Great Throughts Treasury

"Whatever you give to others, give with love and reverence. Gifts must be given in abundance, with joy, humility, and compassion."

"And even as a worker in gold, taking an old ornament, molds it into a form newer and fairer, even so the Soul, leaving the body and unwisdom behind, goes into a form newer and fairer: a form like that of the ancestors in heaven, or of the celestial beings, or of the gods of light, or of the Lord of Creation, or of Brahma the Creator supreme, or a form of other beings."

"As a man in the arms of the woman beloved feels only peace all around, even so the Soul in the embrace of Atman, the Spirit of vision feels only peace all around. All desires are attained, since the Spirit that is all has been attained, no desires are there, and there is no sorrow."

"All beings that exist on the earth are born of food. They live by food, then again to the food they go at the end."

"After having taught the Veda, the teacher instructs the pupil: "Say what is true! Do thy duty! Do not neglect the study of the Veda! After having brought to thy teacher his proper reward, do not cut off the line of children! Do not swerve from the truth! Do not swerve from duty! Do not neglect what is useful! Do not neglect greatness! Do not neglect the learning and teaching of the Veda!""

"Becoming one with Brahman, the Supreme Self, is the aim of life. Knowledge of Brahman alone is the means for attaining this end. It cannot be attained by rituals."

"Brahman is bliss. He who knows the bliss of Brahman fears not at any time."

"If your mind is troubled with any doubts as to what is right or wrong, follow the example of gentle and pious elders living in your neighborhood in regard to those matters. This is the rule and this the teaching."

"One must speak the truth and practice dharma. One must continue the study of the scriptures. Prosperity in both worldly and otherworldly affairs must be kept in mind. Mother, father, teacher and guest must be treated as God. Wealth must be given away in charity in proportion to one’s means and must be performed with humility and with a deep sense of service to humanity. In case of doubts with respect to any specific action or a code of conduct, one has to seek guidance from the learned and the wise. Elders should be followed only when they are themselves in the right."

"Bliss is a hundredfold greater that the satisfaction of a desire."

"Evil or sin cannot cross that bridge, because the world of the Spirit is pure. This is why when this bridge has been crossed, the eyes of the blind can see, the wounds of the wounded are healed, and the sick man becomes whole from his sickness."

"The Spirit of man has two dwellings: this world and the world beyond. There is also a third dwelling-place: the land of sleep and dreams. Resting in this borderland the Spirit of man can behold his dwelling in this world and in the other world afar, and wandering in this borderland he beholds behind him the sorrows of this world and in front of him he sees the joys of the beyond."

"There is a bridge between time and Eternity; and this bridge is Atman, the Spirit of man. Neither day nor night cross that bridge, nor old age, nor death nor sorrow."

"To one who goes over that bridge, the night becomes like unto day; because in the worlds of the Spirit there is a Light which is everlasting."

"When the body falls into weakness on account of old age or disease, even as a mango-fruit, or the fruit of the holy fig-tree, is loosened from its stem, so the Spirit of man is loosened from the human body and returns by the same way to Life, wherefrom he came."

"Words and mind go to him, but reach him not and return. But he who knows the joy of Bra, fears no more."

"Does any one who knows not, on deceasing, go to yonder world? Or is it that any one who knows, on deceasing, attains yonder world?"

"He who knows Brahma as the real (satya), as knowledge (j¤?na), as the infinite (ananta), set down in the secret place [of the heart], and in the highest heaven (parame vyoman), He obtains all desires, together with the intelligent (vipa?cit) Brahma."

"From food, verily, creatures are produced, whatsoever [creatures] dwell on the earth. Moreover by food, in truth, they live. Moreover into it also they finally pass. For truly, food is the chief of beings; therefore it is called a Panacea. Verily, they obtain all food. Who worship Brahma as food. For truly, food is the chief of beings; therefore it is called a Panacea. From food created things are born. By food, when born, do they grow up. It both is eaten and eats things. Because of that it is called food."

"He who knows Brahma as the real, as knowledge, as the infinite? he obtains all desires."

"Non-existent (a-sat) himself does one become, if he knows that Brahma is non-existent. If one knows that Brahma exists, such a one people thereby know as existent."

"The gods do breathe along with breath (pr??a), as also men and beasts. For truly, breath is the life (?yus) of beings. Therefore it is called the Life-of-all (sarv?yu?a). To a full life (sarvam ?yus) go they who worship Brahma as breath. For truly, breath is the life of beings; therefore it is called the Life-of-all."

"Through fear of Him the Wind (V?yu) doth blow. Through fear of Him the Sun (S?rya) doth rise. Through fear of Him both Agni (Fire) and Indra and Death (M?ityu) as fifth do speed along."

"In the beginning, verily, this [world] was non-existent. Therefrom, verily, Being (sat) was produced. That made itself (svayam akuruta) a Soul (?tman). Therefore it is called the well-done (su-k?ta)."

"Understanding directs the sacrifice; and deeds also it directs. ?Tis understanding that all the gods do worship as Brahma, as chief. If one knows Brahma as understanding, and if he is not heedless thereto, he leaves his sins (p?pman) in the body, and attains all desires."

"Wherefrom words turn back, together with the mind, not having attained?the bliss of Brahma he who knows, fears not from anything at all."