Selections from "The Pathway of Life" by Leo Tolstoy (vegetarian): Volume 1 – Love, Part 1 of 2

“Everyone thinks of changing the world but no one thinks of changing himself.” This insightful saying by Leo Tolstoy is a valuable reminder for all of us to reflect inwardly. The renowned 19th-century Russian author suggested that we ask ourselves what God really wants us to do. As Leo Tolstoy said, “In the name of God, stop a moment, cease your work, look around you.”

Supreme Master Ching Hai once spoke of Tolstoy in a group meditation session with our Association members in July, 1997 in Los Angeles, USA. “Because Tolstoy was a practitioner. That's why when you read his stories, most stories are about spiritual themes of God, and very happy and very positive. It's very good to read him, to read his books. You try. If you haven't, you try. You can read more. Such thing is very good for you.”

We would like to share an insightful excerpt from Volume 1: Love from “The Pathway of Life,” a collection of Tolstoy’s philosophies on religion, life, death and more. “The soul of man, being separated by the body from God and from the souls of other creatures, strives to unite with that from which it is separated. The soul unites with God through a constantly growing consciousness of God within and with the souls of other creatures through a constantly growing manifestation of love.”

“Lord Jesus said to the lawyer: ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and the great commandment.’ And the second is like unto it: ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.’ Thus spoke the lawyer to Christ, and Jesus said: ‘Thou hast answered right, this do (that is, love God and thy neighbor) and thou shalt live.’”

“And such mysteries will ye remain unless ye become happy and loving as the children. Only then shall ye know Me, and knowing Me ye shall know yourselves, and only then shall ye rule yourselves. And only then, as ye look out of your soul into the world, all things will be a blessing to you, in the world and within your own selves.”

“God is love; he who dwells in love dwells in God, and God dwells in him. No man has ever seen God, but if we love one another God dwells in us and His love is perfected in us.” “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God, for God is love.”