RELIGIOUS LITERATURE
The Bhagavad Gita
Chapter one of the Bhagavadgita introduces us to Sri Krishna and Prince Arjuna. Krishna is speaking to Arjuna as he is about to go to war to defend his brother’s throne of the Kurus. Krishna serves as Arjuna's advisor. To ensure the claim to the throne they must fight a war against their own family members. This including their uncle, King Dhritarashtra. Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Sahadeva and Kanula are known as the “sons of Pandu”. The opposing side is known as “the sons of Kuru.” This chapter isn’t really about war, but about important life questions that Arjuna asks of Krishna. Krishna’s answers to his questions are the remainder of the Bhagavadgita.
In chapter two, a desperate and weak Arjuna hands himself over to Krishna in search of a greater answer to life. He says he does not know what he would gain by killing these people and that it would taint every pleasure he’s ever known. Krishna tells him that his experiences, those of pain and pleasure, are fleeting, and that once he realizes that he can separate himself from these, then he is fit for a life of immortality. He conveys to Arjuna that he must be aware of the Self, something we all possess that cannot die or be changed. Krishna tells Arjuna that he should not grieve because we are all manifested. We are born, then we die, and the cycle repeats itself. But the Self, he says, cannot die. Therefore Arjuna should have no reason to be grieving. He tells him that there is good in life and death and that should be the reason he fights in this battle. If he makes himself alike in gain and loss, pleasure and pain, he will be free. Those wrapped up in pleasure and pain will never reach the ultimate goal. Krishna mentions yoga and karma and tells Arjuna of the basic principles of these practices. He tells him that he do things not for the sake of reward, but for duty. Detachment, he says, is the key to spiritual awareness. Arjuna then asks Krishna how those who have reached this consciousness, act and talk. He responds that they have no selfish attachments, no fear or lust or anger. They keep their minds engaged in meditation. To be truly united with the Lord, one must omit the words “I”, “me” and “mine” and renounce selfish desires.
In chapter three, Arjuna asks Krishna of the one true road to a better end. Krishna says that he has declared two paths, the path of wisdom and the path of duty. Selfless service without any hope of personal profit is the key to the path of duty. He promises that there will be reward when working for no reward. Brahman, he says, is the eternal Godhead and is present with every act of service. If you do the opposite of selfless action then you will be perpetually dissatisfied. Those who realize the true Self will always have satisfaction. The goal of selfless service is to maintain the welfare of the world and always keep others in mind. Work must be continuous to keep the mind focused. All work must be guided by compassion. He tells Arjuna that he must separate himself from his ego and understand that gunas are responsible for the deeds, not the “I”. This way you can full detach yourself from the ego.
In chapter eight, Arjuna asks Krishna what Brahman is, what is the adhyatma, adhibhuta, adhidaiva, and the adhiyajna (supreme sacrifice), and how can it be offered up. Krishna tells him that Brahman gives every living thing its existence and lives in every creature as the adhyatma. The adhibhuta is the human body. The adhidaiva is the eternal spirit. The supreme sacrifice, adhiyajna, is made to Sri Krishna as our inner Lord. He tells him that whatever occupies his mind at the time of death will affect his destination and encourages Arjuna to remember him at all times. That is the purpose of meditation. He tells him that there is the supreme Lord, who came first. And that he may be attained through meditation and living a life dedicated to Brahman. He tells Arjuna that he should repeat the divine Name, or Om, which represents the changeless Brahman, to attain this goal. There are two paths after death; one is of rebirth and the other of liberation. Knowledge of yoga and karma will guide you on which path you choose to take. In chapter eleven, Arjuna is starting to understand the purpose of life. He asks Krishna to reveal himself as the supreme ruler of creation, as his immortal Self. So Krishna appears to Arjuna in his most exalted form, as the infinite Lord. Arjuna bows to the Lord and sees all the gods, the cosmos, the ultimate Reality. He admits that it is difficult to gaze upon him because of his blinding radiance. He then goes on to describe in great detail, how the Lord is the Universe, how the sun and moon are a part of his body. The more he looks upon the Lord, the more overwhelmed he becomes. He is taken over by the want to know more, to experience the truth. He apologizes for any previous disrespect and asks to see him again in a more human form. Krishna then resumes a more friendly form and professes that now that Arjuna has witnessed this terrible and difficult vision, he has attainted union with him. Krishna then reiterates that whoever makes these selfless sacrifices and devotes himself to fully to Krishna will be united with him forever and attain the ultimate goal.
