Inter-  Faiths  Dialogue

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T he person who listens to Christ fills himself with light; and if he imitates Christ, he reclaims himself.


quote 3408  | 
St. Thalassios, in On Love, Self-control and Life in accordance with the Intellect: ("Philokalia (Vol. 2)", p. 321) 




W hen in fear, trembling and unworthiness we are yet permited to receive the divine, undefiled Mysteries of Christ, our King and Lord, we should then display even greater watchfulness, strictness and guard over our hearts, so that the divine fire, the body of our Lord Jesus Christ, may consume our sins and stains, great and small. For when that fire enters into us, it at once drives the evil spirits from our heart and remits the sins we have previously committed, leaving the intellect free from the turbulence of wicked thoughts. And if after this, standing at the entrance to our heart, we keep strict watch over the intellect, when we are again permitted to receive those Mysteries the divine body will illumine our intellect still more and make it shine like a star.


quote 3406  | 
On Watchfulness and Holiness: ("Philokalia (Vol. 1)", p. 179, text 101) 




W hen you are praying, do not shape within yourself any image of the Deity, and do not let your intellect be stamped with the impress of any form; but approach the Immaterial in an immaterial manner, and then you will understand.


quote 3387  | 
On Prayer: ("Philokalia (Vol. 1)", p. 63, text 67) 




F or God is silence, and in silence is he sung by means of that psalmody which is worthy of Him. I am not speaking of the silence of the tongue, for if someone merely keeps his tongue silent, without knowing how to sing in mind and spirit, then he is simply unoccupied and becomes filled with evil thoughts: … There is a silence of the tongue, there is a silence of the whole body, there is a silence of the soul, there is the silence of the mind, and there is the silence of the spirit.


quote 3359  |   Desert Fathers
John the Solitary in The Syrian Fathers on Prayer and the Spiritual Life" (Cistercian Studies 101; Kalama-zoo 1987). [Malayalam adaptation by G.Chediath, 1990; Persian tr.Tehran 1997(-); French translation of Introduction and selections by M.Moubarakah and J. Obeid, in Parole de l'Orient 26 (2001), 201-266; complete French translation forthcoming]. 




T he true monk should have prayer and psalmody continually in his heart.


quote 3349  |   Desert Fathers
Epiphanius, Bishop of Cyprus: The sayings of the Desert Fathers : the alphabetical collection. Trans. Benedicta Ward, SLG. Kalamazoo, Michigan: Cistercian Publications Inc., 1984, 1975, p. 57, Epiphanus 3 




W atching means to sit in the cell and be always mindful of God. This is what is meant by, "I was on the watch and God came to me."


quote 3346  |   Desert Fathers
Abba John the Dwarf: The sayings of the Desert Fathers : the alphabetical collection. Trans. Benedicta Ward, SLG. Kalamazoo, Michigan: Cistercian Publications Inc., 1984, 1975, p. 91, John the Dwarf 27 

{see Mt. 25:36; and Lk. 12:37-40}




I swear that ever since the first day You brought me back to life,
The day You became my Friend,
I have not slept --
And even if You drive me from your door,
I swear again that we will never be separated--
Because You are alive in my heart.


quote 3292  | 
Doorkeeper of the heart : versions of Rabia. Trans. Charles Upton. Putney, Vt.: Threshold Books, 1988, p. 51 




G od has stolen my [illusory] "I" from me and has broght me near to my [real] "I" … The colors have returned ot the pure primoridal white. The voyage has reached its end and everything other than Him has ceased to exist. All attribution, every aspect and all relation being abolished, the original state is re-established.


quote 3268  | 
Kitab al-Mawaqif 7, p. 29,in The Spiritual Writings of 'Abd al-Kader. Albany, N.Y.: State University of New York Press, 1995 




T o find a buddha all you have to do is see your nature. Your nature is the buddha. And the buddha is the person who's free: free of plans, free of cares. If you don't see your nature and run around all day looking somewhere else, you'll never find a buddha. The truth is, there's nothing to find. But to reach such an understanding you need a teacher and you need to struggle to make yourself understand…

If you don't find a teacher soon, you'll live this life in vain. It's true, you have the buddha-nature. But without the help of a teacher you'll never know it. Only one person in a million becomes enlightened without a teacher's help.

