Beginnings:

First Lines from Scriptures

Vern,
I had the idea of compiling a collection of first lines from various scriptures—or texts variously regarded as sacred. In just a few hours I completed the deed—The Google be praised. The comparisons should prove interesting. I think the contrast between Muhammad's Qur'an and Buddha's Dhammapada is especially striking.
Eric

Eric,
Thank you, very much. I really appreciate having this. You're right about the Dharma statements vs the Islamic. Most interesting.
Vern

Enjoy:

     The Dual Characteristics of God (sacred liturgy of Zoroastrianism)
     Genesis, Old Testament, Judaism
     John 1, New Testament, Christianity
     Hadith: Sahih Bukhari, Islam
     Qur'an, Islam
     Dhammapada (The Dharma Path, Buddhism, Theravada Pali Canon)
     Tao Te Ching, Taoism
     The Great Learning (first of the "Four Books" in Confucianism)
     The Theogony of Hesiod
     The Homeric Hymns
     Book of Mormon, Church of Latter-day Saints
     Dianetics (the Book of Scientology)
     The Heart Sutra, Buddhism
     The Kitáb-i-Aqdas (sacred book of Bai'hi)
     The Gospel of Thomas (a Gnostic Gospel)
     Rig-Veda Book 1, Hinduism
     The Upanishads, Hinduism
     Bhagavad-Gita, Hinduism
     Tattvartha Sutra (most authoritative scripture of Jainism)
     The Urantia Book
     The Kojiki (oldest text of Shintoism)
     Guru Granth Sahib (main scripture of Sikhism)
     Exposition of the Divine Principle (Unification Church, aka 'The Moonies')
     The Diamond Sutra, Buddhism
     Platform Sutra of Hui Neng, Chán Buddhism
     A Course in Miracles, as channeled by Jesus
     A New Earth, a new Tolle Tome
     THE BOOK OF THE SUBGENIUS

 

 

 

The Dual Characteristics of God
Avesta: Yasna (sacred liturgy of Zoroastrianism)

In the name of God

1. Ashem Vohu. I profess myself a Mazda-worshipper and a Zoroastrian, opposing the Daevas, accepting the Ahuric doctrine. For Hawan....

2. To Fire, the son of Ahura Mazda. To you, O Fire, son of Ahura Mazda. With propitiation, for worship, adoration, propitiation, and praise.

3. 'Yatha Ahu Vairyo', the zaotar should say to me 'Atha ratush ashatchit hacha', the knowing Ashavan should say. Ashem Vohu. Yatha Ahu Vairyo.

4. I praise good thoughts, good words, and good deeds and those that are to be thought, spoken, and done. I do accept all good thoughts, good words, and good deeds. I do renounce all evil thoughts, evil words, and evil deeds.

5. I proffer to you, O Amesha Spentas, sacrifice and prayer, with thought, with word, with deed, with [my] being, with the very life of my body.

6. I praise Asha.Ashem Vohu.

 Back

 

Genesis, Old Testament, Judaism

1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.
8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.
9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.
10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.

 Back

 

John 1, New Testament, Christianity

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me; for he was before me.
16 And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

 Back

 

Hadith: Sahih Bukhari, Islam

Volume 1, Book 1, Number 1:

Narrated 'Umar bin Al-Khattab:

I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. So whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration was for what he emigrated for."

Volume 1, Book 1, Number 2:
Narrated 'Aisha:

(the mother of the faithful believers) Al-Harith bin Hisham asked Allah's Apostle "O Allah's Apostle! How is the Divine Inspiration revealed to you?" Allah's Apostle replied, "Sometimes it is (revealed) like the ringing of a bell, this form of Inspiration is the hardest of all and then this state passes off after I have grasped what is inspired. Sometimes the Angel comes in the form of a man and talks to me and I grasp whatever he says." 'Aisha added: Verily I saw the Prophet being inspired Divinely on a very cold day and noticed the Sweat dropping from his forehead (as the Inspiration was over).

Volume 1, Book 1, Number 3:
Narrated 'Aisha:

(the mother of the faithful believers) The commencement of the Divine Inspiration to Allah's Apostle was in the form of good dreams which came true like bright day light, and then the love of seclusion was bestowed upon him. He used to go in seclusion in the cave of Hira where he used to worship (Allah alone) continuously for many days before his desire to see his family. He used to take with him the journey food for the stay and then come back to (his wife) Khadija to take his food likewise again till suddenly the Truth descended upon him while he was in the cave of Hira. The angel came to him and asked him to read. The Prophet replied, "I do not know how to read.

 Back

 

Koran, Islam

1:1 In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
1:2 Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds,
1:3 The Beneficent, the Merciful.
1:4 Master of the Day of Judgment,
1:5 Thee (alone) we worship; Thee (alone) we ask for help.
1:6 Show us the straight path,
1:7 The path of those whom Thou hast favoured (Muslims); Not the (path) of those who earn Thine anger (Jews) nor of those who go astray (Christians).

2:1 Alif. Lam. Mim.
2:2 THIS IS THE SCRIPTURE WHEREOF THERE IS NO DOUBT, a guidance unto those who ward off (evil).
2:3 Who believe in the Unseen, and establish worship, and spend of that We have bestowed upon them;
2:4 And who believe in that which is revealed unto thee (Muhammad) and that which was revealed before thee, and are certain of the Hereafter.
2:5 These depend on guidance from their Lord. These are the successful.
2:6 As for the Disbelievers, Whether thou warn them or thou warn them not it is all one for them; they believe not.
2:7 Allah hath sealed their hearing and their hearts, and on their eyes there is a covering. Theirs will be an awful doom.
2:8 And of mankind are some who say: We believe in Allah and the Last Day, when they believe not.
2:9 They think to beguile Allah and those who believe, and they beguile none save themselves; but they perceive not.
2:10 In their hearts is a disease, and Allah increaseth their disease. A painful doom is theirs because they lie.