Wisdom of the Buddha
Chapter one explains that, essentially, we are what we think. If we have impure/bad thoughts, our actions will follow the same path. Leading to evil and unhappiness. If we have pure thoughts we will be happy. A man who lives his life in search of pleasure is a weak individual and will never be completely fulfilled. A man who does not live his life in search of pleasures is strong and faithful. The virtuous man will always triumph or the evil man.
Chapter seven is about completing the journey of attaining enlightenment. It tells us that he who is completely free will not suffer. If you are free from pride and free from appetite, even the gods will envy you. The man who steers clear of temptation, quiets his mind and has squelched his wants is "the greatest of men".
Chapter eleven is about happiness and old age. It is pointed out that the body will get sick, get old and eventually die. But if you are disciplined in your youth and are a virtuous man, then that will not die with your aging body.
Chapter fourteen tells us that the safest place to take refuge is with the Buddha. To become Awakened is a difficult task and requires intense patience. He must not commit sins of any kind, not give into lust of any kind, purify his mind and do good. The merit of the man who follows all of these ways and becomes enlightened cannot be measured.
Chapter fifteen is about happiness. When we are free from hate, greed and the lust for material things, we are happy. Solitude and tranquility lead to happiness. We should surround ourselves with wise people, not fools, for that will give us pleasure. The highest happiness is Nirvana.
Tao Te Ching
22 The man who wants little feels more complete. He must keep himself free from vanity and pride to help attain this. The sage is humble and free from argument.
24 This basically repeats chapter 22 with an emphasis on not boasting. It says that your pride will be displayed like a tumor on your body.
25 The Mother of all Things existed before Heaven and Earth. It has been designated the Tao, or "Way". Existence is constantly flowing. There are four greats: Tao, Heaven, Earth and the Sage. Man is under the influence of Earth, Earth under Heaven, Heaven under the Tao and the Tao being the Great.
32 The Tao is unchanging. It allows Heaven and Earth to unite and allows actions to be given names. Once they have been given names, mankind is safe to accept them and be free from error.
37 The Tao has its "hand" in everything.
49 We must treat everyone good and with respect, even those who don't treat us good and with respect.
53 The Tao is modest.
56 Those who understand the Tao, rarely speak of it. Those who do not understand the Tao, always speak of it.
77 This chapter compares the Tao to the way of man. The Tao is anti-abundance and gives where it is needed. Man takes away from those who are needy to add to his own abundance. The Tao does not say that it is superior.
79 After an argument a reconciliation will be made. We are reminded to not hold a grudge but remember the argument and what was learned from it.
Analects of Confucius
Volume 1 Book 1
A well educated person is one who works hard, is not lustful, watches what he says, is trustworthy, has a respect and love for all men, associates with respectable people, and is humble. Once you have devoted yourself to these fundamentals, you may become a philosopher.
Volume 1 Book 2
One must abide by moral law not the law of men. To become a teacher, you must not only learn new things but review the old things you have learned. If you don't think about what you learn, then what you have learned is pointless and will never be put into practice. If you think about things without fully knowing about what you are thinking, this can get you into trouble. Knowledge is when you are able to acknowledge what you know and what you don't know.
Volume 2 Book 4
If you really, truly want to be virtuous then you won't do bad things. If you are wise you will not make prejudgments, you will side with the right. An honorable man wants justice and fixates on his character. A dishonorable man does things for his own favor. A wise man thinks about things before he says them, but takes action when it is necessary.
Volume 4 Book 7
Always have your mind set on what is right and be kind to others. Even if you don't have many material possession or gourmet food to eat, you should be happy with it as long as it was obtained honestly. Hard, honest work is the way to reach the goal.
Volume 7 Book 14
Noble, modest men will achieve more. We should study for self improvement, not so that we can say we are smarter than others.
The Qur'an
Sura 87 – The hereafter is the life we must strive for. Constantly remind yourself of the Lord and of Muhammad. Mention their names in prayer as to not forget. Make yourself pure. This is what was told to us by Abraham and Moses.
Sura 75 – There will be a Day of Resurrection. The Lord will give life to the dying. You must read the Qur’an and recite it through Gabriel. You must also live what you read and recite.
