Deeds, don’t be of those whose words exceed their deeds.

 

44. Deeds. The high aiming religions of God tell us don’t be of those whose words exceed their deeds, you do good works for the sake of doing good works and not for the glory, and don’t be of those whose words differ from their deeds. “Find full reward Of doing right in right!  Hinduism: “Let right deeds be Thy motive, not the fruit which comes from them.” “let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” (Hindu, Bhagavad Gita)  Babi Religion: “Thy purpose in performing thy deeds is that God may graciously accept them; and divine acceptance can in no wise be achieved except through the acceptance of Him Who is the Exponent of His Revelation.” (The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 80)  Judaism: Deuteronomy 23:23 “That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform;” Numbers 32:24 “do that which hath proceeded out of your mouth.” Proverbs 11:3 “The integrity of the upright shall guide,” 20:7 “The just man walketh in his integrity (of his good works): his children are blessed after him.” 24:12 “And shall not He render to every man according to his works?” 16:3 “Commit thy works unto The LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.” 4 Ezra 7:35 “And the work shall follow, and the reward shall be shewed, and the good deeds shall be of force,” “For the just, which have many good works laid up with Thee, shall out of their own deeds receive reward.” (Deuterocanonical Apocrypha) Enoch “Hear, ye sons of Enoch, all the words of your father, And hearken aright to the voice of my mouth; For I exhort you and say unto you, beloved: Love uprightness and walk therein. And draw not nigh to uprightness with a double heart, And associate not with those of a double heart, But walk in righteousness, my sons. And it shall guide you on good paths, And righteousness shall be your companion.” (Deuterocanonical Apocrypha)  Christianity: Matthew 23:1 “Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,” Matthew 23:2 “Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:” Matthew 23:3 “All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.” 1 Corinthians 9:14 “Even so hath The Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.” 2 Corinthians 10:11 “Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.” James 2:14 “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,” 2:16 “And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?” 2:17 “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” 1:25 “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” James 2:12 “So speak ye, and so do,” 1 John 3:18 “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” Galatians 5:25 “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

 ISLAM: Letter 31. “Advise people to do good and to live virtuously because you are fit to give such advice. Let your words and deeds teach the world lessons of how to abstain from wickedness and vicious deeds.”

(Islam, Ali b. Abi Taalib, Letters from Nahjul Balaagh)

Islam: 44. “Do ye enjoin right conduct on the people, and forget (to practice it) yourselves, and yet ye study the Scripture? Will ye not understand?”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah   2)

Islam: 119. “O ye who believe! fear Allah (God) and be with those who are true (in word and deed).”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah   9)

 ZOROASTRIANISM: “Evident is all this to the intelligent, as much as to the observant with attention. He pursues rectitude and good nonchalance in words and deeds. He, O Mazda Ahura (God) is thy strongest believer.” (ZOROASTER, Hymns of Atharvan p. 178)

 Zoroastrianism: “Virtue is not a matter of thoughts and words. It must find expression in acts. This is the lesson that Maghavan (Zarathushtra) taught.” (ZOROASTER, Hymns of Atharvan p. 187)

 Zoroastrianism: “Conduct is a language that seldom lies. One’s faith is bound to be reflected in his conduct. If one’s conduct is to be right, he should have right faith. A man is as good as his faith.” (ZOROASTER, Hymns of Atharvan p. 155)

 Zoroastrianism: “It is the practice of religion and not its mere profession that can save a man. How is it that those who prescribe the rules of purity do not themselves practice them?” (ZOROASTER, Hymns of Atharvan p. 305 and 306)

 Zoroastrianism: Denkard. Zoroaster, “Be it known that a man must do himself personally good deeds for his soul’s benefit. If a man does not do a deed required for his spiritual welfare, no other man can do that for him.”

 HINDUISM: “Find full reward Of doing right in right! Let right deeds be Thy motive, not the fruit which comes from them.”

(Hindu, Bhagavad Gita (Edwin Arnold tr) chapter 2)

 Hinduism: 232. “Having thus considered in his mind what results will arise from his deeds after death, let him always be good in thoughts, speech, and actions.”

(Hindu, Laws of Manu chapter 11)

 Hinduism: 256. “All things (have their nature) determined by speech; speech is their root, and from speech they proceed; but he who is dishonest with respect to speech, is dishonest (not trustworthy) in everything.”

(Hindu, Laws of Manu chapter 4)

 Hinduism: “Sacrifice not for rewardment made, Offered in rightful wise, when he who vows Sayeth, with heart devout, ‘This I should do!’ Is Soothfast rite.”

