While discussing concepts of holistic development, a wise friend in Iran reminded me of the importance of taking account of spiritual aspects to ensure authentic human advancement. Acknowledging that we have saints in our group ( such as Kul and Tom) and believers blessed with strong ethical principles, such as all of you, I felt like sharing the elevating feeling messages below endow me with strength. Bless your kind hearts. Baquer
Here is a comparison of noble messages on themes of peace, love, compassion, and tolerance drawn from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, Martin Luther King Jr.'s I Have a Dream, and teachings from Mahatma Gandhi, Moses, Prophet Muhammad, and Buddha:
1. Jesus (Sermon on the Mount)
Matthew 5-7 (Excerpt):
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."This passage ties love, tolerance, and peace into a broader vision of compassion that transcends human divisions.
Here is a comparison of noble messages on themes of peace, love, compassion, and tolerance drawn from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, Martin Luther King Jr.'s I Have a Dream, and teachings from Mahatma Gandhi, Moses, Prophet Muhammad, and Buddha:
1. Jesus (Sermon on the Mount)
Matthew 5-7 (Excerpt):
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."This passage ties love, tolerance, and peace into a broader vision of compassion that transcends human divisions.
2. Martin Luther King Jr. (I Have a Dream)
"I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood."This passage is a powerful synthesis of peace, love, and tolerance as foundational for a just society.
"I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood."This passage is a powerful synthesis of peace, love, and tolerance as foundational for a just society.
3. Mahatma Gandhi (Speech on Nonviolence, 1931)
"Nonviolence is not a garment to be put on and off at will. Its seat is in the heart, and it must be an inseparable part of our very being. I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent. I believe that love and truth are the two most powerful forces in the world, and they must prevail. Love is the basis of tolerance, and truth is the basis of justice. Without them, peace is an illusion."Gandhi's words unify nonviolence, love, and tolerance as tools for enduring peace.
"Nonviolence is not a garment to be put on and off at will. Its seat is in the heart, and it must be an inseparable part of our very being. I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent. I believe that love and truth are the two most powerful forces in the world, and they must prevail. Love is the basis of tolerance, and truth is the basis of justice. Without them, peace is an illusion."Gandhi's words unify nonviolence, love, and tolerance as tools for enduring peace.
4. Moses (The Ten Commandments and Associated Teachings)
"And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8, reflecting Mosaic tradition)
"You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord." (Leviticus 19:18)These foundational teachings emphasize justice, mercy, love, and humility as principles for societal and spiritual harmony.
"And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8, reflecting Mosaic tradition)
"You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord." (Leviticus 19:18)These foundational teachings emphasize justice, mercy, love, and humility as principles for societal and spiritual harmony.
5. Prophet Muhammad (The Farewell Sermon)
"O People, your Lord is One and your father is one. All of you are from Adam, and Adam was created from dust. An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor does a non-Arab have superiority over an Arab; a white person has no superiority over a black person, nor does a black person have superiority over a white person, except by piety and good action. Remember, no one has the right to harm another. Let those who are present convey this message to those who are absent. You will neither inflict nor suffer any injustice."This declaration from Prophet Muhammad promotes equality, tolerance, and peace as divine principles.
"O People, your Lord is One and your father is one. All of you are from Adam, and Adam was created from dust. An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor does a non-Arab have superiority over an Arab; a white person has no superiority over a black person, nor does a black person have superiority over a white person, except by piety and good action. Remember, no one has the right to harm another. Let those who are present convey this message to those who are absent. You will neither inflict nor suffer any injustice."This declaration from Prophet Muhammad promotes equality, tolerance, and peace as divine principles.
6. Buddha (The Metta Sutta, The Discourse on Loving-Kindness)
"Let none through anger or ill will wish harm upon another. Even as a mother protects with her life her child, her only child, so with a boundless heart should one cherish all living beings; radiating kindness over the entire world, spreading upwards to the skies and downwards to the depths; outward and unbounded, freed from hatred and ill will. Whether standing, walking, seated, or lying down, as long as one is awake, one should develop this mindfulness. This is called divine abiding here."The Metta Sutta exemplifies universal compassion and peace as central to human existence.
1. Peace
Jesus (Sermon on the Mount):"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God." (Matthew 5:9)
Martin Luther King Jr. (I Have a Dream):"We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence."
Mahatma Gandhi:"An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind."
Gandhi advocated for Ahimsa (nonviolence) as the ultimate path to peace.
Moses (Judaism):Moses' leadership emphasized the Law, including the pursuit of justice and peace, as in:"Seek peace and pursue it." (Psalms 34:14, traditionally associated with Mosaic ideals)
Prophet Muhammad (Islam):"The servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth humbly, and when the ignorant address them harshly, they say, 'Peace.'" (Qur'an 25:63)
"Do not kill a soul which Allah has made sacred except by right." (Qur'an 17:33)
Buddha:"Better than a thousand hollow words is one word that brings peace."
The Buddha's Noble Eightfold Path promotes Right Action and Right Speech as paths to peace.
"Let none through anger or ill will wish harm upon another. Even as a mother protects with her life her child, her only child, so with a boundless heart should one cherish all living beings; radiating kindness over the entire world, spreading upwards to the skies and downwards to the depths; outward and unbounded, freed from hatred and ill will. Whether standing, walking, seated, or lying down, as long as one is awake, one should develop this mindfulness. This is called divine abiding here."The Metta Sutta exemplifies universal compassion and peace as central to human existence.
