Others &gt; Wisdom

quote 4557 | Saint Paul
Bible

A sluggard once approached a fasting saint
And, baffled by dispair, maded this complaint:
"The devil is a highwayman, a thief,
Who's ruined me and robbed me of belief."
The saint replied: "Young man, the devil too
Has made his way here to complain - of you.
'My province is the world,' I heard him say;
'Tell this new pilgrim of God's holy Way
To keep his hands off what is mine - if I
Attack him it's because his fingers pry
In my affairs; if he will leave me be,
He's no concern of mine and can go free'."

mosque

quote 4526 | Attar
The Conference of the Birds, p99

G reater is he who acts from love than he who acts from fear.

quote 4342 | The Talmud
Sota 31a

E ven if you were the most sinful of sinners, Arjuna, you could cross
beyond all sin by the raft of spiritual wisdom.

quote 4299 | The Bhagavat Gita
Bhagavad Gita 4.36

W hatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them.

quote 4154 | Jesus Christ
Matthew 7.12

T ruth is High, Higher Still is Truthful Living!

quote 3972 | Guru Nanak
Shri Guru Granth Sahib

A man who is averse from harming even the wind knows the sorrow of all things living. . . . He who knows what is bad for himself knows what is bad for others, and he who knows what is bad for others knows what is bad for himself. This reciprocity should always be borne in mind. Those whose minds are at peace and who are free from passions do not desire to live [at the expense of others]. . . . He who understands the nature of sin against wind is called a true sage who understands karma.

In short be who understands the nature of sin in respect of all the six types of living beings is called a true sage who understands karma.

quote 3944 | The Panchadasi
Acharanga Sutra, I, 1, Translation by A. L. Basham; from abridged version in Theodore de Bary, Sources of Indian Tradition (New York: Columbia University Press, 1958), pp. 62-3

E arth is afflicted and wretched, it is hard to teach, it has no discrimination. Unenlightened men, who suffer from the effects of past deeds, cause great pain in a world full of pain already, for in earth souls are individually embodied. If, thinking to gain praise, honour, or respect ... or to achieve a good rebirth . . . or to win salvation, or to escape pain, a man sins against earth or causes or permits others to do so. . . . he will not gain joy or wisdom. . . . Injury to the earth is like striking, cutting, maiming, or killing a blind man . . . Knowing this man should not sin against earth or cause or permit others to do so. He who understands the nature of sin against earth is called a true sage who understands karma. . .

quote 3942 | The Panchadasi
Acharanga Sutra, I, 1, Translation by A. L. Basham; from abridged version in Theodore de Bary, Sources of Indian Tradition (New York: Columbia University Press, 1958), pp. 62-3

L et each man follow his own path. if he sincerely and ardently wishes to know God, peace be unto him! He will surely reach Him.

quote 3881 | Ramakrishna
Nikhilananda, 1942; p. 35

W isdom is not to be found in the art of oratory, or in great books, but in a withdrawal from these sensible things and in a turning to the most simple and infinite forms. You will learn how to receive it into a temple purged from all vice, and by fervent love to cling to it until you may taste it and see how sweet That is which is all sweetness. Once this has been tasted, all things which you now consider as important will appear as vile, and you will be so humbled that no arrogance or other vice will remain in you. Once having tasted this wisdom, you will inseparably adhere to it with a chaste and pure heart. You will choose rather to forsake this world and all else that is not of this wisdom, and living with unspeakable happiness you will die.

quote 3840 | Nicholas of Cusa
De sapientia; Dolan, 1962; pp. 115-116

J ust as any knowledge of the taste of something we have never actually tasted is quite empty until we do taste it, so the taste of this wisdom cannot be acquired by hearsay but by one's actually touching it with his internal sense, and then he will bear witness not of what he has heard but what he has experientially tasted in himself. To know of the many descriptions of love which the saints have left us without knowing the taste of love is nothing other than a certain emptiness. Thus it is that it is not enough for him who seeks after eternal wisdom to merely read about these things, but it is absolutely necessary that once he discovers where it is by his understanding he make it his very own.