 Back

 

Dhammapada
(The Dharma Path, Theravada Pali Canon)

1. Choices

We are what we think.
All that we are arises with our thoughts.
With our thoughts we make the world [as we think it].

Speak or act with an unenlightened mind
And suffering will follow you
As the wheel follows the ox that draws the cart.

We are what we think.
All that we are arises with our thoughts.
With our thoughts we make the world.

Speak or act with an enlightened mind
And bliss will follow you
As your shadow, unshakable.

"Look how he abused me and hurt me,
How he used me and took from me."
Live with such thoughts and you live in hate.

"Look how he abused me and hurt me,
How he used me and took from me."
Abandon such thoughts, and live in love.

In this world hate never yet dispelled hate.
Only love dispels hate.
This is the Dharma, ancient and inexhaustible.

You and all others shall pass away.
Knowing this, how can you quarrel?

 Back

 

Tao Te Ching, Taoism

Translated by Lin Yutang (1942)

Chapter 1

The Tao that can be told of
Is not the Absolute Tao;
The Names that can be given
Are not Absolute Names.

The Nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth;
The Named is the Mother of All Things.

Therefore:
Oftentimes, one strips oneself of passion
In order to see the Secret of Life;
Oftentimes, one regards life with passion,
In order to see its manifest forms.

These two (the Secret and its manifestations)
Are (in their nature) the same;
They are given different names
When they become manifest.

They may both be called the Cosmic Mystery:
Reaching from the Mystery into the Deeper Mystery
Is the Gate to the Secret of All Life.

Tao Te Ching

Translated by Hua-Ching Ni (1979)

Chapter 1

Tao, the subtle reality of the universe
cannot be described.
That which can be described in words
is merely a conception of the mind.
Although names and descriptions have been applied to it,
the subtle reality is beyond the descriptions.

One may use the word "Nothingness"
to describe the Origin of the universe,
and "Beingness"
to describe the Mother of the myriad things,
but Nothingness and Beingness are merely conceptions.

From the perspective of Nothingness,
one may perceive the expansion of the universe.
From the perspective of Beingness,
one may distinguish individual things.
Both are for the conceptual convenience of the mind.

Although difficult concepts can be applied,
Nothingness and Beingness
and other conceptual activity of the mind
all come from the same indescribable subtle Originalness.
The Way is the unfoldment of such subtle reality.
Having reached the subtlety of the universe,
one may see the ultimate subtlety,
the Gate of All Wonders.

 Back

 

 

The Great Learning
(first of the "Four Books" in Confucianism)

The Way of the great learning involves manifesting virtue, renovating the people, and abiding by the highest good.

The ancients who wished to illustrate illustrious virtue throughout the world, first ordered well their own States.

Wishing to order well their States, they first regulated their families.

Wishing to regulate their families, they first cultivated their persons.

Wishing to cultivate their persons, they first rectified their hearts.

Wishing to rectify their hearts, they first sought to be sincere in their thoughts.

Wishing to be sincere in their thoughts, they first extended to the utmost of their knowledge.

Such extension of knowledge lay in the investigation of things.

Things being investigated, knowledge became complete.

Their knowledge being complete, their thoughts were sincere.

Their thoughts being sincere, their hearts were then rectified.

Their hearts being rectified, their persons were cultivated.

Their persons being cultivated, their families were regulated.

Their families being regulated, their States were rightly governed.

Their States being rightly governed, the entire world was at peace.

From the Son of Heaven down to the mass of the people, all must consider the cultivation of the person the root of everything besides.

 Back

 

The Theogony of Hesiod (8th-7th century BCE)

From the Heliconian Muses let us begin to sing, who hold the great and holy mount of Helicon, and dance on soft feet about the deep-blue spring and the altar of the almighty son of Cronos, and, when they have washed their tender bodies in Permessus or in the Horse's Spring or Olmeius, make their fair, lovely dances upon highest Helicon and move with vigorous feet. Thence they arise and go abroad by night, veiled in thick mist, and utter their song with lovely voice, praising Zeus the aegis- holder and queenly Hera of Argos who walks on golden sandals and the daughter of Zeus the aegis-holder bright-eyed Athene, and Phoebus Apollo, and Artemis who delights in arrows, and Poseidon the earth-holder who shakes the earth, and reverend Themis and quick-glancing Aphrodite, and Hebe with the crown of gold, and fair Dione, Leto, Iapetus, and Cronos the crafty counsellor, Eos and great Helius and bright Selene, Earth too, and great Oceanus, and dark Night, and the holy race of all the other deathless ones that are for ever. And one day they taught Hesiod glorious song while he was shepherding his lambs under holy Helicon, and this word first the goddesses said to me -- the Muses of Olympus, daughters of Zeus who holds the aegis:

 Back

 

The Homeric Hymns

I. TO DIONYSUS

For some say, at Dracanum; and some, on windy Icarus;
and some, in Naxos, O Heaven-born, Insewn; and others by the
deep-eddying river Alpheus that pregnant Semele bare you to Zeus
the thunder-lover. And others yet, lord, say you were born in
Thebes; but all these lie. The Father of men and gods gave you
birth remote from men and secretly from white-armed Hera. There
is a certain Nysa, a mountain most high and richly grown with
woods, far off in Phoenice, near the streams of Aegyptus

....and men will lay up for her many offerings in
her shrines. And as these things are three, so shall mortals
ever sacrifice perfect hecatombs to you at your feasts each three
years.

The Son of Cronos spoke and nodded with his dark
brows. And the divine locks of the king flowed forward from his
immortal head, and he made great Olympus reel. So spake wise
Zeus and ordained it with a nod.

