Official Policy Stances of the
Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement
22.1.61
Greetings Friends,
May Peace Be With You.
Shalom. Namaste. Sabudicrom. Pax. A Salaam Alaikum.
ॐ.שאלם
This InterFaith Settlement is arrived at a point in progression where it becomes appropriate for specific individuals, families, and groups within this InterFaith Settlement to respectively communicate on the respective behalf of these specific individuals, families, and groups rather than for the aggregate of this InterFaith Settlement; this specificity particularly pertains to communications that are perceived as political. This InterFaith Settlement continues to exist, progress, and communicate as an aggregate entity, in both an official and an unofficial capacity. The recent change may be simply perceived as the tangible emergence of the same social dynamics that exist within any community. There is the consideration of the formation of formal offices that officially represent the aggregate of this InterFaith Settlement, including the collective of respective religious congregations, to the international community. In the meantime, the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement continues to work, function, and communicate as a specific, and comparatively autonomous, organisation directly within the living and forming intentional community of this InterFaith Settlement; this can be compared to a grassroots service organisation working, functioning, and communicating within a neighbourhood community.
The Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement comprises of ‘fellows’ and ‘fillas,’ as well as volunteers. ‘Fellows’ and ‘Fillas’ are respectively men and women who directly work with the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement. Our fellows and fillas are actual or intending residents of this InterFaith Settlement and live in accordance with the principles and regulations of this InterFaith Settlement. Our fellows and fillas receive direct compensation and resources for our respective work with the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement.
Our volunteers are individuals, families, organisations, and institutions who work indirectly with the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement. Our volunteers provide labour, advice, products, services, and additional resources without the expectation of direct compensation or remuneration. Much like our fellows and fillas, our volunteers perceive and support the benevolent endeavours of the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement. Comparatively distinct from our fellows and fillas, our volunteers rely upon additional means for maintaining necessary sustenance and resources.
To be sure, the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement is a ‘For Prophets’ and a ‘For Government’ organisation; the distinction may seem simply rhetorical or even humourous, yet the proclamation is intentional and adamant amidst the irony of the respectively similar, contemporary terms. The Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement is an advocacy group that addresses many of the contemporary issues of humanity and the Universe. The Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement addresses these issues from a Faith based and religious perspective; specifically, Uni Dittoism: a Faith and religious practice that specifically adheres to respective teachings, principles, and practices from Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam, and acknowledges that manner in which Truth exists within each of the many respective religious traditions of the World and Universe.
We at the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement believe in Karmic justice and that each of us are judged in the same manner that each of us judges others. So rather than being ‘high handed’ and accusatory towards other individuals, families, organisations, and institutions, we concentrate upon the behaviour of others rather than the respective persons of others. We at the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement also believe in the notion of ‘being the change that we solicit within others’ (substantially taught by Mohandas K Ghandi) and in the notion of Becoming (who we are proceeds from what we do proceeds from what we think). So rather than even unduly admonishing the behaviour of others, we concentrate upon what we can do better; we, as the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement, and we as the collective of humanity and the Universe.
Some individuals, families, organisations, and/or institutions may have perceived some of our communications as offensive because such individuals, families, organisations, and/or institutions have behaved in a manner that is specifically addressed by the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement. Our communication and our work with the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement are maintained without the specific intent of causing offence or causing any harm (even any perceived harm that has been perceived as causing a perceived benefit for individuals, families, organisations, or institutions affiliated with the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement). Yet, we at the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement do maintain adherence to certain principles. There is that which is right; and there is that which has been wrong. A contemporary term that is being utilised is ‘principled plurality.’
Within the belief of Karmic justice, we at the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement understand that there are respective, inevitable consequences for the respective actions of all of us. We perceive transgressive human behaviour much like a natural disaster. So rather than attempting to punish or impose justice upon others, the pragmatic focus of the Asona Group is encouraging good Karma and healing those who have suffered; Dittoism: DTOism: DTO: the Dharma of Tikkun Olam: the Truth of Healing the World (and Universe). We at the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement acknowledge our intrinsic, innate, inherent, instinctive, and irrevocable responsibility, as sentient beings and as human beings, to improve the experience of life within each and all, living beings. We understand that each sentient being maintains the propensity for realising Nirvâna and that God exists within all things, living and otherwise.
This is our work.
The proceeding are basic descriptions of the respective stances that the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement maintains towards many of the contemporary issues confronting our international and intergalactic community. Many of these descriptions are communicated after a substantial amount of study (experiential and academic), deliberation, and advocacy, much of which is explained within additional publications, communications, and materials previously provided by the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement (including during the time period in which the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement previously operates under the aggregate name of this InterFaith Settlement). Much of these publications, communications, and materials are available at the group website of this InterFaith Settlement, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/interFaithsettlement (User ID: interFaithsettlement; Password: interFaith). The predominant aggregate of these publications, communications, and materials are also available upon direct solicitation to the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement.
Within the Tao Te Ching of Lao Tzu, there is a teaching that emphasises a simplicity in life and within governance:
Chapter 57 of Book II
A. One can govern with rectitude, one can wage war with competence, but it takes inaction to win and hold an empire.
B. How do I know this is so? From what I am going to say: The mas rules there are, the less people enrich themselves. The mas taxes there are, the less order there is. The mas ingenious inventions there are, the fewer serious and useful objects there are. The mas detailed the penal code, the mas thieves abound. Multiplicity ruins everything.
C. Therefore the programme of the sage is quite the contrary. Not acting, the people amend themselves. Staying Peaceful, the people rectify themselves. Wishing for nothing, the people come back to natural spontaneity.
This same notion of simplicity can also be evidenced within the respective, temporal examples of the Buddha and Jesus, and within the respective teachings of modesty and moderation from within Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, and many of the respective religious traditions of the World.
So these are the political stances of the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement. And, much like all things within this Universe, these are subject to change; although there is a hint of endurance, irregardless of our respective susceptibility of wandering adherence. We strive for discipline. We strive for humility.
Religion
InterFaith Movement
We work towards building upon, augmenting, and enhancing the accomplishments within the InterFaith Movement, including those specific endeavours and accomplishments of organisations and institutions such as the International Association for Religious Freedom, www.iarf.net, the World Conference of Religions for Peace, www.wcrp.org, the World Congress of Faiths, www.WorldFaiths.org, the Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions, www.cpwr.org, the Temple of Understanding, www.Templeofunderstanding.org, the World Peace Prayer Society, www.WorldPeace.org, the World Council of Religious Leaders, www.millenniumPeacesummit.org, the Peace Council, www.Peacecouncil.org, the United Religions Initiative, www.uri.org, the Interreligious Fellowship for World Peace, www.irfwp.org, the International InterFaith Centre (Oxford, England), www.interFaith-centre.org, the InterFaith Centre at the Presidio, www.interFaith-presidio.org, the InterFaith Centre of Metropolitan Washington (District of Colombia), www.ifcmw.org, the InterFaith Centre of New York (New York), www.interFaithcentre.org (‘centre’ spelled in Nouveau English manner), the InterFaith Youth Core, www.ifyc.org, and many additional individuals, families, organisations, and institutions involved within the InterFaith Movement.
InterFaith Dialogue
We work towards establishing increasingly affective, and mutually agreeable, connexions between religious leaders and political leaders. This includes the establishment of a permanent mission to the United Nations that directly involves the respective guidance from respective religious traditions and communities as well as from the InterFaith Movement.
InterFaith Liaisons within Respective Religious Institutions and Organisations
We work towards encouraging the respective international, regional, and national advocacy institutions and organisations, of respective religions and respective religious denominations, to maintain a full time staff personnel specifically as an interFaith liaison to coordinate communication and cooperation with other individuals, families, organisations, and institutions respectively from different religious denominations, from different religions, and/or from the InterFaith Movement.
