Belief as the Basis for Action

Belief is an important word in the teachings of the wise, and it figures prominently in all religions. According to Jesus, a certain kind of belief is necessary to salvation or regeneration, and Buddha definitely taught that right belief is the first and most essential step in the Way of Truth, as without right belief there cannot be right conduct, and he who has not learned how to rightly govern and conduct himself, has not yet comprehended the simplest rudiments of Truth.

Belief is important in the teachings of the wise, and it plays a prominent role in all religions. According to Jesus, a certain kind of belief is necessary for salvation or spiritual renewal. Buddha clearly taught that right belief is the first and most essential step on the Way of Truth. Without right belief, there can be no right conduct. And anyone who has not learned to govern their behavior has not yet understood even the simplest basics of Truth.

Belief as laid down by the Great Teachers, is not belief in any particular school, philosophy, or religion, but consists of an attitude of mind determining the whole course of one's life. Belief and conduct are, therefore, inseparable, for the one determines the other.

As the Great Teachers taught, belief is not faith in any particular school of thought, philosophy, or religion. It is an attitude of mind that determines the whole course of one's life. Belief and conduct are therefore inseparable, because belief determines conduct.

Belief is the basis of all action, and, this being so, the belief which dominates the heart or mind is shown in the life. Every man acts, thinks, lives in exact accordance with the belief which is rooted in his innermost being, and such is the mathematical nature of the laws which govern mind that it is absolutely impossible for anyone to believe in two opposing conditions at the same time. For instance, it is impossible to believe in justice and injustice, hatred and love, peace and strife, self and truth. Every man believes in one or the other of these opposites, never in both, and the daily conduct of every man indicates the nature of his belief. The man who believes in justice, who regards it as an eternal and indestructible Principle, never boils over with righteous indignation, does not grow cynical and pessimistic over the inequalities of life, and remains calm and untroubled through all trials and difficulties. It is impossible for him to act otherwise, for he believes that justice reigns, and that, therefore, all that is called injustice is fleeting and illusory.

Belief is the basis of all action. So the belief that dominates a person’s heart or mind shows itself in his life. Every man acts, thinks, and lives in exact accordance with the belief rooted in his innermost being. The laws governing the mind are so precise that no one can believe in two opposing conditions at once. For example, it is impossible to believe in both justice and injustice, hatred and love, peace and conflict, or self and truth. Every man believes in one or the other of these opposites, never in both. His daily conduct shows the nature of his belief. A man who believes in justice regards it as an eternal and indestructible principle. He never boils over with righteous anger. He does not become cynical and pessimistic over life’s inequalities. He remains calm and untroubled through all trials and difficulties. He cannot act otherwise, because he believes that justice reigns. He therefore believes that everything called injustice is fleeting and illusory.

The man who is continually getting enraged over the injustice of his fellow men, who talks about himself being badly treated, or who mourns over the lack of justice in the world around him, shows by his conduct, his attitude of mind, that he believes in injustice. However he may protest to the contrary, in his inmost heart he believes that confusion and chaos are dominant in the universe, the result being that he dwells in misery and unrest, and his conduct is faulty.

A man may constantly rage at the injustice of others, complain about being treated badly, or mourn the lack of justice around him. By his conduct and his attitude, he shows that he believes in injustice. However much he may deny it, deep down he believes that confusion and chaos rule the universe. As a result, he lives in misery and unrest, and his conduct is flawed.

Again, he who believes in love, in its stability and power, practises it under all circumstances, never deviates from it, and bestows it alike upon enemies as upon friends. He who slanders and condemns, who speaks disparagingly of others, or regards them with contempt, believes not in love, but hatred; all his actions prove it, even though with tongue or pen he may eulogise love.

Again, someone who believes in the steadfastness and power of love practices it under all circumstances. They never stray from love and give it equally to enemies and friends. Anyone who slanders and condemns others, speaks badly of them, or holds them in contempt believes in hatred, not love. All their actions prove this, even if they praise love in speech or writing.

The believer in peace is known by his peaceful conduct. It is impossible for him to engage in strife. If attacked he does not retaliate, for he has seen the majesty of the angel of peace, and he can no longer pay homage to the demon of strife. The stirrer-up of strife, the lover of argument, he who rushes into self-defence upon any or every provocation, believes in strife, and will have naught to do with peace.

A believer in peace is known by his peaceful conduct. He cannot engage in conflict. If attacked, he does not strike back. For he has seen the majesty of the angel of peace, and he can no longer worship the demon of conflict. A person who stirs up conflict, loves arguments, or rushes to defend himself at any provocation believes in conflict. He wants nothing to do with peace.

Further, he who believes in Truth renounces himself—that is, he refuses to centre his life in those passions, desires, and characteristics which crave only their own gratification, and by thus renouncing he becomes steadfastly fixed in Truth, and lives a wise, beautiful, and blameless life. The believer in self is known by his daily indulgences, gratifications, and vanities, and by the disappointments, sorrows, and mortifications which he continually suffers.

Moreover, a person who believes in Truth gives up the self. That means refusing to center life on passions, desires, and traits that seek only their own satisfaction. By giving up the self, such a person becomes firmly grounded in Truth and lives a wise, beautiful, and blameless life. A person who believes in the self is known by daily indulgences, pleasures, and vanities. Such a person is also known by the disappointments, sorrows, and humiliations they constantly suffer.

The believer in Truth does not suffer, for he has given up that self which is the cause of such suffering.

A believer in Truth does not suffer because he has given up the self that causes suffering.

