Religion

So unfailingly are the minds of men dominated by the tyranny of the institution that even to quote the inspired utterance of Hebrew or Hindu has become somewhat inexpedient to whomsoever essays to speak independently of truth; inexpedient lest he shall be thought to commit himself to some particular and…

Jesus Christ was undoubtedly the very last sort of Messiah that the Jews expected. Christian theologians say confidently that the characters of humility, obscureness, and depression, were commonly attributed to the Jewish Messiah; and even Bishop Butler, in general the most severely exact of writers, gives countenance to this error.…

Krishna.Now will I open unto thee—whose heartRejects not—that last lore, deepest-concealed,That farthest secret of My Heavens and Earths,Which but to know shall set thee free from ills,—A royal lore! a Kingly mystery!Yea! for the soul such light as purgeth itFrom every sin; a light of holinessWith inmost splendour shining; plain…

The Sanskrit word for religion is profoundly suggestive. It comes from a root which means to hold, to keep. Religion is that which holds. The Rishi who coined this word must have been one of deep insight. He saw that there is something in the world—some Power, Principle, Person, or…

Arjuna.Now would I hear, O gracious Kesava!Of Life which seems, and Soul beyond, which sees,And what it is we know-or think to know. Krishna.Yea! Son of Kunti! for this flesh ye seeIs Kshetra, is the field where Life disports;And that which views and knows it is the Soul,Kshetrajna. In all…

As this topic is somewhat unconventional, the author may be pardoned for a few preliminaries that are somewhat personal and explanatory. He has no professional interest along this line, his position being that of an independent investigator and seeker for truth. He does not appear as the advocate of any…

Krishna.Yet farther will I open unto theeThis wisdom of all wisdoms, uttermost,The which possessing, all My saints have passedTo perfectness. On such high veritiesReliant, rising into fellowshipWith Me, they are not born again at birthOf Kalpas, nor at Pralyas suffer change! This Universe the womb is where I plantSeed of…

Krishna.This deathless Yoga, this deep union,I taught Vivaswata, the Lord of Light;Vivaswata to Manu gave it; heTo Ikshwaku; so passed it down the lineOf all my royal Rishis. Then, with years,The truth grew dim and perished, noble Prince!Now once again to thee it is declared—This ancient lore, this mystery supreme—Seeing…

Some will say, what then, after all, is your religion? And I will tell them, first and foremost, Duty—duty entering into every detail of one's existence—duty extending through each day alike, from Sunday morning to Sunday morning again—duty towards God and man, or, rather, that our duty towards man includes…

I have said elsewhere how much it has contributed to the misunderstanding of St. Paul, that terms like grace, new birth, justification,—which he used in a fluid and passing way, as men use terms in common discourse or in eloquence and poetry, to describe approximately, but only approximately, what they…

The world's huge heart is beating wildly, her being stirred as perhaps seldom before in her history. Vital questions demand a response, and attack her with merciless directness, deftness, and strength until she can no longer evade them. The one importunate which returns time after time, refusing to be comforted…

You can listen to Sir Edwin Arnold's book The Bhagavad-Gita using the player below. Click on the play button to listen online or you can download the files to your computer using the links in the download column for use on your iPod or other MP3 player. .mp3browser {width:100%} .mp3browser {border-bottom:1px…

You can listen to Ralph Waldo Trine's book In Tune With the Infinite using the player below. Click on the play button to listen online or you can download the files to your computer using the links in the download column for use on your iPod or other MP3 player.…

The wise manBy adding thought to thought and deed to deedIn ways of good, buildeth his character.Little by little he accomplishesHis noble ends; in quiet patience worksDiligently.Daily he builds into his heart and mindPure thoughts, high aspirations, selfless deeds.Until at last the edifice of TruthIs finished, and behold! there rises…

Arjuna.Lord! of the men who serve Thee—true in heart—As God revealed; and of the men who serve,Worshipping Thee Unrevealed, Unbodied, Far,Which take the better way of faith and life? Krishna.Whoever serve Me—as I show Myself—Constantly true, in full devotion fixed,Those hold I very holy. But who serve—Worshipping Me The One,…