(Hindu, Bhagavad Gita (Edwin Arnold tr) chapter 17)

 BUDDHISM: “In the practice of all good deeds, disciples should never indulge in indolence.” (idleness, being lazy) (Buddha, Diamond Sutra)

 Buddhism: “We constantly seek to realize our Mind-essence with wisdom; that we refrain from all evil; that we do all kinds of good acts with no attachment to the fruit of such action;” (Buddha, sixth patriarch)

 Buddhism: 1. “Even if the thoughtless can recite many of the scriptures, if they do not act accordingly, they are not living the holy life,” 1. “Even if he does not quote appropriate texts much, if he follows the principles of the Teaching by getting rid of greed, hatred and delusion, deep of insight and with a mind free from attachment, not clinging to anything in this world or the next – that man is a partner in the Holy Life.”

(Buddhist, Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 1and 2 (tr, Richards))

 Buddhism: 4. “Like a fine flower, beautiful to look at but without scent, fine words are fruitless in a man who does not act in accordance with them.” But “Like a fine flower, beautiful to look at and scented too, fine words bear fruit in a man who acts well in accordance with them.”

(Buddhist, Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 1 (tr. J. Richards))

 Buddhism: 12. “As he instructs others He should himself act. Himself fully controlled, He should control others. Difficult indeed is to control oneself.”

(Buddhist, Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 3 (tr. J. Richards))

 Buddhism: “The Tathagatas have a better way of teaching, namely, through self-realization of Noble Wisdom;” through actions and not just empty words. (Buddha, Lankavatara Sutra)

 Buddhism: “In the practice of all good deeds, disciples should never indulge in indolence. They should, therefore, be indefatigably zealous and never let even the thought of indolence arise in their minds; but steadily and persistently out of deep compassion endeavor to benefit all beings.” (Buddha, Diamond Sutra)

 SABEANISM: “If right is different than wrong, then their retribution also must be different. They cannot lead to the same goal. The distinction between right and wrong is fundamental to man. Man lives under the power of supreme reality of moral distinctions and of their absolute significance. To invalidate the hypothesis would be to invalidate the life which is based upon it.” “To each according to the works of his hands It is awarded.” “Every man who toiled And was long-suffering shall come and take with both hands, But he who did not toil nor endure, Standeth empty in the House of Dues.” Without the action of good deeds to assist him in his time of need. “He will seek but will not find, And ask, but naught will be given him, Because he had in his hand and gave not,” His deeds will not suffice him to salvation leaving him in desperation, wanting what he cannot have. Avoid his mistakes! “Be careful; make enquiry, display kindness, show compassion,” perform works of righteousness. “The names of righteous and believing people Will be established in the Place of Light.” (Sabeanism, Seth son of Adam and Ginza Rba- chapters 74, 77 and 123)

Sabeanism: “Life is victorious over all works.” “victorious are the words of truth which issue from Thy mouth, and victorious are all Thy deeds. And Life is victorious!” “And a throne is set up for The Lord of Radiance For The Lord of Radiance a throne is set up And The Lord of Radiance sitteth thereon. Before him are set up recompenses Which he delivereth to the perfect, To the perfect doth he deliver them And said: “To each according to the works of his hands It is awarded” (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapters 31, 76 and 123)

Sabeanism: “For my heart hath testified to The First Life (Haiyi/God).” “Behold me, who have sought purification before Thee! Look on me, I am Thy servant and Thy child. Now I humble myself and my children to Thy name, for I have been true to Thy name, and speak (it) in my heart and talk (of it) in my mind. And I subdue my form and my loins,” and live a holy life not just in words, but in actions. (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapters 77 and 410)

 BABI RELIGION: “You who are His spiritual children must by your deeds exemplify His virtues, and witness to His glory.”

The Bab: (Shoghi Effendi, The Dawn-Breakers, p. 92)

 Babi Religion: “The days when idle worship was deemed sufficient are ended. The time is come when naught but the purest motive, supported by deeds of stainless purity, can ascend to the throne of the Most High and be acceptable unto Him. ‘The good word riseth up unto Him, and the righteous deed will cause it to be exalted before Him.” “Purge your hearts of worldly desires, and let angelic virtues be your adorning. Strive that by your deeds you may bear witness to the truth of these words of God.”

The Bab: (Shoghi Effendi, The Dawn-Breakers, p. 92)

BAHA’I FAITH: “The essence of faith is fewness of words and abundance of deeds; he whose words exceed his deeds, know verily his death is better than his life.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, Tablets of Baha’u’llah, p. 156)

Baha’i Faith: “O SON OF SPIRIT! Know thou of a truth: He that biddeth men be just and himself committeth iniquity is not of Me, even though he bear My name.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, The Arabic Hidden Words)

Baha’i Faith: “O SON OF MY HANDMAID! Guidance hath ever been given by words, and now it is given by deeds. Every one must show forth deeds that are pure and holy, for words are the property of all alike, whereas such deeds as these belong only to Our loved ones. Strive then with heart and soul to distinguish yourselves by your deeds. In this wise We counsel you in this holy and resplendent tablet.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, The Persian Hidden Words)