Be favourable, O Insewn, Inspirer of frenzied women!
we singers sing of you as we begin and as we end a strain, and
none forgetting you may call holy song to mind. And so,
farewell, Dionysus, Insewn, with your mother Semele whom men call
Thyone.

 Back

 

Book of Mormon

1:1 I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days.
1:2 Yea, I make a record in the language of my father, which consists of the learning of the Jews and the language of the Egyptians.
1:3 And I know that the record which I make is true; and I make it with mine own hand; and I make it according to my knowledge.
1:4 For it came to pass in the commencement of the first year of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah, (my father, Lehi, having dwelt at Jerusalem in all his days); and in that same year there came many prophets, prophesying unto the people that they must repent, or the great city Jerusalem must be destroyed.
1:5 Wherefore it came to pass that my father, Lehi, as he went forth prayed unto the Lord, yea, even with all his heart, in behalf of his people.
1:6 And it came to pass as he prayed unto the Lord, there came a pillar of fire and dwelt upon a rock before him; and he saw and heard much; and because of the things which he saw and heard he did quake and tremble exceedingly.
1:7 And it came to pass that he returned to his own house at Jerusalem; and he cast himself upon his bed, being overcome with the Spirit and the things which he had seen.
1:8 And being thus overcome with the Spirit, he was carried away in a vision, even that he saw the heavens open, and he thought he saw God sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels in the attitude of singing and praising their God.

 Back

 

Dianetics (the Book of Scientology)

The creation of dianetics is a milestone for Man comparable to his discovery of fire and
superior to his inventions of the wheel and arch.

Dianetics (Gr., dianoua -- thought) is the science of mind. Far simpler than physics or
chemistry, it compares with them in the exactness of its axioms and is on a considerably higher
echelon of usefulness. The hidden source of all psycho-somatic ills and human aberration has
been discovered and skills have been developed for their invariable cure.

Dianetics is actually a family of sciences embracing the various humanities and
translating them into usefully precise definitions. The present volume deals with Individual
Dianetics and is a handbook containing the necessary skills both for the handling of
interpersonal relations and the treatment of the mind. With the techniques presented in this
handbook the psychiatrist, psycho-analyst and intelligent layman can successfully and
invariably treat all psycho-somatic ills and inorganic aberrations. More importantly, the skills
offered in this handbook will produce the dianetic clear, an optimum individual with
intelligence considerably greater than the current normal, or the dianetic release, an individual
who has been freed from his major anxieties or illnesses. The release can be done in less than
twenty hours of work and is a state superior to any produced by several years of psychoanalysis,
since the release will not release.

 Back

 

The Heart Sutra, Buddhism

Avalokieteshvara Bodhisattva practicing profound Prajna Paramita clearly saw
the five skandhas to be empty transcending all suffering and difficulties.
Sariputra!
Form is empty therefore no difficulties are to be discerned.
Feeling is empty therefore no feeling.
Thought is empty therefore no knowing.
Volition is empty therefore no doing.
Consciousness is empty therefore no awakening.
Why is this?
Sariputra!
Without form there is no emptiness.
Without emptiness there is no form.
Form is then emptiness. Emptiness is then form.
Feeling, thought, volition and consciousness are also like this.
Sariptura, all these dharmas are phenomena,
No created, not destroyed,
Not defiled, not pure,
Not increasing, not decreasing.
These empty Dharmas are without past, without future, without present.
Therefore in emptiness,
No form, no feeling, thought, volition, consciousness,
No eyes, ears, tongue, body, mind,
No listening, smelling, tasting, touching,
No world to be observed up to no world to be perceived,
No ignorance also no end to ignorance
Up to no old age and death and no end to old age and death,
No suffering, craving, annihilation, path.
No wisdom also no attainment.
Therefore nothing arises which can be attained.
The Bodhisattva relies on Prajna Paramita.
Therefore the mind is without obstructions.
No obstructions therefore no fear, doubt.
Far beyond deluded thinking, suffering and difficulties.
Ultimate Nirvana!

 Back

 

 

The Kitáb-i-Aqdas (sacred book of Bai'hi)

IN THE NAME OF HIM
WHO IS THE SUPREME RULER
OVER ALL THAT HATH BEEN
AND ALL THAT IS TO BE

1 The first duty prescribed by God for His servants is the recognition of Him Who is the Dayspring of His Revelation and the Fountain of His laws, Who representeth the Godhead in both the Kingdom of His Cause and the world of creation. Whoso achieveth this duty hath attained unto all good; and whoso is deprived thereof hath gone astray, though he be the author of every righteous deed. It behoveth every one who reacheth this most sublime station, this summit of transcendent glory, to observe every ordinance of Him Who is the Desire of the world. These twin duties are inseparable. Neither is acceptable without the other. Thus hath it been decreed by Him Who is the Source of Divine inspiration.

2 They whom God hath endued with insight will readily recognize that the precepts laid down by God constitute the highest means for the maintenance of order in the world and the security of its peoples. He that turneth away from them is accounted among the abject and foolish. We, verily, have commanded you to refuse the dictates of your evil passions and corrupt desires, and not to transgress the bounds which the Pen of the Most High hath fixed, for these are the breath of life unto all created things. The seas of Divine wisdom and Divine utterance have risen under the breath of the breeze of the All-Merciful. Hasten to drink your fill, O men of understanding! They that have violated the Covenant of God by breaking His commandments, and have turned back on their heels, these have erred grievously in the sight of God, the All-Possessing, the Most High.

 Back

 

The Gospel of Thomas (a Gnostic Gospel)

These are the secret sayings which the living Jesus spoke and which Didymos Judas Thomas wrote down.

(1) And he said, "Whoever finds the interpretation of these sayings will not experience death."

(2) Jesus said, "Let him who seeks continue seeking until he finds. When he finds, he will become troubled. When he becomes troubled, he will be astonished, and he will rule over the All."

