The Earth
Books: Sacred Books Of The EastO Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! Which is the first place
where the Earth feels most happy? Ahura Mazda answered: "It is the place
whereon one of the faithful steps forward, O Spitama Zarathustra! with
the log in his hand, the Baresma in his hand, the milk in his hand, the
mortar in his hand, lifting up his voice in good accord with religion,
and beseeching Mithra, the lord of the rolling country-side, and Rama
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second place where the Earth feels most happy? Ahura Mazda answered: "It
is the place whereon one of the faithful erects a house with a priest
within, with cattle, with a wife, with children, and good herds within;
and wherein afterwards the cattle continue to thrive, virtue to thrive,
fodder to thrive, the dog to thrive, the wife to thrive, the child to
thrive, the fire to thrive, and every blessing of life to thrive." O
Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! Which is the third place
where the Earth feels most happy? Ahura Mazda answered: "It is the place
where one of the faithful sows most corn, grass, and fruit, O Spitama
Zarathustra! where he waters ground that is dry, or drains ground that
is too wet." O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! Which is the
fourth place where the Earth feels most happy? Ahura Mazda answered: "It
is the place where there is most increase of flocks and herds." O Maker
of the material world, thou Holy One! Which is the fifth place where the
Earth feels most happy? Ahura Mazda answered: "It is the place where
flocks and herds yield most dung."
O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! Which is the first place
where the Earth feels sorest grief? Ahura Mazda answered: "It is the
neck of Arezura, whereon the hosts of fiends rush forth from the burrow
of the Drug." O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! Which is the
second place where the Earth feels sorest grief? Ahura Mazda answered:
"It is the place wherein most corpses of dogs and of men lie buried." O
Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! Which is the third place
where the Earth feels sorest grief? Ahura Mazda answered: "It is the
place whereon stand most of those Dakhmas on which the corpses of men
are deposited." O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! Which is
the fourth place where the Earth feels sorest grief? Ahura Mazda
answered: "It is the place wherein are most burrows of the creatures of
Angra Mainyu." O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! Which is
the fifth place where the Earth feels sorest grief? Ahura Mazda
answered: "It is the place whereon the wife and children of one of the
faithful, O Spitama Zarathustra! are driven along the way of captivity,
the dry, the dusty way, and lift up a voice of wailing."
O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! Who is the first that
rejoices the Earth with greatest joy? Ahura Mazda answered: "It is he
who digs out of it most corpses of dogs and men." O Maker of the
material world, thou Holy One! Who is the second that rejoices the Earth
with greatest joy? Ahura Mazda answered: "It is he who pulls down most
of those Dakhmas on which the corpses of men are deposited. Let no man
alone by himself carry a corpse. If a man alone by himself carry a
corpse, the Nasu rushes upon him. This Drug Nasu falls upon and stains
him, even to the end of the nails, and he is unclean, thenceforth,
forever and ever." O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! What
shall be the place of that man who has carried a corpse alone? Ahura
Mazda answered: "It shall be the place on this earth wherein is least
water and fewest plants, whereof the ground is the cleanest and the
driest and the least passed through by flocks and herds, by the fire of
Ahura Mazda, by the consecrated bundles of Baresma, and by the
faithful." O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! How far from
the fire? How far from the water? How far from the consecrated bundles
of Baresma? How far from the faithful? Ahura Mazda answered: "Thirty
paces from the fire, thirty paces from the water, thirty paces from the
consecrated bundles of Baresma, three paces from the faithful. There, on
that place, shall the worshippers of Mazda erect an enclosure, and
therein shall they establish him with food, therein shall they establish
him with clothes, with the coarsest food and with the most worn-out
clothes. That food he shall live on, those clothes he shall wear, and
thus shall they let him live, until he has grown to the age of a Hana,
or of a Zaurura, or of a Pairista-khshudra. And when he has grown to the
age of a Hana, or of a Zaurura, or of a Pairista-khshudra, then the
worshippers of Mazda shall order a man strong, vigorous, and skilful, to
cut the head off his neck, in his enclosure on the top of the mountain:
and they shall deliver his corpse unto the greediest of the
corpse-eating creatures made by the beneficent Spirit, unto the
vultures, with these words: 'The man here has repented of all his evil
thoughts, words, and deeds. If he has committed any other evil deed, it
is remitted by his repentance: if he has committed no other evil deed,
he is absolved by his repentance, forever and ever.'" O Maker of the
material world, thou Holy One! Who is the third that rejoices the Earth
with greatest joy? Ahura Mazda answered: "It is he who fills up most
burrows of the creatures of Angra Mainyu." O Maker of the material
world, thou Holy One! Who is the fourth that rejoices the Earth with
greatest joy? Ahura Mazda answered: "It is he who sows most corn, grass,
and fruit, O Spitama Zarathustra! who waters ground that is dry, or
drains ground that is too wet. Unhappy is the land that has long lain
unsown with the seed of the sower and wants a good husbandman, like a
well-shapen maiden who has long gone childless and wants a good husband.
