SELECTION III. religion are fallen into thick dark True religion consists not in ceremo-ness; but they are in still thicker nial acts nor in selfish aspirations, but gloom who are solely attached to in moral purity, and in the proper per- fruitless speculations. formance of moral duties. A 9 The Lord of Life should not WISE man must discharge all be worshipped with faded flowers. his moral duties, even though Those that grow in thine own garhe does not constantly perform the den are far better than any other. ceremonies of religion; he will fall With the flowers that are gathered, very low if he performs ceremonial there must be reverence: itself a acts only, and fails in the discharge flower. of his moral duties. 10 Why say I will go on a pil How long for the sacred wells? 2 Religious acts which proceed grimage to the holy city? Why from selfish views with regard to this world, such as offering prayers to obtain rain, or with hope of reward in the next world, are external and selfish. II Though we live in the desert, sanctity is not there; neither is it 3 But acts performed with a in the sky; nor is it at the conknowledge of God, and without fluence of holy rivers on earth. self-love, are internal and disinterested. 12 Convert thy body into a temple; give up evil thoughts, and see God with thine internal eye. 4 Religious exercises performed to obtain reputation, or for an ap- 13 Darkness is never dispelled by a painted flame; so Scripture will never free the soul from fear, without the light of inward experience. pearance of sanctity, come from inferior influences of the soul, and are of little worth. 14 Though a dog were to roam 5 The best worship is that which is offered without expecting to at- to the sacred city, he would not tain any particular object; and that is the worst which is performed for the accomplishment of a particular end. 6 The religious exercise of the body is to be pure; of the lips, to speak always truly and kindly; of the thoughts, to control selfish inclinations and cherish benevolent tendencies. 7 The worship of spiritual wisdom is far better than worship by the offering of things. thereby be changed into a lion; or if a swine were to travel to a holy spot, he would not thereby become an elephant; so no pilgrimage will make a saint of a man who has no holy aspirations. 15 Be thy creed or thy prayers what they may, unless thou hast truth within thee, thou wilt not find the path to true happiness. whom the truth dwells is twiceborn. He in 16 The source of final happiness 8 They who are ignorantly de- is in the heart, and he is a fool who voted to the mere ceremonies of seeks it elsewhere; he is like the shepherd who searched for the lamb that was in his own bosom. 17 Why bring stone from the hills, to build fine temples for God to dwell in? God, as a living being, constantly dwells within you. 18 Any place where the mind of man can be undisturbed is suitable for the worship of the Supreme Being. SELECTION IV. God dwells in all, but especially in those who are merciful, unselfish, just, truthful, and humane. THA 7 He is dear to me, who is unexpecting, just, pure, impartial, and free from distraction of mind; who is the same in friendship and hatred, in honor and dishonor; who is unsolicitous about the event of things; who is of a steady mind; to whom praise and blame are the same. 8 The way to eternal beatitude is open to him who without omission speaketh the truth. 9 To be dumb for the remainder of life is better than to speak falsely. 10 The sacrifice of a thousand horses has been put in the balance 'HAT Supreme Spirit, which with one true word, and the true thou believest to be one and word weighed down the thousand the same with thyself, resides in sacrifices. No virtue surpasses that thy bosom perpetually, and is an of veracity. all-knowing inspector of thy goodness and thy wickedness. 2 The soul itself is its own witness and its own refuge. Offend not thy conscious soul, the supreme internal witness of men! 3 The simple have said in their hearts, None sees us. Yet God distinctly sees them, even the Spirit within their own breasts. 4 The light, like the morning star, which dwells in the inmost heart of every man, is our refuge. II There are two roads which conduct to perfect virtue; to be true, and to do no evil to any creature. 12 It is not good to forget a benefit, but it is good to forget an injury on the moment. 13 Return good for evil. 14 Abstain from unlawful gains. 15 Immediately relinquish any avdantage that has been gained without equity. 16 Be chaste. Resist sensual appetites. Neither Sacred Scriptures, 5 He is dear to me who is free nor religious ceremonies, nor pious. from enmity, merciful, the friend of austerities, nor the offering of sacriall nature, exempt from pride and fices, nor liberality, will procure feliciselfishness, the same in pain and ty to a man contaminated with senpleasure, patient of wrongs, con- suality. tented, constantly devout, of subdued passions and firm resolves. 6 He also is my beloved of whom mankind are not afraid, and who is not afraid of mankind; who is free from the influence of impatience and the dread of harm. 17 Who is this natural beauty who advances with so much grace? The rose is on her cheeks; her breath is pure as morning dew; joy tempered with modesty animates her countenance. It is Health, the daughter of Exercise and Temperance. 18 The true rule in business is to if he is actuated by desire for reguard and do by the things of others ward. as they do by their own. 19 Do not force upon thy neighbor a hat that hurts thine own head. 4 Indestructible wealth is to be free from coveting the possessions of others. 5 What a rich man uses and gives, 20 Among those who labor for fut- constitutes his real wealth. That ure happiness, he is greatest who which thou hoardest, whose is it? lives well in his own household. Other covetous men will sport with 21 He who despises women despises his mother. When women are honored, the Divinities are pleased; when they are not honored, all undertakings fail. 22 It is true charity when one builds resting-places or drinkingfountains for wanderers; or provides food, or raiment, or medicine, for the needy; not selecting one more than another. This is true charity, and bears much fruit. 