If, though, by the conjunction of conditions, someone understands what the Buddha meant, that person doesn't need a teacher. Such a person has a natural awareness superior to anything taught. But unless you're so blessed, study hard, and by means of instruction you'll understand.


quote 3253  | 
The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma. Trans. Red Pine. New York: North Point Press, 1987, pp. 13-15 




T he true saguna or body of the Lord is the universe itself, in which He is immanent. And by His power He is causing, in this manifestation, birth, growth, and dissolution of all beings and things. He is also transcendent as pure spirit. Your body is one of His expressions. Your activity has its inception in the infinite power of God. Don't be deluded by a desire to behold things which are conditioned and momentary-mere phantoms of your mind. Have the true longing to realize your immortal nature and your union with the omnipotent and omnipresent God, who is the supreme Lord of the universe. Purify your mind and heart by proper discipline and entitle yourself to this glorious vision, and attain perfect freedom and eternal bliss


quote 3166  | 
In the Vision of God, Volume 1, by Swami Ramdas, pp 251-252 




I n this world of many he who sees the One, in this ever-changing world, he who sees Him who never changes, as the Soul of his own soul, as his own Self - he is free, he is blessed, he has reached the goal.

Therefore know that thou art He; thou art the God of this universe - tat tvam asi - (thou art That).

All these various ideas that I am a man or a woman, or sick or healthy, or strong or weak, or that I hate or I love, or have a little power, are but hallucinations. Away with them! What makes you weak? What makes you fear? You are the One Being in the universe. What frightens you?

Stand up then and be free. Know that every thought and word that weakens you in this world is the only evil that exists. Whatever makes men weak and fear is the only evil that should be shunned. What can frighten you?

If the suns come down, and the moons crumble into dust, and systems after systems are hurled into annihilation, what is that to you? Stand as a rock; you are indestructible. You are the Self, the God of the universe. Say: "I am Existence Absolute, Bliss Absolute, Knowledge Absolute, I am He." And like a lion breaking its cage, break your chain and be free for ever. What frightens you, what holds you down? Only ignorance and delusion; nothing else can bind you.


quote 3156  | 
excerpt from Jnana-Yoga, Immortality, Swami Vivekananda, pg 164 




A ll that is left
to us by tradition
is mere words.

It is up to us
to find out what they mean.


quote 3150  | 
Tarjuman al-Ashwaq, in The Mystics of Islam, translated by Reynold A Nicholson 




O Marvel! A garden amidst the flames.
My heart has become capable of every form:
it is a pasture for gazelles and a convent for Christian monks,
and a temple for idols and the pilgrim's Kaa'ba,
and the tables of the Torah and the book of the Quran.
I follow the religion of Love: whatever way Love's camels take,
that is my religion and my faith.


quote 3149  | 
Tarjuman al-Ashwaq, in The Mystics of Islam, translated by Reynold A Nicholson 




T he deeper your involvement here,
the harsher your pain and suffering.


quote 3130  | 




T he Saint becomes so unified with God, that it is impossible to distinguish between God and Saint.
Embrace meets embrace.
Body is unified with body.
Words mix with words.
Eyes meet with eyes.

I have girded up my loins, and found a way to cross the ocean of life.
Come here, come here, great and small, women and men.
Take no thought; have no anxiety.
I shall carry all of you to the other shore.
A come as the sole bearer of the stamp of God
to carry you over with His Name.


quote 3107  | 
Ranade, R. D. Mysticism in India. Albany, NY. SUMY Press, 1983, pp. 303, 312, 320, 339, 349. 




I f we were willing to make even small efforts, we would not suffer either much distress or difficulty. For if a man urges himself to make efforts, then, as he continues them, he gradually makes progress and later practices virtues with tranquillity; for God, seeing him urge himself, sends him help. So let us urge ourselves, for, although we have not reached perfection, if we make efforts, through efforts we shall receive help, and with this help shall acquire all kinds of virtues. Therefore one of the fathers said, "Give blood and receive spirit," that is, strive earnestly and you will become perfect.


quote 3076  | 
Kadloubovsky, E., and Palmer G. E. H., trans. Early Fathers from the Philokalia. London: Faber and Faber Limited, 1954, pp. 109,157-158, 161, 166,170 




I n a word,
Never let go on these three things:
Faith, hope and love.
And know that the greatest of these
Will always be love


quote 3074  | 
I Corinthians 13:1-13 




I n the market, in the cloister-only God I saw. In the valley and on the mountain-only God I saw. Him I have seen beside me oft in tribulation; In favour and in fortune-only God I saw. In prayer and in fasting, in praise and contemplation, In the religion of the Prophet-only God I saw. Neither soul nor body, accident nor substance, Qualities nor causes-only God I saw. Opened mine eyes and by the light of His face around me In all the eye discovered-only God I saw. Like a candle I was melting in his fire; Amidst the flames outflashing-only God I saw. Myself with mine own eyes I saw most clearly, But when I looked with God's eyes-only God I saw. I passed away into nothingness, I vanished, And so, I was the All-living-only God I saw.


quote 3072  | 
Nicholson, Reynold, trans. Translations of Eastern Poetry and Prose. New York: Greenwood Press, 1969, p. 101. 




