Wisdom of the World's Religions

Los Angeles, CA June 18, 2004 -- The world's religions have produced many scriptures, writings and sayings over time, and now the wisdom of these teachings has been unleashed in Rodney Ohebsion's new book A Collection of Wisdom.

Here is a sampling:

JUDAISM & CHRISTIANITY

Discretion shall preserve you; understanding shall keep you. (Proverbs 2:11)

Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. (Proverbs 4:23)
   
The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way, but the folly of fools is (self) deceit. (Proverbs 14:8)

He that has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down and without walls. (Proverbs 25:28)

CHRISTIANITY

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works· (Matthew 5:16)

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you÷for everyone that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8)

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:26)

·Take heed, and beware of covetousness; for a man's life does not consist of the abundance of the things that he possesses. (Luke 12:15)

ISLAM

·If you patiently persevere and guard against evil, it will be a determining factor of affairs. (Quran 3:186)

And so I call witness by the sunset's glow,
And by the night and all that it drives on,
And by the moon when it becomes full,
That you shall surely travel from one stage to another.
(Quran 84:16-19)

The most ignorant one is he who does not learn from the world's changes. The richest one is he who is not trapped by greed. (Saying based on Hadith)

The truly learned are those who apply what they know. (Saying based on Hadith)

SUFISM

Grasp the moment; you can't power a mill with water that has already passed by. (Saying)

All wisdom can be expressed in two phrases: What is done for you÷allow it to be done. What you must do yourself÷make sure you do it. (Khawwas)

The satiated man and the hungry man do not see the same thing when they look at a loaf of bread. (Jalal Al-Din Rumi)

No one should allow his mind to be a vehicle for others to use; he who does not direct his own mind lacks mastery. (Hazrat Inayat Khan)

HINDUISM

·(The mind is) difficult to control, but it can be conquered· through regular practice. (Bhagavad Gita)

You should keep your mind pure, for what a person thinks, he becomes÷this is the eternal mystery· When the mind is silent· you can transcend the mind. (Maitri Upanishad)

The miserable tend to constantly notice other people's faults, even if they are as small as a mustard seed; and continuously shut their eyes against their own faults, even if they are as large as a vilva fruit. (Garuda Purana)

JAINISM

·Some, though instructed, have no good conduct. Let that not be your case! (Akaranga Sutra)

In the case of obtaining anything in excess, one should not hoard it. (Akaranga Sutra)

Even if a man overcomes thousands of powerful foes, it is even better if he conquers only himself. (Uttaradhyayana Sutra)

It is difficult to conquer oneself÷but when that is conquered, everything is conquered. (Uttaradhyayana Sutra)

SIKHISM

By conquering my mind, I have conquered the whole world. (Sri Guru Granth Sahib)

Where speech will not succeed, it is better to be silent. (Sri Guru Granth Sahib)

Let understanding be the anvil, and spiritual wisdom the tools. (Sri Guru Granth Sahib)

ZOROASTRIANISM

Doing good to others is not a duty÷it is a joy, for it increases your own health and happiness. (Avesta)

Make your own self pure· (Every person) can win purity for himself by cleansing his heart with good thoughts, good words, and good deeds. (Avesta)

In this world· may peace triumph over discord. (Avesta)

SHINTO

With makoto (sincerity), there is virtue. (Saying)

Admitting a fault is the beginning of righteousness. (Saying)

The world is one great family. (Saying)

BAHA'I

It is not for him to pride himself who loves his own country, but rather for him who loves the whole world. The Earth is but one country, and mankind is its citizens. (Baha'u'llah)
   
The true seeker must, before anything else, cleanse his heart. (Baha'u'llah)

Strive to be shining examples for all of mankind. (Baha'u'llah)

NATIVE AMERICAN RELIGIONS

Grown men can learn from very little children÷for the hearts of little children are pure. Therefore, the Great Spirit may show them many things that older people miss. (Black Elk)

There are plenty of different paths to a deep understanding of the universe. (Blackfoot Proverb)

Listen to nature's voice÷it contains treasures for you. (Huron Proverb)

My words are tied in one with the great mountains, with the great rocks, with the great trees, in one with my body and my heart. All of you see me, one with this world. (Yokuts Chant)

AFRICAN RELIGIONS

Le us be at peace, let people's souls be relaxed· Remove all evil from our path. (Nuer Prayer)

The sun shines and directs its hot ray to us; the moon rises in its glory. (Yoruba Chant)

The universe is sacred. (Saying)

If you wait for tomorrow, tomorrow comes. If you don't wait for tomorrow, tomorrow comes. (Senegal Proverb)
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These and many other teachings of the world's religions are contained in A Collection of Wisdom. The book also covers dozens of other topics, including Aesop's Fables, African Folktales, world proverbs, and more. A Collection of Wisdom is available for purchase at www.immediex.com




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