InterFaith Football Project
We work towards improving mutual understanding and mutual tolerance (and even mutual amicability) amongst people respectively from different religions specifically through the international sport of football; including consultation and support for local community programmes and initiatives, as well as consultation and support for regional, national, and international tournaments and initiatives.
InterFaith International Hip Hop and Folk Music Project
We work towards improving mutual understanding and mutual tolerance (and, yes, even mutual amicability) amongst people respectively from different religions specifically through the cultural expression of traditional (folk) music, particularly hip hop; including consultation and support for regional and international conferences, local initiatives, and additional opportunities (formal and informal) for sharing respective music.
Comparative Religion
We work towards including the teaching of comparative religion within the general educational curricula, from kindergarten through university, of the respective public school systems, and increasingly within the respective private schools, throughout the World.
Marriage and Family
Preserving the Institution of Marriage
We work towards maintaining the principle that marriage is a bond that exists exclusively between man and woman respectively as husband and wife.
We work towards maintaining the principle that a man can have multiple wives.
We work towards alleviating the occurrence of divorce.
We work towards alleviating the occurrence of adultery.
We work towards alleviating the occurrence of heterophobia.
Preserving the Lives of Children
We work towards maintaining the understanding that life begins at conception and towards the preservation of each human life from the point of conception.
We work towards alleviating the occurrence of scientific adultery; including cloning, invetro fertilisation of a woman’s egg with the sperm of a man other than her husband, and the artificial insemination of a woman with the sperm of a man other than her husband.
We work towards the freedom, growth, and life of children who have been imprisoned within test tubes.
We work towards alleviating the occurrence of the adoption of children by individuals whilst such individuals have practised heterophobia.
Feminism
Men Are Men; Women are Women
We work towards maintaining traditional gender roles respectively for men and women; towards alleviating selfishness amongst both men and women; towards the understanding that authority exists beyond the imitation of masculinity; and towards the continuing understanding, actualisation, and appreciation that there is a respective natural beauty that exists within each woman.
Preserving Bodily Integrity
We work towards alleviating the occurrence of rape, an act that has been perceivably of further transgression than murder.
Encouraging Modesty
We work towards alleviating the occurrence of prostitution through encouraging a modesty that leads individuals, families, organisations, and institutions, away from adulterous behaviour; including providing honest occupational and economic opportunities for previous prostitutes, previously exploited women and men, previously pimping and/or pornographic entrepreneurs, and providing additional appropriate, positive attention to previous adulterers and additional individuals, families, organisations, and institutions who have directly and/or indirectly solicited such prostitution and/or pornography.
Health
Positive Becoming
We work towards building an understanding for the significance of perceiving health dilemmas within an appropriate, positive context and the tangible issues therein; utilising the notion of Becoming and concentrating upon the respective wellbeing and the actual capabilities within individuals rather than the perceived ailment and perceived disabilities
Well Being
We work towards building the understanding that good behaviour equals good health; this includes preventive measures, traditional practices of treatment, and constant community attention towards the respective wellbeing of individuals.
Learning to Share
We work towards building the understanding that the solution to the acquired immune deficiency syndrome and human immune virus exists within the appropriate actualisation of sharing within the aggregate of humanity.
Healing Quality of Trees
We work towards cultivating a perception that a solution to the avian influenza, and the alleviation of grimy birds, exists through the planting of additional trees.
Cultivating Nature and Naturally
We work towards cultivating a perception that a solution to cancer exists within a sufficient alleviation of synthetic chemicals within the environment.
Learning to Share
We work towards building the understanding that the solution to heart disease exists within the solution described for economic justice.
Community Building
We work towards alleviating the coercion or imposition of health insurance, car insurance, and life insurance; towards building courage within individuals, families, organisations, and institutions to abstain from hedging bets against one’s self; towards facilitating previous insurance provides with mas benevolent and utilitarian means of circulating resources; towards building courage within individuals, families, organisations, and institutions to pursue dispute resolution through increasingly amicable means other than litigation; and towards providing consultation and support for economic cooperative opportunities within communities that are increasingly benevolent and utilitarian.
Environment
Water
We work towards building enhanced infrastructures that respectively provide an increased and sufficient supply of drinkable and potable water to respective communities throughout the World; including the specific methodology of desalination (United Nations Environment Programme information, UNEP Japan).
Recycling
We work towards increasing and enhancing the practice of recycling; including through the consultation and implementation of the ‘High Technology Garbage Trucks’ campaign.
Seeing the Trees and the Forest
We work towards the preservation and augmentation of trees and natural forests throughout the World; including the ‘1 Square, 1 Cube’ campaign, the ‘City Grid’ project, the ‘Circumference of a Tree’ campaign; and including the study of the comparative inefficiency of cow pastures and the comparative efficiency within the practice of vegetarianism and the utilisation of vegetative and dairy substitutions instead of the flesh of animals.
Living beyond Conditioning
We work towards building the understanding that global cooling is facilitated through the alleviation of a reliance upon air conditioning.
Organic Agriculture
We work towards augmenting and enhancing organic agriculture and the appropriate valuation of products provided from comparatively agricultural and/or indigenous communities.
‘Clean Parks’ Campaign
We work towards improving urban, suburban, and rural landscapes through the ‘Clean Parks’ campaign.
Family Landscapes
We work towards augmenting and enhancing the respective connexion between the natural environment and individuals, families, organisations, and institutions respectively located within urban, suburban, and/or rural areas through the ‘Front Yard Gardens’ campaign.
Universal Peace and International Order
Order without Force
We work towards the establishment of increasingly civil police through the aggregate alleviation of guns amongst citizens, the formation of domestic police patrols without weapons, and the formation of specialised domestic police units with weapons.
Preserving Life
We work towards the alleviation of the death penalty.
We work towards the alleviation of all nuclear weapons.
International Cooperation
We work towards the tangible implementation of an international taxation on the respective military expenditure of nations as a means of increasingly establishing the effective structure of international governance signified within the United Nations; this international taxation being established within the perception of military expenditure being the social cost of violence.
International Civil Service
We work towards the augmentation and enhancement of a formal international civil service corps with continuing precedents provided from the United Nations, the United Nations Volunteers, Médècins Sans Frontieres, the United States of America Taínoterranean Peace Corps, Oxfam International, and additional organisations and institutions.
International Governance
Enhancing the United Nations
We work towards the reform of the United Nations, as described within the draft of the humble Constitution of the United Nations published by the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement (whilst utilising the name of this InterFaith Settlement), as a means of establishing a formal structure of international governance that involves the aggregate of the respective peoples, religions, cultures, collectives, and traditions of the World.
Earth Federation of Mundialist Organisations
We work towards the tangible actualisation of the efforts and accomplishments of the Earth Federation of Mundialist Organisations, a cooperative of individuals, families, organisations, and institutions involved within the Mundialist Movement for establishing international governance and promoting World citizenship; this includes consultation and additional support.
Globalisation
Open Immigration, Indigenous Prerogative
We work towards the establishment of an uniformly practised international policy of open immigration and indigenous prerogative: where each nation accepts each immigrant that respectively enters each nation, yet the indigenous people and the preceding citizens within each nation maintain the prerogative of determining the respective public policy for each nation, including determining upon whom national citizenship is conferred.
Progressing beyond Development
We work towards building the understanding of, and the amenability towards, the comparatively honest utilisation of the term, ‘progression,’ instead of, ‘development,’ acknowledging the significance for respective peoples, religions, cultures, collectives, and traditions from throughout the World, to continue to progress in a manner that is respectively deemed appropriate by such peoples, religions, cultures, collectives, and traditions, rather than within a precalculated, and self biased, perspective of life and circumstances.
Political Collectives within Religious Collectives
We work towards communicating a perspective pertaining contemporary human circumstances that involves three basic forms of political collectives: agricultural collectives, industrial collectives, and interplanetarial collectives; and three basic, and dynamically congruent, religious collectives: Monks, Chosen People, and Indigenous People.