Sura 16 – Allah created everything; heavens, earth, truth, men, livestock. The Lord is kind and merciful. He created horses and mules for riding, paths to guide you, rain to drink and to nourish the plants, the sun, moon, night and day. He created the sea, mountains, stars to guide you. All of these are reminders to us, of Allah. He knows the things you say out loud and the things you keep to yourself. There is one God. He disapproves of arrogance. The Day of Resurrection will separate the believers from the disbelievers. The evil and arrogant will go to Hell. The angels will take up with them the believers who do well on earth. Those who go to Heaven will have whatever they wish and the angels will say “peace be upon you”. There is someone in every nation who spreads the word so all will have a chance to hear it. Those who submit to Allah will enjoy the Hereafter and all it has to offer. Those who choose evil, will be punished. Allah is all knowing and we are not. Do not question those he seems to favor. He will provide you with a mate and with children and grandchildren. He will give you good things. He gave us hearing, vision and hearts. He has given us homes as a place of rest. On the Day of Resurrection a witness of every nation (their prophet) will be resurrected. Allah knows what is best for you. You must only eat what Allah has provided which is lawful and good. You may not eat pork, blood, or animals that were killed not solely for food. If you have done wrong you may repent and correct yourself, for God is forgiving. Allah wants you to fear Him and do good.
Sura 2 – There is great punishment for those who disbelieve in Allah. You must worship your Lord to become righteous. Give good tidings to other believers and do good deeds. Allah gave you life and created the Heavens and the Earth. He informed Adam of all the names of his creations. He gave Adam a wife and Satan removed them from the paradise the Lord made for them. He orders us to pray and recite the scripture. He reminds the children of Israel of Moses and his teachings. Worship only Allah, do good, honor your parents and do not kill. Do not follow in Satan’s footsteps. Follow the instructions of Allah on how to live and worship. If you are a believer you will go to Heaven. Ramadhan is the month for fasting. It is laid down in the Qur’an as guidance for the Muslims. Do not transgress in your fights. You may only fight in the sacred month, unless it is an aggression committed against you in the sacred month. Fear Allah. Divorced women must remain in waiting for three menstrual cycles. During this time if their husbands want to reconcile, they may. Mothers may breastfeed for two years. If a woman is widowed she must wait four months and ten days before they may remarry. Be wise with your money and give to charities.
Sura 4 – If children are made orphans the male should have the same amount (money, etc.) as two females. If they are all women and there are more than two, they will split two-thirds of what he has left. If there is an only daughter, she will get half. If your wife leaves you will have half if there are no children. If there are children, you will get a fourth after debts have been paid off. When it comes to splitting up money among children, husbands and wives, we are reminded that we must be honest in our dealings because Allah is wise and all knowing. If a woman is accused of unlawful sexual conduct, then four people must come and testify against here. If she is guilty she must remain a prisoner is her home until death takes her. You do not marry your father’s wife and you do not marry your family members. Do not act harshly with women or inherit anything from them against their will.
Chapter one of the Bhagavadgita introduces us to Sri Krishna and Prince Arjuna. Krishna is speaking to Arjuna as he is about to go to war to defend his brother’s throne of the Kurus. Krishna serves as Arjuna's advisor. To ensure the claim to the throne they must fight a war against their own family members. This including their uncle, King Dhritarashtra. Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Sahadeva and Kanula are known as the “sons of Pandu”. The opposing side is known as “the sons of Kuru.” This chapter isn’t really about war, but about important life questions that Arjuna asks of Krishna. Krishna’s answers to his questions are the remainder of the Bhagavadgita.
In chapter two, a desperate and weak Arjuna hands himself over to Krishna in search of a greater answer to life. He says he does not know what he would gain by killing these people and that it would taint every pleasure he’s ever known. Krishna tells him that his experiences, those of pain and pleasure, are fleeting, and that once he realizes that he can separate himself from these, then he is fit for a life of immortality. He conveys to Arjuna that he must be aware of the Self, something we all possess that cannot die or be changed. Krishna tells Arjuna that he should not grieve because we are all manifested. We are born, then we die, and the cycle repeats itself. But the Self, he says, cannot die. Therefore Arjuna should have no reason to be grieving. He tells him that there is good in life and death and that should be the reason he fights in this battle. If he makes himself alike in gain and loss, pleasure and pain, he will be free. Those wrapped up in pleasure and pain will never reach the ultimate goal. Krishna mentions yoga and karma and tells Arjuna of the basic principles of these practices. He tells him that he do things not for the sake of reward, but for duty. Detachment, he says, is the key to spiritual awareness. Arjuna then asks Krishna how those who have reached this consciousness, act and talk. He responds that they have no selfish attachments, no fear or lust or anger. They keep their minds engaged in meditation. To be truly united with the Lord, one must omit the words “I”, “me” and “mine” and renounce selfish desires.
In chapter three, Arjuna asks Krishna of the one true road to a better end. Krishna says that he has declared two paths, the path of wisdom and the path of duty. Selfless service without any hope of personal profit is the key to the path of duty. He promises that there will be reward when working for no reward. Brahman, he says, is the eternal Godhead and is present with every act of service. If you do the opposite of selfless action then you will be perpetually dissatisfied. Those who realize the true Self will always have satisfaction. The goal of selfless service is to maintain the welfare of the world and always keep others in mind. Work must be continuous to keep the mind focused. All work must be guided by compassion. He tells Arjuna that he must separate himself from his ego and understand that gunas are responsible for the deeds, not the “I”. This way you can full detach yourself from the ego.