O dear one, listen! I am the reality of the world, the center of the circle. I am the parts and the whole. I am the will holding Heaven and Earth in place. I have given you sight only so you may see me.

0 dear one! I call again and again but you do not hear me, I appear again and again but you do not see me, I fill myself with fragrance, again and again, but you do not smell me. I become savory food yet you do not taste me. Why can't you reach me through your touch Or breathe me in through your sweet perfumes?

Love me, Love yourself in me. No one is deeper within you than I. Others may love you for their own sake, But I love you for yourself.

Dear one! This bargain is not fair. If you take one step toward me, It is only because I have taken a hundred toward you. I am closer to you than yourself. Closer than your soul, than your own breath. Why do you not see me? Why do you not hear me? I am so jealous. I want you to see me-and no one else. To hear me-and no one else, not even yourself

Dear one! Come with me. Let us go to Paradise together. And if we find any road that leads to separation, We will destroy that road. Let us go hand in hand In the presence of Love. Let it be our witness, Let it forever seal this wondrous union of ours.


quote 3058  | 
Manheim, Ralph, trans. Creative Imagination in the Sufism of Ibn 'Arabi. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1969, pp. 174-175. 




C ome, come, whoever you are,
wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving, it doesn't matter
Ours is not a caravan of despair, but one of endless joy.
Even if you have broken your vows a hundred times-
Come, come, yet again, come!


quote 3048  | 
Star, Jonathan, and Shiva, Shahram, trans. A Garden Beyond Paradise. New York: Bantam Books, 1992 




S he (Sophia) is an inexhaustible treasure for mankind;
She blesses the world with Supreme wisdom, and allows all people to realize their unity with God.

She is the Supreme Spirit:
All-knowing and sacred;
One, yet pervading many, subtle, ever-free, lucid, stainless, clear, and invincible.
She is the love of goodness, ever-ready, unobstructed, beneficent, kindly toward all, steadfast, unerring, and untouched by care.
She is all-powerful, the witness of all, and found in those who are wise, pure-hearted, and humble.

Sophia moves more easily than motion itself;
By reason of Her purity She permeates all things.
She is like a fine mist rising from the power of God,
The divine radiance streaming from the glory of the Almighty.
Nothing can stain Her immaculate purity.
She is the shimmering glow of everlasting Light,
The flawless mirror of God's Power on earth,
The supreme image of all good things.

Though one, She becomes everything;
from within herself, by
Her own power, makes all things new.

Age after age She enters into holy souls, making them perfect, and leading them back to God.
For God only accepts those who have made their home with Sophia.
She is fairer than the sun, and greater than every constellation.

She is more radiant than the light of day
for day is overcome by night, but against Sophia no darkness can prevail.


quote 3032  | 
Chapter 7 




T hough I am small and of little account,
I always repeat your Name,
I always remember your Truth,
I always fill myself with your eternal love.
0 Lord, what else can you give?
You have given me the truth of the universe, you have given me my very breath.


quote 3028  | 
119 




O Lord, I know that every hardship along the way allows me to grow in your love.
May I find delight in all you offer.
May I comfort all those who turn in my direction.
May my joy be complete and your Name forever on my lips.


quote 3026  | 
119 




O ur original Buddha-Nature is, in highest truth, devoid of any trace of objectivity. It is void, omnipresent, silent, pure; it is glorious and mysterious peaceful joy-and that is all. Enter deeply in it by awakening to it yourself. That which is before you is it, in all its fullness, utterly complete. There is naught besides. Even if you go through all the stages of a Bodhisattva's progress toward Buddhahood, one by one, when at last, in a single flash, you attain to full realization, you will only be realizing the Buddha-Nature that has been with you all the time; and by all the foregoing stages you will have added to it nothing at all. You will come to look upon those aeons of work and achievement as no better than unreal actions performed in a dream. That is why the Tathagata [the Buddha] said: I truly attained nothing from complete, unexcelled Enlightenment.


quote 3023  | 
Blofeld John, trans. The Zen Teachings of Huang Po, New York: Grove Press, 1958, p131. 




I magine a child sleeping next to its parents and dreaming it is being beaten or is painfully sick. The parents cannot help the child no matter how much it suffers … If the child could awaken itself, it could be freed of this suffering automatically. In the same way, one who realizes that his own Mind is Buddha frees himself instantly from sufferings arising from the ceaseless change of birth and death. If a Buddha could prevent it, do you think he would allow even one sentient being to fall into hell?

What is obstructing realization? Nothing but your own half-hearted desire for truth. Think of this and exert yourself to the utmost.


quote 3021  | 
Kapleau, Philip. The Three Pillars of Zen. Boston: Beacon Press, 1965, PP. 160-161, 164, 169. 



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