(3) Jesus said, "If those who lead you say to you, 'See, the kingdom is in the sky,' then the birds of the sky will precede you. If they say to you, 'It is in the sea,' then the fish will precede you. Rather, the kingdom is inside of you, and it is outside of you. When you come to know yourselves, then you will become known, and you will realize that it is you who are the sons of the living father. But if you will not know yourselves, you dwell in poverty and it is you who are that poverty."

(4) Jesus said, "The man old in days will not hesitate to ask a small child seven days old about the place of life, and he will live. For many who are first will become last, and they will become one and the same."

(5) Jesus said, "Recognize what is in your sight, and that which is hidden from you will become plain to you . For there is nothing hidden which will not become manifest."

(6) His disciples questioned him and said to him, "Do you want us to fast? How shall we pray? Shall we give alms? What diet shall we observe?"
Jesus said, "Do not tell lies, and do not do what you hate, for all things are plain in the sight of heaven. For nothing hidden will not become manifest, and nothing covered will remain without being uncovered."

(7) Jesus said, "Blessed is the lion which becomes man when consumed by man; and cursed is the man whom the lion consumes, and the lion becomes man."

(8) And he said, "The man is like a wise fisherman who cast his net into the sea and drew it up from the sea full of small fish. Among them the wise fisherman found a fine large fish. He threw all the small fish back into the sea and chose the large fish without difficulty. Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear."

(9) Jesus said, "Now the sower went out, took a handful (of seeds), and scattered them. Some fell on the road; the birds came and gathered them up. Others fell on the rock, did not take root in the soil, and did not produce ears. And others fell on thorns; they choked the seed(s) and worms ate them. And others fell on the good soil and it produced good fruit: it bore sixty per measure and a hundred and twenty per measure."

(10) Jesus said, "I have cast fire upon the world, and see, I am guarding it until it blazes."

(11) Jesus said, "This heaven will pass away, and the one above it will pass away. The dead are not alive, and the living will not die. In the days when you consumed what is dead, you made it what is alive. When you come to dwell in the light, what will you do? On the day when you were one you became two. But when you become two, what will you do?"

(12) The disciples said to Jesus, "We know that you will depart from us. Who is to be our leader?"
Jesus said to them, "Wherever you are, you are to go to James the righteous, for whose sake heaven and earth came into being."

(13) Jesus said to his disciples, "Compare me to someone and tell me whom I am like."
Simon Peter said to him, "You are like a righteous angel."
Matthew said to him, "You are like a wise philosopher."
Thomas said to him, "Master, my mouth is wholly incapable of saying whom you are like."
Jesus said, "I am not your master. Because you have drunk, you have become intoxicated from the bubbling spring which I have measured out."
And he took him and withdrew and told him three things. When Thomas returned to his companions, they asked him, "What did Jesus say to you?"
Thomas said to them, "If I tell you one of the things which he told me, you will pick up stones and throw them at me; a fire will come out of the stones and burn you up."

(14) Jesus said to them, "If you fast, you will give rise to sin for yourselves; and if you pray, you will be condemned; and if you give alms, you will do harm to your spirits. When you go into any land and walk about in the districts, if they receive you, eat what they will set before you, and heal the sick among them. For what goes into your mouth will not defile you, but that which issues from your mouth - it is that which will defile you."

(15) Jesus said, "When you see one who was not born of woman, prostrate yourselves on your faces and worship him. That one is your father."

(16) Jesus said, "Men think, perhaps, that it is peace which I have come to cast upon the world. They do not know that it is dissension which I have come to cast upon the earth: fire, sword, and war. For there will be five in a house: three will be against two, and two against three, the father against the son, and the son against the father. And they will stand solitary."

(17) Jesus said, "I shall give you what no eye has seen and what no ear has heard and what no hand has touched and what has never occurred to the human mind."

 Back

 

Rig-Veda Book 1, Hinduism

HYMN I. Agni.

1 I Laud Agni, the chosen Priest, God, minister of sacrifice,
The hotar, lavishest of wealth.
2 Worthy is Agni to be praised by living as by ancient seers.
He shall bring hitherward the Gods.
3 Through Agni man obtaineth wealth, yea, plenty waxing day by day,
Most rich in heroes, glorious.
4 Agni, the perfect sacrifice which thou encompassest about
Verily goeth to the Gods.
5 May Agni, sapient-minded Priest, truthful, most gloriously great,
The God, come hither with the Gods.
6 Whatever blessing, Agni, thou wilt grant unto thy worshipper,
That, A?giras, is indeed thy truth.
7 To thee, dispeller of the night, O Agni, day by day with prayer
Bringing thee reverence, we come
8 Ruler of sacrifices, guard of Law eternal, radiant One,
Increasing in thine own abode.
9 Be to us easy of approach, even as a father to his son:
Agni, be with us for our weal.

 Back

 

The Upanishads, Hinduism

1. LET a man meditate on the syllable Om, called the udgîtha; for the udgîtha (a portion of the Sâma-veda) is sung, beginning with Om.

The full account, however, of Om is this:--

2. The essence of all beings is the earth, the essence of the earth is water, the essence of water the plants, the essence of plants man, the essence of man speech, the essence of speech the Rig-veda, the essence of the Rig-veda the Sâma-veda, the essence of the Sâma-veda the udgîtha (which is Om).

3. That udgîtha (Om) is the best of all essences, the highest, deserving the highest place, the eighth.

4. What then is the Rik? What is the Sâman? What is the udgîtha? 'This is the question.

5. The Rik indeed is speech, Sâman is breath, the udgîtha is the syllable Om. Now speech and breath, or Rik and Sâman, form one couple.

6. And that couple is joined together in the syllable Om. When two people come together, they fulfil each other's desire.

