Knjiga Urantije
DIO IV. Isusov život i učenja
POGLAVLJE 131: SVJETSKE RELIGIJE
Paper 131
The World’s Religions
The World’s Religions
TIJEKOM Isusova boravka u Aleksandriji s Gonodom i Ganidom, mladić je proveo velik dio vremena i nemalu svotu očevog novca prikupljajući učenja svjetskih religija o Bogu i njegovu odnosu prema smrtnom čovjeku. Ganid je angažirao više od šezdeset učenih prevoditelja kako bi sastavili ovaj sažetak vjerskih doktrina svijeta koje se odnose na Božanstva. U ovom zapisu treba jasno istaknuti da su sva učenja koja prikazuju monoteizam uvelike izvedena, izravno ili neizravno, iz propovijedanja misionara Makivente Melkizedeka, koji su pošli iz svoga sjedišta u Salemu da bi širili doktrinu o jednom Bogu, Svevišnjem, do krajeva zemlje.
131:0.1 (1442.1)
DURING the Alexandrian sojourn of Jesus, Gonod, and Ganid, the young man spent much of his time and no small sum of his father’s money making a collection of the teachings of the world’s religions about God and his relations with mortal man. Ganid employed more than threescore learned translators in the making of this abstract of the religious doctrines of the world concerning the Deities. And it should be made plain in this record that all these teachings portraying monotheism were largely derived, directly or indirectly, from the preachments of the missionaries of Machiventa Melchizedek, who went forth from their Salem headquarters to spread the doctrine of one God—the Most High—to the ends of the earth.
“Bog je vrhovni; on je Svevišnji neba i zemlje. Bog je usavršeni krug vječnosti i on vlada svemirom nad svemirima. On je jedini stvoritelj nebesa i zemlje. Kada on nešto odredi, to jest. Naš Bog je jedan Bog, a on je suosjećajan i milosrdan. Sve što je uzvišeno, sveto, istinito i lijepo nalik je našem Bogu. Svevišnji je svjetlost neba i zemlje; on je Bog istoka, zapada, sjevera i juga.
131:1.2 (1442.4)
“God is supreme; he is the Most High of heaven and earth. God is the perfected circle of eternity, and he rules the universe of universes. He is the sole maker of the heavens and the earth. When he decrees a thing, that thing is. Our God is one God, and he is compassionate and merciful. Everything that is high, holy, true, and beautiful is like our God. The Most High is the light of heaven and earth; he is the God of the east, the west, the north, and the south.
“Čak i kada bi zemlja nestala, blistavo lice Vrhovnoga ostalo bi u veličanstvu i slavi. Svevišnji je prvi i posljednji, početak i kraj svega. Postoji samo jedan Bog, a njegovo ime je Istina. Bog postoji sam po sebi i lišen je svakog gnjeva i neprijateljstva; on je besmrtan i beskonačan. Naš Bog je svemoćan i darežljiv. Iako ima mnogo očitovanja, mi štujemo samo samoga Boga. Bog zna sve — naše tajne i naše objave; on također zna što svatko od nas zaslužuje. Njegova moć jednaka je svim stvarima.
131:1.3 (1442.5)
“Even if the earth should pass away, the resplendent face of the Supreme would abide in majesty and glory. The Most High is the first and the last, the beginning and the end of everything. There is but this one God, and his name is Truth. God is self-existent, and he is devoid of all anger and enmity; he is immortal and infinite. Our God is omnipotent and bounteous. While he has many manifestations, we worship only God himself. God knows all—our secrets and our proclamations; he also knows what each of us deserves. His might is equal to all things.
“Bog je darivatelj mira i vjeran zaštitnik svih koji ga se boje i koji mu vjeruju. On daje spasenje svima koji mu služe. Sva stvorenja postoje u moći Svevišnjega. Njegova božanska ljubav izvire iz svetosti njegove moći, a privrženost se rađa iz snage njegove veličine. Svevišnji je odredio sjedinjenje tijela i duše te obdario čovjeka vlastitim duhom. Ono što čovjek čini mora imati svoj svršetak, ali ono što Stvoritelj čini traje zauvijek. Znanje stječemo iz čovjekova iskustva, ali mudrost dobivamo iz kontemplacije Svevišnjega.
131:1.4 (1442.6)
“God is a peace giver and a faithful protector of all who fear and trust him. He gives salvation to all who serve him. All creation exists in the power of the Most High. His divine love springs forth from the holiness of his power, and affection is born of the might of his greatness. The Most High has decreed the union of body and soul and has endowed man with his own spirit. What man does must come to an end, but what the Creator does goes on forever. We gain knowledge from the experience of man, but we derive wisdom from the contemplation of the Most High.
“Bog izlijeva kišu na zemlju, čini da sunce sja na klijavo zrno i daje nam obilnu žetvu dobrih stvari ovoga života i vječno spasenje u svijetu koji dolazi. Naš Bog uživa veliku vlast; njegovo ime je Uzvišeni, a njegova je priroda nedokučiva. Kada si bolestan, Svevišnji je taj koji te liječi. Bog je pun dobrote prema svim ljudima; nemamo prijatelja poput Svevišnjega. Njegovo milosrđe ispunjava sva mjesta, a njegova dobrota obuhvaća sve duše. Svevišnji je nepromjenjiv; i on je naš pomagač u svako doba potrebe. Kamo god se okreneš u molitvi, tu je lice Svevišnjega i otvoreno uho našega Boga. Možeš se sakriti od ljudi, ali ne i od Boga. Bog nije daleko od nas; on je posvuda prisutan. Bog ispunjava sva mjesta i živi u srcu čovjeka koji se boji njegova svetog imena. Stvorenje je u Stvoritelju i Stvoritelj u svom stvaranju. Tražimo Svevišnjega i potom ga nalazimo u svojim srcima. Tražiš dragog prijatelja i zatim ga otkrivaš u svojoj duši.
131:1.5 (1443.1)
“God pours rain upon the earth, he causes the sun to shine upon the sprouting grain, and he gives us the abundant harvest of the good things of this life and eternal salvation in the world to come. Our God enjoys great authority; his name is Excellent and his nature is unfathomable. When you are sick, it is the Most High who heals you. God is full of goodness toward all men; we have no friend like the Most High. His mercy fills all places and his goodness encompasses all souls. The Most High is changeless; and he is our helper in every time of need. Wherever you turn to pray, there is the face of the Most High and the open ear of our God. You may hide yourself from men, but not from God. God is not a great distance from us; he is omnipresent. God fills all places and lives in the heart of the man who fears his holy name. Creation is in the Creator and the Creator in his creation. We search for the Most High and then find him in our hearts. You go in quest of a dear friend, and then you discover him within your soul.
“Čovjek koji poznaje Boga gleda na sve ljude kao jednake; oni su njegova braća. Oni koji su sebični, oni koji zanemaruju svoju braću u tijelu, imaju samo umor kao svoju nagradu. Oni koji vole svoje bližnje i koji imaju čista srca vidjet će Boga. Bog nikada ne zaboravlja iskrenost. On će voditi one poštena srca u istinu, jer Bog je istina.
131:1.6 (1443.2)
“The man who knows God looks upon all men as equal; they are his brethren. Those who are selfish, those who ignore their brothers in the flesh, have only weariness as their reward. Those who love their fellows and who have pure hearts shall see God. God never forgets sincerity. He will guide the honest of heart into the truth, for God is truth.
“U svojim životima svrgavajte zabludu i pobjeđujte zlo ljubavlju žive istine. U svim svojim odnosima s ljudima činite dobro za zlo. Gospod Bog je milosrdan i ljubavi pun; on oprašta. Ljubimo Boga, jer on je prvi ljubio nas. Božjom ljubavlju i njegovim milosrđem bit ćemo spašeni. Siromašni i bogati ljudi su braća. Bog je njihov Otac. Ono zlo koje ne biste željeli da se čini vama, ne činite drugima.
131:1.7 (1443.3)
“In your lives overthrow error and overcome evil by the love of the living truth. In all your relations with men do good for evil. The Lord God is merciful and loving; he is forgiving. Let us love God, for he first loved us. By God’s love and through his mercy we shall be saved. Poor men and rich men are brothers. God is their Father. The evil you would not have done you, do not to others.
“U svako doba prizivajte njegovo ime, i kako vjerujete u njegovo ime, tako će vaša molitva biti uslišana. Kakva je velika čast štovati Svevišnjega! Svi svjetovi i svemiri štuju Svevišnjega. I sa svim svojim molitvama zahvaljujte – uzdignite se u štovanje. Molitveno štovanje izbjegava zlo i zabranjuje grijeh. U svako doba hvalimo ime Svevišnjega. Čovjek koji nalazi zaklon u Svevišnjem skriva svoje mane od svemira. Kada stojite pred Bogom čistoga srca, postajete neustrašivi pred svim stvaranjem. Svevišnji je poput ljubećeg oca i majke; on doista voli nas, svoju djecu na zemlji. Naš Bog će nam oprostiti i voditi naše korake putem spasenja. On će nas uzeti za ruku i povesti k sebi. Bog spašava one koji mu vjeruju; on ne prisiljava čovjeka da služi njegovu imenu.
131:1.8 (1443.4)
“At all times call upon his name, and as you believe in his name, so shall your prayer be heard. What a great honor it is to worship the Most High! All the worlds and the universes worship the Most High. And with all your prayers give thanks—ascend to worship. Prayerful worship shuns evil and forbids sin. At all times let us praise the name of the Most High. The man who takes shelter in the Most High conceals his defects from the universe. When you stand before God with a clean heart, you become fearless of all creation. The Most High is like a loving father and mother; he really loves us, his children on earth. Our God will forgive us and guide our footsteps into the ways of salvation. He will take us by the hand and lead us to himself. God saves those who trust him; he does not compel man to serve his name.
“Ako je vjera u Svevišnjega ušla u tvoje srce, tada ćeš ostati slobodan od straha kroz sve dane svog života. Ne uznemiruj se zbog blagostanja bezbožnih; ne boj se onih koji spletkare zlo; neka ti se duša okrene od grijeha i neka se cijelo svoje pouzdanje položi u Boga spasenja. Umorna duša lutajućeg smrtnika nalazi vječni počinak u naručju Svevišnjega; mudrac žudi za božanskim zagrljajem; dijete zemlje čezne za sigurnošću u naručju Oca Svih. Plemenit čovjek traži ono uzvišeno stanje u kojem se duša smrtnika stapa s duhom Vrhovnoga. Bog je pravedan: Plod koji ne primimo od svojih zasada na ovom svijetu, primit ćemo u sljedećem.