Economic Justice
We work towards simply sharing; rather than regularly giving to any specific charitable programme, this includes simply following the respective religious teachings that direct us to give of what we love (it should be noted that in accordance with the guidelines of this InterFaith Settlement and our advanced adherence to Uni Dittoism, we at the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement abstain from holding or exchanging money).
From the Torah of Judaism
Deuteronomy 28:12
God will open to you God’s good treasury the Heavens, to give the rain of your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands; and you shall lent to many nations, but you shall not borrow.
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Deuteronomy 28:43 – 44
The sojourner who is amongst you shall mount above you higher and higher; and you shall come down lower and lower. He shall lend to you, and you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail.
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Leviticus 25:10
And you shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants; it shall be a jubilee for you, when each of you shall return to his property and each of you shall return to his family.
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Leviticus 25:35
And if your fellow becomes poor, and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall maintain him; as a stranger and a sojourner he shall live with you. Take no interest from him or increase, but fear your God; that your fellow may live beside you. You shall not lend him your money at interest, nor give him you food for (gain). I am God your God, Who brought you forth out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God.
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Exodus 22:25
If you lend money to any of My people with you who is poor, you shall not be to him as a creditor, and you shall not exact interest from him. If ever you take your neighbour’s garment in pledge, you shall restore it to him before the Sun goes down; for that is his only covering, it is his mantle for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he cries to Me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.
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Leviticus 19:9
When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field to its very border, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am God your God.
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Deuteronomy 15:1 – 2
At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release. And this is the manner of the release: every creditor shall release what he has lent to his neighbour; he shall not exact it of his neighbour, his fellow, because God’s release has been proclaimed.
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Deuteronomy 15:6
For God your God will bless you, as God promised you, and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; and you shall rule over many nations, but they shall not rule over you.
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Deuteronomy 15:7 – 11
If there is amongst you a poor man, one of your fellows, in any of your towns within your land which God your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor fellow, but you shall open your hand to him, and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. Take heed lest there be a base thought in your heart, and you say, ‘The seventh year, the year of release is near,’ and your eye be hostile to your poor fellow, and you give him nothing, and he cry to God against you, and it be sin in you. You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him; because for this God your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. For the poor will never cease out of the land; therefore I command you, You shall open wide your hand to your fellow, to the needy and to the poor, in the land.
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Deuteronomy 15:12
If your fellow, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you, he shall serve you six years ,and in the seventh year, you shall le him go free from you. And when you let him go free from you, you shall not let him go empty handed; you shall furnish him liberally out of your flock, out of your threshing floor, and out of your wine press; as God your God has blessed you, you shall give to him. You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and God your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this today.
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Deuteronomy 23:24 – 25
When you go into your neighbour’s vineyard, you may eat your fill of grapes, as many as you wish, but you shall not put any in your vessel. When you go into your neighbour’s standing grain, you may pluck the ears with your hand, but you shall not put a sickle to your neighbour’s standing grain.
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Deuteronomy 24:10 – 13
When you make your neighbour a loan of any sort, you shall not go into his house to fetch his pledge. You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you make the loan shall bring the pledge out to you. And if he is a poor man, you shall not sleep in his pledge; when the Sun goes down, you shall restore to him the pledge that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you; and it shall be righteousness to you before God your God.
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Numbers 9:14 (in part)
‘…you shall have one statute, both for the sojourner and for the native.’
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Leviticus 19:33
When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. The stranger who sojourns with you shall be to you as the native amongst you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt; I am God your God.
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Exodus 23:9
You shall not oppress a stranger; you know the hear of a stranger for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
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From the Bhagavad Gita of Hinduism
Bhagavad Gita 16:7 – 18
The demonic do things they should avoid and avoid the things they should do. They have no sense of uprightness, purity, or Truth.
‘I challenge the existence of God,’ they say, ‘There is no Truth, no spiritual law, no móral order. The basis of life is sex; what else can it be?’
Holding such distorted views, possessing scant discrimination, they become enemies of the World, causing suffering and destruction.
Hypocritical, proud, and arrogant, living in delusion and clinging to deluded ideas, insatiable in their desires, they pursue their unclean ends. Although burdened with fears that end only with death, they still maintain with complete assurance, ‘Gratification of lust is the highest that life can offer.’
Bound on all sides by scheming and anxiety, driven by anger and greed, they amass by any means they can a hoard of money for the satisfaction of their cravings.
‘I got this today,’ they say, ‘tomorrow I shall get that. This wealth is mine, and that will be mine too.’
‘I have destroyed my enemies. I shall destroy others too! Am I not like God? I enjoy what I want. I am successful. I am powerful.
‘I am happy. I am rich and well born. Who is equal to me? I will perform sacrifices and give gifts, and rejoice in my own generosity.’ This is how they go on, deluded by ignorance.
Bound by their greed and entangled in a web of delusion, whirled about by a fragmented mind, they fall into a dark hell.
Self important, obstinate, swept away by the pride of wealth, they ostentatiously perform sacrifices without any regard for their purpose.
Egotistical, violent, arrogant, lustful, angry, envious of everyone, they abuse My presence within their own bodies and in the bodies of others.
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Bhagavad Gita 14:5 – 8
It is the three gunas born of prakriti- sattva, rajas, and tamas,’ that bind the immortal Self to the body.
Sattva- pure, luminous, and free from sorrow,- binds us with attachment to happiness and wisdom.
Rajas is passion, arising from selfish desire and attachment. These bins the Self with compulsive action.
Tamas, born of ignorance, deludes all creatures through heedlessness, indolence, and sleep.
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Bhagavad Gita 14:12
When rajas predominates, a person runs about pursuing selfish and greedy ends, driven by restlessness and desire.
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Bhagavad Gita 14:16 – 18
The fruit of good deeds is pure and sattvic. The fruit of rajas is suffering. The fruit of tamas is ignorance and suffering.
From sattva comes understanding; from rajas, greed. But the outcome of tamas is confusion, infatuation, and ignorance.
Those who live in sattva go upwards; those in rajas remain where they are. But those immersed in tamas sink downwards.
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Bhagavad Gita 17:11 – 13
The sattvic perform sacrifices with their entire mind fixed on the purposes of the sacrifice. Without thought of reward, they follow the teachings of the scriptures.
The rajasic perform sacrifices for the sake of show and the good it will bring them.
The tamasic perform sacrifices ignoring both the letter and the spirit. They omit the proper prayers, the proper offerings, the proper food, and the proper Faith.
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Bhagavad Gita 18:20 – 28
Sattvic knowledge sees the one indestructible Being in all beings, the unity underlying the multiplicity of creation.
Rajasic knowledge sees all things and creatures as separate and distinct.
Tamasic knowledge, lacking any sense of perspective, sees one small part and mistakes it for the whole.
Work performed to fulfil ones’s obligations, without thought of personal reward or of whether the job is pleasant or unpleasant, is sattvic.
Work prompted by selfish desire or self will, full of stress, is rajasic.
Work that is undertaken blindly, without any consideration of consequences, waste, injury to others, or one’s own capacities, is tamasic.
A sattvic worker is free from egotism and selfish attachments, full of enthusiasm and fortitude in success and failure alike.
A rajasic worker has strong personal desires and craves rewards for his actions. Covetous, impure, and destructive, he is easily swept away by fortune, good or bad.
The tamasic worker is undisciplined, vulgar, stubborn, deceitful, dishonest, and lazy. He is easily depressed and prone to procrastination.
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Bhagavad Gita 18:30 – 39
To know when to act and when to refrain from action, what is right action and what is wrong, what brings security and what insecurity, what brings freedom and what bondage: these are the signs of a sattvic intellect.
The rajasic intellect confuses right and wrong actions, and cannot distinguish what is to be done from what should not be done.
The tamasic intellect is shrouded in darkness, utterly reversing right and wrong wherever it turns.
The sattvic will, developed through meditation, keeps prana, mind, and sense in vital harmony.
