What is your favorite religious book?

[Jainarayan]

The Bhagavad Gita.

^ Bhagavad Gita for the win!

I like what Gandhi said:

"The Gita is the universal mother. I find a solace in the Bhagavad Gita that I miss even in the Sermon on the Mount. When disappointment stares me in the face and all alone I see not one ray of light, I go back to the Bhagavad Gita. I find a verse here and a verse there , and I immediately begin to smile in the midst of overwhelming tragedies - and my life has been full of external tragedies - and if they have left no visible or indelible scar on me, I owe it all to the teaching of Bhagavad Gita."

 

[Bob Dixon]

The Gospels.
I usually disregard the rest of the Bible except some relevant bits of wisdom here and there ("test everything, hold on to the good").
But the Gospels (well, the words of Jesus, that is) are always spot-on.

The Bhagavad Gita is brilliant, too, although I must read it again. One reading isn't nearly enough.

I'm reading the Sri Guru Granth Sahib and the Masnavi right now and I'm really enjoying both.

 

[Madhuri]

^ Bhagavad Gita for the win!

I like what Gandhi said:

"The Gita is the universal mother. I find a solace in the Bhagavad Gita that I miss even in the Sermon on the Mount. When disappointment stares me in the face and all alone I see not one ray of light, I go back to the Bhagavad Gita. I find a verse here and a verse there , and I immediately begin to smile in the midst of overwhelming tragedies - and my life has been full of external tragedies - and if they have left no visible or indelible scar on me, I owe it all to the teaching of Bhagavad Gita."

Good quote.
I often feel the same. Almost at any point of the scripture I can open up and find some amazing wisdom that brings joy and comfort.

 

[Gaura Priya]

And the verses are poetic in Sanskrit... and in English, no matter the translation. Each verse is like an aphorism of wisdom.


"One who performs his duty without attachment, surrendering the results unto the Supreme God, is not affected by sinful action, as the lotus leaf is untouched by water."

-- Gita 5.10

 

[Nicholas]

This is my favored book of the month and gives hope for future religious harmony.


www dot amazon dot com/Toward-True-Kinship-Faiths-Religions/dp/0385525052

Toward a True Kinship of Faiths by the Dalai Lama

 

[advena]

I and Thou - Buber. Not only because of its message, but because of how the process of reading it makes me feel. Its a difficult read, I'm not sure I could explain it if asked. I become totally enrapt in the language and in trying to understand the ideas. Its a spiritual experience for me.

 

[Vasiel]

My favourite Religious Scripture would have to be the Bodhicharyavatara (Way of the Bodhisattva) by Shantideva, followed closely by the Bhagavad Gita and the Dhammapada.

Also on my list of favourites. The Hagakure, The Sutta Nipata and the Tao te Ching. So, so many.... but they are the ones that have impacted my personal journey the most.

Namaste!

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Torah.

 

[Caladan]

Illusions, by Richard Bach.

I read it many years ago, and enjoyed every single page.

Some philosophical books that I've read and liked, are Ishmael by Daniel Quinn, The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, and the Dune books by Frank Herbert.

 

[Onkara]

What is your favorite religious book?

The Sri Guru Granth Sahib

 

[chinu]

What is your favorite religious book?

" Guru Granth Sahib"


_/\_
Chinu

 

[Gaura Priya]

Japji Sahib...

 

[GURSIKH]

The Sri Guru Granth Sahib

" Guru Granth Sahib"


_/\_
Chinu

Japji Sahib...

me too ,


some pauris from Japji sahib


What was that time, and what was that moment? What was that day, and what was that date?

What was that season, and what was that month, when the Universe was created?

The Pandits, the religious scholars, cannot find that time, even if it is written in the Puraanas.

That time is not known to the Qazis, who study the Koran.

The day and the date are not known to the Yogis, nor is the month or the season.

The Creator who created this creation-only He Himself knows.

How can we speak of Him? How can we praise Him? How can we describe Him? How can we know Him?

