No matter what your religion, it’s hard to argue with the teachings of a man called Jesus who preached a gospel of peace, love and compassion. In honor of the celebration of not only this great teacher but all of the other great teachers who came before and after him, I’d like to offer a selection of teachings from the leaders of Christianity and Islam, whose original words have been so sadly reconstructed in our present world.
At this Christmas season let us come together to create a powerful vision of a world in which these words come to guide the lives of all humans, and where real love and compassion for all beings infuses every breath, every word, and every action.
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If those who lead you say to you, “Look, the Kingdom is in the sky,” the the birds will get there first.
If they say “It is in the ocean,” then the fish will get there first.
But the Kingdom of God is within you and outside of you.
Once you come to know yourselves, you will become known.
—Jesus of Nazareth, Gospel of Thomas
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God
—Jesus of Nazareth, Gospel of Matthew
If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you.
If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you.
—Jesus of Nazareth, Gospel of Thomas
Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes.
—Confucius
Expect much from yourself and little from others and you will avoid incurring resentments.
—Confucius
Shall I not inform you of a better act than fasting, alms, and prayers? Making peace between one another: enmity and malice tear up heavenly rewards by the roots.
–Prophet Muhammad
Do not say, that if the people do good to us, we will do good to them; and if the people oppress us, we will oppress them; but determine that if people do you good, you will do good to them; and if they oppress you, you will not oppress them.
–Prophet Muhammad
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