Meekness.

 

148. Meekness, we are not really supposed to strive with one another, but show forth meekness and humbleness so we become more God like: So that, peace and good will towards all mankind may be eventually achieved, on this earth, and war and brutality become a thing of the past and the wolf and the lamb may dwell together as the writings of God promise.  Judaism: Numbers 12:3 “Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.” Isaiah 29:19 “The meek also shall increase their joy in The LORD” Psalms 147:6 “The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.” Psalms 25:9 “The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach His way.” Psalms 149:4 “For The LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.” Psalms 37:11 “But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.”  Christianity: Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” 1 Timothy 6:11 “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” 2 Timothy 2:24 “And the servant of The Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,” (gentle and humble) 2 Timothy 2:25 “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;” Titus 3:2 “Speak evil of no man…, be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.” 2 Corinthians 10:1 “I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ,”

ISLAM: “Bring thy Lord to remembrance in thy (very) soul, with humility and in reverence,” “Call on your Lord with humility and in private: for Allah (God) loveth not those who trespass beyond bounds.” But live in humility and meekness.

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah   7)

Islam: 23. “But those who believe and work righteousness, and humble themselves before their Lord — they will be Companions of the Garden, to dwell therein for aye!”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah  11)

Islam: “The Prophet said, “Be gentle and calm, O ‘Aisha, as Allah likes gentleness (meekness) in all affairs.”

(Islam, Hadith, Bukhari Vol 8, Book 75, # 404)

ZOROASTRIANISM: 6. “Him thou shalt call an Atharvan, O holy Zarathushtra! Who throughout the night sits up and demands of the holy Wisdom, which makes man free from anxiety, and wide of heart, and easy of conscience.” 118. “May I come unto Thee with a prayer that goes lowly.” (meekly)

(Zoroaster, The Zend-Avesta, Khorda Avesta – Vendidad 18 and  Book of Common Prayer pt. 1)

Zoroastrianism: “I, Ahura Mazda, gently show him his way as he asks for it, Holiness is the best of all good ….” and gentleness and meekness shall abound.

(The Zend-Avesta, Avesta Fragments)

HINDUISM: “Krishna speaketh in this wise! Yea, and whoso, full of faith, Heareth wisely what it saith, Heareth meekly,- when he dies, Surely shall his spirit rise To those regions where the Blest, Free of flesh, in joyance rest.”

(Hindu, Bhagavad Gita (Edwin Arnold tr) chapter 18)

Hinduism: 51. “For him also (are prescribed) truthfulness, meekness, and purity.”

(Hindu, The Dharma Sutras, Gutama 10)

BUDDHISM: “He avoids harsh language, and abstains from it. He speaks such words as are gentle, soothing to the ear, loving, going to the heart, courteous and dear, and agreeable to many.”

((The Eightfold Path), Buddha,  the Word (The Eightfold Path))

Buddhism: 26. “He who utters only gentle, instructive and truthful speech, criticizing no-one that is what I call a brahmin.” Gentle and full of meekness.

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

SABEANISM: “It is time the great moment for humble worship. 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,” (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapters 118 and 410)

Sabeanism: “It is time to pray the ‘Devotions’ The great moment for (meek) humble worship.” “I shall be pure in all my words (thoughts) and life.” (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapters 1 and 118)

BABI RELIGION: “Many innocent persons suffered death in its most terrible forms. Nor did the mischief end there, for though from that time to this the Bábís, notwithstanding all that they have had to endure, have meekly borne their sufferings, living lawfully and peaceably, and systematically repelling the overtures from time-to time made to them by disaffected persons and parties, no sooner has an act of violence like this taken place than an attempt has been made to lay it to their charge.”

(Moojan Momen, The Babi  and Baha’i Religions, p. 360)

BAHA’I FAITH: “The beloved of God must each be the essence of purity and holiness; so may they be known by their purity, freedom and meekness in every land; they may drink from the eternal chalice of the love of God, enjoy its ecstasy, and through meeting the Beauty of Abha, they should be joyful, active, aglow with zeal and wonderful.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’i World Faith – Abdu’l-Baha Section, p. 365)

BABI RELIGION: “His meekness was unfailing. Those who came near him felt in spite of themselves the fascinating influence of his personality, of his manner and of his speech.”

The Bab: (Shoghi Effendi, The Dawn-Breakers, p. 501)

BAHA’I FAITH: “Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in adversity. Be worthy of the trust of thy neighbor, and look upon him with a bright and friendly face. Be a treasure to the poor, an admonisher to the rich, an answerer to the cry of the needy, a preserver of the sanctity of thy pledge. Be fair in thy judgment, and guarded in thy speech. Be unjust to no man, and show all meekness to all men. Be as a lamp unto them that walk in darkness, a joy to the sorrowful, a sea for the thirsty, a haven for the distressed, an upholder and defender of the victim of oppression. Let integrity and uprightness distinguish all thine acts. Be a home for the stranger, a balm to the suffering, a tower of strength for the fugitive. Be eyes to the blind, and a guiding light unto the feet of the erring. Be an ornament to the countenance of truth, a crown to the brow of fidelity, a pillar of the temple of righteousness, a breath of life to the body of mankind, an ensign of the hosts of justice, a luminary above the horizon of virtue, a dew to the soil of the human heart, an ark on the ocean of knowledge, a sun in the heaven of bounty, a gem on the diadem of wisdom, a shining light in the firmament of thy generation, a fruit upon the tree of humility.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 93)