Words can either cause enlightenment or be our defilement.

 

47. Our words can either cause enlightenment or be our defilement. Actions we perform and things we say to one another can either be enlightening to us and the world around us, or can have a most derogatory effect on the world around us, and be of great detriment to our soul. When we say uncouth things to others we not only cause dissension among ourselves we also defile our very souls:  Christianity: James 3:5 “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!” 3:6 “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.” Matthew 15:17 “Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?” Matthew 15:18 “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.” Matthew 15:19 “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:” Matthew 15:20 “These are the things which defile a man:” Mark 7:21 “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:” Mark 7:23 “All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” So always be careful what you let come out of your mouth. 1 Peter 3:10 “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.”  Judaism: Sirach 37:18 “Four manner of things appear: good and evil, life and death: but the tongue ruleth over them continually.” (Deuterocanonical Apocrypha)  Proverbs 15:23 “A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!” Proverbs 15:28 “The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.” Proverbs 29:11 “A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.” Psalms 106:39 “Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions.”

 BABI RELIGION: “Ye have been forbidden in the Bayan to enter into idle disputation and controversy, that perchance on the Day of Resurrection ye may not engage in argumentation, and dispute with Him Whom God shall make manifest.”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 133)

 ISLAM: 23. “Say not to them a word of contempt.” 148. “Allah (God) loveth not that evil should be noised abroad.”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah 4 and 17)

Islam: “Allah’s Apostle said, ‘Be gentle and calm….Be gentle and beware of being harsh and of saying evil things.”’

(Islam, Hadith, Bukhari Vol 8

 ZOROASTRIANISM: 14. “As an offering Zarathushtra brings the life of his own body, the choiceness of good thought, action, and speech, unto Mazda, unto the Right, Obedience, and Dominion.” 3. “That, therefore, would we choose, O Ahura Mazda (God)! and thou, O Righteousness the beauteous! that we should think, and speak, and do those thoughts, and words, and deeds, among actual good thoughts, and words, and actions, which are the best for both the worlds; renounce all evil thoughts, evil words, and evil deeds.”

(The Zend-Avesta, Avesta – Yasnas 33 and 35)

 HINDUISM: 161. “Let him not, even though in pain, (speak words) cutting (others) to the quick; let him not injure others in thought or deed; let him not utter speeches which make (others) afraid of him, since that will prevent him from gaining heaven.” 6. “Abusing (others, speaking) untruth, detracting from the merits of all men, and talking idly, shall be the four kinds of (evil) verbal action.”

(Hindu, Laws of Manu chapter 2 and 12)

 Hinduism: 2. “Now, indeed, man (in) this (world) is polluted by a vile action, such as sacrificing for men unworthy to offer a sacrifice, eating forbidden food, speaking what ought not to be spoken, neglecting what is prescribed, practicing what is forbidden.”

(Hindu, The Dharma Sutras, Gutama 19)

 BUDDHISM: 12. “By oneself one does evil. By oneself one is defiled. By oneself one abstains from evil. By oneself one is purified. Purity and impurity are personal matters. No one can purify someone else.” 17. “Guard against verbal unruliness. Be restrained in speech. Abandoning verbal wrong doing, lead a life of verbal well doing.” 17. “The wise who are restrained in body, speech and mind – such are the well and truly restrained.”

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

 SABEANISM: “In the name of The Great Life (Haiyi/God)! May my thought, my knowledge and my understanding Enlighten me.” (not defile) (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapter 78)

Sabeanism: “The…tongue….is….sharper than a sword.” (Words inflict harm on others when evil passes out of one’s mouth, so refrain your tongue from speaking foolishness) (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapter 24)

 BABI RELIGION: “Withhold thy tongue from uttering that which might grieve thee and beseech God for mercy. Verily He is fully cognizant of the righteous, for He is with such of His servants as truly believe in Him, and He is not unaware of the actions of the mischief-makers, inasmuch as nothing whatever in the heavens or on the earth can escape His knowledge.”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 162)

BAHA’I FAITH: “One word is like unto springtime causing the tender saplings of the rose-garden of knowledge to become verdant and flourishing, while another word is even as a deadly poison. It behoveth a prudent man of wisdom to speak with utmost leniency and forbearance so that the sweetness of his words may induce everyone to attain that which befitteth man’s station.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, Tablets of Baha’u’llah, p. 173)

Baha’i Faith: “Truly I say, the tongue is for mentioning that which is good; do not defile it by evil speech. ‘God hath forgiven your past ways.’ You must henceforth speak that which is worthy. Shun reviling, maligning, and whatsoever will offend your fellowmen.”

(Compilations, Baha’i World Faith, p. 208)

Baha’i Faith: “For the tongue is a smoldering fire, and excess of speech a deadly poison. Material fire consumeth the body, whereas the fire of the tongue devoureth both heart and soul.”

(Baha’u’llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah, p. 264)