He who would till the earth, O Spitama Zarathustra! with the left arm
and the right, with the right arm and the left, unto him will she bring
forth plenty of fruit: even as it were a lover sleeping with his bride
on her bed; the bride will bring forth children, the earth will bring
forth plenty of fruit. He who would till the earth, O Spitama
Zarathustra! with the left arm and the right, with the right arm and the
left, unto him thus says the Earth: 'O thou man! who dost till me with
the left arm and the right, with the right arm and the left, here shall
I ever go on bearing, bringing forth all manner of food, bringing corn
first to thee.' He who does not till the Earth, O Spitama Zarathustra!
with the left arm and the right, with the right arm and the left, unto
him thus says the Earth: 'O thou man! who dost not till me with the left
arm and the right, with the right arm and the left, ever shalt thou
stand at the door of the stranger, among those who beg for bread; the
refuse and the crumbs of the bread are brought unto thee, brought by
those who have profusion of wealth.'"
O maker of the material world, thou Holy One! What is the food that
fills the Religion of Mazda?
Ahura Mazda answered:--
"It is sowing corn again and again, O Spitama Zarathustra! He who sows
corn, sows righteousness: he makes the Religion of Mazda walk, he
suckles the Religion of Mazda; as well as he could do with a hundred
man's feet, with a thousand woman's breasts, with ten thousand
sacrificial formulas. When barley was created, the Devas started up;
when it grew, then fainted the Devas' hearts; when the knots came, the
Devas groaned; when the ear came, the Devas flew away. In that house the
Devas stay, wherein wheat perishes. It is as though red hot iron were
turned about in their throats, when there is plenty of corn. Then let
people learn by heart this holy saying: 'No one who does not eat, has
strength to do heavy works of holiness, strength to do works of
husbandry, strength to beget children. By eating every material creature
lives, by not eating it dies away.'"
O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! Who is the fifth that
rejoices the Earth with greatest joy?
Ahura Mazda answered:--
"It is he who kindly and piously gives to one of the faithful who tills
the earth, O Spitama Zarathustra! He who would not kindly and piously
give to one of the faithful who tills the earth, O Spitama Zarathustra!
Spenta Armaiti will throw him down into darkness, down into the world of
woe, the world of hell, down into the deep abyss."
O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! If a man shall bury in the
earth either the corpse of a dog or the corpse of a man, and if he shall
not disinter it within half a year, what is the penalty that he shall
pay?
Ahura Mazda answered:--
"Five hundred stripes with the Aspahe-astra, five hundred stripes with
the Sraosho-karana."
O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! If a man shall bury in the
earth either the corpse of a dog or the corpse of a man, and if he shall
not disinter it within a year, what is the penalty that he shall pay?
Ahura Mazda answered:--
"A thousand stripes with the Aspahe-astra, a thousand stripes with the
Sraosho-karana."