The rajasic will, conditioned by selfish desire, pursues wealth, pleasure, and respectability.
The tamasic will shows itself in obstinate ignorance, sloth, fear, grief, depression, and conceit.
Now listen, Arjuna: there are also three kinds of happiness. By sustained effort, one comes to the end of sorrow.
That which seems like poison at first, but tastes like nectar in the end,’ this is the joy of sattva, born of a mind at Peace with itself.
Pleasure from the senses seems like nectar at first, but it is bitter as poison in the end. This is the kind of happiness that comes to the rajasic.
Those who are tamasic draw their pleasures from sleep, indolence, and intoxication. Both in the beginning and in the end, this happiness is a delusion.
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Bhagavad Gita 14:19
The wise see clearly that all action is the work of the gunas. Knowing that which is above the gunas, they enter into union with Me.
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Bhagavad Gita 2:16 – 17, 23 – 25
The impermanent has no reality; reality lies in the eternal. Those who have seen the boundary between these two have attained the end of all knowledge.
Realise that which pervades the Universe and is indestructible; no power can affect this unchanging, imperishable reality.
The Self cannot be pierced by weapons or burned with fire; water cannot wet it, nor can the wind dry it.
The Self cannot be pierced or burned, made wet or dry. It is everlasting and infinite, standing on the motionless foundations of eternity.
The Self is unmanifested, beyond all thought, beyond all change. Knowing this, you should not grieve.
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Bhagavad Gita 5:7
Those who follow the path of service, who have completely purified themselves and conquered their senses and self will, see the Self in all creatures and are untouched by any action they perform.
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Bhagavad Gita 6:32
When a person responds to the joys and sorrows of others as if they were his own, he has attained the highest state of spiritual union.
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From the Digha Nikâya of Buddhism
Lohikka Sutta 9 – 15
And the Exalted One went on to the dwelling place of Lohikka the Brahmin, and sat down on the seat prepared for him. And Lohikka the Brahmin satisfied the Sangha, with the Buddha at its head, with his own hand, with sweet food both hard and soft, until they refused any mas. And when the Exalted One had finished his meal, and had cleansed the bowl and his hands, Lohikka the Brahmin brought a low seat and sat down beside him. And to him, thus seated, the Exalted One spoke as follows:
‘Is it True, what they say, Lohikka, that the following wicked opinion has arisen in your mind:
‘Suppose that a Samana or a Brahmina have reached up to some good state of mind, then he should tell no one else about it. For what can one man do for another? To tell others would be like the man who, having broken through an old bond, should entangle himself in a new one. Like that, I say, is this desire to declare to others; it is a form of lust.’’
‘That is so, Gautama.’
‘Now what think you, Lohikka? Are you not established at Sâlavatikâ?’
‘Yes, that is so, Gautama.’
‘Then suppose, Lohikka, one were to speak thus: ‘Lohikka the Brahmin has a doman at Sâlavatikâ. Let him alone enjoy all the revenue and all the produce of Sâlavatikâ, allowing nothing to anybody else!’ Would the utterer of that speech be a danger maker as touching the men who live in dependence upon you, or not?’
‘He would be a danger maker, Gautama.’
‘And making that danger, would he be a person who sympathised with their welfare, or not?’
‘He would not be considering their welfare, Gautama.’
‘And not considering their welfare, would his heart stand fast in love towards them, or in enmity?’
‘In enmity, Gautama.’
‘But when one’s heart stands fast in enmity, is that unsound doctrine, or sound?’
‘It is unsound doctrine, Gautama.’
‘Now if a man hold unsound doctrine, Lohikka, I declare that one of two future births will be his lot, either purgatory or rebirth as an animal.’
‘Now what think you, Lohikka? Is not King Pasenadi of Kosala in possession of Kâsi and Kosala?’
‘Yes, that is so, Gautama.’
‘Then suppose, Lohikka, one were to speak thus: ‘King Pasenadi of Kosala is in possession of Kâsi and Kosala. Let him enjoy all the revenue and all the produce of Kâsi and Kosala, allowing nothing to anybody else.’ Would the utterer of that speech be a danger maker as touching the men who live in dependence on Kong Pasenadi of Kosala- both you yourself and others- or not?’
‘He would be a danger maker, Gautama.’
‘And making that danger, would he be a person who sympathised with their welfare, or not?’
‘He would not be considering their welfare, Gautama,’
‘And not considering their welfare, would his heart stand fast in love towards them, or in enmity?’
‘In enmity, Gautama.’
‘But when one’s heart stands fast in enmity, is that unsound doctrine, or sound?’
‘It is unsound doctrine, Gautama.’
‘Now if a man hold unsound doctrine, Lohikka, I declare that one of two future births will be his lot, either purgatory or rebirth as an animal.’
‘So then, Lohikka, you admit that he who should say that you, being in occupation of Sâlavatikâ, should therefore yourself enjoy all the revenue and produce thereof, bestowing nothing on any one else; and he who should say that King Pasenadi of Kosala, being in power over Kâsi and Kosala, should therefore himself enjoy all the revenue and produce thereof, bestowing nothing on any one else- would be making danger for those living in dependence on you; or for those, you and others, living in dependence upon the king. And that those who thus make danger for others, must be wanting in sympathy for them. And that the man wanting for sympathy has his heart set fast in enmity. And that to have one’s heart set fast in enmity is unsound doctrine:-
‘Then just so, Lohikka, he who should day: ‘Suppose a Samana or a Brahmina to have reached up to some good state of mind, then should he tell no one else about it. For what can one man do for another? To tell others would be like the man who, having broken through an old bond, should entangle himself in a new one. Like that, I say, is this desire to declare to others, it is a form of lust;’-
just so he, who should say thus, would be putting obstacles in the way of those clansman who, having taken upon themselves the Dharma and the Discipline set forth by him who has won the Truth, have attained to great distinction therein- to the fruit of conversion, for instance, or to the fruit of once returning, or to the fruit of never returning, or even to Arahatship- he would be putting obstacles in the way of those who are bringing to fruition the course of conduct that will lead to rebirth in states of Heaven. But putting obstacles in their way he would be out of sympathy for their welfare; being out of sympathy for their welfare his heart would become established in enmity; and when one’s heart is established in enmity, that is unsound doctrine. Now if a man hold unsound doctrine, Lohikka, I declare that one of two future births will be his lot, either purgatory or rebirth as an animal.’
--
Brahma Gâla Sutta 6 – 9 (in part) (similarly Sâmañña Phala Sutta 43 – 62 [in part]; Sonandanda Sutta 23 [in part]; Kûtadanta Sutta 27 [in part]; Mahâli Sutta 15 [in part]; Gâliya Sutta [in part]; Potthapâda Sutta 7 [in part]; Subha Sutta 7 [in part]; Kevaddha Sutta 8 [in part]; Lohikka Sutta 19 – 77 [in part])
‘But also, fellows, if outsiders should speak in honour of me, in honour of the Dharma (the Doctrine), in honour of the Sangha (the Order), you should not, on that account, be filled with pleasure or gladness, or be lifted up in heart. Were you to be so that also would stand in the way of your self conquest. When outsiders speak in honour of me, or of the Dharma, or of the Sangha, you should acknowledge what is right to be the fact, saying: ‘For this or that reason this is the fact, that is so, such a thing is found amongst us, is in us.’
‘It is in respect only of trifling things, of matters of little value, of mere morality, that an unconverted man, when honouring the Tathâgata (one of wisdom), would speak. And what are such trifling, minor details of mere morality that he would honour?
‘’Putting away the killing of living things, Gautama the recluse holds aloof from the destruction of life. He has laid the cudgel and the sword aside, and ashamed of roughness, and full of mercy, he dwells compassionate and kind to all creatures that have life.’ It is thus that the unconverted man, when speaking of the Tathâgata, might speak.