He stood before the Sanhedrim;The scowling rabbis gazed at him;He recked not of their praise or blame;There was no fear, there was no shameFor one upon whose dazzled eyesThe whole world poured its vast surprise.The open heaven was far too near,His first day's light too sweet and clearTo let him…

Many people are under the impression that business and religion are best kept apart, but before making such a statement as this we should first ascertain what actual religion consists of. If we take all the various faiths and denominations throughout this country and sum them up, we find that…

Krishna.Learn now, dear Prince! how, if thy soul be setEver on Me—still exercising Yog,Still making Me thy Refuge—thou shalt comeMost surely unto perfect hold of Me.I will declare to thee that utmost lore,Whole and particular, which, when thou knowest,Leaveth no more to know here in this world. Of many thousand…

Krishna.Therefore, who doeth work rightful to do,Not seeking gain from work, that man, O Prince!Is Sanyasi and Yogi—both in oneAnd he is neither who lights not the flameOf sacrifice, nor setteth hand to task. Regard as true Renouncer him that makesWorship by work, for who renounceth notWorks not as Yogin.…

In these days, when theological creeds are waning and religious dogmatism has so largely spent its force, it would naturally appear liberal churches whose faith is simple, wholesome and attractive should be distinctively prosperous and aggressive. But, outwardly and numerically at least, such a consummation has not been realized. During…

Arjuna.Fain would I better know, Thou Glorious One!The very truth—Heart's Lord!—of Sannyas,Abstention; and enunciation, Lord!Tyaga; and what separates these twain! Krishna.The poets rightly teach that SannyasIs the foregoing of all acts which springOut of desire; and their wisest sayTyaga is renouncing fruit of acts. There be among the saints some…

In order to have any true or adequate understanding of what the real revelation and teachings of Jesus were, two things must be borne in mind. It is necessary in the first place, not only to have a knowledge of, but always to bear in mind the method, the medium…

What did our poet have to guide his feetAlong the path humanity must tread—What but the gleam "Eternal Goodness" shed—To make the here and there in love complete?He had "the inward light" we count so sweet,And by its inspiration was he led,With all of heaven to trust and naught to…

The great truth we are considering is the fundamental principle running through all religions. We find it in every one. In regard to it all agree. It is, moreover, a great truth in regard to which all people can agree, whether they belong to the same or to different religions.…

So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.—Rev 3:16 Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.—Eph 5:14 The reign of dogmatic, theological Christianity is passing away. It has had its day—probably,…

Krishna.Men call the Aswattha,—the Banyan-tree,—Which hath its boughs beneath, its roots above,—The ever-holy tree. Yea! for its leavesAre green and waving hymns which whisper Truth!Who knows the Aswattha, knows Veds, and all. Its branches shoot to heaven and sink to earth,Even as the deeds of men, which take their birthFrom…

To whatever page of the world's history we turn we are forcibly struck by that deep-rooted desire among thinking men and women, underlying all external differences of creed and opinion, to fathom those truths bearing directly on man's vital relation to the universe. If we trace this thread of truth…

Krishna.Hear farther yet, thou Long-Armed Lord! these latest words I say—Uttered to bring thee bliss and peace, who lovest Me alway—Not the great company of gods nor kingly Rishis knowMy Nature, Who have made the gods and Rishis long ago;He only knoweth-only he is free of sin, and wise,Who seeth…

Arjuna.Yet, Krishna! at the one time thou dost laudSurcease of works, and, at another time,Service through work. Of these twain plainly tellWhich is the better way? Krishna.To cease from worksIs well, and to do works in holinessIs well; and both conduct to bliss supreme;But of these twain the better way…

There was never so great a. thought laboring in the breasts of men as now. It almost seems as if what was afore-time spoken fabulously and hieroglyphically, was now spoken plainly, the doctrine, namely, of the indwelling of the Creator in man.What is the scholar, what is the man for,…

Arjuna.If men forsake the holy ordinance,Heedless of Shastras, yet keep faith at heartAnd worship, what shall be the state of those,Great Krishna! Sattwan, Rajas, Tamas? Say! Krishna.Threefold the faith is of mankind and springsFrom those three qualities,—becoming "true,"Or "passion-stained," or "dark," as thou shalt hear! The faith of each believer,…