Transformation encompasses profound change across spiritual traditions. Many traditions converge on the idea of inner growth and self-awareness. Traditions diverge in their methods and perspectives on achieving transformation.
1,469 quotes
Arjuna said: My delusion is destroyed and I have regained my memory through your grace, Achyuta. I stand firm, my doubts gone; I will do your word.
अर्जुन उवाच | नष्टो मोहः स्मृतिर्लब्धा त्वत्प्रसादान्मयाच्युत | स्थितोऽस्मि गतसन्देहः करिष्ये वचनं तव ||१८-७३||
As a kindled fire reduces firewood to ashes, Arjuna, so the fire of knowledge reduces all actions to ashes.
यथैधांसि समिद्धोऽग्निर्भस्मसात्कुरुतेऽर्जुन | ज्ञानाग्निः सर्वकर्माणि भस्मसात्कुरुते तथा ||४-३७||
Sattva prevails by overpowering rajas and tamas, Bharata; rajas by overpowering sattva and tamas; and likewise tamas by overpowering sattva and rajas.
रजस्तमश्चाभिभूय सत्त्वं भवति भारत | रजः सत्त्वं तमश्चैव तमः सत्त्वं रजस्तथा ||१४-१०||
Salutations to the Guru who pervades all that is stationary and all that moves, all that is animate and all that is inanimate — the entire universe.
स्थावरं जङ्गमं चैव तथा चैव चराचरम् । व्याप्तं येन जगत्सर्वं तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः
Life is a journey of transformation from impurity to purity, hatred to love, death to immortality, imperfection to perfection, and slavery to freedom, ultimately leading to eternal bliss and infinite strength.
If God enters one's life, the feelings of hatred, jealousy and pride disappear and then all the material progress of the world becomes a source of joy. Nobody appears to be an enemy, nobody remains a stranger.
He said to him: 'Just as, my dear, a single ember the size of a firefly left from a great blazing fire may be made to flare up by heaping straw upon it, and with it the fire could then burn much more —'
तꣳ होवाच यथा सोम्य महतोऽभ्याहितस्यैकमङ्गारं खद्योतमात्रं परिशिष्टं तं तृणैरुपसमाधाय प्राज्वलयेत्तेन ततोऽपि बहु दहेत्
A saint has been considered more valuable even than Paras. Paras converts iron into gold, while a saint converts the seeker of his company into a saint like himself.
When the mind unites with the Lord, in place of hatred there arises love, and in place of enmity there arises affection. Sweetness fills the mind, giving beauty to others. Instead of snatching, the feeling of renunciation awakens; the urge to serve others is born. The hands that once rose to oppress and wound others now rise to apply balm and to lift up the fallen. Such a transformation takes place, and beauty is established within the mind.
The congregation is Paras which turns life into gold, provided only that no wall of ego, no wall of falsehood, creates obstruction.
The bushes that grow near Sandal also get the same fragrance. Paras, the touch-stone, comes into contact with iron and converts it into gold. Similarly, a person who seeks the company of saints becomes a saint, becomes a devotee of God.
Just as a goldsmith, taking a piece of gold, fashions from it another, newer and more beautiful form, so this self, having struck down this body and dispelled ignorance, makes for itself another, newer and more beautiful form — that of a father, or a gandharva, or a god, or of Prajapati, or of Brahma, or of other beings.
तद्यथा पेशस्कारी पेशसो मात्रामपादायान्यन्नवतरं कल्याणतरꣳ रूपं तनुत एवमेवायमात्मेदꣳ शरीरं निहत्याविद्यां गमयित्वाऽन्यन्नवतरं कल्याणतरꣳ रूपं कुरुते पित्र्यं वा गान्धर्वं वा दैवं वा प्राजापत्यं वा ब्राह्मं वाऽन्येषां वा भूतानाम् ॥ ४॥
From the dark I attain the dappled; from the dappled I attain the dark. Shaking off evil as a horse shakes its hairs, and freeing myself as the moon frees itself from the mouth of Rahu, I cast off the body — my self fulfilled — and enter the uncreated world of Brahman — yes, I enter it.
श्यामाच्छबलं प्रपद्ये शबलाच्छ्यामं प्रपद्येऽश्व इव रोमाणि विधूय पापं चन्द्र इव राहोर्मुखात्प्रमुच्य धूत्वा शरीरमकृतं कृतात्मा ब्रह्मलोकमभिसंभवामीत्यभिसंभवामीति
You are beyond human perception and yet present in all forms. The Vedas declare that you don't change into these forms, just like the sun and its sunshine are different yet identical.
My preceptor and Lord Rama are my guides, and I believe that their guidance will lead me to transformation.
गुर गोसाइꣳ साहिब सिय रामूउ, लागत मोहि न्¶क परिनामूउ.
I constantly transform myself and take birth in various wombs to uphold my son, with the help of men who exist in or have departed from the world.
Even if the fundamental forces of nature were to change, I will remain committed to the truth I have spoken.
A foolish disciple who offends their preceptor by causing them harm will certainly undergo three transformations in this world.
A regenerate person who has studied the four Vedas, but becomes foolish and accepts a gift from a fallen person, will be reborn as an ass.
Kasyapa said, 'The Vedas with their six branches, the Sankhya philosophy, the Puranas, and high birth, these are all unable to rescue a regenerate person if they fall away from good conduct.'