‘Or he might say: ‘Putting away the taking of what has not been given, Gautama the recluse lives aloof from grasping what is not his own. He takes only what is given, and expecting that gifts will come, he passes his life in honesty and purity of heart.’
--
From the Gospels of Christianity
Matthew 6:7 – 15
And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your God knows what you need before you ask God. Pray then like this:
‘Our God Who art in Heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy Will be done,
On Earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors;
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.’
For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly God also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Heavenly God forgive your trespasses.
--
Matthew 6:19 – 34
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on Earth, where moth and dust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is not sound, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness.
No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat of what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life mas than food, and the body mas than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into bars, and yet your Heavenly God feeds them. Are you not of mas value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his pan of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will God not much mas clothe you, O men of little Faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For Gentiles seek all these things; and your Heavenly God knows that you need them all. But seek first God’s Kingdom and God’s righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.
Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day.
--
Matthew 18:21 – 22
Then Peter came up and said to him, ‘Leader, how often shall my fellow sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.’
--
Matthew 21:12 – 13
And Jesus entered the Temple of God and drove out all who sold and bought in the Temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, ‘It is written, ‘My House shall be called a house of prayer;’ but you make it a den of robbers.’
--
Matthew 22:15 – 22
Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how to entangle him in his talk. And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, ‘Teacher, we know that you are True, and teach the Way of God Truthfully, and care for no man; for you do not regard the position of men. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay tribute to Caesar, or not?’ But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the money for the tax.’ And they brought him a coin. And Jesus said to them, ‘Whose likeness and inscription is this?’ They said, ‘Caesar’s.’ Then he said to them, ‘Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ When they heard it, they marvelled; and they left him and went away.
--
Matthew 23:1 – 12
Then said Jesus to the crowds and to his disciples, ‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; so practise and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practise. They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by men; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honour at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues, and salutations in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men. But you are not to be called Rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all fellows. And call not man your far on Earth, for you have one God, Who is in Heaven. Neither be called masters, for you have one master, Jesus. He who is greatest amongst you shall be your servant; whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
--
Luke 6:27 – 31
But I say to you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and form him who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to every one who begs from you; and of him who takes away your goods do not ask them again. And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them.
--
Luke 6:32 – 26
If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for God is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. Be merciful, even as your God is merciful.
--
From the Koran of Islam
Sura 2:245
Who is he that will loan to God a beautiful loan, which God will double unto his credit and multiply many times? It is God that giveth you want or plenty. And to God shall be your return.
--
Sura 57:18
For those who give in charity, men and women, and loan to God a Beautiful loan, it shall be increased manifold to their credit, and they shall have besides a liberal reward.
--
Sura 64:16 – 17
So fear God as much as ye can; listen and obey; and spend in charity for the benefit of your own souls. And those saved from the covetousness of their own souls,- they are the ones that achieve prosperity.
If ye loan to God a beautiful loan, God will double it to your credit, and God will grant you forgiveness: for God is most ready to appreciate service, Most Forbearing,-
--
Sura 73:20
They God doth know that thou standest forth to prayer nigh two thirds of the night, or half the night or a third of the night, and so doth a party of those with thee. But God doth appoint night and day in due measure. God knoweth that ye are unable to keep count thereof. So God hath turned to you in mercy: read ye, therefore, of the Koran as much as may be easy for you. God knoweth that there may be some amongst you in ill health; other travelling through the land, seeking of God’s bounty; yet others fighting in God’s Cause. Read ye, therefore, as muc of the Koran as may be easy for you; and estbablish regular prayer and give regular charity; and loan to God a beautiful loan. And whatever good ye send forth for your souls, ye shall find it in God’s Presence,- yea, better and greater, in reward. And seek ye the Grace of God: for God is Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful.
--
Sura 2:25
But give glad tidings to those who believe and work righteousness, that their portion is Gardens, beneath which rivers flow. Every time they are fed with fruits therefrom, they say: ‘Why, this is what we were fed with before,’ for they are given things in similitude; and they have therein companies pure and Holy; and they abide therein for ever.
--
Sura 48:8
We have Truly sent thee as a witness, a bringer of glad tidings, and as a warner:
--
Sura 2:110
And be steadfast in prayer and regular in charity: and whatever good ye sen forth for your souls before you, ye shall find it with God, for God sees well all that ye do.
--
Sura 2:177
It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces towards the East or West; but it is righteousness- to believe in God and the Last Day, and the angels, and the book, and the messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for God, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer, and practise regular charity; to fulfil the contracts which ye have made; and to be firm and patient, in pain or suffering and adversity, and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of Truth, the God fearing.
--
Sura 2:195
And spend of your substance in the Cause of God, and make not your own hands contribute to your destruction; but do good: for God loveth those who do good.
--
Sura 2:254
O ye who believe! Spend out of the bounties We have provided for you, before the Day comes when no bargaining will avail, nor friendship nor intercession. Those who reject Faith- they are the wrongdoers.
--
Sura 2:261 – 282
The parable of those who spend their substance in the Way of God is that of a grain of corn: it growth seven ears, and each ear hath a hundred grains. God giveth manifold increase to whom God pleaseth; and God careth for all and God knoweth all things.
Those who spend their substance in the cause of God, and follow not up theiri gifst with reminders of their generosity or with inquiry,- for them their reward is with their God: on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.
Kind words and the covering of faults are better tan charity followed by injury. God is free of all wants, and God is Most Forbearing.
O ye who believe! cancel not your charity by reminders of your generosity or by injury,- like those who spend their substance to be seen of men, but believe neither in God nor in the Last Day. They are in parable like a hard, barren rock, on which is a little soil: on it falls heavy rain, which leaves it just a bare stone. They will be able to do nothing with aught they have earned. And God guideth not those who reject Faith.
And the likeness of those who spend their substance, seeking to please God and to strengthen their souls, is as a garden, high and fertile; heavy rain falls on it but makes it yield a double increase of harvest, and if it receives not heavy rain, light moisture sufficeth it. God seeth well whatever ye do.
Does any of you wish that he should have a garden with date palms and vines and streams flowing underneath, and all kinds of fruit, whilst he is stricken with old age, and his children are not strong enough to look after themselves- that it should be caught in a whirlwind, with fire therein and be burnt up? Thus doth God make clear to you the signs of God; that ye may consider.
O ye who believe! give of the good things which ye have honourably earned, and of the fruits of the Earth which We have produced for you, and do not aim at getting anything which is bad, in order that out of it ye may give something, when ye yourselves would not receive it except with closed eyes. And know that God is free of all wants, and worthy of all praise.
Evil threaten you with poverty and bids you to conduct unseemly. God promiseth you God’s forgiveness and bounties. And God careth for all and God knoweth all things.
God granteth wisdom to whom God pleaseth; and he to whom wisdom is granted receiveth indeed a benefit overflowing; but none will grasp the message but men of understanding.
And whatever ye spend in charity or devotion, be sure God knows it all. But the wrongdoers have no helpers.
If ye disclose acts of charity, even so it is well, but if ye conceal them, and make them reach those really in need, that is best for you; it will remove from you some of your stains of evil. And God is well acquainted with what ye do.
It is not required of thee, O Apostle, to set them on the right path, but God sets on the right path whom God pleaseth. Whatever of good ye give benefits your own souls, and ye shall only do so seeking the Face of God. Whatever good ye give shall be rendered back to you, and ye shall not be dealt with unjustly.
Charity is for those in need, whom in God’s cause, are restricted from travel, and cannot move about in the land, seeking for trade or work. The ignorant man thinks, because of their modesty, that they are free from want. Thou shalt know them by their unfailing mark: they beg not importunately from all and sundry. And whatever of good ye give, be assured God knoweth it well.
Those who in charity spend of their goods by night and by day, in secret and in public, have their reward with their God; on them shall be no fear, nor shall the grieve.
