Book Art Sculptures

religious thought 06

Whatever we see or think about is the manifestation of the Mother, of the Primordial Energy, the Primal Consciousness. Creation, preservation, and destruction, living beings and the universe, and further, meditation and the meditator, bhakti[devotion] and prema [divine love] all these are manifestations of the glory of that Power.

- Ramakrishna

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Patience is the sprouting of religion, firmness its root, good conduct is the flower, the enlightened heart the boughs and branches, wisdom supreme the entire tree, the "transcendent law" the fruit, its shade protects all living things. Say then! Why would you cut it down?

- Fo-Sho-Hing-Tsan-King

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When the ocean of Mercy begins to foam, even stones drink the water of life. The face of earth becomes lush green, the dead wood springs to life, the lamb and the wolf together play, the despairing becomes valiant and strong.

- Rumi

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Kindness is Christianity with its working clothes on.

- Unknown

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Get one by trade, rather than a thousand as gifts.

- Rabbi Samuel HaNagid, Spanish poet (993-1056 CE

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religious thought 05

Get up! Wake up! Seek the guidance of an Illuminated teacher and realize the Self. Sharp like a razor's edge, the sages say, Is the path, difficult to traverse.

- Katha Upanishad

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Take no pleasure in worldly talk; Take delight in what passes beyond the world. Cause good qualities to grow in others In the same way (you wish them) for yourself.

- Nagarjuna, "Precious Garland"

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If in the darkness of ignorance, you dont recognize a persons true nature, look to see whom he has chosen for his leader.

- Rumi

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The greatest single distinguishing feature of the omnipotence of God is that our imagination gets lost thinking about it.

- Blaise Pascal

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He who, for the sake of learning, lowers himself by exposing his ignorance, will ultimately be elevated.

- Ben Azzai, Talmud: Berakot, 63b

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religious thought 04

This Self who gives rise to all works, all desires, all odors, all tastes, who pervades the universe, who is beyond words, who is joy abiding, who is ever present in my heart, is Brahman indeed. To him I shall attain when my ego dies.

- Chandogya Upanishad

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If you really want freedom, happiness will arise From happiness will come rapture When your mind is enraptured, your body is tranquil When your body is tranquil, you will know bliss Because you are blissful, your mind will concentrate easily Being concentrated, you will see things as they really are In so seeing, you will become aware that life is a miracle Being so aware, you will lose all your attachments As you cease grasping, so you will be freed.

- Digha Nikaya

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If you are dependable, honest, virtuous, and content in Allah's will, no harm shall come your way.

- Hadith The Prophet Muhammad (SAW), as reported by AbdAllah bin Amr

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The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees. He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness, in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking Him the rest of the day. If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, He will be in the last place the remainder of the day.

- E.M. Bounds

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Holiness is the essence of all moral perfection.

- Kaufmann Kohler, "Jewish Theology"

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religious thought 03

Prosperity is not for the envious, Nor is greatness for men of impure conduct.

- Tirukkural 14:135

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The creatures that inhabit this earth--be they human beings or animals--are here to contribute, each in its own particular way, to the beauty and prosperity of the world.

- His Holiness the Dalai Lama

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The spiritual path ruins the body, but subsequently restores it to health. It ruins the house to reveal the treasure, and with that treasure it builds better than before.

- Rumi

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W]ith light and joy pouring out of Heaven like water through a broken dam, [the angels] began to shout and sing the message that baby Jesus had been born. The world had a Savior! The angels called it "Good News," and it was.

- Larry Libby

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If you gather not in youth, how will you find in old age?

- Apocrypha: Ben Sira 25:3

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religious thought 02

People weep for their spouses, their children, and their wealth, but who weeps for God? While a child is engrossed with its toys its mother attends to her household duties, but when the child throws the toys aside and screams for its mother, then the mother puts down her cooking pot and takes the child in her arms.

- Ramakrishna

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You cannot find Buddha nature by vivisection. Reality cannot be caught by thinking or feeling mind. Moment after moment to watch your breathing, to watch your posture, is true nature. There is no secret beyond this point.

- Shunryu Suzuki, "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind"

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Practice patience; it is the essence of praise. Have patience, for that is true worship. No other worship is worth as much. Have patience; patience is the key to all relief.

- Rumi

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Christmas is the one day of the year that carries real hope and promise for all mankind.

- Edgar Guest, The Gift of Christmas

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Happy is he who controls his inclination.

- Joshua b. Levi, Talmud: Aboda Zara

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Religious Thought 01

In the world people think they can attain glory by having cows and horses, elephants and gold, family and servants, fields and mansions. But I do not call that glory, for here one thing depends on another. Utterly independent is the Infinite.

- Chandogya Upanishad

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Our problems, both those we experience externally such as wars, crime and violence and those we experience internally as emotional and psychological suffering will not be solved until we address this underlying neglect of our inner dimension. That is why the great movements of the last hundred years and more--democracy, liberalism, socialism, and Communism--have all failed to deliver the universal benefits they were supposed to provide, despite many wonderful ideas. A revolution is called for, certainly, but not a political, an economic, or a technical revolution. We have had enough experience of these during the past century to know that a purely external approach will not suffice. What I propose is a spiritual revolution.

- His Holiness the Dalai Lama

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Sometimes in order to help He makes us cry. Happy the eye that sheds tears for His sake. Fortunate the heart that burns for His sake. Laughter always follows tears. Blessed are those who understand. Life blossoms wherever water flows. Where tears are shed divine mercy is shown.

- Rumi

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Before Jesus died, He willed us His Peace...He wants us to have peace in the midst of our current circumstances--peace in the morning, at night and all times in between. Peace is our inheritance! And it is a wonderful possession.

- Joyce Meyer

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Everything should be made as simple as possible--but not simpler.

- Albert Einstein

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