In chapter eight, Arjuna asks Krishna what Brahman is, what is the adhyatma, adhibhuta, adhidaiva, and the adhiyajna (supreme sacrifice), and how can it be offered up. Krishna tells him that Brahman gives every living thing its existence and lives in every creature as the adhyatma. The adhibhuta is the human body. The adhidaiva is the eternal spirit. The supreme sacrifice, adhiyajna, is made to Sri Krishna as our inner Lord. He tells him that whatever occupies his mind at the time of death will affect his destination and encourages Arjuna to remember him at all times. That is the purpose of meditation. He tells him that there is the supreme Lord, who came first. And that he may be attained through meditation and living a life dedicated to Brahman. He tells Arjuna that he should repeat the divine Name, or Om, which represents the changeless Brahman, to attain this goal. There are two paths after death; one is of rebirth and the other of liberation. Knowledge of yoga and karma will guide you on which path you choose to take. In chapter eleven, Arjuna is starting to understand the purpose of life. He asks Krishna to reveal himself as the supreme ruler of creation, as his immortal Self. So Krishna appears to Arjuna in his most exalted form, as the infinite Lord. Arjuna bows to the Lord and sees all the gods, the cosmos, the ultimate Reality. He admits that it is difficult to gaze upon him because of his blinding radiance. He then goes on to describe in great detail, how the Lord is the Universe, how the sun and moon are a part of his body. The more he looks upon the Lord, the more overwhelmed he becomes. He is taken over by the want to know more, to experience the truth. He apologizes for any previous disrespect and asks to see him again in a more human form. Krishna then resumes a more friendly form and professes that now that Arjuna has witnessed this terrible and difficult vision, he has attainted union with him. Krishna then reiterates that whoever makes these selfless sacrifices and devotes himself to fully to Krishna will be united with him forever and attain the ultimate goal.
Wisdom of the Buddha
Chapter one explains that, essentially, we are what we think. If we have impure/bad thoughts, our actions will follow the same path. Leading to evil and unhappiness. If we have pure thoughts we will be happy. A man who lives his life in search of pleasure is a weak individual and will never be completely fulfilled. A man who does not live his life in search of pleasures is strong and faithful. The virtuous man will always triumph or the evil man.
Chapter seven is about completing the journey of attaining enlightenment. It tells us that he who is completely free will not suffer. If you are free from pride and free from appetite, even the gods will envy you. The man who steers clear of temptation, quiets his mind and has squelched his wants is "the greatest of men".
Chapter eleven is about happiness and old age. It is pointed out that the body will get sick, get old and eventually die. But if you are disciplined in your youth and are a virtuous man, then that will not die with your aging body.
Chapter fourteen tells us that the safest place to take refuge is with the Buddha. To become Awakened is a difficult task and requires intense patience. He must not commit sins of any kind, not give into lust of any kind, purify his mind and do good. The merit of the man who follows all of these ways and becomes enlightened cannot be measured.
Chapter fifteen is about happiness. When we are free from hate, greed and the lust for material things, we are happy. Solitude and tranquility lead to happiness. We should surround ourselves with wise people, not fools, for that will give us pleasure. The highest happiness is Nirvana.
Tao Te Ching
22 The man who wants little feels more complete. He must keep himself free from vanity and pride to help attain this. The sage is humble and free from argument.
24 This basically repeats chapter 22 with an emphasis on not boasting. It says that your pride will be displayed like a tumor on your body.
25 The Mother of all Things existed before Heaven and Earth. It has been designated the Tao, or "Way". Existence is constantly flowing. There are four greats: Tao, Heaven, Earth and the Sage. Man is under the influence of Earth, Earth under Heaven, Heaven under the Tao and the Tao being the Great.
32 The Tao is unchanging. It allows Heaven and Earth to unite and allows actions to be given names. Once they have been given names, mankind is safe to accept them and be free from error.
37 The Tao has its "hand" in everything.
49 We must treat everyone good and with respect, even those who don't treat us good and with respect.
53 The Tao is modest.
56 Those who understand the Tao, rarely speak of it. Those who do not understand the Tao, always speak of it.
77 This chapter compares the Tao to the way of man. The Tao is anti-abundance and gives where it is needed. Man takes away from those who are needy to add to his own abundance. The Tao does not say that it is superior.