Those Who devour usury will not stand except as stands one whom evil by his touch hath driven to madness. That is because they say: ‘Trade is like usury,’ but God hath permitted trade and forbidden usury. Those who, after receiving direction from their God, desist, shall be pardoned for the past; their case is for God to judge; but those who repeat the offence are companions of the fire: they will abide therein for ever.
God will deprive usury of all blessing, but will give increase for deeds of charity; for God loveth not creatures ungrateful and wicked.
Those who believe, and do deeds of righteousness, and establish regular prayers and regular charity, will have their reward with their God; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.
O ye who believe! fear God, and give up what remains of your demand for usury, if ye are indeed believers.
If ye do it not, take notice of war from God and the Apostle of God: but if ye turn back, ye shall have your capital sums; deal not unjustly, and ye shall not be dealt with unjustly.
If the debtor is in a difficulty, grant him time till it is easy for him to repay. But if ye remit it by way of charity, that is best for you if ye only knew.
And fear the Day when ye shall be brought back to God. Then shall every soul be paid what it earned, and none shall be dealt with unjustly.
O ye who believe! when ye deal with each other, in transactions involving future obligations in a fixed period of time, reduce them to writing. Let a scribe write down Faithfully as between the parties; let not the scribed refuse to write; as God as taught him, so let him write. Let him who incurs the liability dictate, but let him fear his God, and not diminish aught of what he owes. If the party liable is mentally deficient, or weak, or unable himself to dictate, let his guardian dictate Faithfully. And get two witnesses, out of your own men, and if there are not two men, then a man and two women such as ye choose, for witnesses so that if one of them errs, the other can remind her. The witness should not refuse when they are called on for evidence. Disdain not to reduce to writing your contract for a future period, whether it be small or big; it is juster in the sight of God, mas suitable as evidence, and mas convenient to prevent doubts amongst yourselves, but f it be a transaction which ye carry out on the spot amongst yourselves, there is no blame on you if you reduce it not to writing. But take witnesses whenever ye make a commercial contract; and let neither scribe nor witness suffer harm. If ye do such harm, it would be wickedness in you.
So fear God; for it is God that teaches you. And God is well acquainted with all things.
--
Sura 2:286
On no soul doth God place a burden greater than it can bear. It gets every good that it earns, and it suffers every ill that it earns. Pray: ‘Our God! Condemn us not if we forget or fall into error; our God! Lay not on us a burden like that Thou didst lay on those before us; our God! Lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Blot out our sins, and grant us forgiveness, have mercy on us. Thou art our Protector; help us against those who stand against Faith.
--
Sura 3:133 – 136
Be quick in the race for forgiveness from your God, and for a garden whose width is that of the whole of the Heavens and of the Earth, prepared for the righteous,-
Those who spend freely, whether in prosperity or in adversity; who restrain anger; and pardon all men; for God loves those who do good;-
And those who, having done something to be ashamed of, or wronged their own souls, earnestly bring God to mind, and ask forgiveness for their sins,- and who can forgive sins except God?- and are never obstinate in persisting knowingly in the wrong they have done.
For such the reward is forgiveness form their God, and gardens with rivers flowing underneath,- an eternal dwelling; how excellent a recompense for those who work and strive!
--
Sura 30:39
That which we lay out for increase through property of other people, will have no increase with God; but that which ye lay out for charity, seeking the countenance of God, will increase: it is these who will get a recompense multiplied.
--
Sura 63:10
And spend something in charity out of the substance which We have bestowed on you, before death should come to any of you and he should say: ‘O my God! Why didst Thou not give me a respite for a little while? I should then have given largely in charity, and I should have been one of the doers of good.’
--
Sura 9:60
Alms are for the poor and the needy, and those employed to administer the funds; for those whose hearts have been recently reconciled to Truth; for those in bondage and in the debt; in the Cause of God; and for the wayfarer; thus is it ordained by God, and God is full of knowledge and wisdom.
--
Sura 3:130
O ye who believe! devour not usury, doubled and multiplied; but fear God, that ye may really prosper.
--
Sura 102:1 – 4
The mutual rivalry for piling up the good things of this World diverts you from the mas serious things,
Until ye visit the graves.
But nay, ye soon shall know the reality.
Again, ye soon shall know!
--
Sura 4:29
O ye who believe! eat not up your property amongst yourselves in vanities, but let there be amongst you traffic and trade by mutual good will; nor kill or destroy yourselves; for verily God hath been to you Most Merciful!
--
Poverty
Poverty amongst Riches
We work towards alleviating the poverty amongst those who have materially riches; this involves perceiving and alleviating the hardness of heart of Caesar and Pharaoh.
Richness amongst Poverty
We work towards building the perception, understanding, and actuality of the richness that exists within material poverty.
Progressing beyond Overdevelopment
We work towards alleviating ‘overdevelopment,’ and towards implementing standard theses within the academic study of economics that perceives and quantifies additional factors of poverty (particularly phenomena of the quality of life that have been previously perceived and dismissed as social and thus unquantifiable) as a means of determining, with increased accuracy and legitimacy, the respective costs of products and services.
Labour, Trade, and Economics
Waging Modesty
We work towards cultivating modesty within both labour and management.
Four Day Work Weeks
We work towards the establishment of a four day work week, with 10 hour days, and with Friday Jummuah being observed as a day for community service and camaraderie.
Life without Money
We work towards the implementation of a transmonetary valuation system; a methodology for exchanging products and services without utilising monetary currencies and instead, utilising an abstract notion: ‘ewkahs,’ or ‘Uc’s’: Units of Cost.
Fair Trade
We work towards augmenting and enhancing the practice of Fair Trade; this includes consultation, support, and pragmatic utilisation.
Flowing Trade
We work towards the implementation of ‘Flowing Trade;’ international trade without the occurrence of protectionism such as tariffs or quotas.
Artisanship and the Assembly Line
We work towards an increased balance of the utilisation of assembly lines with practice of artisanship and craftsmanship.
International Labour Unions
We work towards the augmentation and enhancement of international labour union organising.
Education
Preparing International Citizenship
We work towards the augmentation and enhancement of the preparation of students, from kindergarten through university, to become international citizens with an awareness of, and tolerance for, the many peoples, religions, cultures, collectives, and traditions of the World and Universe; examples of proficient efforts and accomplishments of such education include the Montessori Method, the International Baccalaureate Programme, the United Nations International School, and the draft charter of the Asona University published by the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement (whilst utilising the name of this InterFaith Settlement).
Free Higher Education
We work towards the aggregate provision of higher education without financial cost to all students who complete appropriate academic qualifications for such learning; this includes the consideration of all reparations perceived as being owed to people of African descent for the historic enslavement of people of African descent to be summarily forwarded to facilitate the establishment of the aggregate provision of higher education of all individuals, irregardless of race, ethnicity, culture, nationality, or religion.
Technology
We work towards the augmentation and enhancement of technological advances, systems, and equipment only where such technological advances, systems, and equipment are specifically and substantially solicited; and towards the effective provision of such technological advances, systems, and equipment where such technological advances, systems, and equipment are specifically and substantially solicited.
Outer Atmospheric Travel and Intergalactic Exploration and Habitation
Intergalactic Diplomacy
We work towards the perception for, and cultivation of, an intergalactic diplomacy to be pursued by the aggregate of Earthlings.
InterFaith Dialogue and Intergalactic Considerations
We work towards the building of interFaith dialogue and intraFaith dialogue pertaining the respective religious implications of outeratmospheric travel and intergalactic exploration and habitation.
Intragalactic Exploration and Research
We work towards the establishment of a general consensus and written agreement specifically pertaining intragalactic exploration and research.
Territorial Claims beyond the Atmosphere
We work towards the establishment of a general consensus and written agreement specifically pertaining territorial claims of individuals, families, organisations, and institutions towards elements beyond the atmosphere of Earth.
