Judas Thomas wrote down.

106 Jesus said, "When you make the two one, you will become the sons of man, and when you say, 'Mountain, move away,' it will move away."

107 Jesus said, "The kingdom is like a shepherd who had a hundred sheep. One of them, the largest, went astray. He left the ninety-nine sheep and looked for that one until he found it. When he had gone to such trouble, he said to the sheep, 'I care for you more than the ninety-nine.'"

108 Jesus said, "He who will drink from my mouth will become like me. I myself shall become he, and the things that are hidden will be revealed to him."

109 Jesus said, "The kingdom is like a man who had a hidden treasure in his field without knowing it. And after he died, he left it to his son. The son did not know about the treasure. He inherited the field and sold it. And the one who bought it went plowing and found the treasure. He began to lend money at interest to whomever he wished." —The Gospel Of Thomas, Sayings 106-109

Music: “Luminosity” by Outside The Sky

Narrator: Ryan Phipps

Today’s meditation comes from The Gospel Of Thomas with music by Lost Ghosts.

Passages: These are the secret sayings which the living Jesus spoke and which Didymos Judas Thomas wrote down.

102 Jesus said, "Woe to the pharisees, for they are like a dog sleeping in the manger of oxen, for neither does he eat nor does he let the oxen eat."

103 Jesus said, "Fortunate is the man who knows where the brigands will enter, so that he may get up, muster his domain, and arm himself before they invade."

104 They said to Jesus, "Come, let us pray today and let us fast."

Jesus said, "What is the sin that I have committed, or wherein have I been defeated? But when the bridegroom leaves the bridal chamber, then let them fast and pray."

105 Jesus said, "He who knows the father and the mother will be called the son of a harlot." —The Gospel Of Thomas, Sayings 102-105

Music: “Murmur” by Lost Ghosts

Narrator: Ryan Phipps