131:1.9 (1443.5)
“If the faith of the Most High has entered your heart, then shall you abide free from fear throughout all the days of your life. Fret not yourself because of the prosperity of the ungodly; fear not those who plot evil; let the soul turn away from sin and put your whole trust in the God of salvation. The weary soul of the wandering mortal finds eternal rest in the arms of the Most High; the wise man hungers for the divine embrace; the earth child longs for the security of the arms of the Universal Father. The noble man seeks for that high estate wherein the soul of the mortal blends with the spirit of the Supreme. God is just: What fruit we receive not from our plantings in this world we shall receive in the next.”
“U početku je Bog stvorio nebesa i zemlju i sve što je u njima. I gle, sve što je stvorio bijaše veoma dobro. Gospod, on je Bog; nema drugoga osim njega ni na nebu gore ni na zemlji dolje. Stoga ćeš voljeti Gospoda, Boga svoga, svim svojim srcem i svom svojom dušom i svom svojom snagom. Zemlja će biti puna spoznaje Gospodnje kao što vode pokrivaju more. Nebesa kazuju slavu Božju, a svod objavljuje djelo ruku njegovih. Dan za danom iznosi govor; noć za noći otkriva znanje. Nema govora ni jezika gdje se njihov glas ne čuje. Djelo Gospodnje je veliko, i u mudrosti je sve stvorio; veličina Gospodnja je neistraživa. On zna broj zvijezda; sve ih zove po njihovim imenima.
131:2.2 (1444.2)
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth and all things therein. And, behold, all he created was very good. The Lord, he is God; there is none beside him in heaven above or upon the earth beneath. Therefore shall you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows his handiwork. Day after day utters speech; night after night shows knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. The Lord’s work is great, and in wisdom has he made all things; the greatness of the Lord is unsearchable. He knows the number of the stars; he calls them all by their names.
“Moć Gospodnja je velika, a njegovo razumijevanje beskrajno. Gospod kaže: ‘Kao što su nebesa viša od zemlje, tako su moji putovi viši od vaših putova i moje misli više od vaših misli.’ Bog otkriva duboke i tajne stvari jer svjetlost prebiva u njemu. Gospod je milosrdan i milostiv; on je strpljiv i obiluje dobrotom i istinom. Gospod je dobar i pravedan; on će krotke voditi u sudu. Kušajte i vidite kako je Gospod dobar! Blagoslovljen je čovjek koji vjeruje Bogu. Bog je naše utočište i snaga, vrlo bliska pomoć u nevolji.
131:2.3 (1444.3)
“The power of the Lord is great and his understanding infinite. Says the Lord: ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.’ God reveals the deep and secret things because the light dwells with him. The Lord is merciful and gracious; he is long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth. The Lord is good and upright; the meek will he guide in judgment. Taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who trusts God. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
“Milost Gospodnja je od vječnosti do vječnosti nad onima koji ga se boje, a njegova pravednost i na djeci njihove djece. Gospod je milostiv i pun suosjećanja. Gospod je dobar prema svima, a njegova nježna milosrđa nad svim su njegovim stvorenjima; on iscjeljuje slomljena srca i povija njihove rane. Kamo da pođem od Božjega duha? Kamo da pobjegnem od božanske prisutnosti? Ovako govori Višnji i Uzvišeni, koji prebiva u vječnosti, kojem je ime Sveti: ‘Prebivam na visokom i svetom mjestu; ali i s onim koji je skrušena srca i ponizna duha!’ Nitko se ne može sakriti od našega Boga, jer on ispunja nebo i zemlju. Neka se nebesa vesele i neka se zemlja raduje. Neka svi narodi kažu: Gospod vlada! Zahvaljujte Bogu, jer njegova milost traje dovijeka.
131:2.4 (1444.4)
“The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon those who fear him and his righteousness even to our children’s children. The Lord is gracious and full of compassion. The Lord is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his creation; he heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Whither shall I go from God’s spirit? whither shall I flee from the divine presence? Thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place; also with him who is of a contrite heart and a humble spirit!’ None can hide himself from our God, for he fills heaven and earth. Let the heavens be glad and let the earth rejoice. Let all nations say: The Lord reigns! Give thanks to God, for his mercy endures forever.
“Nebesa objavljuju Božju pravednost, i svi su narodi vidjeli njegovu slavu. Bog je taj koji nas je stvorio, a ne mi sami; mi smo njegov narod, ovce paše njegove. Njegova je milost vječna, a njegova istina traje kroz sve naraštaje. Naš Bog je upravitelj među narodima. Neka se zemlja ispuni njegovom slavom! O, kad bi ljudi hvalili Gospoda zbog njegove dobrote i zbog njegovih divnih darova sinovima ljudskim!
131:2.5 (1444.5)
“The heavens declare God’s righteousness, and all the people have seen his glory. It is God who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. His mercy is everlasting, and his truth endures to all generations. Our God is governor among the nations. Let the earth be filled with his glory! O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful gifts to the children of men!
“Bog je čovjeka učinio malo manjim od božanskoga i okrunio ga ljubavlju i milosrđem. Gospod zna put pravednih, ali put bezbožnih propast će. Strah Gospodnji početak je mudrosti; spoznaja Vrhovnoga jest razumijevanje. Svemogući Bog kaže: ‘Hodi preda mnom i budi savršen.’ Ne zaboravi da oholost ide pred propast, a uznosit duh pred pad. Tko vlada svojim duhom moćniji je od onoga koji zauzima grad. Gospod Bog, Sveti, kaže: ‘U vraćanju svome duhovnom počinku bit ćete spašeni; u tišini i povjerenju bit će vaša snaga.’ Oni koji čekaju Gospoda obnovit će svoju snagu; vinut će se na krilima kao orlovi. Trčat će i neće malaksati; hodat će i neće klonuti. Gospod će vam dati odmor od vašega straha. Gospod kaže: ‘Ne boj se, jer ja sam s tobom. Ne plaši se, jer ja sam tvoj Bog. Ja ću te ojačati; ja ću ti pomoći; da, poduprijet ću te desnicom svoje pravednosti.’
131:2.6 (1444.6)
“God has made man a little less than divine and has crowned him with love and mercy. The Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; the knowledge of the Supreme is understanding. Says the Almighty God: ‘Walk before me and be perfect.’ Forget not that pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. He who rules his own spirit is mightier than he who takes a city. Says the Lord God, the Holy One: ‘In returning to your spiritual rest shall you be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.’ They who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not be faint. The Lord shall give you rest from your fear. Says the Lord: ‘Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.’
“Bog je naš Otac; Gospod je naš otkupitelj. Bog je stvorio nebeske vojske i sve ih održava. Njegova je pravednost poput planina, a njegov sud poput velikih dubina. On nas poji s rijeke svojih radosti, a u njegovoj svjetlosti vidjet ćemo svjetlo. Dobro je zahvaljivati Gospodu i pjevati hvale Svevišnjem; objavljivati ljubav ujutro i božansku vjernost svake noći. Božje kraljevstvo je vječno kraljevstvo i njegova vlast traje kroz sve naraštaje. Gospod je moj pastir; ništa mi neće nedostajati. Na zelenim pašnjacima daje mi ležati; vodi me kraj tihih voda. On obnavlja moju dušu. Vodi me stazama pravednosti. Da, čak i kad hodam dolinom sjene smrti, neću se bojati zla, jer Bog je sa mnom. Sigurno će me dobrota i milosrđe pratiti sve dane moga života, i stanovat ću u domu Gospodnjem zauvijek.
131:2.7 (1445.1)
“God is our Father; the Lord is our redeemer. God has created the universal hosts, and he preserves them all. His righteousness is like the mountains and his judgment like the great deep. He causes us to drink of the river of his pleasures, and in his light we shall see light. It is good to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praises to the Most High; to show forth loving-kindness in the morning and the divine faithfulness every night. God’s kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures throughout all generations. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in the paths of righteousness. Yes, even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for God is with me. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
“Jahve je Bog mojega spasenja; stoga ću u božansko ime staviti svoje pouzdanje. U Gospoda ću se uzdati svim svojim srcem; neću se oslanjati na svoje vlastito razumijevanje. Na svim svojim putovima priznat ću ga, i on će upraviti moje staze. Gospod je vjeran; on drži svoju riječ s onima koji mu služe; pravednik će živjeti po svojoj vjeri. Ako ne činiš dobro, to je zato što grijeh leži na vratima; ljudi žanju zlo koje oru i grijeh koji siju. Ne uznemiruj se zbog zlotvora. Ako njeguješ bezakonje u svome srcu, Gospod te neće čuti; ako sagriješiš protiv Boga, griješiš i protiv svoje duše. Bog će izvesti djela svakog čovjeka na sud s onim što je skriveno, bilo dobro ili zlo. Kako čovjek misli u svome srcu, takav jest.
131:2.8 (1445.2)
“Yahweh is the God of my salvation; therefore in the divine name will I put my trust. I will trust in the Lord with all my heart; I will lean not upon my own understanding. In all my ways I will acknowledge him, and he shall direct my paths. The Lord is faithful; he keeps his word with those who serve him; the just shall live by his faith. If you do not well, it is because sin lies at the door; men reap the evil they plough and the sin they sow. Fret not yourself because of evildoers. If you regard iniquity in your heart, the Lord will not hear you; if you sin against God, you also wrong your own soul. God will bring every man’s work to judgment with every secret thing, whether it be good or evil. As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.
“Gospod je blizu svima koji ga prizivaju iskreno i u istini. Plač može trajati jednu noć, ali radost dolazi ujutro. Veselo srce čini dobro kao lijek. Ništa dobro Bog neće uskratiti onima koji hodaju pravedno. Bojte se Boga i držite njegove zapovijedi, jer to je cjelokupna dužnost čovjeka. Ovako govori Gospod koji je stvorio nebesa i oblikovao zemlju: ‘Nema Boga osim mene, pravednog Boga i spasitelja. Pogledajte me i spasite se, svi krajevi zemlje. Tražite me i naći ćete me ako me budete tražili svim srcem.’ Krotki će naslijediti zemlju i radovati se u obilju mira. Tko sije nepravdu, požnjeće nesreću; oni koji siju vjetar, požnjeće vihor.