7. Thus he who knowing this, meditates on the syllable (Om), the udgîtha, becomes indeed a fulfiller of desires.

8. That syllable is a syllable of permission, for whenever we permit anything, we say Om, yes. Now permission is gratification. He who knowing this meditates on the syllable (Om), the udgîtha, becomes indeed a gratifier of desires.

9. By that syllable does the threefold knowledge (the sacrifice, more particularly the Soma-sacrifice, as founded on the three Vedas) proceed. When the Adhvaryu priest gives an order, he says Om. When the Hotri priest recites, he says Om. When the Udgâtri priest sings, he says Om, all for the glory of that syllable. The threefold knowledge (the sacrifice) proceeds by the greatness of that syllable (the vital breaths), and by its essence (the oblations)

10. Now therefore it would seem to follow, that both he who knows this (the true meaning of the syllable Om), and he who does not, perform the same sacrifice. But this is not so, for knowledge and ignorance are different. The sacrifice which a man performs with knowledge, faith, and the Upanishad is more powerful. This is the full account of the syllable Om.

 Back

 

BHAGAVADGÎTÂ, Hinduism

CHAPTER I.

Dhritarâshtra said:

What did my (people) and the Pândavas do, O Sañgaya! when they assembled together on the holy field of Kurukshetra, desirous to do battle?

Sañgaya said:

Seeing the army of the Pândavas drawn up in battle-array, the prince Duryodhana approached the preceptor, and spoke (these) words: 'O preceptor! observe this grand army of the sons of Pându, drawn up in battle-array by your talented pupil, the son of Drupada. In it are heroes (bearing) large bows, the equals of Bhîma and Arguna in battle--(namely), Yuyudhâna, Virâta, and Drupada, the master of a great car, and Dhrishtaketu, Kekitâna, and the valiant king of Kâsî, Purugit and Kuntibhoga, and that eminent man Saibya; the heroic Yudhâmanyu, the valiant Uttamaugas, the son of Subhadrâ, and the sons of Draupadî--all masters of great cars. And now, O best of Brâhmanas! learn who are most distinguished among us, and are leaders of my army. I will name them to you, in order that you may know them well. Yourself, and Bhîshma, and Karna, and Kripa the victor of (many) battles; Asvatthâman, and Vikarna, and also the son of Somadatta, and many other brave men, who have given up their lives for me, who fight with various weapons, (and are) all dexterous in battle. Thus our army which is protected by Bhîshma is unlimited; while this army of theirs which is protected by Bhîma is very limited. And therefore do ye all, occupying respectively the positions 1 assigned to you, protect Bhîshma only.'

Then his powerful grandsire, Bhîshma, the oldest of the Kauravas, roaring aloud like a lion, blew his conch, (thereby) affording delight to Duryodhana. And then all at once, conchs, and kettledrums, and tabors, and trumpets were played upon; and there was a tumultuous din. Then, too, Mâdhava and the son of Pându (Arguna), seated in a grand chariot to which white steeds were yoked, blew their heavenly conchs. Hrishîkesa blew the Pâñkaganya, and Dhanañgaya the Devadatta, and Bhîma, (the doer) of fearful deeds, blew the great conch Paundra. King Yudhishthira, the son of Kuntî, blew the Anantavigaya, and Nakula and Sahadeva (respectively) the Sughosha and Manipushpaka. And the king of Kâsî, too, who has an excellent bow, and Sikhandin, the master of a great car, and Dhrishtadyumna, Virâta, and the unconquered Sâtyaki, and Drupada, and the sons of Draupadî, and the son of Subhadrâ, of mighty arms, blew conchs severally from all sides, O king of the earth! That tumultuous din rent the hearts of all (the people) of Dhritarâshtra's (party), causing reverberations throughout heaven and earth. Then seeing (the people of ) Dhritarâshtra's party regularly marshalled, the son of Pându, whose standard is the ape, raised his bow 1, after the discharge of missiles had commenced, and O king of the earth! spake these words to Hrishîkesa: 'O undegraded one! station my chariot between the two armies, while I observe those, who stand here desirous to engage in battle, and with whom, in the labours of this struggle, I must do battle. I will observe those who are assembled here and who are about to engage in battle, wishing to do service in battle to the evil-minded son of Dhritarâshtra.'

 Back

 

Tattvartha Sutra
(most authoritative scripture of Jainism)

Auspicious Prayer

We pray to those

who have led the path to salvation,
who have destroyed the mountains of karma, and
who know the reality of the universe.
We pray to them to acquire their attributes.

Chapter 1.

ASPECTS OF REALITY

Path To Liberation

Rational (proper) perception, rational knowledge and rational conduct together constitute the path to liberation.

Rational Perception

Belief in reality (substances ascertained as they are) is
rational perception.

It is attained by intuition or by acquisition of knowledge.
Aspects Of Reality

Reality has seven aspects:

1. Souls
2. Inanimate entities
3. Influx of karmic matter towards soul
4. Bondage of soul by karmic matter
5. Stoppage of influx of karmic matter towards soul
6. Shedding of karmic matter by soul
7. Liberation of soul from karmic matter

Reality is understood through experimentation and logical thinking.

Understanding an entity or concept entails the consideration of its description, ownership, cause, place, duration and classification.

It also entails knowing its existence, number, extent, area, time, distinguishing features, quality and comparison.

 Back

 

A Course in Miracles (as channeled by Jesus)

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO MIRACLES

This is a course in miracles. It is a required course. Only
the time you take it is voluntary. Free will does not mean
that you can establish the curriculum. It means only that you
may elect what you want to take at a given time.
The course does not aim at teaching the meaning of love,
for that is beyond what can be taught. It does aim, however,
at removing the blocks to the awareness of love's Presence,
Which is your natural inheritance. The opposite of love is
fear, but what is all-encompassing can have no opposite.
This course can therefore be summed up very simply in this
way:
Nothing real can be threatened
Nothing unreal exists.
Herein lies the Peace of God.