1. Peace
Jesus (Sermon on the Mount):"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God." (Matthew 5:9)
Martin Luther King Jr. (I Have a Dream):"We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence."
Mahatma Gandhi:"An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind."
Gandhi advocated for Ahimsa (nonviolence) as the ultimate path to peace.
Moses (Judaism):Moses' leadership emphasized the Law, including the pursuit of justice and peace, as in:"Seek peace and pursue it." (Psalms 34:14, traditionally associated with Mosaic ideals)
Prophet Muhammad (Islam):"The servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth humbly, and when the ignorant address them harshly, they say, 'Peace.'" (Qur'an 25:63)
"Do not kill a soul which Allah has made sacred except by right." (Qur'an 17:33)
Buddha:"Better than a thousand hollow words is one word that brings peace."
The Buddha's Noble Eightfold Path promotes Right Action and Right Speech as paths to peace.
2. Love and Compassion
Jesus (Sermon on the Mount):"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." (Matthew 5:44)
"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy." (Matthew 5:7)
Martin Luther King Jr.:"I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear."
His call for civil rights was rooted in love and compassion for all people.
Mahatma Gandhi:"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."
Gandhi emphasized universal love, even for one's oppressors.
Jesus (Sermon on the Mount):"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." (Matthew 5:44)
"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy." (Matthew 5:7)
Martin Luther King Jr.:"I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear."
His call for civil rights was rooted in love and compassion for all people.
Mahatma Gandhi:"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."
Gandhi emphasized universal love, even for one's oppressors.
Moses:"Love your neighbor as yourself." (Leviticus 19:18)
Mosaic law encourages kindness and fairness toward others.
Prophet Muhammad:"You will not believe until you love for your brother what you love for yourself." (Sahih Bukhari)
Mosaic law encourages kindness and fairness toward others.
Prophet Muhammad:"You will not believe until you love for your brother what you love for yourself." (Sahih Bukhari)
"The merciful will be shown mercy by the Most Merciful. Be merciful to those on the earth, and the One above the heavens will have mercy upon you." (Hadith, Tirmidhi)
Buddha:"Radiate boundless love towards the entire world."
Compassion (Karuna) is a central tenet in Buddhism, urging followers to alleviate the suffering of others.
Buddha:"Radiate boundless love towards the entire world."
Compassion (Karuna) is a central tenet in Buddhism, urging followers to alleviate the suffering of others.
3. Tolerance
Jesus (Sermon on the Mount):"Do not judge, or you too will be judged." (Matthew 7:1)
"If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also." (Matthew 5:39)
Martin Luther King Jr.:"Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred."
King's vision of equality included tolerance and understanding among diverse communities.
Mahatma Gandhi:"Intolerance betrays want of faith in one's cause."
Gandhi urged interfaith harmony and respect for differing beliefs.
Moses:"The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself." (Leviticus 19:34)
Jesus (Sermon on the Mount):"Do not judge, or you too will be judged." (Matthew 7:1)
"If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also." (Matthew 5:39)
Martin Luther King Jr.:"Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred."
King's vision of equality included tolerance and understanding among diverse communities.
Mahatma Gandhi:"Intolerance betrays want of faith in one's cause."
Gandhi urged interfaith harmony and respect for differing beliefs.
Moses:"The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself." (Leviticus 19:34)
Mosaic law commands compassion and fairness to foreigners and outsiders.
Prophet Muhammad:"There is no compulsion in religion." (Qur'an 2:256)
"The strong person is not the one who overcomes others by force, but the one who controls themselves in the face of anger." (Hadith, Bukhari)
Buddha:"Do not be the judge of people; do not make assumptions about others. A person is destroyed by holding judgments about others."
Buddha taught the importance of Equanimity (Upekkha), which includes tolerance and impartiality.
Themes in Unity
Across these teachings, there is a consistent call for:Peaceful coexistence (nonviolence and reconciliation).
Universal compassion (love and empathy for all beings).
Tolerance and respect (honoring diversity and avoiding judgment).
Prophet Muhammad:"There is no compulsion in religion." (Qur'an 2:256)
"The strong person is not the one who overcomes others by force, but the one who controls themselves in the face of anger." (Hadith, Bukhari)
Buddha:"Do not be the judge of people; do not make assumptions about others. A person is destroyed by holding judgments about others."
Buddha taught the importance of Equanimity (Upekkha), which includes tolerance and impartiality.
Themes in Unity
Across these teachings, there is a consistent call for:Peaceful coexistence (nonviolence and reconciliation).
Universal compassion (love and empathy for all beings).
Tolerance and respect (honoring diversity and avoiding judgment).
Thanks, brother Baquer for reminding us of these gems of quotations emphasizing peaceful coexistence, compassion, respect and tolerance. Sadly, some of the holy scriptures also contain contradictory quotations justifying violence and intolerance as documented extensively in the book "Better Angels of Our Nature..." by Stephen Pinker. It is our duty to focus on & foster the positive quotations from the scriptures, but recognizing that they also contain contrary statments which evil-doers like to quote to foment violence and hatred. Amen!
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