131:2.9 (1445.3)
“The Lord is near all who call upon him in sincerity and in truth. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. A merry heart does good like a medicine. No good thing will God withhold from those who walk uprightly. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Thus says the Lord who created the heavens and who formed the earth: ‘There is no God beside me, a just God and a savior. Look to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth. If you seek me, you shall find me if you search for me with all your heart.’ The meek shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. Whoever sows iniquity shall reap calamity; they who sow the wind shall reap the whirlwind.
“‘Dođite sada, raspravljajmo zajedno,’ kaže Gospod, ‘Iako vaši grijesi budu poput škrlata, bit će bijeli kao snijeg. Iako budu crveni poput grimizne boje, bit će poput vune.’ Ali nema mira za zle; to su vaši vlastiti grijesi koji su vas lišili dobrih stvari. Bog je zdravlje moga lica i radost moje duše. Vječni Bog je moja snaga; on je naše utočište, a ispod su vječne ruke. Gospod je blizu onih koji su slomljena srca; on spašava sve koji imaju dječji duh. Mnogo je nevolja pravednika, ali Gospod ga oslobađa iz svih njih. Povjeri svoj put Gospodu — vjeruj mu — i on će ga izvršiti. Tko prebiva na skrivenom mjestu Svevišnjega, ostaje pod sjenom Svemogućega.
131:2.10 (1445.4)
“‘Come now, let us reason together,’ says the Lord, ‘Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.’ But there is no peace for the wicked; it is your own sins which have withheld the good things from you. God is the health of my countenance and the joy of my soul. The eternal God is my strength; he is our dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. The Lord is near to those who are brokenhearted; he saves all who have a childlike spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous man, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. Commit your way to the Lord—trust him—and he will bring it to pass. He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
“Ljubi svojega bližnjega kao samoga sebe; nemoj mrziti nijednog čovjeka. Ono što mrziš, ne čini nikome. Ljubi svog brata, jer Gospod je rekao: ‘Ja ću slobodno ljubiti svoju djecu.’ Put pravednika je poput svjetlosti koja sve više sjaji dok ne dođe savršen dan. Oni koji su mudri sjajat će poput sjaja nebeskog svoda, a oni koji mnoge privode pravednosti kao zvijezde dovijeka i dovijeka. Neka zli napusti svoj zli put, a nepravednik svoje pobunjene misli. Gospod kaže: ‘Neka se vrate k meni, i ja ću im pokazati milosrđe; obilno ću oprostiti.’
131:2.11 (1445.5)
“Love your neighbor as yourself; bear a grudge against no man. Whatsoever you hate do to no man. Love your brother, for the Lord has said: ‘I will love my children freely.’ The path of the just is as a shining light which shines more and more until the perfect day. They who are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament and they who turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever. Let the wicked forsake his evil way and the unrighteous man his rebellious thoughts. Says the Lord: ‘Let them return to me, and I will have mercy on them; I will abundantly pardon.’
“Bog, Stvoritelj neba i zemlje, kaže: ‘Veliki mir imaju oni koji ljube moj zakon. Moje zapovijedi su: Ljubit ćeš me svim svojim srcem; nećeš imati drugih bogova osim mene; nećeš uzimati ime moje uzalud; sjeti se subotnjeg dana da ga posvetiš; poštuj oca i majku; nećeš ubiti; nećeš činiti preljub; nećeš krasti; nećeš svjedočiti lažno; nećeš željeti što ti ne pripada.’
131:2.12 (1446.1)
“Says God, the creator of heaven and earth: ‘Great peace have they who love my law. My commandments are: You shall love me with all your heart; you shall have no gods before me; you shall not take my name in vain; remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy; honor your father and mother; you shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not covet.’
“A svima koji ljube Gospoda iznad svega i svoje bližnje kao same sebe, Bog neba kaže: ‘Otkupit ću vas iz groba; izbavit ću vas od smrti. Bit ću milosrdan vašoj djeci, kao i pravedan. Nisam li rekao o svojim stvorenjima na zemlji: vi ste sinovi Boga živoga? I nisam li vas ljubio vječnom ljubavlju? Nisam li vas pozvao da postanete poput mene i da sa mnom zauvijek prebivate u Raju?’”
131:2.13 (1446.1)
“And to all who love the Lord supremely and their neighbors like themselves, the God of heaven says: ‘I will ransom you from the grave; I will redeem you from death. I will be merciful to your children, as well as just. Have I not said of my creatures on earth, you are the sons of the living God? And have I not loved you with an everlasting love? Have I not called you to become like me and to dwell forever with me in Paradise?’”
Ganid je bio zapanjen spoznajom koliko je budizam bio blizu tome da postane velika i lijepa religija bez Boga, bez osobnog i univerzalnog Božanstva. Ipak, pronašao je neke zapise o ranijim vjerovanjima koja odražavaju utjecaj učenja Melkizedekovih misionara, koji su nastavili djelovati u Indiji sve do vremena Bude. Isus i Ganid prikupili su sljedeće izjave iz budističke literature:
131:3.1 (1446.3)
Ganid was shocked to discover how near Buddhism came to being a great and beautiful religion without God, without a personal and universal Deity. However, he did find some record of certain earlier beliefs which reflected something of the influence of the teachings of the Melchizedek missionaries who continued their work in India even to the times of Buddha. Jesus and Ganid collected the following statements from the Buddhist literature:
“Iz čistoga srca proizaći će radost prema Beskonačnom; cijelo moje biće bit će u miru s ovim nadsmrtnim veseljem. Moja je duša ispunjena zadovoljstvom, a moje srce prelijeva se blaženstvom mirnog pouzdanja. Nemam straha; oslobođen sam tjeskobe. Prebivam u sigurnosti i moji me neprijatelji ne mogu uznemiriti. Zadovoljan sam plodovima svog pouzdanja. Pristup Besmrtniku nalazim lako dostupnim. Molim za vjeru koja će me održati na dugom putovanju; znam da me vjera s drugoga svijeta neće iznevjeriti. Znam da će moji braća napredovati ako se obogate vjerom Besmrtnoga, čak vjerom koja stvara poniznost, pravednost, mudrost, hrabrost, znanje i ustrajnost. Napustimo tugu i odreknimo se straha. Vjerom se primimo istinske pravednosti i istinske muževnosti. Naučimo meditirati o pravdi i milosrđu. Vjera je pravo bogatstvo čovjeka; to je dar vrline i slave.
131:3.2 (1446.4)
“Out of a pure heart shall gladness spring forth to the Infinite; all my being shall be at peace with this supermortal rejoicing. My soul is filled with content, and my heart overflows with the bliss of peaceful trust. I have no fear; I am free from anxiety. I dwell in security, and my enemies cannot alarm me. I am satisfied with the fruits of my confidence. I have found the approach to the Immortal easy of access. I pray for faith to sustain me on the long journey; I know that faith from beyond will not fail me. I know my brethren will prosper if they become imbued with the faith of the Immortal, even the faith that creates modesty, uprightness, wisdom, courage, knowledge, and perseverance. Let us forsake sorrow and disown fear. By faith let us lay hold upon true righteousness and genuine manliness. Let us learn to meditate on justice and mercy. Faith is man’s true wealth; it is the endowment of virtue and glory.
“Nepravednost je prezrena; grijeh je odvratan. Zlo je ponižavajuće, bilo da se drži u mislima ili provodi u djelima. Bol i tuga slijede put zla kao što prašina slijedi vjetar. Sreća i mir uma slijede čiste misli i vrlinski život kao što sjena slijedi tvar materijalnih stvari. Zlo je plod pogrešno usmjerenih misli. Zlo je vidjeti grijeh gdje ga nema; zlo je ne vidjeti grijeh gdje on postoji. Zlo je put lažnih doktrina. Oni koji izbjegavaju zlo gledajući stvari onakvima kakve jesu, stječu radost prihvaćanjem istine. Prekini svoju nesreću preziranjem grijeha. Kada se uzdigneš prema Plemenitome, okreni se od grijeha cijelim srcem. Ne traži opravdanje za zlo; ne izmišljaj izlike za grijeh. Svojim nastojanjima da ispraviš prošle grijehe stječeš snagu da odoliš budućim tendencijama prema njima. Suzdržanost se rađa iz pokajanja. Ne ostavljaj nijednu krivnju neiskazanu Plemenitome.
131:3.3 (1446.5)
“Unrighteousness is contemptible; sin is despicable. Evil is degrading, whether held in thought or wrought out in deeds. Pain and sorrow follow in the path of evil as the dust follows the wind. Happiness and peace of mind follow pure thinking and virtuous living as the shadow follows the substance of material things. Evil is the fruit of wrongly directed thinking. It is evil to see sin where there is no sin; to see no sin where there is sin. Evil is the path of false doctrines. Those who avoid evil by seeing things as they are gain joy by thus embracing the truth. Make an end of your misery by loathing sin. When you look up to the Noble One, turn away from sin with a whole heart. Make no apology for evil; make no excuse for sin. By your efforts to make amends for past sins you acquire strength to resist future tendencies thereto. Restraint is born of repentance. Leave no fault unconfessed to the Noble One.
“Veselost i radost nagrade su za dobro učinjena djela i za slavu Besmrtnoga. Nijedan čovjek ne može ti otuđiti slobodu tvoga vlastitog uma. Kada vjera tvoje religije oslobodi tvoje srce, kada je um, poput planine, smiren i nepokolebljiv, tada će mir duše teći spokojno poput rijeke. Oni koji su sigurni u spasenje zauvijek su slobodni od požude, zavisti, mržnje i zabluda bogatstva. Iako je vjera energija boljeg života, ipak moraš strpljivo ostvarivati svoje spasenje. Ako želiš biti siguran u svoje konačno spasenje, tada se pobrini da iskreno nastojiš izvršiti svu pravednost. Njeguj uvjerenje srca koje izvire iznutra i tako dolaziš do uživanja u ekstazi vječnog spasenja.
131:3.4 (1447.1)
“Cheerfulness and gladness are the rewards of deeds well done and to the glory of the Immortal. No man can rob you of the liberty of your own mind. When the faith of your religion has emancipated your heart, when the mind, like a mountain, is settled and immovable, then shall the peace of the soul flow tranquilly like a river of waters. Those who are sure of salvation are forever free from lust, envy, hatred, and the delusions of wealth. While faith is the energy of the better life, nevertheless, must you work out your own salvation with perseverance. If you would be certain of your final salvation, then make sure that you sincerely seek to fulfill all righteousness. Cultivate the assurance of the heart which springs from within and thus come to enjoy the ecstasy of eternal salvation.
