Happy and worthiest of esteem are those * How blessed are the pure in heart! For nought of heaven can grace impart -ROBERT MONTGOMERY. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy, for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. God. "BIBLE-1 CORINTHIANS. " Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see "BIBLE-ST. MATTHEW, 5." When the intellect is pure as well as the heart, to it the region of the Deity becomes visible. -"VISHNU PURANA. " To a blind man the world appears to be blind, because he has no sight. To a sick man sweet food tastes like poison, because he has no taste. From Chambers's Educational Course. Tuka says, to him who is not pure, the whole world appears to be false. -TUKABAM.* Purity is of two kinds, real and formal. The real consisteth in not binding the heart to evil; and in eradicating all wicked passions. And the formal in cleansing away what appears evil to the view (such as uncleannesses and things unseemly to the sight). -"DESATIR."t A wise and good mother, when a filthy word was uttered, said, "What a dirty mouth! such a word cannot leave a clean mouth! Come let us wash it." The mouth was carefully washed with soap and water, and wiped. Then the mother would say, "Now be careful, do not get your mouth dirty again.”‡ When a pure soul is about to depart, What difference does it make, dying on a throne or dying on the bare ground. -SADI'S GULISTAN.|| 1. Abstention from injuring. 2. Veracity. 3. Abstention from unlawfully appropriating. 4. Purity. 5. Control of the organs of sense. -SUMMARY OF MANU'S LAWS.§ *A Marathi poet. † Translated by Mulla Firuz bin Kaus, edited by D. J. Medhora. ‡ From Pictures of Women in Many Lands, Madras. || Translated by Platts. § From The collected Works of Max Müller. BUDDHA'S ADVICE TO A YOUng man. There was once a man who had only one son, who was much beloved by both his parents. They procured for him means of instruction, and fondly hoped that he would be an honour to their house. But alas! he was careless and negligent, and learned nothing. In consequence of this his parents took him to their home, and hoped he would be useful in the management of the house. But he was idle and dirty in his ways, and altogether a grief to them. In consequence of this, he was slighted by all the neighbours, and became an object of contempt amongst his friends, and almost hateful to his parents. Deeply touched by this, he sought some comfort in religious exercises, but found no hope in all his penances and prayers to the Gods. At last hearing that Buddha was the all-wise Teacher, who could meet the necessities of his case, he came to him and begged his help. To whom Buddha replied, "If you would find comfort in my society, the first thing for you to learn is purity of conduct. Go back, therefore, to your home, and learn to obey your parents, recite your prayers, be diligent in your daily occupations, let no love of ease tempt you to neglect cleanliness of person or decency of dress; and then, having learned this, come back to me, and you may perhaps be allowed to enter into the companionship of my followers.' –“DHAMMAPADA.” * From the Buddhist Camon, translated by Beal. 123. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. Thales, the Milesian, one of the seven wise men of Greece, being asked what was the oldest thing, he answered, God, because he has ever been. What was the largest thing? Space, because it comprehends everything besides. What was the handsomest thing? The world, because it is the work of God. What the most lasting? Hope, because when all other things fail, that still remains. What the best thing? Virtue, for without it nothing that is good can be said or done. What the quickest? A man's thoughts, because in one moment they run over all the universe. What the strongest? Necessity, because it surmounts all other accidents. What is the easiest? To give counsel. What the hardest? To know oneself. What the wisest thing? Time, because it brings all things to pass. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 1 Flowers, wherefore do ye bloom? -We strew thy pathway to the tomb. O Sun, what makes thy beams so bright? -The Word that said,-"Let there be light." 5 Planets, what guides you in your course? 6 Nature, whence sprang thy glorious frame? 7 O Light, thy subtle essence who may know? 8 What is yon arch which everywhere I see? 9 Where rests the horizon's all-embracing zone? -Where earth, God's footstool, touches heaven, his throne. 10 Ye Clouds, what bring ye in your train? 11 Winds, whence and whither do ye blow? 12 Bow in the cloud, what token dost thou bear? -That Justice still cries "Strike," and Mercy "Spare". 13 Dews of the morning, wherefore were ye given? |
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