O shrewd businessman, do only profitable business:
Deal only in that commodity which shall accompany you after death.14.
Sikhism. Adi Granth, Sri Raga, M.1, p. 22
We are on a market trip to earth:
Whether we fill our baskets or not,
Once the time is up, we go home.
15.
African Traditional Religions. Igbo Song (Nigeria)
[The soul] cannot be taken from its place of deposit; it does not perish
anywhere by fire; if kings of surpassing grandeur are angry they cannot
take it away; and therefore what any man should provide for his children
as a legacy is learning. Other things are not real wealth.
16.
Jainism. Naladiyar 134
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Matthew 6.19-21: Cf. Luke 12.16-21, p. 939; also Matthew 25.14-30, p.
1015 and Uttaradhyayana Sutra 7.14-21, pp. 1015f: Parable of the Talents
in Christian and Jain versions. Dhammapada 155-56: Cf. Majjhima Nikaya
ii.72-73, p. 940; also Khuddaka Patha 8. Sri Raga, M.1: See
Uttaradhyayana Sutra 7.14-21, pp. 1015f.
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Relatives and friends and well-wishers rejoice at the arrival of a man
who had been long absent and has returned home safely from afar.
Likewise, meritorious deeds will receive the good person upon his
arrival in the next world, as relatives welcome a dear one on his
return.
17.
Buddhism. Dhammapada 219-20
Giving no pain to any creature, a person should slowly accumulate
spiritual merit for the sake of acquiring a companion in the next
world....
For in the next world neither father, nor mother, nor wife, nor sons,
nor relations stay to be his companions; spiritual merit alone remains
with him.
18.
Hinduism. Laws of Manu 4.238-39
Rabbi Eliezer ben Jacob says, "He who carries out one good deed acquires
one advocate in his own behalf, and he who commits one transgression
acquires one accuser against himself. Repentance and good works are
like a shield against calamity."
19.
Judaism. Mishnah, Abot 4.13
O people! Fear God, and whatever you do, do it anticipating death. Try
to attain everlasting blessing in return for transitory and perishable
wealth, power and pleasures of this world.
Be prepared for a fast passage because here you are destined for a short
stay. Always be ready for death, for you are living under its shadow.
Be wise like people who have heard the message of God and have taken a
warning from it.
Beware that this world is not made for you to live forever, you will
have to change it for hereafter. God, glory be to Him, has not created
you without a purpose and has not left you without duties, obligations,
and responsibilities....
You must remember to gather from this life such harvest as will be of
use and help to you hereafter.
20.
Islam (Shiite). Nahjul Balagha, Khutba 67
Now man is made of determination (kratu); according to what his
determination is in this world so will he be when he has departed this
life.
21.
Hinduism. Shankara, Vedanta Sutra 1.2.1
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Laws of Manu 4.238-239: The thought continues in verses 4.241-243, p.
345. Cf. Srimad Bhagavatam 6.1, p. 909. Abot 4.13: Cf. Tanhuma Numbers
19, p. 368; Tract of the Quiet Way, p. 1009. Nahjul Balagha, Khutba 67:
Cf. Qur'an 39.53-58, p. 906. Vedanta Sutra 1.2.1: Cf. Brihadaranyaka
Upanishand 4.4.5-6, pp. 187f; 4.4.6-7, p. 927; Svetasvatara Upanishad
5.11-12, p. 696; Laws of Manu 12.3-9, p. 188; Bhagavad Gita 4.31, p.
868.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Both life and death of such as are firm in their penance and rules are
good. When alive they earn merit and when dead they attain beatitude.
Both life and death of such as indulge in sins are bad. When alive they
add to malice and when dead they are hurled into darkness.
22.
Jainism. Dharmadasaganin, Upadesamala 443-44
Here he grieves, hereafter he grieves. In both states the evil-doer
grieves. He grieves, he is afflicted, perceiving the impurity of his own
deeds.