“Nijedan religiozni čovjek ne može se nadati postizanju prosvjetljenja besmrtne mudrosti ako ustraje u lijenosti, tromosti, slabosti, neradu, bezobrazluku i sebičnosti. Ali tko je promišljen, razborit, reflektivan, žarom ispunjen i ozbiljan—čak i dok još živi na zemlji—može dosegnuti vrhunsko prosvjetljenje mira i slobode božanske mudrosti. Sjeti se, svaki čin dobit će svoju nagradu. Zlo rezultira tugom, a grijeh završava boli. Radost i sreća plod su dobrog života. Čak i zlotvor uživa u sezoni milosti prije vremena punog sazrijevanja svojih zlih djela, ali neizbježno mora doći puna žetva zla. Neka nitko ne omalovažava grijeh, govoreći u srcu: ‘Kazna za zlo neće me dostići.’ Ono što činiš, bit će učinjeno tebi, u sudu mudrosti. Nepravda učinjena bližnjima vratit će se tebi. Stvorenje ne može pobjeći od sudbine svojih djela.
131:3.5 (1447.2)
“No religionist may hope to attain the enlightenment of immortal wisdom who persists in being slothful, indolent, feeble, idle, shameless, and selfish. But whoso is thoughtful, prudent, reflective, fervent, and earnest—even while he yet lives on earth—may attain the supreme enlightenment of the peace and liberty of divine wisdom. Remember, every act shall receive its reward. Evil results in sorrow and sin ends in pain. Joy and happiness are the outcome of a good life. Even the evildoer enjoys a season of grace before the time of the full ripening of his evil deeds, but inevitably there must come the full harvest of evil-doing. Let no man think lightly of sin, saying in his heart: ‘The penalty of wrongdoing shall not come near me.’ What you do shall be done to you, in the judgment of wisdom. Injustice done to your fellows shall come back upon you. The creature cannot escape the destiny of his deeds.
“Budala je rekao u srcu: ‘Zlo me neće zadesiti’; ali sigurnost se nalazi samo kada duša žudi za opomenom, a um traži mudrost. Mudrac je plemenita duša koja je prijateljska usred svojih neprijatelja, spokojna među nemirnima i velikodušna među gramzivima. Ljubav prema sebi je poput korova u plodnom polju. Sebičnost vodi do tuge; stalna briga ubija. Ukroćeni um donosi sreću. Najveći je ratnik onaj koji nadvlada i pokori samoga sebe. Suzdržanost u svemu je dobra. Samo je on superiorna osoba koja cijeni vrlinu i izvršava svoje dužnosti. Neka te ne svladaju ljutnja i mržnja. Ne govori grubo o nikome. Zadovoljstvo je najveće bogatstvo. Ono što se daje mudro, dobro je očuvano. Ne čini drugima ono što ne bi želio da tebi učine. Uzvrati dobro za zlo; pobijedi zlo dobrotom.
131:3.6 (1447.3)
“The fool has said in his heart, ‘Evil shall not overtake me’; but safety is found only when the soul craves reproof and the mind seeks wisdom. The wise man is a noble soul who is friendly in the midst of his enemies, tranquil among the turbulent, and generous among the grasping. Love of self is like weeds in a goodly field. Selfishness leads to grief; perpetual care kills. The tamed mind yields happiness. He is the greatest of warriors who overcomes and subdues himself. Restraint in all things is good. He alone is a superior person who esteems virtue and is observant of his duty. Let not anger and hate master you. Speak harshly of no one. Contentment is the greatest wealth. What is given wisely is well saved. Do not to others those things you would not wish done to you. Pay good for evil; overcome evil with the good.
“Pravedna duša je poželjnija od vladavine nad cijelom zemljom. Besmrtnost je cilj iskrenosti; smrt je kraj bezumnog života. Oni koji su iskreni ne umiru; nepromišljeni su već mrtvi. Blago onima koji imaju uvid u besmrtno stanje. Oni koji muče žive jedva će naći sreću nakon smrti. Nesebični idu u nebo, gdje se vesele u blaženstvu beskonačne darežljivosti i nastavljaju rasti u plemenitoj velikodušnosti. Svaki smrtnik koji misli pravedno, govori plemenito i djeluje nesebično uživat će ne samo u vrlini ovdje tijekom ovog kratkog života, već će, nakon raspada tijela, nastaviti uživati u užicima neba.
131:3.7 (1447.4)
“A righteous soul is more to be desired than the sovereignty of all the earth. Immortality is the goal of sincerity; death, the end of thoughtless living. Those who are earnest die not; the thoughtless are dead already. Blessed are they who have insight into the deathless state. Those who torture the living will hardly find happiness after death. The unselfish go to heaven, where they rejoice in the bliss of infinite liberality and continue to increase in noble generosity. Every mortal who thinks righteously, speaks nobly, and acts unselfishly shall not only enjoy virtue here during this brief life but shall also, after the dissolution of the body, continue to enjoy the delights of heaven.”
131:4.1 (1447.5)
The missionaries of Melchizedek carried the teachings of the one God with them wherever they journeyed. Much of this monotheistic doctrine, together with other and previous concepts, became embodied in the subsequent teachings of Hinduism. Jesus and Ganid made the following excerpts:
“On je veliki Bog, u svemu vrhovni. On je Gospod koji obuhvaća sve stvari. On je tvorac i upravitelj svemira nad svemirima. Bog je jedan Bog; on je sam po sebi; on je jedini. I ovaj jedini Bog je naš Stvoritelj i posljednja sudbina duše. Vrhovni je sjajan neizrecivo; on je Svjetlost svjetlosti. Svako srce i svaki svijet osvijetljeni su ovom božanskom svjetlošću. Bog je naš zaštitnik—on stoji uz svoja stvorenja—i oni koji ga nauče poznavati postaju besmrtni. Bog je veliki izvor energije; on je Velika Duša. On ima univerzalnu vlast nad svime. Ovaj jedini Bog je ljubazan, slavljen i obožavan. Naš Bog je vrhovan u moći i prebiva u vrhovnom boravištu. Ova istinska Osoba je vječna i božanska; on je prvobitni Gospod neba. Svi proroci su ga slavili, i on se objavio nama. Mi ga štujemo. O, Vrhovna Osobo, izvoru bića, Gospode stvaranja i upravitelju svemira, otkrij nam, tvojim stvorenjima, moć kojom prebivaš imanentno! Bog je stvorio sunce i zvijezde; on je sjajan, čist i samopostojan. Njegovo vječno znanje je božanski mudro. Vječni nije prodriven zlom. Budući da je svemir proizašao od Boga, on njime i pravedno upravlja. On je uzrok stvaranja, i stoga su sve stvari u njemu utemeljene.
131:4.2 (1448.1)
“He is the great God, in every way supreme. He is the Lord who encompasses all things. He is the creator and controller of the universe of universes. God is one God; he is alone and by himself; he is the only one. And this one God is our Maker and the last destiny of the soul. The Supreme One is brilliant beyond description; he is the Light of Lights. Every heart and every world is illuminated by this divine light. God is our protector—he stands by the side of his creatures—and those who learn to know him become immortal. God is the great source of energy; he is the Great Soul. He exercises universal lordship over all. This one God is loving, glorious, and adorable. Our God is supreme in power and abides in the supreme abode. This true Person is eternal and divine; he is the primal Lord of heaven. All the prophets have hailed him, and he has revealed himself to us. We worship him. O Supreme Person, source of beings, Lord of creation, and ruler of the universe, reveal to us, your creatures, the power whereby you abide immanent! God has made the sun and the stars; he is bright, pure, and self-existent. His eternal knowledge is divinely wise. The Eternal is unpenetrated by evil. Inasmuch as the universe sprang from God, he does rule it appropriately. He is the cause of creation, and hence are all things established in him.
“Bog je sigurno utočište svakog dobrog čovjeka u nevolji; Besmrtni se brine za cijelo čovječanstvo. Božje spasenje je snažno, a njegova dobrota je milostiva. On je ljubazni zaštitnik, blagoslovljeni branitelj. Gospod kaže: ‘Prebivam u njihovim vlastitim dušama kao svjetiljka mudrosti. Ja sam sjaj sjajnih i dobrota dobrih. Gdje se dvoje ili troje okupe, tamo sam i ja.’ Stvorenje ne može pobjeći od prisutnosti Stvoritelja. Gospod broji i neprestano treptanje očiju svakog smrtnika; i mi štujemo ovo božansko Biće kao našeg nerazdvojnog suputnika. On je svemoguć, darežljiv, sveprisutni i beskrajno dobar. Gospod je naš vladar, zaklon i vrhovni upravitelj, a njegov iskonski duh prebiva u smrtnikovoj duši. Vječni Svjedok poroka i vrline prebiva u srcu čovjeka. Dugotrajno meditirajmo o obožavanom i božanskom Oživljivaču; neka njegov duh u potpunosti usmjeri naše misli. Iz ovog nestvarnog svijeta vodi nas k stvarnom! Iz tame vodi nas k svjetlu! Iz smrti nas vodi k besmrtnosti!
131:4.3 (1448.2)
“God is the sure refuge of every good man when in need; the Immortal One cares for all mankind. God’s salvation is strong and his kindness is gracious. He is a loving protector, a blessed defender. Says the Lord: ‘I dwell within their own souls as a lamp of wisdom. I am the splendor of the splendid and the goodness of the good. Where two or three gather together, there am I also.’ The creature cannot escape the presence of the Creator. The Lord even counts the ceaseless winking of every mortal’s eyes; and we worship this divine Being as our inseparable companion. He is all-prevailing, bountiful, omnipresent, and infinitely kind. The Lord is our ruler, shelter, and supreme controller, and his primeval spirit dwells within the mortal soul. The Eternal Witness to vice and virtue dwells within man’s heart. Let us long meditate on the adorable and divine Vivifier; let his spirit fully direct our thoughts. From this unreal world lead us to the real! From darkness lead us to the light! From death guide us to immortality!
