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Gems From The East: A Birthday Book

By H.P. Blavatsky

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January

"UTTISHAT! — Rise! Awake!
Seek the great Teachers, and attend! The road
Is narrow as a knife-edge! Hard to tread!"
"But whoso once perceiveth HIM that IS; —
Without a name, Unseen, Impalpable,
Bodiless, Undiminished, Unenlarged,
To senses undeclared, without an end,
Without beginning, Timeless, Higher than height,
Deeper than depth! Lo! Such an one is saved!
Death hath not power upon him!"
— THE SECRET OF DEATH (fr. The Katha Upanishad).
1 The first duty taught in Theosophy, is to do one's duty unflinchingly by every duty.

2 The heart which follows the rambling senses leads away his judgment as the wind leads a boat astray upon the waters.

3 He who casts off all desires, living free from attachments, and free from egoism, obtains bliss.

4 To every man that is born, an axe is born in his mouth, by which the fool cuts himself, when speaking bad language.

5 As all earthen vessels made by the potter end in being broken, so is the life of mortals.

6 Wise men are light-bringers.

7 A just life, a religious life, this is the best gem.

8 Having tasted the sweetness of illusion and tranquillity, one becomes free from fear, and free from sin, drinking in the sweetness of Dhamma (law).

9 False friendship is like a parasitic plant, it kills the tree it embraces.

10 Cut out the love of self, like an autumn lotus, with thy hand! Cherish the road of peace.

11 Men who have not observed proper discipline, and have not gained treasure in their youth, perish like old herons in a lake without fish.

12 As the bee collects nectar, and departs without injuring the flower, or its color or scent, so let a Sage dwell in his village.

13 As rain does not break through a well-thatched house, passion will not break through a well-reflecting mind.

14 He who hath too many friends, hath as many candidates for enemies.

15 That man alone is wise, who keeps the mastery of himself.

16 Seek refuge in thy soul; have there thy Heaven! Scorn them that follow virtue for her gifts!

17 All our dignity consists in thought, therefore let us contrive to think well; for that is the principle of morals.

18 Flattery is a false coin which circulates only because of our vanity.

19 Narrowness of mind causes stubbornness; we do not easily believe what is beyond that which we see.

20 The soul ripens in tears.

21 This is truth the poet sings — That a sorrow's crown of sorrows / Is remembering happier things.

22 Musk is musk because of its own fragrance, and not from being called a perfume by the druggist.

23 Not every one ready for a dispute is as quick in transacting business.

24 It is not every graceful form that contains as graceful a disposition.

25 If every pebble became a priceless ruby, then pebble and ruby would become equal in value.

26 Every man thinks his own wisdom faultless, and every mother her own child beautiful.

27 If wisdom were to vanish suddenly from the universe, no one yet would suspect himself a fool.

28 A narrow stomach may be filled to its satisfaction, but a narrow mind will never be satisfied, not even with all the riches of the world.

29 He who neglects his duty to his conscience, will neglect to pay his debt to his neighbor.

30 Mite added to mite becomes a great heap; the heap in the barn consists of small grains.

31 He who tasteth not thy bread during thy lifetime, will not mention thy name when thou art dead.