O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! If a man shall bury in the
earth either the corpse of a dog or the corpse of a man, and if he shall
not disinter it within the second year, what is the penalty for it? What
is the atonement for it? What is the cleansing from it?
Ahura Mazda answered:--
"For that deed there is nothing that can pay, nothing that can atone,
nothing that can cleanse from it; it is a trespass for which there is no
atonement, forever and ever."
When is it so?
"It is so, if the sinner be a professor of the Religion of Mazda, or one
who has been taught in it. But if he be not a professor of the Religion
of Mazda, nor one who has been taught in it, then his sin is taken from
him, if he makes confession of the Religion of Mazda and resolves never
to commit again such forbidden deeds.
"The Religion of Mazda indeed, O Spitama Zarathustra! takes away from
him who makes confession of it the bonds of his sin; it takes away the
sin of breach of trust; it takes away the sin of murdering one of the
faithful; it takes away the sin of burying a corpse; it takes away the
sin of deeds for which there is no atonement; it takes away the worst
sin of usury; it takes away any sin that may be sinned. In the same way
the Religion of Mazda, O Spitama Zarathustra! cleanses the faithful from
every evil thought, word, and deed, as a swift-rushing mighty wind
cleanses the plain. So let all the deeds he doeth be henceforth good, O
Zarathustra! a full atonement for his sin is effected by means of the
Religion of Mazda."
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Tao has of all things the most honoured place
Tao has of all things the most honoured place No treasures give good men so rich a grace; Bad men it guards, and doth their ill efface ... Tao when nursed within one's self,
Tao when nursed within one's self, His vigour will make true; And where the family it rules What riches will accrue! The neighbourhood where it prevails In thriving will abound; And when 'tis seen throughout the state, ... That deed is not well done of which a man
That deed is not well done of which a man must repent, and the reward of which he receives crying and with a tearful face ... That fetter wise people call strong which drags down, yields,
That fetter wise people call strong which drags down, yields, but is difficult to undo; after having cut this at last, people leave the world, free from cares, and leaving desires and pleasures behind ... That is the safe refuge, that is the best refuge;
That is the safe refuge, that is the best refuge; having gone to that refuge, a man is delivered from all pain ... That saying of the ancients that 'the partial becomes complete'
That saying of the ancients that 'the partial becomes complete' was not vainly spoken:--all real completion is comprehended under it ... That whereby the rivers and seas are able to receive
That whereby the rivers and seas are able to receive the homage and tribute of all the valley streams, is their skill in being lower than they;--it is thus that they are the kings of them all So it is that the sage (ruler), wishing to be above men, p... That which is at rest is easily kept hold of;
That which is at rest is easily kept hold of; before a thing has given indications of its presence, it is easy to take measures against it; that which is brittle is easily broken; that which is very small is easily dispersed Action should be taken be... The (state of) vacancy should be brought to the utmost
The (state of) vacancy should be brought to the utmost degree, and that of stillness guarded with unwearying vigour All things alike go through their processes of activity, and (then) we see them return (to their original state) When things (in the ... The ancients who showed their skill in practising the Tao
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The Awakened call patience the highest penance, long-suffering the highest Nirvana; for he is not an anchorite (pravragita) who strikes others, he is not an ascetic (sramana) who insults others ... The best of ways is the eightfold; the best of
The best of ways is the eightfold; the best of truths the four words; the best of virtues passionlessness; the best of men he who has eyes to see ... The Bhikshu
Restraint in the eye is good, good is restraint in the ear, in the nose restraint is good, good is restraint in the tongue. In the body restraint is good, good is restraint in speech, in thought restraint is good, good is restraint in all things... The Bhikshu who acts with kindness, who is calm in