“S srcima očišćenim od svake mržnje, štujmo Vječnog. Naš Bog je Gospod molitve; on čuje vapaj svoje djece. Neka svi ljudi podlože svoje volje njemu, Odlučnom. Radujmo se darežljivosti Gospoda molitve. Neka molitva bude tvoj najbolji prijatelj, a štovanje oslonac tvoje duše. ‘Ako me samo štuješ u ljubavi,’ kaže Vječni, ‘dat ću ti mudrost da me dostigneš, jer moje štovanje je vrlina zajednička svim stvorenjima.’ Bog je osvjetljivač tmurnih i snaga onih koji klonu. Budući da je Bog naš snažni prijatelj, ne poznajemo više strah. Hvalimo ime nepobjedivog Pobjednika. Štujemo ga jer je vjeran i vječni pomagač čovjeku. Bog je naš siguran vođa i nepogrešivi vodič. On je veliki roditelj neba i zemlje, onaj koji posjeduje neograničenu energiju i beskonačnu mudrost. Njegov sjaj je uzvišen, a ljepota božanska. On je vrhovno utočište svemira i nemijenjajući čuvar vječnog zakona. Naš Bog je Gospod života i Utješitelj svih ljudi; on je ljubitelj čovječanstva i pomagač onima koji su u nevolji. On je naš darivatelj života i Dobri Pastir ljudskih stada. Bog je naš otac, brat i prijatelj. I žudimo upoznati ovog Boga u svojoj unutarnjoj biti.
131:4.4 (1448.3)
“With our hearts purged of all hate, let us worship the Eternal. Our God is the Lord of prayer; he hears the cry of his children. Let all men submit their wills to him, the Resolute. Let us delight in the liberality of the Lord of prayer. Make prayer your inmost friend and worship your soul’s support. ‘If you will but worship me in love,’ says the Eternal, ‘I will give you the wisdom to attain me, for my worship is the virtue common to all creatures.’ God is the illuminator of the gloomy and the power of those who are faint. Since God is our strong friend, we have no more fear. We praise the name of the never-conquered Conqueror. We worship him because he is man’s faithful and eternal helper. God is our sure leader and unfailing guide. He is the great parent of heaven and earth, possessed of unlimited energy and infinite wisdom. His splendor is sublime and his beauty divine. He is the supreme refuge of the universe and the changeless guardian of everlasting law. Our God is the Lord of life and the Comforter of all men; he is the lover of mankind and the helper of those who are distressed. He is our life giver and the Good Shepherd of the human flocks. God is our father, brother, and friend. And we long to know this God in our inner being.
“Naučili smo stjecati vjeru čežnjom naših srca. Mudrost smo postigli suzdržavanjem svojih osjetila, i kroz mudrost smo iskusili mir u Vrhovnom. Onaj koji je pun vjere istinski štuje kada mu je unutarnje biće usmjereno na Boga. Naš Bog nosi nebesa kao plašt; on također prebiva u preostalih šest široko rasprostranjenih svemira. On je vrhovni nad svime i u svemu. Tražimo oprost od Gospoda za sve naše prijestupe protiv bližnjih; i želimo osloboditi svog prijatelja od zla koje nam je učinio. Naš duh prezire sve zlo; stoga, o Gospode, oslobodi nas svake mrlje grijeha. Molimo Boga kao utješitelja, zaštitnika i spasitelja—onoga koji nas ljubi.
131:4.5 (1448.4)
“We have learned to win faith by the yearning of our hearts. We have attained wisdom by the restraint of our senses, and by wisdom we have experienced peace in the Supreme. He who is full of faith worships truly when his inner self is intent upon God. Our God wears the heavens as a mantle; he also inhabits the other six wide-spreading universes. He is supreme over all and in all. We crave forgiveness from the Lord for all of our trespasses against our fellows; and we would release our friend from the wrong he has done us. Our spirit loathes all evil; therefore, O Lord, free us from all taint of sin. We pray to God as a comforter, protector, and savior—one who loves us.
“Duh Čuvara Svemira ulazi u dušu priprostog stvorenja. Mudrac je onaj koji štuje Jedinog Boga. Oni koji teže savršenstvu moraju doista poznavati Vrhovnog Gospoda. On se nikada ne boji tko poznaje blaženi mir Vrhovnoga, jer Vrhovni kaže onima koji mu služe: ‘Ne boj se, jer ja sam s tobom.’ Bog providnosti je naš Otac. Bog je istina. I Bog želi da njegova stvorenja razumiju njega—da potpuno spoznaju istinu. Istina je vječna; ona održava svemir. Naša najveća želja treba biti jedinstvo s Vrhovnim. Veliki Upravitelj je tvorac svih stvari—sve proizlazi iz njega. I ovo je sažetak dužnosti: Neka nitko ne čini drugome ono što bi mu bilo odbojno; ne njeguj zlobu, ne udaraj onoga koji te udari, nadvladaj ljutnju milošću i pobijedi mržnju dobrotom. I sve ovo trebamo činiti jer je Bog ljubazni prijatelj i milostivi otac koji oprašta sve naše zemaljske prijestupe.
131:4.6 (1449.1)
“The spirit of the Universe Keeper enters the soul of the simple creature. That man is wise who worships the One God. Those who strive for perfection must indeed know the Lord Supreme. He never fears who knows the blissful security of the Supreme, for the Supreme says to those who serve him, ‘Fear not, for I am with you.’ The God of providence is our Father. God is truth. And it is the desire of God that his creatures should understand him—come fully to know the truth. Truth is eternal; it sustains the universe. Our supreme desire shall be union with the Supreme. The Great Controller is the generator of all things—all evolves from him. And this is the sum of duty: Let no man do to another what would be repugnant to himself; cherish no malice, smite not him who smites you, conquer anger with mercy, and vanquish hate by benevolence. And all this we should do because God is a kind friend and a gracious father who remits all our earthly offenses.
“Bog je naš Otac, zemlja naša majka, a svemir naše rodno mjesto. Bez Boga duša je zatvorenik; poznavanje Boga oslobađa dušu. Kroz meditaciju o Bogu, kroz jedinstvo s njim, dolazi oslobođenje od iluzija zla i konačno spasenje od svih materijalnih okova. Kada čovjek smota prostor poput komada kože, tada će doći kraj zlu jer je čovjek pronašao Boga. O, Bože, spasi nas od trostruke propasti pakla—požude, gnjeva i pohlepe! O, dušo, pripremi se za duhovnu borbu besmrtnosti! Kada dođe kraj smrtnog života, ne oklijevaj napustiti ovo tijelo za prikladniji i ljepši oblik i probuditi se u sferama Vrhovnoga i Besmrtnoga, gdje nema straha, tuge, gladi, žeđi niti smrti. Poznavati Boga znači presjeći konopce smrti. Duša koja poznaje Boga uzdiže se u svemiru poput vrhnja na mlijeku. Štujemo Boga, svemoćnog djelatelja, Veliku Dušu, onoga koji uvijek prebiva u srcu svojih stvorenja. A oni koji znaju da je Bog okrunjen u ljudskom srcu su predodređeni postati poput njega—besmrtni. Zlo mora biti ostavljeno u ovom svijetu, ali vrlina slijedi dušu u nebo.
131:4.7 (1449.2)
“God is our Father, the earth our mother, and the universe our birthplace. Without God the soul is a prisoner; to know God releases the soul. By meditation on God, by union with him, there comes deliverance from the illusions of evil and ultimate salvation from all material fetters. When man shall roll up space as a piece of leather, then will come the end of evil because man has found God. O God, save us from the threefold ruin of hell—lust, wrath, and avarice! O soul, gird yourself for the spirit struggle of immortality! When the end of mortal life comes, hesitate not to forsake this body for a more fit and beautiful form and to awake in the realms of the Supreme and Immortal, where there is no fear, sorrow, hunger, thirst, or death. To know God is to cut the cords of death. The God-knowing soul rises in the universe like the cream appears on top of the milk. We worship God, the all-worker, the Great Soul, who is ever seated in the heart of his creatures. And they who know that God is enthroned in the human heart are destined to become like him—immortal. Evil must be left behind in this world, but virtue follows the soul to heaven.
“Samo zli govore: Svemir nema istinu niti vladara; stvoren je samo za naše požude. Takve duše vara malost njihovih intelekata. One se stoga prepuštaju uživanju svojih požuda i lišavaju svoje duše radosti vrline i užitaka pravednosti. Što može biti veće od iskustva spasenja od grijeha? Čovjek koji je vidio Vrhovnoga je besmrtan. Čovjekovi tjelesni prijatelji ne mogu preživjeti smrt; samo vrlina hoda uz čovjeka dok putuje prema radosnim i sunčanim poljima Raja.
131:4.8 (1449.3)
“It is only the wicked who say: The universe has neither truth nor a ruler; it was only designed for our lusts. Such souls are deluded by the smallness of their intellects. They thus abandon themselves to the enjoyment of their lusts and deprive their souls of the joys of virtue and the pleasures of righteousness. What can be greater than to experience salvation from sin? The man who has seen the Supreme is immortal. Man’s friends of the flesh cannot survive death; virtue alone walks by man’s side as he journeys ever onward toward the gladsome and sunlit fields of Paradise.”
Zaratustra je sam bio u izravnom kontaktu s potomcima ranijih Melkizedekovih misionara i njihova doktrina o jednom Bogu postala je središnje učenje religije koju je osnovao u Perziji. Osim judaizma, nijedna religija toga vremena nije sadržavala više Salemovih učenja. Iz zapisa ove religije Ganid je izdvojio sljedeće odlomke:
131:5.1 (1449.4)
Zoroaster was himself directly in contact with the descendants of the earlier Melchizedek missionaries, and their doctrine of the one God became a central teaching in the religion which he founded in Persia. Aside from Judaism, no religion of that day contained more of these Salem teachings. From the records of this religion Ganid made the following excerpts:
“Sve stvari dolaze od Jedinog Boga i pripadaju mu—premudrom, dobrom, pravednom, svetom, sjajnom i slavnom. Ovaj naš Bog je izvor sve svjetlosti. On je Stvoritelj, Bog svih dobrih namjera i zaštitnik pravde svemira. Mudro je u životu postupati u skladu s duhom istine. Bog sve vidi i promatra i zla djela zlih i dobra djela pravednika; naš Bog opaža sve stvari blistavim okom. Njegov dodir je dodir iscjeljenja. Gospod je svemoćni dobročinitelj. Bog pruža ruku dobročinitelja i pravednicima i zločincima. Bog je utemeljio svijet i odredio nagrade za dobro i zlo. Premudri Bog je obećao besmrtnost pobožnim dušama koje misle čisto i djeluju pravedno. Kakvu najvišu želju imaš, takav ćeš i biti. Svjetlost sunca je poput mudrosti onima koji prepoznaju Boga u svemiru.
