The Elementary Rules of Friendship. {240.}

The Elementary Rules of Friendship. {240.}
****

“The rule of friendship means
there should be
mutual sympathy between them,
each supplying what the other lacks
and trying to benefit the other,
always using friendly and sincere words.”

---- Gautama Buddha.
****

Be Wary of Excessive Attachments. {233.}

Be Wary of Excessive Attachments. {233.}
****

“You only lose what you cling to.”

---- Gautama Buddha.
****

Perception Lends Reality to Objects. {219.}

Perception Lends Reality to Objects. {219.}
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“Objects have no reality in themselves
but are only seen of the mind and, therefore,
are of the nature of Maya and a dream.”

---- Gautama Buddha.
****

Live Rightly, Face Death Calmly. {205.}

Live Rightly, Face Death Calmly. {205.}
****

“Even death is not to be feared by one who has lived wisely.”

---- Gautama Buddha.
****

Tongue is a Powerful Weapon. {198.}

Tongue is a Powerful Weapon. {198.}
****

“The tongue like a sharp knife ... kills without drawing blood.”

---- Gautama Buddha.
****

If You Want Real Peace .... {191.}

If You Want Real Peace .... {191.}
****

“Peace comes from within.
Do not seek it without.”

---- Gautama Buddha.
****

The Path to True Conquest. {170.}

The Path to True Conquest. {170.}
****

“Conquer the angry man by love.
Conquer the ill-natured man by goodness.
Conquer the miser with generosity.
Conquer the liar with truth.

---- Gautama Buddha; Dhammapada.
****

Feel Goodwill towards All Life. {163.}

Feel Goodwill towards All Life. {163.}
****

“May I and all beings
be filled with loving kindness.
May I and all beings
be safe from inner and outer dangers.
May I and all beings
be well in body and mind.
May I and all beings
be happy and free.
May all beings find a path to peace.”

---- Gautama Buddha.
****

Greatness in Various Contexts Defined. {156.}

Greatness in Various Contexts Defined. {156.}
****

“The greatest achievement is selflessness.
The greatest worth is self-mastery.
The greatest quality is seeking to serve others.
The greatest precept is continual awareness.
The greatest medicine is the emptiness of everything.
The greatest action is not conforming to the world’s ways.
The greatest magic is transmuting the passions.
The greatest generosity is non-attachment.
The greatest goodness is a peaceful mind.
The greatest patience is humility.
The greatest effort is not concerned with results.
The greatest meditation is a mind that lets go.
The greatest wisdom is seeing through appearances."

---- Gautama Buddha; The Dhammapada.
****

Life’s Too Short for Quarreling. {149.}

Life’s Too Short for Quarreling. {149.}
****

“Knowing life is short,
how can we quarrel?”

---- Gautama Buddha.
****

Flow and Overflow with Love. {142.}

Flow and Overflow with Love. {142.}
****

“Let your love flow outward through the universe,
To its height, its depth, its broad extent,
A limitless love, without hatred or enmity.
Then as you stand or walk,
Sit or lie down,
As long as you are awake,
Strive for this with a one-pointed mind;
Your life will bring heaven to earth.”

---- Gautama Buddha; The Sutta Nipata.
****

Materialism: Its Purposes and Uses. {141.}

Materialism: Its Purposes and Uses. {141.}
****

Satsangis have been enjoined to aim for and remain satisfied with merely a moderate degree of worldly success. Why is this so? What does the above injunction really mean, in practical terms?

There is, of course, no end to human desires. As the Buddha had very rightly described as his first Great Truth, desires are at the root of all human suffering. Hence, being extremely selective in one’s desires makes eminent sense, both practical and spiritual.

Moreover, globalization and consumerism subject the lay person to a virtual barrage of material products that are desirable and apparently necessary for one’s living. Under such circumstances, it is rather tempting for one to succumb to the craze for more & more material possessions.

This would naturally entail a greater focus on & efforts expended in amassing wealth. Not for nothing had the holy Bible also asserted that “The love of money is the root of all evil.”