O Nanak, everyone speaks of Him, each one wiser than the rest.

Great is the Master, Great is His Name. Whatever happens is according to His Will.

O Nanak, one who claims to know everything shall not be decorated in the world hereafter. ||21||

There are nether worlds beneath nether worlds, and hundreds of thousands of heavenly worlds above.

The Vedas say that you can search and search for them all, until you grow weary.

The scriptures say that there are 18,000 worlds, but in reality, there is only One Universe.

If you try to write an account of this, you will surely finish yourself before you finish writing it.

O Nanak, call Him Great! He Himself knows Himself. ||22||

The praisers praise the Lord, but they do not obtain intuitive understanding -

the streams and rivers flowing into the ocean do not know its vastness.

Even kings and emperors, with mountains of property and oceans of wealth -

these are not even equal to an ant, who does not forget God. ||23||

Endless are His Praises, endless are those who speak them.

Endless are His Actions, endless are His Gifts.

Endless is His Vision, endless is His Hearing.

His limits cannot be perceived. What is the Mystery of His Mind?

The limits of the created universe cannot be perceived.

Its limits here and beyond cannot be perceived.

Many struggle to know His limits,

but His limits cannot be found.

No one can know these limits.

The more you say about them, the more there still remains to be said.

Great is the Master, High is His Heavenly Home.

Highest of the High, above all is His Name.

Only one as Great and as High as God

can know His Lofty and Exalted State.

Only He Himself is that Great. He Himself knows Himself.

O Nanak, by His Glance of Grace, He bestows His Blessings. ||24||

His Blessings are so abundant that there can be no written account of them.

The Great Giver does not hold back anything.

There are so many great, heroic warriors begging at the Door of the Infinite Lord.

So many contemplate and dwell upon Him, that they cannot be counted.

So many waste away to death engaged in corruption.

So many take and take again, and then deny receiving.

So many foolish consumers keep on consuming.

So many endure distress, deprivation and constant abuse.

Even these are Your Gifts, O Great Giver!

Liberation from bondage comes only by Your Will.

No one else has any say in this.

If some fool should presume to say that he does,

he shall learn, and feel the effects of his folly.

He Himself knows, He Himself gives.

Few, very few are those who acknowledge this.

One who is blessed to sing the Praises of the Lord,

O Nanak, is the king of kings. ||25||

Priceless are His Virtues, Priceless are His Dealings.

Priceless are His Dealers, Priceless are His Treasures.

Priceless are those who come to Him, Priceless are those who buy from Him.

Priceless is Love for Him, Priceless is absorption into Him.

Priceless is the Divine Law of Dharma, Priceless is the Divine Court of Justice.

Priceless are the scales, priceless are the weights.

Priceless are His Blessings, Priceless is His Banner and Insignia.

Priceless is His Mercy, Priceless is His Royal Command.

Priceless, O Priceless beyond expression!

Speak of Him continually, and remain absorbed in His Love.

The Vedas and the Puraanas speak.

The scholars speak and lecture.

Brahma speaks, Indra speaks.

The Gopis and Krishna speak.

Shiva speaks, the Siddhas speak.

The many created Buddhas speak.

The demons speak, the demi-gods speak.

The spiritual warriors, the heavenly beings, the silent sages, the humble and serviceful speak.

Many speak and try to describe Him.

Many have spoken of Him over and over again, and have then arisen and departed.

If He were to create as many again as there already are,

even then, they could not describe Him.

He is as Great as He wishes to be.

O Nanak, the True Lord knows.

If anyone presumes to describe God,

he shall be known as the greatest fool of fools! ||26||

 

[Jainarayan]

I said Bhagavad Gita up above, but I should include the gospel of Matthew. There are some real gems in there, like 7:1-2 "1Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again."

 

[ohhcuppycakee]

Qur'an, of course. xD

But I also like some others, like KJV New Testament along with Psalms and Proverbs, and also the Bhagavad Gita. I have read it three times.

 

[Gaura Priya]

I also like the Hidden Words of Baha'u'llah.