159 lines
5.7 KiB
Plaintext
159 lines
5.7 KiB
Plaintext
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LEARNING AND PRACTICE
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When a truth is learned, it must be practiced. Indeed, knowledge
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that is not put into practice is not truly learned; it soon fades away
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like a mirage. The person who claims to be wise and devout, but who never
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acts on his wisdom, is engaging in Hypocrisy, pp. 489-93. Conversely, as
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the concluding story of Mary and Martha shows, action without learning is
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also foolish. In the East, people are taught the virtue of being reserved
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and taciturn in order that they might not display knowledge that they
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not yet mastered in practice. It is far better first to act on an idea in
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private and see to its result than to announce it to others while it is
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yet untested and unmastered. This reserve is especially apt in the case
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of religious and moral teaching, whose practice is not easy. Only a
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teacher who has first mastered and embodied his teaching is worthy of
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respect.
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I do act as I talk
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And live up to my words in deed.
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Hinduism. Basavanna, Vachana 440
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Tzu-kung asked about the true gentleman. The Master said, "He does not
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preach what he practices until he has practiced what he preaches."
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Confucianism. Analects 2.13
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The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; so practice and observe
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whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not
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practice.
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Christianity. Matthew 23.2-3
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O you who believe, wherefore do you say what you do not?
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Very hateful is it to God, that you say what you do not.
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Islam. Qur'an 61.2-3
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- - - - - - - - - - - -
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Analects 2.13: This is close to the Confucian meaning of sincerity; see
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Doctrine of the Mean 25, p. 724. Matthew 23.2-3: Cf. Qur'an 26.221-26, p.
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444.
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- - - - - - - - - - - -
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Realization of Truth is higher than all else;
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Higher still is truthful living.
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Sikhism. Adi Granth, Sri Ashtpadi, M.1, p. 62
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Just as a man or a woman has known what is truth, so he or she should
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practice that truth with zeal, and should teach it those persons who
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should practice it so, as it is!
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Zoroastrianism. Avesta, Yasna 35.6
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As a flower that is lovely and beautiful, but is scentless, even so
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fruitless is the well-spoken word of one who does not practice it.
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As a flower that is lovely, beautiful and scent-laden, even so fruitful is
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the well-spoken word of one who practices it.
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Buddhism. Dhammapada 51-52
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That knowledge is very superficial which remains only on your tongue: the
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intrinsic merit and value of knowledge is that you act up to it.
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Islam (Shiite). Nahjul Balaga, Saying 90
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Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if
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any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who
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observes his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself and goes
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away and at once forgets what he was like.
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Christianity. James 1.22-24
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The Master said, "A gentleman is ashamed to let his words outrun his
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deeds."
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Confucianism. Analects 14.29
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Not study is the chief thing, but action; and whoso multiplies words,
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multiplies sin.
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Judaism. Mishnah, Abot 1.17
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Not every one who says to me, "Lord, Lord," shall enter the kingdom of
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Heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
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Christianity. Matthew 7.21
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Dhammapada 51-52: Cf. Large Sutra on Perfect Wisdom 431, p. 444. James
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1.22-24: If a teaching is not put into practice, it may readily be
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forgotten. This frequently happens to sensitive people who receive
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spiritual revelations; if not acted upon they rapidly slip away. Cf.
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James 2.14-26, p. 1009f. Matthew 7.21: Cf. John 9.31, p. 830; James
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2.14-26, pp. 1009f.
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The Master said, "Do not be to ready to speak of it, lest the doing of it
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should prove to be beyond your powers."
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Confucianism. Analects 14.21
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The one who would have the worst position in God's sight on the Day of
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Resurrection would be a learned man who did not profit from his learning.
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Islam. Hadith of Darimi
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Though he recites many a scriptural text, but does not act accordingly,
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that heedless man is like a cowherd who counts others' cattle. He has no
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share in the fruits of the religious life.
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Though he can recite few scriptural texts, but acts in accordance with the
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teaching, forsaking lust, hatred, and ignorance, with right awareness and
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mind well emancipated, not clinging to anything here or in the next life,
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he shares the fruits of the religious life.
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Buddhism. Dhammapada 19-20
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Now as they went on their way, he entered a village; and a woman named
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Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who
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sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was
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distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, "Lord, do you
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not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help
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me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and
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troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the
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good portion, which shall not be taken away from her."
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Christianity. Luke 10.38-42
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Luke 10.38-42: In this story, Martha's constant serving, though an effort
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to please the Lord, was out of place. Receiving a new teaching is of
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special value, during which time life's ordinary duties, even what is
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regarded as obligatory good practice, should be put aside.
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