William Samuel (1924-1996) was born in Alabama to a Jewish father and Christian mother. Samuel taught and wrote from his home at Mountain Brook, Alabama, for over 40 years. He was a spiritual teacher who taught and lectured on the subject of metaphysics based upon the Absolute, or as referred to today, non-duality. Samuel never sought to be well known or venerated himself, and did not embrace the idea of being called a "teacher". However, he has been widely recognized by many as a genuine true Master. Samuel also preferred not to be labeled, categorized or assigned to any religion, particular study, nor tied to any spiritual teaching. William Samuel was the first American student to meet and sit with Ramana Maharshi, and recounts the meeting in a short anecdote: “Some years ago I was honored to be the first American student of a renowned teacher in India. For fourteen days a group of us sat at the feet of this "Master," during which time he spoke not one word—not so much as a grunt—until the final day when he bade us farewell and assured us we had learned much. And to my surprise, I had. It took months before the seeds of those silent days began to sprout one by one, revealing that there are indeed many things for which the uptight, recondite babble of books and teachers is more hindrance than a help.” 🔆 These podcasts are not monetized. If you benefit from these podcasts and would like to support our nun's hermitage, there are two options to donate - via Paypal using this email address: [email protected] with PayPal or using this direct link: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://paypal.me/VivekaHermitage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or become at Patron at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/jayasara⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🙏 May whatever goodness arises from these readings/offerings be for the benefit of all sentient beings.