It will be seen by the foregoing that every man believes either in permanent and eternal Principles directing human life towards law and harmony, or in the negation of those Principles, with the resultant chaos in human affairs, and in his own life.

As the foregoing shows, every man believes either in permanent, eternal Principles or in their negation. These Principles guide human life toward order and harmony. Denying them leads to chaos in human affairs and in his own life.

Belief in the divine Principles of Justice, Compassion, Love, constitutes the right belief laid down by Buddha as being the basis of right conduct, and also the belief unto salvation as emphasised in the Christian Scriptures, for he who so believes cannot do otherwise than build his whole life upon these Principles, and so he purifies his heart, and perfects his life.

Belief in the divine principles of Justice, Compassion, and Love is the right belief Buddha taught as the basis of right conduct. It is also the belief unto salvation emphasized in the Christian Scriptures. For anyone who believes in these principles cannot help but build their whole life on them. In doing so, they purify their heart and perfect their life.

Belief in the negation of these divine Principles constitutes what is called in all religions unbelief, and this unbelief is manifested as a sinful, troubled, and imperfect life.

Belief that these divine principles are false is called unbelief in all religions. This unbelief shows itself in a sinful, troubled, and imperfect life.

Where there is Right Belief there is a blameless and perfect life; where there is false belief there is sin, there is sorrow, the mind and life are improperly governed, and there is affliction and unrest. "By their fruits ye shall know them."

Where there is right belief, there is a blameless and perfect life. Where there is false belief, there is sin and sorrow. The mind and life are poorly governed, and there is suffering and unrest. "You will know them by their fruits."

There is much talk about "belief in Jesus," but what does belief in Jesus mean? It means belief in his words, in the Principles he enunciated—and lived, in his commandments, and in his exemplary life of perfection. He who declares belief in Jesus, and yet is all the time living in his lusts and indulgences, or in the spirit of hatred and condemnation, is self-deceived. He believes not in Jesus. He believes in his own animal self. As a faithful servant delights in carrying out the commands of his master, so he who believes in Jesus carries out his commandments, and so is saved from sin. The supreme test of belief in Jesus is this: Do I keep his commandments? And this test is applied by St. John himself in the following words: "He that saith, I know him [Jesus], and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the word of God perfected."

People often talk about "belief in Jesus," but what does it mean? It means believing in his words and in the principles he taught and lived. It means believing in his commandments and in his perfect life, which serves as an example. Anyone who claims to believe in Jesus but lives in lust and self-indulgence is deceiving himself. The same is true of anyone who claims to believe but lives in a spirit of hatred and condemnation. He does not believe in Jesus. He believes in his own animal self. Just as a faithful servant delights in carrying out his master's commands, a believer in Jesus carries out his commandments. In this way, the believer is saved from sin. The ultimate test of belief in Jesus is this: Do I keep his commandments? St. John himself applies this test in these words: "Anyone who says, I know him [Jesus], but does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But in anyone who keeps his word, the word of God is truly made perfect."

It will be found, after a rigid and impartial analysis, that belief lies at the root of all human conduct. Every thought, every act, every habit, is the direct outcome of a certain fixed belief, and one's conduct alters only as one's beliefs are modified. What we cling to, in that we believe; what we practise, in that we believe. When our belief in a thing ceases, we can no longer cling to or practise it; it falls away from us as a garment outworn. Men cling to their lusts, and lies, and vanities, because they believe in them, believe there is gain and happiness in them. When they transfer their belief to the divine qualities of purity and humility, those sins trouble them no more.

A thorough and impartial analysis shows that belief lies at the root of all human conduct. Every thought, act, and habit comes directly from a fixed belief. Our conduct changes only when our beliefs change. We believe in whatever we cling to and whatever we practise. When we stop believing in something, we can no longer cling to it or practise it. It falls away from us like worn-out clothing. People cling to their lusts, lies, and vanities because they believe in them. They believe these things bring gain and happiness. When they put their faith in the divine qualities of purity and humility, those sins trouble them no more.

Men are saved from error by belief in the supremacy of Truth. They are saved from sin by belief in Holiness or Perfection. They are saved from evil by belief in Good, for every belief is manifested in the life. It is not necessary to inquire as to a man's theological belief, for that is of little or no account, for what can it avail a man to believe that Jesus died for him, or that Jesus is God, or that he is "justified by faith," if he continues to live in his lower, sinful nature? All that is necessary to ask is this: "How does a man live?" "How does he conduct himself under trying circumstances?" The answer to these questions will show whether a man believes in the power of evil or in the power of Good.

People are saved from error by believing that Truth is supreme. They are saved from sin by believing in Holiness or Perfection. They are saved from evil by believing in Good, because every belief shows itself in the way a person lives. There is no need to ask about a man's theological beliefs, because they matter little or not at all. What good does it do a man to believe that Jesus died for him, or that Jesus is God? What good does it do him to believe that he is "justified by faith," if he continues to live according to his lower, sinful nature? All we need to ask is this: "How does a man live?" "How does he conduct himself under difficult circumstances?" The answers will show whether he believes in the power of evil or in the power of Good.

He who believes in the power of Good, lives a good, spiritual, or godly life, for Goodness is God, yea, verily, is God Himself, and he will soon leave behind him all his sins and sorrows who believes, with steadfast and unwavering faith, in the Supreme Good.

Anyone who believes in the power of Good lives a good, spiritual, or godly life. For Goodness is God, indeed, God himself. Anyone who believes in the Supreme Good with steadfast and unwavering faith will soon leave all their sins and sorrows behind.