79 After an argument a reconciliation will be made. We are reminded to not hold a grudge but remember the argument and what was learned from it.
Analects of Confucius
Volume 1 Book 1
A well educated person is one who works hard, is not lustful, watches what he says, is trustworthy, has a respect and love for all men, associates with respectable people, and is humble. Once you have devoted yourself to these fundamentals, you may become a philosopher.
Volume 1 Book 2
One must abide by moral law not the law of men. To become a teacher, you must not only learn new things but review the old things you have learned. If you don't think about what you learn, then what you have learned is pointless and will never be put into practice. If you think about things without fully knowing about what you are thinking, this can get you into trouble. Knowledge is when you are able to acknowledge what you know and what you don't know.
Volume 2 Book 4
If you really, truly want to be virtuous then you won't do bad things. If you are wise you will not make prejudgments, you will side with the right. An honorable man wants justice and fixates on his character. A dishonorable man does things for his own favor. A wise man thinks about things before he says them, but takes action when it is necessary.
Volume 4 Book 7
Always have your mind set on what is right and be kind to others. Even if you don't have many material possession or gourmet food to eat, you should be happy with it as long as it was obtained honestly. Hard, honest work is the way to reach the goal.
Volume 7 Book 14
Noble, modest men will achieve more. We should study for self improvement, not so that we can say we are smarter than others.
The Qur'an
Sura 87 – The hereafter is the life we must strive for. Constantly remind yourself of the Lord and of Muhammad. Mention their names in prayer as to not forget. Make yourself pure. This is what was told to us by Abraham and Moses.
Sura 75 – There will be a Day of Resurrection. The Lord will give life to the dying. You must read the Qur’an and recite it through Gabriel. You must also live what you read and recite.
Sura 16 – Allah created everything; heavens, earth, truth, men, livestock. The Lord is kind and merciful. He created horses and mules for riding, paths to guide you, rain to drink and to nourish the plants, the sun, moon, night and day. He created the sea, mountains, stars to guide you. All of these are reminders to us, of Allah. He knows the things you say out loud and the things you keep to yourself. There is one God. He disapproves of arrogance. The Day of Resurrection will separate the believers from the disbelievers. The evil and arrogant will go to Hell. The angels will take up with them the believers who do well on earth. Those who go to Heaven will have whatever they wish and the angels will say “peace be upon you”. There is someone in every nation who spreads the word so all will have a chance to hear it. Those who submit to Allah will enjoy the Hereafter and all it has to offer. Those who choose evil, will be punished. Allah is all knowing and we are not. Do not question those he seems to favor. He will provide you with a mate and with children and grandchildren. He will give you good things. He gave us hearing, vision and hearts. He has given us homes as a place of rest. On the Day of Resurrection a witness of every nation (their prophet) will be resurrected. Allah knows what is best for you. You must only eat what Allah has provided which is lawful and good. You may not eat pork, blood, or animals that were killed not solely for food. If you have done wrong you may repent and correct yourself, for God is forgiving. Allah wants you to fear Him and do good.
Sura 2 – There is great punishment for those who disbelieve in Allah. You must worship your Lord to become righteous. Give good tidings to other believers and do good deeds. Allah gave you life and created the Heavens and the Earth. He informed Adam of all the names of his creations. He gave Adam a wife and Satan removed them from the paradise the Lord made for them. He orders us to pray and recite the scripture. He reminds the children of Israel of Moses and his teachings. Worship only Allah, do good, honor your parents and do not kill. Do not follow in Satan’s footsteps. Follow the instructions of Allah on how to live and worship. If you are a believer you will go to Heaven. Ramadhan is the month for fasting. It is laid down in the Qur’an as guidance for the Muslims. Do not transgress in your fights. You may only fight in the sacred month, unless it is an aggression committed against you in the sacred month. Fear Allah. Divorced women must remain in waiting for three menstrual cycles. During this time if their husbands want to reconcile, they may. Mothers may breastfeed for two years. If a woman is widowed she must wait four months and ten days before they may remarry. Be wise with your money and give to charities.
Sura 4 – If children are made orphans the male should have the same amount (money, etc.) as two females. If they are all women and there are more than two, they will split two-thirds of what he has left. If there is an only daughter, she will get half. If your wife leaves you will have half if there are no children. If there are children, you will get a fourth after debts have been paid off. When it comes to splitting up money among children, husbands and wives, we are reminded that we must be honest in our dealings because Allah is wise and all knowing. If a woman is accused of unlawful sexual conduct, then four people must come and testify against here. If she is guilty she must remain a prisoner is her home until death takes her. You do not marry your father’s wife and you do not marry your family members. Do not act harshly with women or inherit anything from them against their will.
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