131:5.2 (1450.1)
“All things come from, and belong to, the One God—all-wise, good, righteous, holy, resplendent, and glorious. This, our God, is the source of all luminosity. He is the Creator, the God of all good purposes, and the protector of the justice of the universe. The wise course in life is to act in consonance with the spirit of truth. God is all-seeing, and he beholds both the evil deeds of the wicked and the good works of the righteous; our God observes all things with a flashing eye. His touch is the touch of healing. The Lord is an all-powerful benefactor. God stretches out his beneficent hand to both the righteous and the wicked. God established the world and ordained the rewards for good and for evil. The all-wise God has promised immortality to the pious souls who think purely and act righteously. As you supremely desire, so shall you be. The light of the sun is as wisdom to those who discern God in the universe.
“Hvalite Boga tražeći zadovoljstvo Mudroga. Štujte Boga svjetlosti radosno hodajući stazama koje je odredila njegova objavljena religija. Postoji samo jedan Vrhovni Bog, Gospodar Svjetlosti. Štujemo njega koji je stvorio vode, biljke, životinje, zemlju i nebesa. Naš Bog je Gospod, najveći dobročinitelj. Štujemo najljepšeg, najdarežljivijeg Besmrtnika, obdarenog vječnom svjetlošću. Bog je najudaljeniji od nas, a istovremeno najbliži, jer prebiva u našim dušama. Naš Bog je božanski i najsvetiji Duh Raja, a opet je bolji prijatelj čovjeku od svih stvorenja. Bog nam je od najveće pomoći u ovom najvećem od svih poslova, spoznaji samog sebe. Bog je naš najobožavaniji i najpravedniji prijatelj; on je naša mudrost, život i snaga duše i tijela. Kroz naše dobre misli, mudri Stvoritelj omogućit će nam da činimo njegovu volju, čime postižemo ostvarenje svega što je božanski savršeno.
131:5.3 (1449.6)
“Praise God by seeking the pleasure of the Wise One. Worship the God of light by joyfully walking in the paths ordained by his revealed religion. There is but one Supreme God, the Lord of Lights. We worship him who made the waters, plants, animals, the earth, and the heavens. Our God is Lord, most beneficent. We worship the most beauteous, the bountiful Immortal, endowed with eternal light. God is farthest from us and at the same time nearest to us in that he dwells within our souls. Our God is the divine and holiest Spirit of Paradise, and yet he is more friendly to man than the most friendly of all creatures. God is most helpful to us in this greatest of all businesses, the knowing of himself. God is our most adorable and righteous friend; he is our wisdom, life, and vigor of soul and body. Through our good thinking the wise Creator will enable us to do his will, thereby attaining the realization of all that is divinely perfect.
"Gospode, nauči nas kako živjeti ovaj život u tijelu dok se pripremamo za sljedeći život duha. Govori nam, Gospode, i izvršit ćemo tvoju volju. Pouči nas dobrim putovima i ići ćemo ispravno. Podari nam da postignemo jedinstvo s tobom. Znamo da je prava ona religija koja vodi do jedinstva s pravednošću. Bog je naša mudra narav, najbolja misao i pravedno djelo. Neka nam Bog podari jedinstvo s božanskim duhom i besmrtnost u njemu!
131:5.4 (1449.7)
“Lord, teach us how to live this life in the flesh while preparing for the next life of the spirit. Speak to us, Lord, and we will do your bidding. Teach us the good paths, and we will go right. Grant us that we may attain union with you. We know that the religion is right which leads to union with righteousness. God is our wise nature, best thought, and righteous act. May God grant us unity with the divine spirit and immortality in himself!
“Ova religija Mudroga čisti vjernika od svake zle misli i grješnog djela. Klanjam se pred Bogom neba u pokajanju ako sam uvrijedio mislima, riječima ili djelom—namjerno ili nenamjerno—i molim za milost i hvalim za oprost. Znam da kada se ispovijedam, ako ne namjeravam ponoviti zlo djelo, grijeh će biti uklonjen iz moje duše. Znam da oprost uklanja okove grijeha. Oni koji čine zlo primit će kaznu, ali oni koji slijede istinu uživat će u blaženstvu vječnog spasenja. Kroz milost primi nas i djeluj spasonosnu moć u našim dušama. Tražimo milost jer težimo savršenstvu; želimo biti poput Boga.”
131:5.5 (1449.8)
“This religion of the Wise One cleanses the believer from every evil thought and sinful deed. I bow before the God of heaven in repentance if I have offended in thought, word, or act—intentionally or unintentionally—and I offer prayers for mercy and praise for forgiveness. I know when I make confession, if I purpose not to do again the evil thing, that sin will be removed from my soul. I know that forgiveness takes away the bonds of sin. Those who do evil shall receive punishment, but those who follow truth shall enjoy the bliss of an eternal salvation. Through grace lay hold upon us and minister saving power to our souls. We claim mercy because we aspire to attain perfection; we would be like God.”
“Gospodar Neba je vrhovni. Oni koji čine grijeh neće se uzdići na visine, ali oni koji hodaju stazama pravednosti naći će mjesto u nebu. Sigurni smo u život poslije smrti ako poznajemo istinu. Duša čovjeka može se uzdići do najvišeg neba, kako bi razvila svoju istinsku duhovnu prirodu i postigla savršenstvo. Stanje neba oslobađa čovjeka od ropstva grijeha i uvodi ga u konačno blaženstvo; pravednik je već iskusio kraj grijeha i svih njegovih pridruženih nevolja. Čovjekovo “ja” je njegov nepobjedivi neprijatelj, a “ja” se očituje kroz četiri najveće strasti: gnjev, ponos, prijevaru i pohlepu. Najveća pobjeda čovjeka je osvajanje samoga sebe. Kada čovjek traži oprost od Boga i kada se usuđuje uživati takvu slobodu, time je oslobođen od straha. Čovjek bi trebao prolaziti kroz život tretirajući svoje bližnje onako kako bi želio da oni tretiraju njega.
131:6.2 (1450.6)
“The Lord of Heaven is supreme. Those who commit sin will not ascend on high, but those who walk in the paths of righteousness shall find a place in heaven. We are assured of the life hereafter if we know truth. The soul of man may ascend to the highest heaven, there to develop its true spiritual nature, to attain perfection. The estate of heaven delivers man from the bondage of sin and introduces him to the final beatitudes; the righteous man has already experienced an end of sin and all its associated miseries. Self is man’s invincible foe, and self is manifested as man’s four greatest passions: anger, pride, deceit, and greed. Man’s greatest victory is the conquest of himself. When man looks to God for forgiveness, and when he makes bold to enjoy such liberty, he is thereby delivered from fear. Man should journey through life treating his fellow creatures as he would like to be treated.”
“Kaže Gospod: ‘Svi ste primatelji moje božanske moći; svi ljudi uživaju u mojoj službi milosti. Veliko mi je zadovoljstvo u množenju pravednih ljudi po cijeloj zemlji. U ljepotama prirode i vrlinama ljudi Princ Neba nastoji se objaviti i pokazati svoju pravednu narav. Budući da stari narodi nisu poznavali moje ime, ja sam se objavio rađanjem u svijetu u vidljivoj egzistenciji i podnio takvo poniženje da čovjek ne bi zaboravio moje ime. Ja sam tvorac neba i zemlje; sunce, mjesec i sve zvijezde pokoravaju se mojoj volji. Ja sam vladar svih stvorenja na kopnu i u četiri mora. Iako sam velik i vrhovni, ipak vodim računa o molitvi najsiromašnijeg čovjeka. Ako bilo koje stvorenje mene štuje, čut ću njegovu molitvu i ispuniti želju njegova srca.’
131:7.2 (1451.2)
“Says the Lord: ‘You are all recipients of my divine power; all men enjoy my ministry of mercy. I derive great pleasure in the multiplication of righteous men throughout the land. In both the beauties of nature and the virtues of men does the Prince of Heaven seek to reveal himself and to show forth his righteous nature. Since the olden people did not know my name, I manifested myself by being born into the world as a visible existence and endured such abasement even that man should not forget my name. I am the maker of heaven and earth; the sun and the moon and all the stars obey my will. I am the ruler of all creatures on land and in the four seas. Although I am great and supreme, still I have regard for the prayer of the poorest man. If any creature will worship me, I will hear his prayer and grant the desire of his heart.’
"Svaki put kada čovjek podlegne tjeskobi, on napravi korak dalje od vodstva duha svoga srca." Ponos zaklanja Boga. Ako želite zadobiti nebesku pomoć, odbacite ponos; svaka vlas ponosa uskraćuje spasonosno svjetlo, kao da ga zastire veliki oblak. Ako iznutra niste ispravni, beskorisno je moliti za ono što je izvana. "Ako čujem vaše molitve, to je zato što dolazite preda me čistog srca, bez laži i licemjerja, s dušom koja odražava istinu poput zrcala. Ako želite zadobiti besmrtnost, ostavite svijet i dođite k meni."
131:7.3 (1451.3)
“‘Every time man yields to anxiety, he takes one step away from the leading of the spirit of his heart.’ Pride obscures God. If you would obtain heavenly help, put away your pride; every hair of pride shuts off saving light, as it were, by a great cloud. If you are not right on the inside, it is useless to pray for that which is on the outside. ‘If I hear your prayers, it is because you come before me with a clean heart, free from falsehood and hypocrisy, with a soul which reflects truth like a mirror. If you would gain immortality, forsake the world and come to me.’”
131:8.1 (1451.4)
The messengers of Melchizedek penetrated far into China, and the doctrine of one God became a part of the earlier teachings of several Chinese religions; the one persisting the longest and containing most of the monotheistic truth was Taoism, and Ganid collected the following from the teachings of its founder:
“Kako je čisti i miran Vrhovni, a opet kako moćan i snažan, kako dubok i neizmjeran! Ovaj Bog neba je počašćeni predak svih stvari. Ako poznaješ Vječnog, ti si prosvijetljen i mudar. Ako ne poznaješ Vječnog, tada se neznanje očituje kao zlo, i tako nastaju strasti grijeha. Ovo čudesno Biće postojalo je prije nego što su nebesa i zemlja nastala. On je doista duhovan; stoji sam i ne mijenja se. On je doista majka svijeta, i cijelo stvaranje se kreće oko njega. Ovaj Veliki prenosi sebe ljudima i tako im omogućuje da napreduju i opstanu. Čak i ako čovjek posjeduje samo malo znanja, još uvijek može hodati putem Vrhovnoga; može se uskladiti s voljom neba.
