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Nature

Across world spiritual traditions, nature refers to the physical world and its interconnected systems. Many traditions converge on the idea that nature holds spiritual significance and deserves respect. They diverge, however, in their specific perspectives on nature's role and meaning.

19,893 quotes

Across traditions

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Quotes

If there were no people who are as forgiving as the earth, there would be no peace among humans, only constant conflict caused by anger.
Vyasa
HinduTeachingForgivenessHarmonySanskrit
Mahabharata, p. 891
However, anger has been given to humans for the destruction of the world.
Vyasa
HinduTeachingAngerNatureSanskrit
Mahabharata, p. 891
Knowledge is what moves towards unity, and when it reaches the supramental level, it grasps the oneness, essence, and self-law of existence, and views and handles the many things from that light and fullness, somewhat like the Divine does from the highest point from which He embraces the world.
Sri Aurobindo
HinduTeachingAttainmentHarmony
The Life Divine, p. 521
This world is an illusion of colors and sounds, a false display created by the tricks of Maya, the mind, and the senses.
Swami Sivananda
HinduTeachingMindCreation
Bliss Divine, p. 462
Time is more precious than money, and more valuable than anything in the world. It's the greatest treasure, the essence of life. Use time wisely for spiritual growth, and don't waste a single moment.
Swami Sivananda
HinduTeachingSinSoul
Bliss Divine, p. 461
You have been born in this world as a human being to worship God, so try to cultivate love for his divine presence.
Ramakrishna Paramhamsa
HinduTeachingDevotionLove
The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, p. 780
For no one can remain even for a moment without performing action; everyone is driven to act, helplessly, by the gunas born of nature.
न हि कश्चित्क्षणमपि जातु तिष्ठत्यकर्मकृत् | कार्यते ह्यवशः कर्म सर्वः प्रकृतिजैर्गुणैः ||३-५||
Krishna
HinduTeachingKarmaActionSanskrit
Bhagavad Gita 3.5
The jnani lets go of his identification with worldly things, distinguishing 'not this, not this'.
Ramakrishna Paramhamsa
HinduTeachingMaterialismNature
The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, p. 83
Bound by your own action born of your nature, Kaunteya, what you do not wish to do through delusion, you will do even against your will.
स्वभावजेन कौन्तेय निबद्धः स्वेन कर्मणा | कर्तुं नेच्छसि यन्मोहात्करिष्यस्यवशोपि तत् ||१८-६०||
Krishna
HinduTeachingDelusionDutySanskrit
Bhagavad Gita 18.60
If, taking refuge in egotism, you think "I will not fight," this resolve of yours is in vain; your own nature will compel you.
यदहंकारमाश्रित्य न योत्स्य इति मन्यसे | मिथ्यैष व्यवसायस्ते प्रकृतिस्त्वां नियोक्ष्यति ||१८-५९||
Krishna
HinduTeachingEgoDutySanskrit
Bhagavad Gita 18.59
There is no being, on earth or among the gods in heaven, that is free from these three gunas born of Prakriti.
न तदस्ति पृथिव्यां वा दिवि देवेषु वा पुनः | सत्त्वं प्रकृतिजैर्मुक्तं यदेभिः स्यात्त्रिभिर्गुणैः ||१८-४०||
Krishna
HinduTeachingCreationNatureSanskrit
Bhagavad Gita 18.40
Sattva, rajas, and tamas — these gunas, born of Prakriti, bind the imperishable embodied one within the body, mighty-armed one.
सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति गुणाः प्रकृतिसम्भवाः | निबध्नन्ति महाबाहो देहे देहिनमव्ययम् ||१४-५||
Krishna
HinduTeachingKnowledgeLiberationSanskrit
Bhagavad Gita 14.5
Whatever states of being there are — of purity, of passion, or of darkness — know that they all come from me alone. Yet I am not in them; they are in me.
ये चैव सात्त्विका भावा राजसास्तामसाश्च ये | मत्त एवेति तान्विद्धि न त्वहं तेषु ते मयि ||७-१२||
Krishna
HinduTeachingCreationGodSanskrit
Bhagavad Gita 7.12
Earth, water, fire, air, space, mind, intellect, and ego — this is my nature, divided eightfold.
भूमिरापोऽनलो वायुः खं मनो बुद्धिरेव च | अहंकार इतीयं मे भिन्ना प्रकृतिरष्टधा ||७-४||
Krishna
HinduScriptureGod KnowledgeCreationSanskrit
Bhagavad Gita 7.4
The faith of everyone accords with their essential nature, Bharata. A person is made of faith; whatever their faith is, that indeed they are.
सत्त्वानुरूपा सर्वस्य श्रद्धा भवति भारत | श्रद्धामयोऽयं पुरुषो यो यच्छ्रद्धः स एव सः ||१७-३||
Krishna
HinduTeachingFaithNatureSanskrit
Bhagavad Gita 17.3
The Blessed Lord said: The faith of embodied beings is of three kinds, born of their own nature — sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic. Hear about it.
श्रीभगवानुवाच | त्रिविधा भवति श्रद्धा देहिनां सा स्वभावजा | सात्त्विकी राजसी चैव तामसी चेति तां शृणु ||१७-२||
Krishna
HinduTeachingFaithNatureSanskrit
Bhagavad Gita 17.2
Under my supervision, nature brings forth all that moves and does not move; by this cause, son of Kunti, the world revolves.
मयाध्यक्षेण प्रकृतिः सूयते सचराचरम् | हेतुनानेन कौन्तेय जगद्विपरिवर्तते ||९-१०||
Krishna
HinduTeachingCreationDivine WillSanskrit
Bhagavad Gita 9.10
Taking hold of my own nature, I send forth again and again this whole multitude of beings, helpless under the sway of that nature.
प्रकृतिं स्वामवष्टभ्य विसृजामि पुनः पुनः | भूतग्राममिमं कृत्स्नमवशं प्रकृतेर्वशात् ||९-८||
Krishna
HinduTeachingCreationDivine WillSanskrit
Bhagavad Gita 9.8
From food beings come into being; from rain food is produced; from sacrifice comes rain; and sacrifice is born of action.
अन्नाद्भवन्ति भूतानि पर्जन्यादन्नसम्भवः | यज्ञाद्भवति पर्जन्यो यज्ञः कर्मसमुद्भवः ||३-१४||
Krishna
HinduTeachingSacrificeCreationSanskrit
Bhagavad Gita 3.14
Your true nature is pure existence, consciousness, and bliss. The physical body is just an illusion.
Swami Sivananda
HinduTeachingMindRighteousness
Practice of Karma Yoga, p. 69