Remote Earth Colonies and Outeratmospheric Excursions
We work towards continuing and enhancing conferences and negotiations, involving public governments and private interests, pertaining the construction, maintenance, and logistics of remote Earth colonies beyond the atmosphere of Earth and the construction, maintenance, and logistics of orbiting stations around the Earth and additional outeratmospheric excursions provided for individuals, families, organisations, and institutions.
Drugs
We work towards abstaining from participating within the consumption of drugs.
We work towards abstaining from punishing the consumption of drugs.
We work towards abstaining from the advertisement of the consumption of drugs.
We work towards providing increasingly honest occupational and economic opportunities for pharmaceutical entrepreneurs.
Mobilisation Strategies
‘Hug a CEO’ Campaigns
We work towards the continuing implementation of ‘Hug a CEO’ campaigns where meetings are arranged with, and genuine hugs of compassion are provided towards, respective chief executive officers of corporations, who have been perceived as having caused harm towards others.
Peace Rallies at National Celebrations
We work towards the continuing implementation of Peace Rallies during national observance events where Peace activists provide tokens of Peace (including Peace signs, Peace symbols, the word ‘Peace,’ and/or olive branches) during national celebrations where general citizens are already gathering.
‘2 Days in 2 Years’ Campaign
We work towards the continuing implementation of the ‘2 Days in 2 Years’ campaign where, rather than money, individuals provide service to the World and Universe, through respective religious congregations, community groups, and other initiatives, through the auspices of the United Nations, to facilitate the transfer of custody of Salt Fork Park from Xanterra, the State of Oyo (Ohio), and the United States of America Taínoterranea, to this InterFaith Settlement.
‘Clean Parks’ Campaigns
We work towards the continuing implementation of the ‘Clean Parks’ campaigns where individuals, families, organisations, and institutions (and particularly youthful activist groups) visit respectively local parks and simply clean the parks as a means of providing tangible service to respective communities and providing increased credibility to the respective causes of such individuals, families, organisations, and institutions (particularly those of youthful activist groups); we at the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement believe in the notion that because there is honour in cleanliness, there is honour in cleaning; and within cleaning, there is belonging.
‘Grocery Store Gleanings’ Campaigns
We work towards the continuing implementation of the ‘Grocery Store Gleanings’ campaigns where individuals, families, organisations, and institutions visit grocery stores and partake of meals without providing monetary or other direct compensation for such; these campaigns are in accordance with the specific mitzvah within the Torah of Judaism for community wellbeing and for individuals to provide the respective fields of individuals for others to partake, in general accordance with the respective responsibilities for charity similarly taught within Christianity and Islam, and in general accordance with the respective practice of the beggar’s bowl within Hinduism and Buddhism; these campaigns are implemented to encourage individuals, families, organisations, and institutions to share with others who require such subsistence; and these campaigns are conducted in a civil manner without a ransom or ultimatum.
Freeganism
We work towards supporting the comparatively radical methodology of freeganism where discarded food is extracted from the respective facilities of grocery stores and kept for later consumption.
‘1 Square, 1 Cube’ Campaigns
We work towards the continuing implementation of the ‘1 square, 1 cube’ campaign where for every cubic meter of building space (including commercial, retail, wholesale, and residential) within a five kilometer radius within an urban or suburban area, there is also a square meter of green space (including woods, parks, natural waterfronts); the ‘City Grids’ project is a continuing project with cooperating municipalities that provide respective information pertaining building space and intended construction projects to affiliate universities for students to maintain working schematics of the respective municipalities’ adherence, or proximity, to this campaign.
‘Circumference of a Tree’ Campaign
We work towards the continuing implementation of the ‘Circumference of a Tree’ campaign where within land sites of urban, suburban, or rural construction or clearing projects, every tree that is larger than the circumference of one’s hands is counted and the seed of that tree is planted elsewhere, and every tree that is larger than the circumference of one’s arms remains standing.
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The proceeding are some of the specific movements, projects, initiatives, and efforts to which we provide direct support and consultation:
The InterFaith Movement
The InterFaith Movement is an international community of individuals, families, organisations, and institutions who promote Universal Peace and increasing mutual understanding, mutual tolerance, and cooperation amongst individuals, families, organisations, and institutions respectively adhering to different religious traditions and beliefs. The Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement provides continuing support and participation within the InterFaith Movement through continuing interFaith projects, cooperation, consultation, conferences, advocacy, and additional efforts and initiatives.
This InterFaith Settlement
This InterFaith Settlement is a living and intentional community that welcomes individuals from the many religious traditions of the World, including Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam, to live together and maintain a direct and pragmatic dependence upon each other; that such an example can be shared with the World and promoting augmented and enhanced understanding, tolerance, acceptance, amicability, cooperation, and Peace. The Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement is an official organisation, and intended resident, within this InterFaith Settlement and intrinsically contributes to the progression of this InterFaith Settlement.
Apology Institute (within the stage of formation)
The Apology Institute is an organisation that provides consoling to individuals who have experienced harm and suffering and who have yet to received an apology for such harm and suffering. The Apology Institute provides an annual retreat and conference, without monetary cost, to such individuals. The annual retreat and conference includes workshops, seminars, and additional consultations to facilitate the healing process for such individuals. The Apology Institute also includes a working database where individuals can post a profile description of the occurrence of the harm and suffering that such individuals have experienced and where individuals can post apologies for having caused suffering and harm to others and yet have had difficulty finding the specific people to provide a direct apology. The Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement is an initial sponsor of the Apology Institute.
Million Orphan Project (within the stage of formation)
The Million Orphan Project is an initiative to promote the continuation and appropriate growth of the respective lives of children who have been placed within laboratories as frozen embryos. The Million Orphan Project organises sufficient support for these children; prevents the occurrence of additional children being conceived and treated in such a manner; solicits women to respectively become respective foster mors of these children and respectively allow these children to respectively grow to term within the respective wombs of these respective mors and to be respectively born into the World; establishes living communities for these children, foster mors, foster parents, families, and additional individuals, families, organisations, and institutions to maintain prosperous lives; provides education for these children and living communities for the respective children within these communities to respectively join our international and Universal community as responsible adults. The Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement is an initial sponsor of the Million Orphan Project.
Kennedy El Shabbazz King Initiative (within the stage of formation)
The Kennedy El Shabbazz King Initiative is an initiative to enhance interFaith cooperation within materially impoverished urban areas. The Kennedy El Shabbazz King Initiative involves a cooperative network of international, regional, and local interFaith organisations and institutions, local universities, Amnesty International, Inroads, and local houses of worship and congregations to maintain regularly occurring interFaith workshops, study sessions, and additional programmes and services. Specific neighbourhoods within specific municipalities are identified for involvement within this initiative; with this, a local interFaith organisation or institution is identified as the facilitator of the local initiative; the facilitating interFaith organisation or institution makes arrangements with local religious congregations, respectively adhering to different religions and religious denominations, to organise a general framework for the convening of the interFaith workshops and programmes; the facilitating interFaith organisation or institution cooperates with religion and similarly qualifying professors respectively from local colleges and universities to provide the educational content of the interFaith workshops; the regional coordinator of Amnesty International works with local groups to organise residents and additional individuals to participate within the interFaith workshops and programmes; the local director of Inroads works with the respective religious congregations to facilitate occupational placement for participants and respective congregants of the respective religious Houses of Worship.
Asona University (within the stage of formation)
Asona University is an international institution of higher education that prepares students to become international citizens specifically through the respective occupational endeavours of students and generally through an awareness and tolerance for the respective religious beliefs, political ideologies, cultural traditions, ethnicities, and occupational endeavours of the aggregate of others throughout the World. The Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement is an initial sponsor of, and provides continuing consultation for, Asona University.
The Sovereign Nation of Afrea
The Sovereign Nation of Afrea is an independent sovereignty that utilises a balance of monarchical rule and representative Democracy and that comprises of respective individuals, families, organisations, and institutions respectively adhering to many of the respective religions, political ideologies, ethnic lineages, and cultural traditions from throughout the World. The Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement provides continuing consultation to the Sovereign Nation of Afrea.