131:8.2 (1451.5)
“How pure and tranquil is the Supreme One and yet how powerful and mighty, how deep and unfathomable! This God of heaven is the honored ancestor of all things. If you know the Eternal, you are enlightened and wise. If you know not the Eternal, then does ignorance manifest itself as evil, and thus do the passions of sin arise. This wondrous Being existed before the heavens and the earth were. He is truly spiritual; he stands alone and changes not. He is indeed the world’s mother, and all creation moves around him. This Great One imparts himself to men and thereby enables them to excel and to survive. Even if one has but a little knowledge, he can still walk in the ways of the Supreme; he can conform to the will of heaven.
“Sva dobra djela istinske službe dolaze od Vrhovnoga. Sve stvari ovise o Velikom Izvoru života. Veliki Vrhovni ne traži zaslugu za svoje darove. On je vrhovni u moći, a ipak ostaje skriven od našeg pogleda. Neprestano prenosi svoje atribute dok usavršava svoja stvorenja. Nebeski Um je spor i strpljiv u svojim naumima, ali siguran u svoja postignuća. Vrhovni prekriva svemir i održava sve. Koliko su velik i moćan njegov preplavljujući utjecaj i privlačna sila! Istinska dobrota je poput vode jer blagoslivlja sve i ne šteti ničemu. I poput vode, istinska dobrota traži najniža mjesta, čak i ona koja drugi izbjegavaju, i to zato što je slična Vrhovnom. Vrhovni stvara sve stvari, u prirodi ih hrani, a u duhu ih usavršava. I misterij je kako Vrhovni njeguje, štiti i usavršava stvorenje bez prisile. On vodi i usmjerava, ali bez nametanja samoga sebe. On omogućuje napredak, ali bez dominacije.
131:8.3 (1452.1)
“All good works of true service come from the Supreme. All things depend on the Great Source for life. The Great Supreme seeks no credit for his bestowals. He is supreme in power, yet he remains hidden from our gaze. He unceasingly transmutes his attributes while perfecting his creatures. The heavenly Reason is slow and patient in his designs but sure of his accomplishments. The Supreme overspreads the universe and sustains it all. How great and mighty are his overflowing influence and drawing power! True goodness is like water in that it blesses everything and harms nothing. And like water, true goodness seeks the lowest places, even those levels which others avoid, and that is because it is akin to the Supreme. The Supreme creates all things, in nature nourishing them and in spirit perfecting them. And it is a mystery how the Supreme fosters, protects, and perfects the creature without compelling him. He guides and directs, but without self-assertion. He ministers progression, but without domination.
“Mudar čovjek univerzalizira svoje srce. Malo znanja je opasna stvar. Oni koji teže veličini moraju naučiti poniziti se. U stvaranju je Vrhovni postao majka svijeta. Poznavati svoju majku znači prepoznati svoje sinovstvo. Mudrac je onaj koji promatra sve dijelove iz perspektive cjeline. Poveži se s svakim čovjekom kao da si na njegovom mjestu. Nagradi zlo dobrotom. Ako voliš ljude, oni će ti se približiti—nećeš imati poteškoća da ih osvojiš.
131:8.4 (1452.2)
“The wise man universalizes his heart. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Those who aspire to greatness must learn to humble themselves. In creation the Supreme became the world’s mother. To know one’s mother is to recognize one’s sonship. He is a wise man who regards all parts from the point of view of the whole. Relate yourself to every man as if you were in his place. Recompense injury with kindness. If you love people, they will draw near you—you will have no difficulty in winning them.
“Veliki Vrhovni je svuda prisutan; on je s lijeve i desne strane; podržava cijelo stvaranje i prebiva u svim istinskim bićima. Ne možete pronaći Vrhovnoga, niti možete otići na mjesto gdje on nije. Ako čovjek prepozna zlo svojih putova i iskreno se pokaje za grijeh, tada može tražiti oprost; može izbjeći kaznu; može pretvoriti nesreću u blagoslov. Vrhovni je sigurno utočište za cijelo stvaranje; on je čuvar i spasitelj čovječanstva. Ako ga svakodnevno tražite, naći ćete ga. Budući da može oprostiti grijehe, on je zaista najdragocjeniji svim ljudima. Uvijek se sjetite da Bog ne nagrađuje čovjeka za ono što čini nego za ono što jest; stoga trebate pružati pomoć svojim bližnjima bez razmišljanja o nagradi. Činite dobro bez misli o koristi za sebe.
131:8.5 (1452.3)
“The Great Supreme is all-pervading; he is on the left hand and on the right; he supports all creation and indwells all true beings. You cannot find the Supreme, neither can you go to a place where he is not. If a man recognizes the evil of his ways and repents of sin from the heart, then may he seek forgiveness; he may escape the penalty; he may change calamity into blessing. The Supreme is the secure refuge for all creation; he is the guardian and savior of mankind. If you seek for him daily, you shall find him. Since he can forgive sins, he is indeed most precious to all men. Always remember that God does not reward man for what he does but for what he is; therefore should you extend help to your fellows without the thought of rewards. Do good without thought of benefit to the self.
“Oni koji poznaju zakone Vječnog su mudri. Nepoznavanje božanskog zakona donosi nesreću i katastrofu. Oni koji poznaju zakone Boga imaju širokogrudnost. Ako poznaješ Vječnog, iako tvoje tijelo propadne, tvoja duša će opstati u službi duha. Istinski si mudar kada prepoznaš svoju neznatnost. Ako prebivaš u svjetlu Vječnog, uživat ćeš u prosvjetljenju Vrhovnoga. Oni koji svoje osobe posvećuju službi Vrhovnoga radosni su u ovom traganju za Vječnim. Kada čovjek umre, duh započinje svoje dugo i veliko putovanje kući.”
131:8.6 (1452.4)
“They who know the laws of the Eternal are wise. Ignorance of the divine law is misery and disaster. They who know the laws of God are liberal minded. If you know the Eternal, even though your body perish, your soul shall survive in spirit service. You are truly wise when you recognize your insignificance. If you abide in the light of the Eternal, you shall enjoy the enlightenment of the Supreme. Those who dedicate their persons to the service of the Supreme are joyous in this pursuit of the Eternal. When man dies, the spirit begins to wing its long flight on the great home journey.”
“Ono što Nebo određuje je bez pogreške. Istina je stvarna i božanska. Sve potječe iz Neba, a Veliko Nebo ne griješi. Nebo je postavilo mnoge podređene da pomažu u poučavanju i uzdizanju nižih stvorenja. Velik, vrlo velik, jest Jedini Bog koji upravlja čovjekom s visine. Bog je veličanstven u moći i strašan u sudu. Ali ovaj Veliki Bog je dao moralni osjećaj čak i mnogim nižim ljudima. Nebeska darežljivost nikada ne prestaje. Dobročinstvo je najodabraniji dar koji Nebo daje ljudima. Nebo je darovalo svoju plemenitost duši čovjeka; vrline čovjeka su plod ovog dara plemenitosti Neba. Veliko Nebo sve vidi i prati čovjeka u svim njegovim djelima. I činimo dobro kada Veliko Nebo nazivamo svojim Ocem i Majkom. Ako smo tako sluge svojih božanskih predaka, tada možemo s povjerenjem moliti Nebu. Uvijek i u svemu stojmo u strahu pred veličanstvom Neba. Priznajemo, O Bože, Svevišnji i vrhovni Vladaru, da sud počiva u tebi, i da sva milost dolazi iz božanskog srca.
131:9.2 (1452.6)
“What Heaven appoints is without error. Truth is real and divine. Everything originates in Heaven, and the Great Heaven makes no mistakes. Heaven has appointed many subordinates to assist in the instruction and uplifting of the inferior creatures. Great, very great, is the One God who rules man from on high. God is majestic in power and awful in judgment. But this Great God has conferred a moral sense even on many inferior people. Heaven’s bounty never stops. Benevolence is Heaven’s choicest gift to men. Heaven has bestowed its nobility upon the soul of man; the virtues of man are the fruit of this endowment of Heaven’s nobility. The Great Heaven is all-discerning and goes with man in all his doings. And we do well when we call the Great Heaven our Father and our Mother. If we are thus servants of our divine ancestors, then may we in confidence pray to Heaven. At all times and in everything let us stand in awe of the majesty of Heaven. We acknowledge, O God, the Most High and sovereign Potentate, that judgment rests with you, and that all mercy proceeds from the divine heart.
“Bog je s nama; stoga nemamo straha u srcu. Ako se u meni nađe ikakva vrlina, to je manifestacija Neba koje prebiva u meni. Ali ovo Nebo u meni često postavlja teške zahtjeve mojoj vjeri. Ako je Bog sa mnom, odlučio sam da neću imati sumnje u srcu. Vjera mora biti vrlo bliska istini stvari, i ne vidim kako čovjek može živjeti bez ove dobre vjere. Dobro i zlo ne pogađaju ljude bez razloga. Nebo postupa s čovjekovom dušom u skladu s njezinom pobudom. Kada shvatiš da si u krivu, ne oklijevaj priznati svoju pogrešku i brzo učini što je potrebno da se ispravi.
131:9.3 (1453.1)
“God is with us; therefore we have no fear in our hearts. If there be found any virtue in me, it is the manifestation of Heaven who abides with me. But this Heaven within me often makes hard demands on my faith. If God is with me, I have determined to have no doubt in my heart. Faith must be very near the truth of things, and I do not see how a man can live without this good faith. Good and evil do not befall men without cause. Heaven deals with man’s soul in accordance with its purpose. When you find yourself in the wrong, do not hesitate to confess your error and be quick to make amends.
“Mudar čovjek zauzet je traženjem istine, a ne traženjem puke egzistencije. Postići savršenstvo Neba treba biti cilj čovjeka. Nadareni čovjek je odan prilagodbi i oslobođen je tjeskobe i straha. Bog je s tobom; nemoj imati sumnju u srcu. Svako dobro djelo ima svoju nagradu. Nadaren čovjek ne prigovara Nebu niti gaji zamjerku prema ljudima. Ono što ne voliš da se učini tebi, ne čini drugima. Neka suosjećanje bude dio svake kazne; na svaki način nastoj pretvoriti kaznu u blagoslov. Takav je put Velikog Neba. I dok sva stvorenja moraju umrijeti i vratiti se zemlji, duh plemenitog čovjeka izlazi da bude prikazan na visini i da se uzdigne prema slavnoj svjetlosti konačnog sjaja.”