Principles of Miracles

1. There is no order of difficulty among miracles. One is
not " harder" or " bigger" than another. They are all the
same. All expressions of love are maximal.
2. Miracles as such do not matter. The only thing that
matters is their Source, Which is far beyond human evaluation.
3. Miracles occur naturally as expressions of love. The
real miracle is the love that inspires them. In this sense,
everything that comes from love is a miracle.
4. All miracles mean life, and God is the Giver of life.
His Voice will direct you very specifically. You will be told
all you need to know.
5. Miracles are habits and should be involuntary. They
should not be under conscious control. Consciously selected
miracles can be misguided.
6. Miracles are natural. When they do NOT occur something
has gone wrong.
7. Miracles are everyone's right, but purification is
necessary first.
8. Miracles are healing because they supply a lack in that
they are performed by those who temporarily have more for
those who temporarily have less.
9. Miracles are a kind of exchange. Like all expressions of
love, which are ALWAYS miraculous in the true sense, the
exchange reverses the physical laws. They bring MORE love both
to the giver AND the receiver.
10. The use of miracles as spectacles to INDUCE belief is
wrong; or, better, is a misunderstanding of their purpose.
They are really used FOR and BY believers.
11. Prayer is the medium of miracles. Prayer is the natural
communication of the created with the Creator. Through prayer
love is received, and through miracles love is expressed.
12. Miracles are thoughts. Thoughts can represent lower-order
or higher-order reality. This is the basic distinction
between intellectualizing and thinking. One makes the physical
and the other creates the spiritual, and we believe in what we
make or create.
13. Miracles are both beginnings and endings. They thus
alter the temporal order. They are always affirmations of
rebirth, which seem to go back, but really go forward. They
undo the past in the present, and thus release the future.
14. Miracles bear witness to truth. They are convincing
because they arise from conviction. Without conviction they
deteriorate into magic, which is mindless, and therefore
destructive; or rather, the uncreative use of mind.
15. Each day should be devoted to miracles. The purpose of
time is to enable man to learn to use it constructively. Time
is thus a teaching device, and a means to an end. It will
cease when it is no longer useful in facilitating learning.
16. Miracles are teaching devices for demonstrating that it
is more blessed to give than to receive. They simultaneously
increase the strength of the giver and supply strength to the
receiver.
17. Miracles are the transcendence of the body. They are
sudden shifts into invisibility, away from a sense of lower-order
reality. That is why they heal.
18. A miracle is a service. It is the maximal service one
individual can render another. It is a way of loving your
neighbor as yourself. The doer recognizes his own and his
neighbor's inestimable worth simultaneously.
19. Miracles make minds one in God. They depend on
cooperation, because the Sonship is the sum of all the Souls
God created. Miracles therefore rest on the laws of eternity,
not of time.
20. Miracles reawaken the awareness that the Spirit, not
the body, is the altar of truth. This is the recognition that
leads to the healing power of the miracle.

 Back

 

The Urantia Book

Paper 1

The Universal Father

(21.1) 1:0.1 THE Universal Father is the God of all creation, the First Source and Center of all things and beings. First think of God as a creator, then as a controller, and lastly as an infinite upholder. The truth about the Universal Father had begun to dawn upon mankind when the prophet said: "You, God, are alone; there is none beside you. You have created the heaven and the heaven of heavens, with all their hosts; you preserve and control them. By the Sons of God were the universes made. The Creator covers himself with light as with a garment and stretches out the heavens as a curtain." Only the concept of the Universal Father — one God in the place of many gods — enabled mortal man to comprehend the Father as divine creator and infinite controller.

(21.2) 1:0.2 The myriads of planetary systems were all made to be eventually inhabited by many different types of intelligent creatures, beings who could know God, receive the divine affection, and love him in return. The universe of universes is the work of God and the dwelling place of his diverse creatures. "God created the heavens and formed the earth; he established the universe and created this world not in vain; he formed it to be inhabited."

 Back

 

The Kojiki (oldest text of Shintoism)

RECORDS OF ANCIENT MATTERS

[SECT. I.—THE BEGINNING OF HEAVEN AND EARTH.]

The names of the Deities that were born in the Plain of High Heaven when the Heaven and Earth began were the Deity Master-of-the-August-Centre-of-Heaven, next the High-August-Producing-Wondrous Deity, next the Divine-Producing-Wondrous-Deity. These three Deities were all Deities born alone, and hid their persons. The names of the Deities that were born next from a thing that sprouted up like unto a reed-shoot when the earth, young and like unto floating oil, drifted about medusa-like, were the Pleasant-Reed-Shoot-Prince-Elder Deity, next the Heavenly-Eternally-Standing-Deity. These two Deities were likewise born alone, and hid their persons.

The five Deities in the above list are separate Heavenly Deities.

 Back

 

Guru Granth Sahib (main scripture of Sikhism)

One Universal Creator God. The Name Is Truth. Creative Being Personified. No Fear. No Hatred. Image Of The Undying, Beyond Birth, Self-Existent. By Guru`s Grace ~

Chant And Meditate:

True In The Primal Beginning. True Throughout The Ages.
True Here And Now. O Nanak, Forever And Ever True.
By thinking, He cannot be reduced to thought, even by thinking hundreds of thousands of times.
By remaining silent, inner silence is not obtained, even by remaining lovingly absorbed deep within.
The hunger of the hungry is not appeased, even by piling up loads of worldly goods.
Hundreds of thousands of clever tricks, but not even one of them will go along with you in the end.
So how can you become truthful? And how can the veil of illusion be torn away?
O Nanak, it is written that you shall obey the Hukam of His Command, and walk in the Way of His Will.
By His Command, bodies are created; His Command cannot be described.
By His Command, souls come into being; by His Command, glory and greatness are obtained.
By His Command, some are high and some are low; by His Written Command, pain and pleasure are obtained.
Some, by His Command, are blessed and forgiven; others, by His Command, wander aimlessly forever.
Everyone is subject to His Command; no one is beyond His Command.
O Nanak, one who understands His Command, does not speak in ego.
Some sing of His Power-who has that Power?
Some sing of His Gifts, and know His Sign and Insignia.
Some sing of His Glorious Virtues, Greatness and Beauty.
Some sing of knowledge obtained of Him, through difficult philosophical studies.
Some sing that He fashions the body, and then again reduces it to dust.
Some sing that He takes life away, and then again restores it.
Some sing that He seems so very far away.

