| That man I love! Who, unto friend and foe |
| Keeping an equal heart, with equal mind |
| Bears shame and glory, with an equal peace |
| Takes heat and cold, pleasure and pain; abides |
| Quit of desires, hears praise or calumny |
| In passionless restraint, unmoved by each, |
| Linked by no ties to earth, steadfast in Me, |
| That man I love! But most of all I love |
| Those happy ones to whom ’tis life to live |
| In single fervid faith and love unseeing, |
| Eating the blessèd Amrit of my Being! - Bhagavad-Gita, Chapter XII, lines 59-69. |
The religion that says all life is precious and that it is important to help those who have no chance at contributing to society stay alive — because they are made in God’s image, gives us an advantage.
| Wherever, Indian Prince! |
| Life is—of moving things, or things unmoved, |
| Plant or still seed—know, what is there hath grown |
| By bond of Matter and of Spirit: Know |
| He sees indeed who sees in all alike |
| The living, lordly Soul; the Soul Supreme, |
| Imperishable amid the Perishing: |
| For, whoso thus beholds, in every place, |
| In every form, the same, one, Living Lord, |
| Doth no more wrongfulness unto himself, |
| But goes the highest road which brings to bliss. |
| Seeing, he sees, indeed, who sees that works |
| Are Nature’s wont, for Soul to use, not love, |
| Acting, yet not the actor; sees the mass |
| Of separate living things—each of its kind— |
| Issue from One, and blend again to One. |
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The Soul’s light shineth pure in every place; |
| And they who, by such eye of wisdom see |
| How matter, and what deals with it, divide; |
| And how the Spirit and the flesh have strife, |
| These wise ones go the way which leads to Life! - Bhagavad-Gita, Chapter XIII, lines 95-110 & lines 121-125.
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The religion that says that you must pray and bless those that persecute you — gives you an advantage. You are in my prayers, why should I take the time out to pray for you if it slows me down?
| I am alike for all! I know not hate, |
| I know not favor! What is made is Mine! |
| But them that worship Me with love, I love; |
| They are in Me, and I in them!
|
| Nay, Prince! |
| If one of evil life turn in his thought |
| Straightly to Me, count him amidst the good; |
| He hath the highway chosen; he shall grow |
| Righteous ere long; he shall attain that peace |
| Which changes not. Thou Prince of India! |
| Be certain none can perish, trusting Me! |
| O Prithâ’s Son! whoso will turn to Me, |
| Though they be born from the very womb of Sin, |
| Woman or man; sprung of the Vaisya caste |
| Or lowly disregarded Sudra,—all |
| Plant foot upon the highest path; how then |
| The holy Brahmans my Royal Saints? |
| Ah! ye who into this ill world are come— |
| Fleeting and false—set your faith fast on Me! |
| Fix heart and thought on Me! Adore Me! Bring |
| Offerings to Me! Make Me prostrations! Make |
| Me your supremest joy! and, undivided, |
| Unto My rest your spirits shall be guided. - Bhagavad-Gita, Chapter IX, lines 113-135.
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Which religion, again?