Duties of the Heart

In this last blog exploring and enjoying the Jewish Garden of Faith, I have chosen a reading written by Bahya ibn Paquda in Muslim Spain in the eleventh century. It is proof of the beauty and power that can result when great cultures meet in the hearts of people who are devoted to God. The author was a Jewish philosopher, but he modeled his writing on the works of Muslim mystics. In fact, the original was written in Arabic and translated into Hebrew. I think this is a wonderful example of the kind of interfaith connection that has enriched the world's religions for many centuries. In this century, more than any other, people of all faiths have the wisdom of other faiths easily available. Imagine the richness of the emerging global faith community as this happens!

Imagine, for that matter, the riches of beauty and truth that you can enjoy as easily as reading this blog!

Here are the inspiring words of this ancient Jewish sage whose heart was so open to others.

They are taken from a book I highly recommend: Eknath Easwaran's anthology of readings from world religions, entitled "God Makes the Rivers to Flow."

What is meant by whole-hearted devotion to God alone?

It means that in every act, public and private,

the aim and purpose should be purely for God's sake, to please God only,

without concern for winning the approval of other people.

How achieve wholehearted devotion to God alone?

In ten ways.

If these are firmly set in our heart and you make them the basis of your actions,

your devotion to God will be complete.

Then you will turn to no one else,

set your hope on nothing else,

and mold your will to none other that God's.

First is wholehearted acceptance that only God fills the universe.

Second, that God is the source of all reality and is endlessly good.

Third, that your goal is to work for God.

Fourth, that you should rely on God alone, and on no other beings.

Fifth, that you get no ultimate gain or loss from any beings but the Creator.

Sixth, that you should maintain evenness of mind, regardless of whether

people blame you or praise you.

Seventh, that you should not make a show of spiritual activities or knowledge

to impress other people.

Eighth, that you should not be caught up in personal gain when you are working for eternal life.

Ninth, that you should hold God in reverence and be humble.

Tenth, that you should use your mind to master your senses and use them with discrimination.

My prayer of response:

Source of unending good, Holy One of Blessing,

I offer You wholehearted devotion, seeking to live only for Your sake

and mold my will solely by Your will.

When I am tempted to put my trust in anything or anyone but You;

when I forget that You are my Source, and the Source of everything good in my life;

when I let myself be upset by blame, or inflated by praise;

when I am not humble;

come to my aid, and bring to my mind these ten ways of being devoted to You.

May I fill my mind with the Wisdom You offer through the sages,

so that I may embody that Wisdom in all of my life.

amen.