Here he rejoices, hereafter he rejoices. In both states the well-doer
rejoices. He rejoices, exceedingly rejoices, perceiving the purity of
his own deeds.
Here he suffers, hereafter he suffers. In both states the evil-doer
suffers. "Evil have I done"--thinking thus, he suffers. Having gone to
a woeful state, he suffers even more.
Here he is happy, hereafter he is happy. In both states the well-doer
is happy. "Good have I done"--thinking thus, he is happy. Upon going
to a blissful state, he rejoices even more.
23.
Buddhism. Dhammapada 15-18
Jesus said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth
shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be
loosed in heaven."
24.
Christianity. Bible, Matthew 18.18
As for that abode of the Hereafter, We assign it to those who seek not
oppression in the earth, nor corruption. The sequel is for those who
ward off evil. Whoever brings a good deed, he will have better than the
same; while as for him who brings an ill deed, those who do ill deeds
will be requited only what they did.
25.
Islam. Qur'an 28.83-84
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Upadesamala 443-44: see following note. Dhammapada 15-18: Cf. Anguttara
Nikaya i.279, p. 355; Basavanna, Vacana 239, p. 355; Sun Myung Moon,
4-18-77, p. 355. Matthew 18.18: Jesus gives the authority to bind and
loose to his disciples, and hence to the church; compare Matthew 16.19,
p. 286, where that authority is given only to Peter. For Catholics,
this passage refers mainly to the discipline and grace dispensed by the
church, which, when determined on earth, endures in heaven. But for
Protestants, who reject the mediation of a priesthood, the blessings of
Christ are freely available to every believer as he avails himself of
them through the sacraments, prayer, and good deeds. Hence ultimately it
is the individual's own binding or loosing, while on earth, that will
bind or liberate in heaven. Qur'an 28.83-84: Cf. Majjhima Nikaya
i.389-90, p. 345.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
You can climb up the mountain and down again; you can stroll around the
valley and return; but you cannot go to God and return.
26.
African Traditional Religions. Nupe Proverb (Nigeria)
Sooner, do I declare, would a one-eyed turtle, if he were to pop up to
the surface of the sea only once at the end of every hundred years,
chance to push his neck though a yoke with one hole than would a fool,
who has once gone to the Downfall, be reborn as a man.
27.
Buddhism. Samyutta Nikaya v.455
Death carries away the man who gathers flowers, whose mind is attached
to sensuality, even as a great flood sweeps away a slumbering village.
28.
Buddhism. Dhammapada 47
Rivalry in worldly increase distracts you
Until you visit the graves.
Nay, but you will come to know!
Again, you will come to know!
Would that you knew now with certainty of mind!
For you will behold hell-fire;
Indeed, you will behold it with sure vision.
Then, on that day, you will be asked concerning pleasure.
29.
Islam. Qur'an 102
The untrustworthy lord of death
Waits not for things to be done or undone;
Whether I am sick or healthy,
This fleeting life span is unstable.
Leaving all I must depart alone.
But through not having understood this
I committed various kinds of evil
For the sake of my friends and foes.
Yet my foes will become nothing.
My friends will become nothing.
I too will become nothing.
Likewise all will become nothing.
Just like a dream experience,
Whatever things I enjoy
Will become a memory.
Whatever has passed will not be seen again.
Even within this brief life
Many friends and foes have passed,
But whatever unbearable evil I committed for them
Remains ahead of me....
While I am lying in bed,
Although surrounded by my friends and relatives,
The feeling of life being severed
Will be experienced by me alone.
When seized by the messengers of death,
What benefit will friends and relatives afford?
My merit alone shall protect me then,
But upon that I have never relied.
30.
Buddhism. Shantideva, Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life
2.33-41
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Samyutta Nikaya v.455: The Buddha cautions those who rely on the
doctrine of reincarnation against mistakenly thinking that they will
soon get a second chance at this life.
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