23 The narrow-minded ask, Is this one of our tribe, or is he a stranger? But to those who are of a noble disposition the whole world is but one family. SELECTION V. it. 6 Labor makes known the true worth of a man, as fire brings the perfume out of incense. 7 What is religion? It is tenderness toward all creatures. 8 Large rivers, great trees, wholesome plants, and wealthy persons are not created for themselves, but to be of service to others. 9 He who considers all beings as existing in the Supreme Spirit, and the Supreme Spirit as pervading all beings, cannot view with contempt any creature whatsoever. 10 He who injures any living creature does it unto God. The Deity is pleased with him who does good to others, and who is always desir Sensuality, covetousness, and cruelty con- ous of the welfare of all creat demned. SHUN wealth and pleasures repug nant to law; and avoid even lawful acts, if they may cause pain or offence to mankind. 2 Of all pure things, purity in the acquisition of riches is the best. He who preserves purity in becoming rich, is really pure; not he who is purified by water. ures. II He who, to give himself pleasure, injures animals that are not injurious, adds nothing to his own happiness, either living or dead. But he who never gives pain to any creature, by confinement or death, but seeks the good of all sentient beings, enjoys bliss without end. 12 The heartless one, who would carelessly trample on a worm that crawls upon the earth, is darkly alienate from God. But God dwells with him who embraces all things with 3 No man can acquire knowledge of the soul without abstaining from evil actions, and having control over his senses and his mind; nor can he obtain it, though with a firm mind, his love. SELECTION VI. Different systems of faith are not recog 6 Virtue and Vice are Heaven and Hell. 7 Virtue is what man owes to him nized by God, but humility and sincerity, when they produce personal holiness and the self. Though there were no Heaven, practical virtues, are, under all forms, alike acceptable to Him. nor any God to rule the world, Virt ue would be none the less the binding law of life. 8 False is the creed of those who hold that it is profitable to renounce the present life. Can ye not see that eternal existence begins in this life? 9 He who neglects to perform the duties of this life is not fit for this world, much less for any higher world. FOOLISH are they who are perpetually inquiring where the Deity resides. God dwells in all things in his fulness. Kine are of different colors, but all milk is white. The flowers on altars are of many species, but all worship is one. Systems of faith are different, but God is one. 10 The soul is the principle of 2 The object of all religions is life, which the Sovereign Wisdom alike. All men seek the object of employed to animate bodies. Mattheir love, and all the world is love's dwelling. 3 Why talk of a mosque or church? He alone is a true Hindu whose heart is just; and he alone is a true Mohammedan whose life is true. ter is inert and perishable. The II There is another invisible, eternal existence superior to this visible one, which does not perish,when all things perish. Those who attain to this never return. 4 The Supreme Being is sometimes with him who counts his prayers on 12 The God of the Dead waits ensacred beads in the mosque, and throned in immortal light to welcome sometimes with him who bows down the good into His kingdom of joy; before idols in the temple. He is the to the homes He has prepared for friend of the Hindu, the intimate of them, where the One Being dwells the Mohammedan, the companion of beyond the stars. the Christian, and the confidant of the Jew. 5 Heaven is a palace with many doors, and each one may enter in his own way. 13 Justice is so dear to the heart of Nature, that, if in the last day one atom of injustice were found, the universe would shrivel like a serpent's skin to cast it off for ever. BUDDHIST SCRIPTURES.-GENERAL SELECTIONS. SELECTION I. And what is religion? It is the God is the eternal, perfect, true, and mer-perfect agreement of the will with ciful One; whose love and service consist the conscience. in goodness, loving-kindness, and universal 7 Alms and pious demonstrations charity on the part of men. are of no worth compared with the The Thou Eternal One, Thou Per- loving-kindness of religion. fection of Time, Thou Truest festival that bears great fruit is the Truth, Thou Changeless Essence of festival of duty. all Change, Thou most Excellent Radiance of Mercy, I take refuge in Thee! 2 As the great universe has no boundary, and the eight sections of Heaven have no gate-way, so the Supreme Reason has no limits. 3 We do not suppose our prayers are the only prayers in the world. We ought to respect all prayer. Men of prayer belong to all countries; they are strangers nowhere. Such is the doctrine taught by our Holy Books. 4 The Divine Law is as a cloud which, with a garland of lightning, spreads joy on the earth. 8 A man may recite large portions of the law, but if he is not a doer of it, he is like a herdsman who counts the cattle of others. 9 One should seek for others the happiness one desires for one's self. 10 There is no higher duty than to work for the good of the whole world. II Practise not usury in thy lending. Thou shalt abstain from acquiring or keeping the property of another by fraud or violence. 12 Contract no friendships with the hope of gain. 13 Speak the truth; do not yield the little thou hast. By those steps 5 The water falls on all creatures; to anger; and when asked, give of on herbs, bushes, and trees; and each pumps up to its own leaf and blossom what it requires for its special need. So falls the rain of the Law on the many-hearted world. The Law is for millions; but it is one, and it is alike beautiful to all. 17 Indulge not in idle, vain talk. Speak not words which are to no 6 Only the religious man is good. purpose but harm. |