So, if Satsangis were to recklessly seek money by hook or by crook, & determinedly rival others in the possession of worldly success & material possessions, then they would forget their real goal in life: that of ensuring their salvation.

Life in human form is precious, not because of the consumerist goods that we can buy while alive, but because it offers one the chance to mystically secure one's eternal seat in the loftiest paradise of Radhasoami Dham.

However, Satsangis are also mandated to live by one’s honest efforts, and not to have any loans pending against others. Thus, financial independence & integrity are central to the Satsangi lifestyle.

Further, various studies conducted around the world suggest that if a person’s material needs have been well taken care of, the person becomes naturally drawn towards religion & spirituality.

It is also an obvious truism that even the performance of one’s devotions and services by an individual requires money.

Besides, the spread and establishment of a new religion in the whole world will naturally entail finances of a mind-boggling order.

Hence, Satsangis should responsibly draw the line rightly on how to earn enough money for a comfortable & dignified living that enables one an adequate performance of their religious duties & aspirations, while taking care not to get caught up in the senseless vortex of naked pursuit of wealth or the acquisition of material possessions.
****

Note: This is drawn from & inspired by the scriptures, practices & teachings pertaining to the Radhasoami religion of Dayalbagh.

The Buddha's Very Last Words. {135.}

The Buddha's Very Last Words. {135.}
****

“Work out your own salvation with diligence.”

---- Gautama Buddha’s very last words,
contained in the Mahaparinibbana Sutta.
****

No Such Thing as “Try”. {128.}

No Such Thing as “Try”. {128.}
****

“Do, or do not. There is no ‘try’.”

---- Gautama Buddha.
****

Radhasoami: The Universal Salvation Religion. {127.}

Radhasoami: The Universal Salvation Religion. {127.}
****

Religions have traditionally been identified with truths & worldviews that exclude certain sections of humanity out from the possibility of Grace. To a great extent, this is logical & inevitable. For instance, how can Nirvana possibly be gifted by the Buddha to a person who has not practiced Buddhist meditation at all?

However, the end result of such partial groupings has been the segregation of humanity into several blocks, the one rather – or, intensely -- suspicious of & hostile to the others. At the end of the day, this leads to violence, terrorism & wars.

The Radhasoami religion’s unique glory lies in the fact that its declared purpose is the salvation of not just all humans but even all living beings {including animals} in this world-system.

Eventually, the Radhasoami religion of Dayalbagh will unite humanity with love & Grace, & usher in lasting peace here. The ideal of humanity living peacefully as a single huge family under the Reign of the Supreme Godhead will finally be realized.
****

Note: This is drawn from & inspired by the scriptures, practices & teachings pertaining to the Radhasoami religion of Dayalbagh.

Happiness Increases by Sharing It. {121.}

Happiness Increases by Sharing It. {121.}
****

“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle,
and the life of the candle will not be shortened.
Happiness never decreases by being shared.”

---- Gautama Buddha.
****

Knowledge Results from Ceaseless Zeal. {114.}

Knowledge Results from Ceaseless Zeal. {114.}
****

“Through zeal, knowledge is gotten,
through lack of zeal, knowledge is lost;
let a man who knows the double path of gain and loss
thus place himself that knowledge may grow.”

---- Gautama Buddha.
****

Beware of These Base Impulses. {107.}

Beware of These Base Impulses. {107.}
****

“There is no fire like passion,
there is no shark like hatred,
there is no snare like folly,
there is no torrent like greed.”

---- Gautama Buddha.
****

Be Open, Expansive and Inclusive. {100.}

Be Open, Expansive and Inclusive. {100.}
****

“Let yourself be open and life will be easier.
A spoon of salt in a glass of water
makes the water undrinkable.
A spoon of salt in a lake is almost unnoticed.”

---- Gautama Buddha.
****

Love Always Prevails over Hatred. {93.}

Love Always Prevails over Hatred. {93.}
****

“Hatred does not cease by hatred,
but only by love;
this is the eternal rule.”

---- Gautama Buddha.
****