Religious Thought 136

Good people come to worship me for different reasons. Some come to the spiritual life because of suffering, some in order to understand life; some come through a desire to achieve life's purpose, and some come who are men and women of wisdom. Unwavering in devotion, always united with me, the man or woman of wisdom surpasses all the others. To them I am the dearest beloved, and they are very dear to me. All those who follow the spiritual path are blessed. But the wise who are always established in union, for whom there is no higher goal than me, may be regarded as my very Self.

- Bhagavad Gita 7:16-18

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The mind is something more radiant than anything else can be, but because counterfeits--passing defilements--come and obscure it, it loses its radiance, like the sun when obscured by clouds. Don't go thinking that the sun goes after the clouds. Instead, the clouds come drifting along and obscure the sun.

- Ajaan Mun, "Heart Released"

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All Muslims, pious or not, are bidden to listen to the recitation of the Qur'an. As God says, "When the Qur'an is recited, listen to it and be silent so that you might attain mercy."

- Al-Hujwiri, "The Kashf al-Mahjub"

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Remember your ultimate purpose, and when you set yourself to your days work or approaching any activity in the world, let HOLINESS TO THE LORD the written upon your hearts in all that you do.

- Richard Baxter

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A man without comrades is like the left without the right.

- Solomon Ibn Gabirol, "Mibhar HaPeninim"

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