ONE FAMILY PLAN
The Self
“Every being has the Buddha Nature. This is the self.” (Buddhism. Mahaparinirvana Sutra 214)
“God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.’” (Judaism and Christianity, Genesis 1.26)
“And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Say to all the congregation of the people of Israel, 'You shall be holy; for I the Lord your God am holy.’” (Judaism and Christianity, Leviticus 19.1-2
“You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Christianity, Matthew 5.48)
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” (Christianity, Galatians 2.20)
“Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?... For God's temple is holy, and that temple you are.” (Christianity, 1 Corinthians 3.16-17)
“Let a man always consider himself as if the Holy One dwells within him.” (Judaism. Talmud, Ta'anit 11b)
“Just as God fills the whole world, so the soul fills the body. Just as God sees, but is not seen, so the soul sees, but is not itself seen. Just as God feeds the whole world, so the soul feeds the whole body. Just as God is pure, so the soul is pure. Just as God dwells in the innermost precincts [of the Temple], so also the soul dwells in the innermost part of the body.” (Judaism. Talmud, Berakot 10a)
“As God is called merciful and gracious, so you be merciful and gracious, offering gifts gratis to all; as the Lord is called righteous and loving, so you be righteous and loving.” (Judaism. Midrash, Sifre Deuteronomy)
“If we keep unperverted the human heart--which is like unto heaven and received from earth--that is God.” (Shinto. Revelation to Mikado Seiwa)
“The deity is immanent in man and man is inherent in the deity; there is neither the divine nor the human; there is no difference in essence at all between them.” (Shinto. Shinto Tradition)
“That which is the finest essence--this whole world has that as its soul. That is Reality. That is the Self. That art thou.” (Hinduism. Chandogya Upanishad 6.8.7)
“Conform yourselves to the character of God.” (Islam. Hadith of Abu Nuaym)
“I have breathed into man of My spirit.” (Islam. Qur'an 15.29)
“Fire blazing from the earth. The Superior man reflects in his person [Heaven's] virtue.” (Confucianism and Taoism. I Ching 35: Progress)
“Father, O mighty Force, That Force which is in everything, Come down between us, fill us,
Until we become like Thee, Until we become like Thee.” [African Traditional Religions. Susu Prayer (Guinea)]
“The rich build temples to Shiva, What shall I, a poor man, do? O my Lord! my legs are the pillars, My torso, the shrine, And my head, the golden pinnacle! Things standing shall fall, But the moving ever shall stay!” (Hinduism. Basavanna, Vacana 820)
“Smaller than the smallest, greater than the greatest, this Self forever dwells within the hearts of all. When a man is free from desire, his mind and senses purified, he beholds the glory of the Self and is without sorrow. Though seated, he travels far; though at rest, he moves all things. Who but the purest of the pure can realize this Effulgent Being, who is joy and who is beyond joy. Formless is he, though inhabiting form. In the midst of the fleeting he abides forever. All-pervading and supreme is the Self. The wise man, knowing him in his true nature, transcends all grief.” (Hinduism. Katha Upanishad 1.2.20-22)
“Bright but hidden, the Self dwells in the heart. Everything that moves, breathes, opens, and closes Lives in the Self. He is the source of love And may be known through love but not through thought. He is the goal of life. Attain this goal! The shining Self dwells hidden in the heart. Everything in the cosmos, great and small, Lives in the Self. He is the source of life,
Truth beyond the transience of this world. He is the goal of life. Attain this goal!” (Hinduism. Mundaka Upanishad 2.2.1-2)
“This is a wonderful, unique discourse: The living self is the image of the Supreme Being. It is neither old nor a child; Neither it suffers pain, nor in death's snare is caught; It is not shattered nor dies; In all time it is pervasive. It feels not heat nor cold; Neither has it friend nor foe; It feels not joy nor sorrow: All is its own; to it belongs all might. It has neither father nor mother;
Beyond the limits of matter has it ever existed. Of sin and goodness it feels not the touch--
Within the heart of each being it is ever awake.” (Sikhism. Adi Granth, Gaund, M.5, p. 868)
“Man is not matter; he is not made up of brain, blood, bones, and other material elements. The Scriptures inform us that man is made in the image and likeness of God. Matter is not that likeness. The likeness of Spirit cannot be so unlike Spirit. Man is spiritual and perfect; and because he is spiritual and perfect, he must be so understood in Christian Science. Man is idea, the image, of Love; he is not physique.” (Christian Science. Science and Health, 475)
“Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be. All truth is independent in that sphere in which God has placed it, to act for itself, as all intelligence also; otherwise there is no existence. Behold, here is the agency of man, and here is the condemnation of man; because that which was from the beginning is plainly manifest unto them, and they receive not the light. And every man whose spirit receiveth not the light is under condemnation. For man is spirit. The elements are eternal, and spirit and element, inseparably connected, receive a fulness of joy; and when separated, man cannot receive a fulness of joy. The elements are the tabernacle of God; yea, man is the tabernacle of God, even temples; and whatsoever temple is defiled, God shall destroy that temple.” (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Doctrine and Covenants 93.29-35)
“Become fully aware of the true image of man: Man is spirit, Man is life, Man is deathless. God is the Light Source of man, And man is the light that came from God. There is neither light source without light, Nor light without a light source. Just as light and its light source are one, So man and God are one. God is Spirit; therefore, man is also spirit. God is Love; therefore, man is also love. God is Wisdom; therefore, man is also wisdom. Spirit is not material in nature; Love is not material in nature; Wisdom is not material in nature. Therefore, man, who is spirit, love, and wisdom, is in no way related to matter.” (Seicho-no-Ie. Nectarean Shower of Holy Doctrines 48-49)