131:9.4 (1453.2)
“A wise man is occupied with the search for truth, not in seeking for a mere living. To attain the perfection of Heaven is the goal of man. The superior man is given to self-adjustment, and he is free from anxiety and fear. God is with you; have no doubt in your heart. Every good deed has its recompense. The superior man murmurs not against Heaven nor holds a grudge against men. What you do not like when done to yourself, do not to others. Let compassion be a part of all punishment; in every way endeavor to make punishment a blessing. Such is the way of Great Heaven. While all creatures must die and return to the earth, the spirit of the noble man goes forth to be displayed on high and to ascend to the glorious light of final brightness.”
Nakon napornog rada na sastavljanju ovog kompendija učenja svjetskih religija o Ocu u Raju, Ganid se posvetio zadatku formuliranja onoga što je smatrao sažetkom uvjerenja do kojih je došao u vezi Boga kao rezultat Isusovog učenja. Ovaj mladić je imao običaj takva uvjerenja nazivati “našom religijom.” Ovo je njegov zapis:
131:10.1 (1453.3)
After the arduous labor of effecting this compilation of the teachings of the world religions concerning the Paradise Father, Ganid set himself to the task of formulating what he deemed to be a summary of the belief he had arrived at regarding God as a result of Jesus’ teaching. This young man was in the habit of referring to such beliefs as “our religion.” This was his record:
“Gospod naš Bog jedan je Gospod i trebate ga ljubiti svim svojim umom i srcem, dok nastojite ljubiti svu njegovu djecu kao što ljubite sebe.” Ovaj jedan Bog je naš nebeski Otac, u kojem sve stvari postoje, i koji prebiva, svojim duhom, u svakoj iskrenoj ljudskoj duši. A mi, koji smo Božja djeca, trebamo naučiti kako povjeriti čuvanje svojih duša njemu kao vjernom Stvoritelju. S našim nebeskim Ocem sve je moguće. Budući da je On Stvoritelj, stvorivši sve stvari i sva bića, ne bi moglo biti drugačije. Iako ne možemo vidjeti Boga, možemo ga poznavati. I svakodnevnim življenjem volje Oca na nebu možemo ga otkriti svojim bližnjima.”
131:10.2 (1453.4)
“The Lord our God is one Lord, and you should love him with all your mind and heart while you do your very best to love all his children as you love yourself. This one God is our heavenly Father, in whom all things consist, and who dwells, by his spirit, in every sincere human soul. And we who are the children of God should learn how to commit the keeping of our souls to him as to a faithful Creator. With our heavenly Father all things are possible. Since he is the Creator, having made all things and all beings, it could not be otherwise. Though we cannot see God, we can know him. And by daily living the will of the Father in heaven, we can reveal him to our fellow men.
“Božansko bogatstvo Božjeg karaktera mora biti beskrajno duboko i vječno mudro. Ne možemo spoznati Boga samo znanjem, ali ga možemo poznavati u srcu kroz osobno iskustvo. Dok njegova pravda može biti nedokučiva, njegova milost može biti primljena od najponiznijeg bića na zemlji. Dok Otac ispunjava svemir, On također prebiva u našim srcima. Čovjekov um je ljudski, smrtan, ali duh čovjeka je božanski, besmrtan. Bog nije samo svemoguć nego i premudar. Ako naši zemaljski roditelji, skloni zlu, znaju kako voljeti svoju djecu i darovati im dobra, koliko više dobar Otac na nebu mora mudro znati ljubiti svoju djecu na zemlji i darivati im primjeren blagoslov.”
131:10.3 (1453.5)
“The divine riches of God’s character must be infinitely deep and eternally wise. We cannot search out God by knowledge, but we can know him in our hearts by personal experience. While his justice may be past finding out, his mercy may be received by the humblest being on earth. While the Father fills the universe, he also lives in our hearts. The mind of man is human, mortal, but the spirit of man is divine, immortal. God is not only all-powerful but also all-wise. If our earth parents, being of evil tendency, know how to love their children and bestow good gifts on them, how much more must the good Father in heaven know how wisely to love his children on earth and to bestow suitable blessings upon them.
“Otac na nebu neće dopustiti da ijedno dijete na zemlji propadne ako to dijete želi pronaći Oca i iskreno teži biti poput njega. Naš Otac čak voli i zle i uvijek je ljubazan prema nezahvalnima. Kad bi više ljudi samo spoznalo dobrotu Boga, zasigurno bi bili potaknuti na pokajanje svojih zlih putova i napuštanje svakog poznatog grijeha. Sve dobre stvari dolaze od Oca svjetla, u kojem nema promjenjivosti niti sjene mijenjanja. Duh istinskog Boga prebiva u srcu čovjeka. Namjera mu je da svi ljudi budu braća. Kada ljudi počnu osjećati težnju prema Bogu, to je dokaz da ih je Bog pronašao i da traže spoznaju o njemu. Mi živimo u Bogu, i Bog prebiva u nama.”
131:10.4 (1454.1)
“The Father in heaven will not suffer a single child on earth to perish if that child has a desire to find the Father and truly longs to be like him. Our Father even loves the wicked and is always kind to the ungrateful. If more human beings could only know about the goodness of God, they would certainly be led to repent of their evil ways and forsake all known sin. All good things come down from the Father of light, in whom there is no variableness neither shadow of changing. The spirit of the true God is in man’s heart. He intends that all men should be brothers. When men begin to feel after God, that is evidence that God has found them, and that they are in quest of knowledge about him. We live in God and God dwells in us.
“Više se neću zadovoljiti vjerovanjem da je Bog Otac svih ljudi moga naroda; od sada ću vjerovati da je On i moj Otac. Uvijek ću nastojati obožavati Boga uz pomoć Duha Istine, koji mi pomaže kad postanem zaista poznavalac Boga. Ali prije svega, namjeravam prakticirati štovanje Boga svojim nastojanjem naučiti vršiti Božju volju na zemlji; to jest, činit ću sve da postupam prema svakom svom smrtnom bližnjem onako kako mislim da bi Bog želio da se prema njemu postupa. I kad živimo takav život u tijelu, možemo od Boga tražiti mnoge stvari, i On će nam udovoljiti željama srca kako bismo bili bolje pripremljeni služiti svojim bližnjima. I sva ova ljubazna služba Božjoj djeci povećava našu sposobnost da primamo i doživljavamo radosti neba, visoke užitke službe duha nebeskog.”
131:10.5 (1454.2)
“I will no longer be satisfied to believe that God is the Father of all my people; I will henceforth believe that he is also my Father. Always will I try to worship God with the help of the Spirit of Truth, which is my helper when I have become really God-knowing. But first of all I am going to practice worshiping God by learning how to do the will of God on earth; that is, I am going to do my best to treat each of my fellow mortals just as I think God would like to have him treated. And when we live this sort of a life in the flesh, we may ask many things of God, and he will give us the desire of our hearts that we may be the better prepared to serve our fellows. And all of this loving service of the children of God enlarges our capacity to receive and experience the joys of heaven, the high pleasures of the ministry of the spirit of heaven.
“Svakoga dana zahvaljivat ću Bogu za njegove neizrecive darove; hvalit ću ga za njegova čudesna djela prema djeci ljudi. Za mene je On Svemogući, Stvoritelj, Moć i Milosrđe, ali najbolje od svega, On je moj Otac koji je duh, a kao njegovo zemaljsko dijete znam da ću ga jednog dana istinski vidjeti. I moj učitelj je rekao da ću tražeći ga postati poput njega. Vjerom u Boga postigao sam mir s njim. Ova naša nova religija puna je radosti i stvara trajnu sreću. Siguran sam da ću ostati vjeran do smrti i da ću zasigurno primiti krunu vječnog života.
131:10.6 (1454.3)
“I will every day thank God for his unspeakable gifts; I will praise him for his wonderful works to the children of men. To me he is the Almighty, the Creator, the Power, and the Mercy, but best of all, he is my spirit Father, and as his earth child I am sometime going forth to see him. And my tutor has said that by searching for him I shall become like him. By faith in God I have attained peace with him. This new religion of ours is very full of joy, and it generates an enduring happiness. I am confident that I shall be faithful even to death, and that I will surely receive the crown of eternal life.
“Učim kako ispitivati sve stvari i držati se onoga što je dobro. Što god bih želio da ljudi učine meni, to ću učiniti svojim bližnjima. Ovom novom vjerom znam da čovjek može postati Božje dijete, ali ponekad me plaši pomisao da su svi ljudi moja braća, no to mora biti istina. Ne vidim kako bih se mogao radovati očinstvu Boga dok odbijam prihvatiti bratstvo ljudi. Tko god zazove ime Gospodnje bit će spašen. Ako je to istina, onda svi ljudi moraju biti moja braća.”
131:10.7 (1454.4)
“I am learning to prove all things and adhere to that which is good. Whatsoever I would that men should do to me, that I will do to my fellows. By this new faith I know that man may become the son of God, but it sometimes terrifies me when I stop to think that all men are my brothers, but it must be true. I do not see how I can rejoice in the fatherhood of God while I refuse to accept the brotherhood of man. Whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. If that is true, then all men must be my brothers.
“Ubuduće činit ću svoja dobra djela u tajnosti; najviše ću se moliti u skrovitosti. Neću suditi da ne bih bio nepravedan prema svojim bližnjima. Naučit ću voljeti svoje neprijatelje; još nisam uistinu savladao ovu praksu nalikovanja Bogu. Iako vidim Boga u ovim drugim religijama, nalazim ga u ‘našoj religiji’ kao ljepšeg, ljubaznijeg, milosrdnijeg, osobnijeg i konkretnijeg. Ali iznad svega, ovo veliko i slavno Biće je moj duhovni Otac; ja sam njegovo dijete. I ni na koji drugi način nego kroz iskrenu želju da budem poput njega, ne mogu ga konačno naći i vječno mu služiti. Napokon imam religiju s Bogom, čudesnim Bogom, i On je Bog vječnog spasenja.”
131:10.8 (1454.5)
“Henceforth will I do my good deeds in secret; I will also pray most when by myself. I will judge not that I may not be unfair to my fellows. I am going to learn to love my enemies; I have not truly mastered this practice of being Godlike. Though I see God in these other religions, I find him in ‘our religion’ as being more beautiful, loving, merciful, personal, and positive. But most of all, this great and glorious Being is my spiritual Father; I am his child. And by no other means than my honest desire to be like him, I am eventually to find him and eternally to serve him. At last I have a religion with a God, a marvelous God, and he is a God of eternal salvation.”