The Bhikshu who acts with kindness, who is calm in the doctrine of Buddha, will reach the quiet place (Nirvana), cessation of natural desires, and happiness ... The Bhikshu who controls his mouth, who speaks wisely and
The Bhikshu who controls his mouth, who speaks wisely and calmly, who teaches the meaning and the law, his word is sweet ... The Bhikshu whose body and tongue and mind are quieted,
The Bhikshu whose body and tongue and mind are quieted, who is collected, and has rejected the baits of the world, he is called quiet ... The Bhikshu, full of delight, who is calm in the
The Bhikshu, full of delight, who is calm in the doctrine of Buddha will reach the quiet place (Nirvana), cessation of natural desires, and happiness ... The Birth
There was a descendant of the Ikshvaku family, an invincible Sakya monarch, pure in mind and of unspotted virtue, called therefore Pure-rice, or Suddhodana. Joyously reverenced by all men, as the new moon is welcomed by the world, the king ind... The Brahmana
Stop the stream valiantly, drive away the desires, O Brahmana! When you have understood the destruction of all that was made, you will understand that which was not made. If the Brahmana has reached the other shore in both laws, in restraint an... The brilliant chariots of kings are destroyed, the body also approaches
The brilliant chariots of kings are destroyed, the body also approaches destruction, but the virtue of good people never approaches destruction,--thus do the good say to the good ... The Buddha The Awakened
He whose conquest cannot be conquered again, into whose conquest no one in this world enters, by what track can you lead him, the Awakened, the Omniscient, the trackless? He whom no desire with its snares and poisons can lead astray, by what tr... The channels run everywhere, the creeper (of passion) stands sprouting; if
The channels run everywhere, the creeper (of passion) stands sprouting; if you see the creeper springing up, cut its root by means of knowledge ... The Couch Of Brahman
Kitra Gangyayani, wishing to perform a sacrifice, chose Aruni Uddalaka, to be his chief priest. But Aruni sent his son, Svetaketu, and said: "Perform the sacrifice for him." When Svetaketu had arrived, Kitra asked him: "Son of Gautama, is there a ... The course and nature of things is such that
The course and nature of things is such that What was in front is now behind; What warmed anon we freezing find Strength is of weakness oft the spoil; The store in ruins mocks our toil Hence the sage puts away excessive effort, extravag... The Creation
Ahura Mazda spake unto Spitama Zarathustra, saying:-- "I have made every land dear to its people, even though it had no charms whatever in it: had I not made every land dear to its people, even though it had no charms whatever in it, then the wh... THE CULTURE OF COURAGE
"The dawn of a New Day!" Never an Aryan felt the flare of this electric Fact, Nor any, or priest at his worship or earth-toiler swarming the land, Till Zarathustra discovered Ahura Mazda, Till Buddha discovered himself, the Thou of THAT, BRAHM... The difficulty in governing the people arises from their having much
The difficulty in governing the people arises from their having much knowledge He who (tries to) govern a state by his wisdom is a scourge to it; while he who does not (try to) do so is a blessing ... The Dignity of SelfReliance
Self-confidence, without self-reliance, is as useless as a cooking recipe,--without food. Self-confidence sees the possibilities of the individual; self-reliance realizes them. Self-confidence sees the angel in the unhewn block of marble; self-r... The disciple will overcome the earth, and the world of
The disciple will overcome the earth, and the world of Yama, and the world of the gods The disciple will find out the plainly shown path of virtue, as a clever man finds out the (right) flower ... The disciples of Gotama (Buddha) are always well awake, and
The disciples of Gotama (Buddha) are always well awake, and their thoughts day and night are always set on Buddha ... The disciples of Gotama are always well awake, and their
The disciples of Gotama are always well awake, and their thoughts day and night are always set on the law ... The disciples of Gotama are always well awake, and their
The disciples of Gotama are always well awake, and their thoughts day and night are always set on the church ... The disciples of Gotama are always well awake, and their
The disciples of Gotama are always well awake, and their thoughts day and night are always set on their body ... The disciples of Gotama are always well awake, and their
The disciples of Gotama are always well awake, and their mind day and night always delights in compassion ... The disciples of Gotama are always well awake, and their
