Zhiyi is traditionally listed as the fourth patriarch, but actually is the founder of the Tiantai tradition of Buddhism in China. read more

Thomas à Kempis belonged to the school of mystics who were scattered along the Rhine from Switzerland to Strasburg and Cologne and in the Netherlands. He was a follower of Geert Groote and Florentius Radewijns, the founders of the Brethren of the Common Life. read more

Thomas Merton was born on January 31, 1915 in Prades, France to Owen Merton, a New Zealand painter active in Europe and the U.S.A., and Ruth Jenkins, an American Quaker and artist. read more

Columbanus was born in Nobber, County Meath, Ireland, in the year Saint Benedict died, and from childhood was well instructed. He was handsome and prepossessing in appearance, as reflected in his Irish name 'Colum Ban', which means "the fair Colum". read more

Raghavendra Swami was born in 1595 in Kaveripattana, Tamil Nadu to Thimmanna Bhatta and Gopikamba. His ancestors were of the Gautama Gotra. He was named Venkatanatha as he was born by the grace of Lord Venkateshwara. read more

Sri Manavala Mamuni was born in 1370 and lived for about 74 years and left a lasting and vibrant influence in spiritual and ritual practices- especially in securing an all-inclusive congregation and popularising Tamil works of azhwars and elevating them to the level of vedas. read more

Desikan was born in Thoopul, near Kanchipuram, (according to legend, on the order of Lord Srinivasa and Padmavathi Thayaar, the God and Goddess of the Tirupati temple), as the son of Ananta Suri and Totaramba. read more

Saint Pachomius (ca. 292-348), also known as Abba Pachomius and Pakhom, is generally recognized as the founder of Christian cenobitic monasticism. His saint day is celebrated on 9 May. read more

Sri Chaitanya teaches us in the first place that the rational attributes of men are not capable of approaching the Divine sphere of spirit. read more

Hari Das Thakur was born in a low-caste family on the Lord’s order in order to show that caste and class have no importance at all. All the scriptures say that a devotee of Vishnu, though born in a lowly family, is still worshipable by all. read more