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Obedience

Obedience refers to submission to a higher authority or divine will across world spiritual traditions. Various traditions converge on the importance of obedience as a means to attain spiritual growth and unity. They diverge in their interpretations and expectations of obedience, offering unique perspectives on its role and significance.

4,088 quotes

Across traditions

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Quotes

He is the king of kings. According to Guru Nanak Dev, the right thing to do is to live according to His will and command.
Guru Nanak
SikhTeachingGuruHarmonyPunjabi
Japji Sahib (Gurmukhi and English), p. 61
The mind is unable to possess the infinite, it can only be affected by it or be completely taken over by it. All it can do is blissfully surrender to the real, under the radiant presence that extends from planes of existence beyond its grasp.
Sri Aurobindo
HinduTeachingHappinessMind
The Life Divine, p. 188
Show great devotion to your parents, but do not obey them if they stand in your way to God.
Ramakrishna Paramhamsa
HinduTeachingDevotionObedience
The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, p. 647
Naciketas said to his father: 'Father, to whom will you give me?' He asked a second and third time. The father replied: 'To Death I give you.'
HinduParableObedienceSacrificeSanskrit
Katha Upanishad 1.1.4
By giving away land, a person acquires a land that yields nectar in their next life.
Vyasa
HinduTeachingObedienceSurrenderSanskrit
Mahabharata, p. 5103
The worlds that one reaches by giving away cattle that have drunk their water, eaten their grass, and yielded their milk, but have worn out their organs, are devoid of delight.
Vedic Sages
HinduTeachingAttainmentHappiness
The Upanishads — Texts, Translations and Commentaries, p. 196
Our life should become a pure reflection of the supreme life, which is greater than all our potential and actual vitality. The mind should surrender to be a faithful mirror of the superconscient existence.
Vedic Sages
HinduTeachingFaithMind
The Upanishads — Texts, Translations and Commentaries, p. 163
Even our ignorance is just a distorted version of a truth that comes from the Supermind, and it couldn't exist without being distorted. Similarly, all our dualities of knowledge, sensation, emotion, and force come from that higher vision and obey it.
Vedic Sages
HinduTeachingKnowledgeObedience
The Upanishads — Texts, Translations and Commentaries, p. 132
The truth of the Soul is freedom and mastery, not subjection and bondage. The Purusha commands Prakriti, and Prakriti does not compel the Purusha.
Vedic Sages
HinduTeachingGuruObedience
The Upanishads — Texts, Translations and Commentaries, p. 58
The one who obeys my command is my servant and dearest to me.
Tulsidas
HinduTeachingObedienceOnenessSanskrit
Ramcharitmanas — Uttar Kand Part 1 (verses 949–1022), p. 50
One should worship the one who is the creator, preserver, and destroyer of the universe. Renouncing all worldly ties, my lord, worship the same hero of Raghu's line, who is fond of those who surrender to him.
Tulsidas
HinduTeachingDevotionLoveSanskrit
Ramcharitmanas — Lanka Kand Part 1 (verses 805–889), p. 9
I must respectfully obey your orders; this is my paramount duty, my lord.
Bharata
HinduTeachingObedienceActionSanskrit
Ramcharitmanas — Ayodhya Kand Part 4 (verses 501–563), p. 40
Obey your Guru's command with reverence, care for your subjects, and alleviate your family's suffering.
Tulsidas
HinduTeachingDevotionGuruSanskrit
Ramcharitmanas — Ayodhya Kand Part 4 (verses 501–563), p. 6
Never surrender to passion, anger, jealousy, arrogance, or infatuation, not even in your dreams. Abandon all negative feelings and serve them with your mind, words, and actions.
Tulsidas
HinduTeachingEgoHelpfulnessSanskrit
Ramcharitmanas — Ayodhya Kand Part 2 (verses 402–480), p. 17
After spending four years and ten in the forest and obeying my father's commands, I will return and behold your feet again; do not be sad at heart.
Tulsidas
HinduTeachingObedienceEmotionsSanskrit
Ramcharitmanas — Ayodhya Kand Part 1 (verses 351–401), p. 49
The earth became a cow of plenty, yielding all one's coveted products. The people were happy and free from all sorrows, and both men and women were good-looking and virtuous.
Tulsidas
HinduTeachingGreedGriefSanskrit
Ramcharitmanas — Bal Kand Part 2 (verses 98–165), p. 59
My Lord, You are all-powerful, all-wise and all-blissful; You are a repository of all arts and virtues and a storehouse of Yoga, wisdom and dispassion. Your Name is a wish-yielding tree as it were to the suppliant.
Tulsidas
HinduTeachingHappinessKnowledgeSanskrit
Ramcharitmanas — Bal Kand Part 2 (verses 98–165), p. 19
The Prophet said that every unbeliever, after death, suffers from the pangs of grief and remorse for not having believed and obeyed in this world.
Prophet
SufiTeachingFaithGriefArabic
Alchemy of Happiness (Al-Ghazali — scripture edition), p. 22
The bath taken after completing the Horse Sacrifice is highly purifying and yields great merit.
Vyasa
HinduTeachingCleansing HeartsObedienceSanskrit
Mahabharata, p. 5671
The mind is undoubtedly superior. The Word said to the mind, 'I yield to you the fulfillment of all your desires.'
Vyasa
HinduTeachingAttainmentContentmentSanskrit
Mahabharata, p. 5516