The disciples of Gotama are always well awake, and their mind day and night always delights in meditation ... The Downward Course
He who says what is not goes to hell; he also who, having done a thing, says I have not done it. After death both are equal: they are men with evil deeds in the next world. Many men whose shoulders are covered with the yellow gown are ill-condi... The Earth
O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! Which is the first place where the Earth feels most happy? Ahura Mazda answered: "It is the place whereon one of the faithful steps forward, O Spitama Zarathustra! with the log in his hand, the Baresma... The Elephant
Silently I endured abuse as the elephant in battle endures the arrow sent from the bow: for the world is ill-natured. They lead a tamed elephant to battle, the king mounts a tamed elephant; the tamed is the best among men, he who silently endure... The elephant called Dhanapalaka, his temples running with sap, and difficult
The elephant called Dhanapalaka, his temples running with sap, and difficult to hold, does not eat a morsel when bound; the elephant longs for the elephant grove ... The evil done by oneself, self-begotten, self-bred, crushes the foolish, as
The evil done by oneself, self-begotten, self-bred, crushes the foolish, as a diamond breaks a precious stone ... The evil-doer mourns in this world, and he mourns in
The evil-doer mourns in this world, and he mourns in the next; he mourns in both He mourns and suffers when he sees the evil of his own work ... The evil-doer suffers in this world, and he suffers in
The evil-doer suffers in this world, and he suffers in the next; he suffers in both He suffers when he thinks of the evil he has done; he suffers more when going on the evil path ... The excellence of a residence is in (the suitability of)
The excellence of a residence is in (the suitability of) the place; that of the mind is in abysmal stillness; that of associations is in their being with the virtuous; that of government is in its securing good order; that of (the conduct of) affairs i... The Family Of Imran
A.L.M.[47] There is no God but God, the living, self-subsisting: He hath sent down unto thee the book of the Koran with truth, confirming that which was revealed before it; for he had formerly sent down the law and the gospel, a direction unto... The fault of others is easily perceived, but that of
The fault of others is easily perceived, but that of oneself is difficult to perceive; a man winnows his neighbour's faults like chaff, but his own fault he hides, as a cheat hides the bad die from the gambler ... The fields are damaged by weeds, mankind is damaged by
The fields are damaged by weeds, mankind is damaged by passion: therefore a gift bestowed on the passionless brings great reward ... The fields are damaged by weeds, mankind is damaged by
The fields are damaged by weeds, mankind is damaged by hatred: therefore a gift bestowed on those who do not hate brings great reward ... The fields are damaged by weeds, mankind is damaged by
The fields are damaged by weeds, mankind is damaged by vanity: therefore a gift bestowed on those who are free from vanity brings great reward ... The fields are damaged by weeds, mankind is damaged by
The fields are damaged by weeds, mankind is damaged by lust: therefore a gift bestowed on those who are free from lust brings great reward The Bhikshu (Mendicant) ... THE FIRST GREAT PRINCIPLE OF FEAR-CONQUEST
Timidity, apprehension, fear, alarm, fright, consternation, terror, panic, desperation, are all false imitations of reason's interpretation of the warning signals of Nature, to be displaced by reason itself, which may then determine whether the o... The follower of the law, even if he can recite
The follower of the law, even if he can recite only a small portion (of the law), but, having forsaken passion and hatred and foolishness, possesses true knowledge and serenity of mind, he, caring for nothing in this world or that to come, has indeed a... The Fool
Long is the night to him who is awake; long is a mile to him who is tired; long is life to the foolish who do not know the true law. If a traveller does not meet with one who is his better, or his equal, let him firmly keep to his solitary journ... The fool who knows his foolishness, is wise at least
The fool who knows his foolishness, is wise at least so far But a fool who thinks himself wise, he is called a fool indeed ... The foolish man who scorns the rule of the venerable