Earth Federation of Mundialist Organisations
The Earth Federation of Mundialist Organisations is a cooperative of Mundialist individuals, families, scholars, activists, and organisations working to actualise a conventional and pragmatic form of international governance amidst our global community. The Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement provides continuing consultation to the Earth Federation of Mundialist Organisations.
InterFaith International Football Project
The InterFaith International Football Project provides support and consultation to many respective individuals, families, organisations, and institutions who maintain or are building football programmes and initiatives that promote increased mutual understanding, tolerance, acceptance, amicability, and Peace amongst individuals, families, organisations, and institutions respectively adhering to different religious traditions. This includes support and consultation for local, national, regional, and international programmes and initiatives. This also includes one time events, continuing events, tournaments, and other types of programmes and initiatives. The Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement provides continuing consultation for, and through, the InterFaith International Football Project.
InterFaith International Hip Hop and Folk Music Project
The InterFaith International Hip Hop and Folk Music Project provides opportunities for individuals, families, organisations, and institutions respectively from different religious, cultural, national, linguistic, ethnic, and/or racial backgrounds to increasingly communicate with each other and share each other’s respective experiences in an increasingly mutually understanding, mutually tolerant, mutually accepting, mutually amicable, and Peaceful manner and specifically through the musical genres of hip hop and traditional folk music. This includes maintaining fora through the internet and additional means of communication and sharing of musical expressions. This includes the convening of conferences and additional means of direct interaction of individuals, families, organisations, and institutions respectively form different religious, national, cultural, linguistic, ethnic, and/or racial backgrounds. This includes the sharing of resources and the facilitation of education to promote the respective continuation of the respective music genres and expressions involved within the InterFaith International Hip Hop and Folk Music Project. The Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement provides continuing consultation for, and through, the InterFaith International Hip Hop and Folk Music Project.
InterFaith Arranged Marriages and Dating Programme
The InterFaith Arranged Marriages and Dating Programme provides opportunities for multi men and multi women (multi: maintaining a multiracial, multiethnic, multinational, multicultural, multilingual, and/or an interreligious background) to meet with each other with an intention of eventually being wedded to each other (a man with a woman respectively as husband and wife). The InterFaith Arranged Marriages and Dating Programme also provides opportunities for mono men and mono women, who are specifically interested in being wedded to someone of another religion, race, ethnicity, nationality, culture, and/or language, or who are comparatively indifferent such conventional distinctions and maintain a simple appreciation for the understanding, tolerance, and consciousness that exists amongst such a community of individuals, families, organisations, and institutions. The InterFaith Arranged Marriages and Dating Programme also provides opportunities for families, particularly respective fars and mors, to find appropriate candidates as spouses for the respective, eligible adult children of such families, fars and mors. The Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement is an initial sponsor for the InterFaith Arranged Marriages and Dating Programme.
Multiness Movement
The Multiness Movement is an international community of individuals, families, organisations, and institutions that support, advocate, and promote the respective identities of multiness (being of a multiracial, multiethnic, multinational, multicultural, multilingual, and/or interreligious background). The Multiness Movement also facilitates an awareness for, tolerance of, and even an increasing acceptance and amicability towards, multiness, throughout the World. The Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement is intrinsically involved with, and provides continuing consultation to, the respective individuals, families, organisations, and institutions within the Multiness Movement.
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The proceeding are some of the publications that are published by the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement (utilising the specific name of this InterFaith Settlement):
InterFaith Guide towards Womanhood
A compilation of verses respectively from the Torah of Judaism, the Bhagavad Gita of Hinduism, the Digha Nikâya of Buddhism, the Gospels of Christianity, and the Koran of Islam, specifically provided for older girls, adolescent women, and women and mors of all ages.
InterFaith Guide towards Healing
A compilation of verses respectively from the Torah of Judaism, the Bhagavad Gita of Hinduism, the Digha Nikâya and the Dhammapada of Buddhism, the Gospels of Christianity, and the Koran of Islam, specifically provided to facilitate the healing of individuals.
InterFaith Guide towards the Battlefield (within the stage of formation)
A compilation of verses respectively from the Torah of Judaism, the Bhagavad Gita of Hinduism, the Tripitaka of Buddhism, the Gospels of Christianity, and the Koran of Islam, specifically provided to men with a necessity for reconciling perceived conflict with others.
InterFaith Guide towards Nature (within the stage of formation)
A compilation of verses respectively from the Torah of Judaism, the Bhagavad Gita of Hinduism, the Tripitaka of Buddhism, the Gospels of Christianity, and the Koran of Islam, specifically provided to the preservation and prosperous cultivation of nature.
There are additional materials, formal and comparatively informal, that similarly provide such compilations of respective Holy Scripture verses pertaining different specific issues. Each of these publications and materials is available to you upon direct solicitation to the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement for such provision.
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On a personal note, my involvement with the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement is changing from substantially administrative to substantially ministerial. It may be noted that I am a retired international diplomat and that within the beginning of my modest thirty two years of life, a substantial amount of energy is expended. The suggestion is made for me to become increasingly settled, devote an increasing amount of time and diligence specifically towards studying the respective Holy Scriptures and teaching, and to concentrate on becoming a husband and a far and supporting a family.
And in this respect, there are a substantial number of vacancies for individuals to respective become fellows, fillas, and volunteers with the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement, and to directly administer and facilitate many of the initiatives, projects, consultations, and responsibilities previously described within this communication.
The requirements for volunteers with the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement are substantially minimal. Volunteers are welcome to do what needs to be done and what volunteers and respectively able to do. The requirement for fellows and fillas are substantially stringent and include proficient knowledge of many of the respective religious traditions of the World, including Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam; effective adherence to the Universal Principles of Faith; and effective adherence to the behavioural regulations of this InterFaith Settlement, including abstinence form holding or exchanging money. The Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement provides training for individuals who are interested in respectively becoming fellows or fillas. During this training and during the respective fellowship and fillaship of each individual, the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement provides room and board (residential accommodations, food, clothing, materials, and additional resources); yet it should be noted that the living circumstances amidst the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement are extremely modest compared to the standard comforts of modern civilisation and, as all things within this Universe, are subject to change. The continuing compensation, room, and board that fellows and fillas respectively maintain with the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement, are effectively provided through the specific, respective work that fellows and fillas accomplish with the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement.
Information is available pertaining the economic systems for the exchange of resources with the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement, including the advent of Formal Friendship, different bartering methodologies, and additional cooperative economic methodologies. Additional information pertaining this InterFaith Settlement and the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement is available and the provisional website of this InterFaith Settlement, http://geocities.com/interFaithsettlement, and the group website for this InterFaith Settlement, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/interFaithsettlement (User ID: interFaithsettlement; Password: interFaith).
It may be provided that amidst the transitional issues pertaining the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement (as we continue to prepare for habitation within this InterFaith Settlement at Salt Fork Park), and amidst the personal occupational transitions that I previously describe within this correspondence, the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement is making serious preparations for the ‘Grocery Store Gleanings’ campaign. This involves proficient consultation with respective religious leaders (specifically and respectively from within Judaism and Buddhism) and additional logistical preparation. Additional information is available upon direct solicitation to the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement.
You are welcome to contact me at the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement via email, interFaithsettler101@myway.com (it should be noted that there has been some recent difficulty with the email service provided by Interactive Corporation and that messages can be effectively posted at the group website for this InterFaith Settlement); via instant messaging, peterfwomack@hotmail.com; via telephone, +1 216 371 3367; and via post and visitation, 3825 Silsby Road, University Heights 44118, Oyo (Ohio).
Your patience and consideration are appreciated.
With humble and benevolent regards, Idwata,
Peter Frank Womack (the Asona Group within this InterFaith Settlement)
Peace belongs throughout the Universe.
Good thought, be long towards Nirvâna.
All Praise Belongs To God.
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