What is the Living Book?

In one, very special way, each and every one of us is the Living Book; for written into and upon our hearts is a single story about who and what we really are, as well as how we can go about realizing the infinite gift of Life we have each been given. This indwelling Living Book is timeless; its wisdom transcends the boundaries of individual traditions. For just one example, consider the following set of singular truths that have been told throughout the passage and ravages of time:

This is the sum of duty: Do naught unto others which would cause you pain if done to you.
- Hinduism, 3000 BC

What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man. That is the entire Law; all the rest is commentary.
- Judaism, 1300 BC

Hurt not others in ways that you find hurtful.
- Buddhism, 525 BC

All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law of the prophets.
- Christianity, 30 AD

No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother what he desires for himself.
- Islam, 620 AD

Anyone with "eyes to see" witnesses here that no one "owns" the truth of this one idea, let alone can claim sole relationship to higher reality from which it has come into our lives.

The Seeker, The Search, The Sacred, the book by Guy Finley -- whose basis is the seed of the "Living Book" now staged on this site -- uses quotations from authors across time and from around the world to help all of us realize that we are all on the same journey to discover the truth of ourselves.

With your contributions of favorite quotations from writers and traditions that are important to you, this Living Book will continue to grow; your love of truthful ideas will be its lifeblood, and the body of wisdom that grows here will be shared by all. As a result, people from all around the world will have unlimited, free access to a resource of wisdom and inspiration to which they can turn to again and again.

Use the links to the left to browse the quotations in the Living Book or to submit your own!

Quote of the Moment

"Die before ye die! "

- Jalal Al Din Rumi

Most Popular Quote

"Give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way. "

- American Indian

"If you persist in trying to attain what is never attained (It is Tao's Gift!), If you persist in making effort to obtain what effort cannot get, If you persist in reasoning about what cannot be understood, You will be destroyed by the very thing you seek. To know when to stop, To know when you can get no further by your own action, This is the right beginning! "

- Lao Tse

""Is there anything that I can do to make myself enlightened?" "As little as you can do to make the sun rise in the morning." "Then of what use are the spiritual exercises you prescribe?" "To make sure you are not asleep when the sun begins to rise." "

- Anthony De Mello

Latest Additions

"And this, our life exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything. "

- William Shakespeare

"Earth is crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God. "

- Elizabeth Barrett Browning

"Come quickly - as soon as these blossoms open, they fall. This world exists as a sheen of dew on flowers. "

- Izumi Shikibu