The foolish man who scorns the rule of the venerable (Arahat), of the elect (Ariya), of the virtuous, and follows false doctrine, he bears fruit to his own destruction, like the fruits of the Katthaka reed ... THE FOUR PYRAMIDS
Harmony-- Exercise--Recreation --Air--Sleep--Water --Food--Regularity--Digestion --Cleanliness--Economy-- Scientific Body-Building and Using I Pyramid of Physical Health II Will--Muscular Development --Nervous Condi... THE GENERAL TONE OP HEALTH
The word "tone" means, "sound in relation to volume, quality, duration and pitch," then, "peculiar characteristic sound as of a voice or instrument," then, "characteristic style or tendency, predominating aim or character, tenor, strain, spirit" ... The gift of the law exceeds all gifts; the sweetness
The gift of the law exceeds all gifts; the sweetness of the law exceeds all sweetness; the delight in the law exceeds all delights; the extinction of thirst overcomes all pain ... The gods even envy him whose senses, like horses well
The gods even envy him whose senses, like horses well broken in by the driver, have been subdued, who is free from pride, and free from appetites ... The government that seems the most unwise, Oft
The government that seems the most unwise, Oft goodness to the people best supplies; That which is meddling, touching everything, Will work but ill, and disappointment bring Misery!--happiness is to be found by its side! Happiness!--miser... The grandest forms of active force From
The grandest forms of active force From Tao come, their only source Who can of Tao the nature tell? Our sight it flies, our touch as well Eluding sight, eluding touch, The forms of things all in it crouch; Eluding touch, elud... The great state only wishes to unite men together and
The great state only wishes to unite men together and nourish them; a small state only wishes to be received by, and to serve, the other Each gets what it desires, but the great state must learn to abase itself ... The great Tao (or way) is very level and easy;
The great Tao (or way) is very level and easy; but people love the by-ways ... The highest excellence is like (that of) water The
The highest excellence is like (that of) water The excellence of water appears in its benefiting all things, and in its occupying, without striving (to the contrary), the low place which all men dislike Hence (its way) is near to (that of) the Tao ... The Just
A man is not just if he carries a matter by violence; no, he who distinguishes both right and wrong, who is learned and guides others, not by violence, but by the same law, being a guardian of the law and intelligent, he is called just. A man i... The Life of Buddha and Its Lessons
The thoughtful student, in scanning the religious history of the race, has one fact continually forced upon his notice, _viz_., that there is an invariable tendency to deify whomsoever shows himself superior to the weakness of our common humanity. Look... The Majesty of Calmness
Calmness is the rarest quality in human life. It is the poise of a great nature, in harmony with itself and its ideals. It is the moral atmosphere of a life self-centred, self-reliant, and self-controlled. Calmness is singleness of purpose, abso... The man who is free from credulity, but knows the
The man who is free from credulity, but knows the uncreated, who has cut all ties, removed all temptations, renounced all desires, he is the greatest of men ... The man who wears dirty raiments, who is emaciated and
The man who wears dirty raiments, who is emaciated and covered with veins, who lives alone in the forest, and meditates, him I call indeed a Brahmana ... The multitude of men look satisfied and pleased; as if
The multitude of men look satisfied and pleased; as if enjoying a full banquet, as if mounted on a tower in spring I alone seem listless and still, my desires having as yet given no indication of their presence I am like an infant which has not yet s... The partial becomes complete; the crooked, straight; the empty, full; the
The partial becomes complete; the crooked, straight; the empty, full; the worn out, new He whose (desires) are few gets them; he whose (desires) are many goes astray ... The people are difficult to govern because of the (excessive) agency
The people are difficult to govern because of the (excessive) agency of their superiors (in governing them) It is through this that they are difficult to govern ... The people do not fear death; to what purpose is
The people do not fear death; to what purpose is it to (try to) frighten them with death? If the people were always in awe of death, and I could always seize those who do wrong, and put them to death, who would dare to do wrong? ...