 Back

 

Exposition of the Divine Principle

(Unification Church, aka 'The Moonies')

Chapter 1, The Principle of Creation

Throughout history, people have anguished over the fundamental questions of human life and the universe without arriving at satisfying answers. This is because no one has understood the root principle by which humanity and the universe were originally created. To approach this topic properly, it is not enough to examine resultant reality. The fundamental question is that of the causal reality. Problems concerning human life and the universe cannot be solved without first understanding the nature of God. This chapter deals extensively with these questions.

Section 1
The Dual Characteristics of God
and the Created Universe

1.1 The Dual Characteristics of God

How can we know the divine nature of the invisible God? One way to fathom His deity is by observing the universe which He created. Thus, St. Paul said:

Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. -Rom. 1:20

Just as a work of art displays the invisible nature of its maker in a concrete form, everything in the created universe is a substantial manifestation of some quality of the Creator's invisible, divine nature. As such, each stands in a relationship to God. Just as we can come to know the character of an artist through his works, so we can understand the nature of God by observing the diverse things of creation.

Let us begin by pointing out the common elements which are found universally throughout the natural world. Every entity possesses dual characteristics of yang (masculinity) and yin (femininity) and comes into existence only when these characteristics have formed reciprocal relationships, both within the entity and between it and other entities.

For example, subatomic particles, the basic building blocks of all matter, possess either a positive charge, a negative charge or a neutral charge formed by the neutralization of positive and negative constituents. When particles join with each other through the reciprocal relationships of their dual characteristics, they form an atom. Atoms, in turn, display either a positive or a negative valence. When the dual characteristics within one atom enter into reciprocal relationships with those in another atom, they form a molecule. Molecules formed in this manner engage in further reciprocal relationships between their dual characteristics to eventually become nourishment fit for consumption by plants and animals.

Plants propagate by means of stamen and pistil. Animals multiply and maintain their species through the relationship between males and females. According to the Bible, after God created Adam, He saw that it was not good for the man to live alone. Only after God created Eve as Adam's female counterpart did He declare that His creations were "very good."

Even though atoms become positive or negative ions after ionization, each still consists of a positive nucleus and negative electrons in stable unity. Similarly, each animal, whether male or female, maintains its life through the reciprocal relationships of yang and yin elements within itself. The same holds true for every plant. In people, a feminine nature is found latent in men and a masculine nature is found latent in women.

 Back

 

The Diamond Sutra, Buddhism

Chapter 1.

This is what I heard.

At one time the Buddha was staying in the Jeta Grove, near the city of Sravasti.

With him there was a community of 1,250 venerable monks and devoted disciples.

One day before dawn, the Buddha clothed himself, and along with his disciples took up his alms bowl and entered the city to beg for food door to door, as was his custom.

After he had returned and eaten, he put away his bowl and cloak, bathed his feet, and then sat with his legs crossed and body upright upon the seat arranged for him.

He began mindfully fixing his attention in front of himself, while many monks approached the Buddha, and showing great reverence, seated themselves around him.

Chapter 2.

After a time a most venerable monk named Subhuti, who was sitting in the congregation, rose from his seat.

He uncovered his right shoulder, placed his right knee on the ground, and as he joined his palms together he respectfully bowed and then addressed the Buddha:

"Most Honored One, It is truly majestic how much knowledge and wisdom your monks and disciples have been given through your most inspired teachings! It is remarkable that you look after our welfare so selflessly and so completely."

"Most Honored One, I have a question to ask you. If sons and daughters of good families want to develop the highest, most fulfilled and awakened mind, if they wish to attain the Highest Perfect Wisdom, what should they do to help quiet their drifting minds and help subdue their craving thoughts?"

The Buddha then replied:

"So it is as you say, Subhuti. Monks and disciples have been favored with the highest favor by the Buddha, the monks and disciples have been instructed with the highest instruction by the Buddha. The Buddha is constantly mindful of the welfare of his followers. Listen carefully with your full attention, and I will speak to your question."

"If sons and daughters of good families want to develop the highest, most fulfilled and awakened mind, if they wish to attain the Highest Perfect Wisdom and quiet their drifting minds while subduing their craving thoughts, then they should follow what I am about to say to you. Those who follow what I am about to say here will be able to subdue their discriminative thoughts and craving desires. It is possible to attain perfect tranquility and clarity of mind by absorbing and dwelling on the teachings I am about to give."

Then the Buddha addressed the assembly.

"All living beings, whether born from eggs, from the womb, from moisture, or spontaneously; whether they have form or do not have form; whether they are aware or unaware, whether they are not aware or not unaware, all living beings will eventually be led by me to the final Nirvana, the final ending of the cycle of birth and death. And when this unfathomable, infinite number of living beings have all been liberated, in truth not even a single being has actually been liberated."

"Why Subhuti? Because if a disciple still clings to the arbitrary illusions of form or phenomena such as an ego, a personality, a self, a separate person, or a universal self existing eternally, then that person is not an authentic disciple."