quote 3839 | Nicholas of Cusa
De sapientia; Dolan, 1962; pp. 111-112

F or a persistent and continued ascent to [the Principle and Source of] life is the constituent element of increased happiness.

quote 3838 | Nicholas of Cusa
De sapientia; Dolan, 1962; p. 107

O ne does not need to avoid the world to attain divine love, nor is it necessary to avoid the world after attaining it. Actions must undoubtedly continue to be performed; it is only the desire for the fruits of actions that is to be abandoned.

quote 3680 | The Bhakti Sutras
62-66

M y very good friend, you are an Athenian and belong to a city which is the greatest and most famous in the world for its wisdom and strength. Are you not ashamed that you give your attention to acquiring as much money as possible, and similarly with reputation and honor, and give no attention or thought to Truth and understanding, and the perfection of your soul?

quote 3635 | Plato
Apology, 29C-30C; adapted from Hamilton, E., 1969, pp. 15-16

B ut whether true or false, my opinion is that in the world of knowledge, the realm of "the Good" appears last of all and is seen only with an effort. And, when seen, it is also understood to be the universal Cause of all things beautiful and right, Father of 'light and Lord of light in this visible world, and the immediate Source of reason and truth in the intelligible world; and to be the Power on which he who would act rationally either in public or private life must have his eye fixed."

"I agree," said Glaucon, "as far as I can understand you."

quote 3633 | Plato
Republic, Bk. VII.517; adapted from Hamilton, E., 1969

P ride is the greatest hindrance to the progress of the Soul. Moderation is the greatest virtue, and wisdom is to speak the truth and to act in accordance with nature, while continuously attending to one’s own self.

quote 3632 | Heraclitus
Adapted from fragments of Heraclitus found in Freeman, K., 1962; pp. 24-34. Fragment nbr. 131,112

I n the One, above and below are the same, [just as] beginning and end are one in the circumference of a circle. That which is in conflict is also in concert; while things differ from one another, they are all contained in the most beautiful Unity.

quote 3631 | Heraclitus
Adapted from fragments of Heraclitus found in Freeman, K., 1962; pp. 24-34. Fragment nbr. 60,103, 8

T hough men are inseparable from the Logos, yet they are separated in it; and though they encounter it daily, they are alienated from it

quote 3625 | Heraclitus
Adapted from fragments of Heraclitus found in Freeman, K., 1962; pp. 24-34. Fragment nbr. 72

Logos has different meanings: thought, reason, idea, theory

E veryone is ruled by the Logos, which is common to all; yet, though the Logos is universal, the majority of men live as if they had an identity peculiar to themselves.

quote 3623 | Heraclitus
Adapted from fragments of Heraclitus, found in Freeman, K., 1962; pp. 24-34. Fragment nbr. 2

Logos has different meanings: thought, reason, idea, theory

S et your heart upon your work, but never on its reward. Work not for a reward; but never cease to do your work. ...

quote 3620 | The Bhagavat Gita
2:47; based on Mascaro, Juan, 1962

H ear the praise of Chokmah [Wisdom] from Her own mouth: 'I am the Word which was spoken by the Most High.

quote 3588 | The Ecclesiastes
E24

C hokmah [Wisdom] is from the Lord; She is with Him eternally. ... It is He who created Her, ... and infused Her into all His works.

quote 3587 | The Ecclesiastes
1;1-6

G od made me [Wisdom] in the beginning of His works, as the first of His acts.

... Before God made the earth and the fields or the first dust of the world,when He set up the heavens, I was there;

... When He laid the foundations of the earth, I existed as His instrument. I was His delight every day, playing always before Him, playing on His inhabited earth, and my delights are with human beings.

quote 3586 | The Book of Proverbs
8:22-30

B ut there is, it must be admitted, a kinship which overides philosophical theory, and familiarity which attracts to itself everthing that shares it.

quote 3561 | Appolonius Of Tyana

W e must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.