Quotes from Sacred Scripture, Prophets, Saints, and Mystics

BAHA’I

O Ye rich ones on earth!
The poor in your midst are my trust; guard ye my trust, and be not intent only on your own ease.

[Baha’u’llah]

To give and be generous are attributes of Mine; well is it with him that adorneth himself with My virtues.

[Baha’u’llah]

O Children of Men!
Know ye not why We created you all from the same dust? That no one should exalt himself over the other.

[Baha’u’llah]

Care for the stranger as for one of your own.

[Baha’u’llah]

Look not upon the creatures of God except with the eye of kindliness and of mercy, for Our loving providence hath pervaded all created things, and Our grace encompassed the earth and the heavens.

[Baha’u’llah]

O Ye beloved of the Lord! The kingdom of God is founded upon equity and justice, and also upon mercy, compassion, and kindness to every living soul. Strive ye, then, with all your heart to treat compassionately all humankind.

[Abdu’l-Baha]

O people of God! I admonish you to observe courtesy, for above all else it is the prince of virtues. Well is it with him who is illumined with the light of courtesy and is attired with the vesture of uprightness. Whoso is endued with courtesy hath indeed attained a sublime station.

[Baha’u’llah]

O people of God! That which traineth the world is justice, for it is upheld by two pillars, reward and punishment. These two pillars are the sources of life to the world.

[Baha’u’llah]

ISLAM

Truly, those who have attained to faith in this Word,
as well as those who follow the Jewish faith,
and the Sabians, and the Christians –
all who have faith in God and the Final Day and do righteous deeds –
no fear need they have,
and neither shall they grieve.

[Quran 2:62, rendered by Camille Helminski]

O humankind! We created you all out of a male and a female,
and made you into nations and tribes
that you might come to know each other.
Truly, the most highly regarded of you in the sight of God
is the one who does the most good.
and God is All-knowing and is Well-aware of all things.

[Quran 49:13, rendered by Camille Helminski]

I grant security to them, their churches, their businesses, their houses of worship, the places of their monks, the places of their pilgrims, wherever they may be found, be they in the mountains or the valleys, caves or inhabited regions, the plains or the desert and that I should protect…their faith, and their religion, wherever they may be found in the East or West, in the sea or on land, the same way that I protect myself, my entourage, and the People of my Community among the Muslims.

[Muhammad, from The Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad with the Christians of the World, translated by Dr John Andrew Morrow]

I was a hidden treasure and I longed to be known,
so I created both worlds, the visible and the invisible,
in order that My hidden treasure
of generosity and lovingkindness would be known.

[Hadith Qudsi, words of Allah communicated to Muhammad outside the Quran]

God is gentle and loves gentleness.

[Muhammad]

A perfect Muslim is one from whose tongue and hands mankind is safe.

[Muhammad]

If there are a hundred religious books, they are but one chapter:
a hundred different religions seek one place of worship.
All these roads end in one House:
all these thousand ears of corn are from one Seed.

[Rumi, Mathnawi VI:3667-69, Jewels of Remembrance, translated by Kabir and Camille Helminski]

BOOK OF MORMON

And if men come unto me I will show them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness unto me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.

I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.

And behold I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.

For behold, this is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labours.

If ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith and with great diligence and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up into everlasting life.

BUDDHIST (THERAVADA)

KARANIYA METTA SUTTA

1.    Karaniyam attha kusalena – yamtam santam padam abhisamecca – Sakko uju ca suhuju ca – suvaco ca’ssa mudu anatimani
2.    Santusakko ca subharo ca – appakicco ca sallahukavutti – Santindriyo ca nipako ca – appagabbho kulesu ananugiddho
3.    Na ca khuddam samacare kinci – yena vinnu pare upavadeyyum – Sukhino va khemino hontu – sabbe satta bhavantu sukhitatta
4.    Ye keci pana-bhutatthi – tasa va thavara va anavasesa – Digha va ye mahanta va majjhima rassakanukathula
5.    Dittha va yeva addittha – ye ca dure vasanti avidure – Bhuta va sambavesi va – sabbe satta bhavantu sukhitatta
6.    Na paro param nikubbetha – natimannetha katthacinam kanci – Byarosana patigha-sanna – nannam-annassa dukkham-iccheyya
7.    Mata yatha niyam puttam – ayusa eka-puttam-anurakkhe – Evam-pi sabba-bhutesu – mana-sambhavaye aparimanam
8.    Mettanca sabba-lokasmim – mana-sambhavaye aparimanam – Uddham adho ca tiriyanca – asambadham averam asapattam
9.    Titthan’caram nisinno va – sayano va yavatassa vigatam-iddho – Etam satim adhittheyya – brahmam-etam viharam idham-ahu
10.    Ditthin ca anupagamma silava dassanena sampanno – Kamesu vinneya gedham – na hi jatu gabbha-seyyam punaretiti.

THE DISCOURSE ON LOVING-KINDNESS

1.    One who is skilled in the good and who wishes to attain that state of calm, Nibbana, should act thus: one should be sincere to oneself, upright and conscientious, of soft speech, gentle and not proud.
2.    Contented, living simply, peaceful and unburdened, with senses calmed, prudent, modest, and without showing anxiety for support.
3.    One should not commit any slight wrong on account of which wise men might censure one.
4-5 Whatever living beings there be – those mentally feeble or strong, physically long, stout or medium, short, small or large; Those seen or unseen, dwelling far or near; those who are born and those who are to be born – may all beings, without exception, be happy-minded!
6.    Let none deceive another nor despise any person whatsoever in any place; in anger or ill-will let one not wish any harm to another.
7.    Just as a mother would protect her only child at the risk of her own life, even so, let one cultivate a boundless heart towards all beings.
8.    Let thoughts of infinite love pervade the whole world – above, below and around – without any obstruction, without any hatred, without any enmity.
9.    Whether standing, walking, sitting, or lying down, as long as one is awake, this mindfulness should be developed: this, the wise say, is the highest conduct here.
10.    Not embracing false views, virtuous and endowed with insight, giving up attachment to sense desires – indeed, such a person does not come again for repeated becoming [rebirth].