 Back

 

Platform Sutra of Hui Neng, Chán Buddhism

Number One: Account of Origins

When the GreatMaster arrived at Baolin, Prefect Wei and his official staff entered the monastery and invited the master to come to the lecture hall at Dafansi within the city, where he could tell his story and preach the Dharma for those assembled. After the master took his seat, the prefect and official staff, more than thirty in number, the Confucian scholars, more than thirty in number, and the monks, nuns, and laypeople, more than a thousand in number, simultaneously did obeisance to him and beseeched him
to relate the essentials of the Dharma.

The Great Master told the assembly, "Good friends, bodhi is fundamentally pure in its self-nature. You must simply use this mind [that you already have], and you will achieve buddhahood directly and completely. Good friends, listen well! This is the story of how I practiced and attained the Dharma.

"My father was a native of Fanyang (Zhuo Xian, Hebei), but he was banished to Lingnan and became a commoner in Xinzhou (Xinxing Xian,
Guangdong). I have been unfortunate: my father died early, and my aged mother and I, her only child, moved here to Nanhai. Miserably poor, I sold firewood in the marketplace.

"At one time, a customer bought some firewood and had me deliver it to his shop, where he took it and paid me. On my way out of the gate I saw someone reciting a sutra, and as soon as I heard the words of the sutra my mind opened forth in enlightenment. I then asked the person what sutra he was reciting, and he said, 'The Diamond Sutra.'

 

Back

 

A New Earth: Emergent Tolleism?

THE ARISING NEW CONSCIOUSNESS

Most ancient religions and spiritual traditions share the common insight – that our "normal" state of mind is marred by a fundamental defect.

However, out of this insight into the nature of the human condition – we may call it the bad news – arises a second insight: the good news of the possibility of a radical transformation of human consciousness. In Hindu teachings (and sometimes in Buddhism also), this transformation is called enlightenment. In the teachings of Jesus, it is salvation, and in Buddhism, it is the end of suffering. Liberation and awakening are other terms used to describe this transformation.

The greatest achievement of humanity is not its works of art, science, or technology, but the recognition of its own dysfunction, its own madness.

In the distant past, this recognition already came to a few individuals. A man called Gautama Siddhartha, who lived 2,600 years ago in India, was perhaps the first who saw it with absolute clarity. Later the title Buddha was conferred upon him. Buddha means "the awakened one." At abut the same time, another of humanity's early awakened teachers emerged in China. His name was Lao Tzu. He left a record of his teaching in the form of one of the most profound spiritual books ever written, the Tao Te Ching.

To recognize one's own insanity, is of course, the arising of sanity, the beginning of healing and transcendence. A new dimension of consciousness had begun to emerge on the planet, a first tentative flowering. Those rare individuals then spoke to their contemporaries. They spoke of "sin," of "suffering," of "delusion." They said, "Look how you live. See what you are doing, the suffering you create." They then pointed to the possibility of awakening from the collective nightmare of "normal" human existence. They showed the way.

 Back

 

THE BOOK OF THE SUBGENIUS

Sometimes a book goes too far.
Sometimes...is NOW.

First -- there was The Gilgamesh
Then... The Bhagavad-Gita
Then... The Torah, The New Testament, The Koran
Then... The Book of Mormon, Dianetics, I'm OK you're OK, et al.
And now...

THE BOOK OF THE SUBGENIUS

THE BOOK YOU COULD ONE DAY SOON BE HOLDING IN YOUR HANDS COULD CREATE A NEW INQUISITION — A SELF-PERPETUATING FASCIST STATE THAT WILL LAST TO THE END OF HUMANITY — OR IT COULD BE THE FOUNDATION-STONE OF THE PROMISED KINGDOM OF PEACE AND HARMONY. WHICH WILL IT BE?

--------(How To Prosper In The Coming Weird Times)----------

Yes, YOU can rape your own mind. YOU can finally relax in the safety of
your own delusions.

This epipastic for the brains of Epoptics, Beholders, and Initiates, works
an authentic magician's spell that will drive OUT the foreign person-
alities and id-demons. Protected by its own occult roots in the most 
extreme forms of para- and mech-psychology, it places the reader within a
"shell" of Weird Phenomena which Must be used for good And evil.

Its system of Mystik Correspondences has already given SECRET POWER to 
the Church of the SubGenius - the world's first Industrial Church, the
prophesied End Times cult of screamers and laughers, scoffers, blasphemers
mockers, sinners, and the last true holymen in America today.

KEEP THIS BOOK NEAR YOU - in your pocket, your bathroom, your glove 
compartment. Study it. Memorize it. Find within its pages a NEW DIRECTION-
a NEW WAY - a HIGHER yet LOWER REALITY - just as thousand before you have
done!

The Book Of The SubGenius

'Do What Keepeth Thou from Wilting, Shall be The Loophole in the Law'

The Church Of The SubGenius is an order of
Scoffers and Blasphemers, dedicated to Total Slack,
delving into Mockery Science, Sadofuturistics, Mega-
physics, Scatalography, Schizophreniatrics, Morealism,
Sarcastrophy, Cynisacreligion, Apocolyptionomy, 
ESPectorationalism, HypnoPediatrics, Subliminalism,
Satyriology, DistoUtopianity, Sardonicology, Fasciest-
iouism, Ridiculophagy, and Miscellaneous Theology.

"Researching The Public's Fear Of The Unknown Since 1953!"

The TriPrimality:

 

CHAPTER 1 Don't Laugh

"I don't practice what I preach because I'm not the kind of person I'm
preaching to." 

 Back

 

 

 

 

 

• Visit our Zazzle store:

• Fine Poster Art

Support this site: Visit our Zazzle store featuring ultra hi-res images of artworks, Hubble/ESA/NASA space images, Mandelbrot fractals, maps and more. Images up to 525 megapixels allow for fine printing at the largest sizes. Consider giving a fine print as a gift that could hang on someone's wall for a hundred years or more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Webmaster
• Privacy Policy
• Contact