Wise Thoughts for Every Day

On God, Love, the Human Spirit, and Living a Good Life

Leo Tolstoy, Peter Sekirin

• Publisher: Arcade
• Year: 2011
• ISBN:
  9781628721355
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christianity

During the last years of his life, Leo Tolstoy kept one book invariably on his desk, read and reread it to his family, and recommended it to all his friends: a compendium of wise thoughts gathered over the course of a decade from his wide-ranging readings in philosophy and religion, and from his own spiritual meditations. It was banned under the Communists, and only one volume, A Calendar of Wisdom, drawn largely from the writings of other famous thinkers, has been published before in English. Wise Thoughts For Every Day is the volume comprising Tolstoy's own most essential ideas about spirituality and what it is to live a good life. Designed by Tolstoy to be a cycle of daily readings, this book offers thoughts and aphorisms for every day according to a succession of themes repeated each month—such as God, the soul, desire, our passions, humility, inequality, evil, truth, happiness, prayer, and the blessings of love. At once challenging, comforting, and inspiring, this is a spiritual treasure trove and a book of great human warmth.

JANUARY 1

Faith

The law of God involves fulfilling God’s will. Because all people are created equal, the law of God is the same for all of us. Our lives can be good only when we understand the law of God and follow it.

According to an old Jewish saying, “A person’s soul is God’s lamp.” A person is helpless when God’s lamp is not lit, but becomes strong and free when it is. Of course, this cannot be otherwise, because it is not their own power but God’s.

Although we don’t know what universal goodness is, we do know that we should all follow the law of goodness that exists in both human wisdom and our hearts.

If people believe that they can please God through rituals and prayers alone — not by deeds — then they have lied to both God and themselves.

JANUARY 2

Soul

What do I call my “inner self”? It is my soul, which lives in and is connected to my body. We all pass through particular stages as we age. First, we are infants, then children, then men or women, and finally we grow old. But during this time, our inner self remains the same. This inner self is our soul.

Understanding ourselves involves realizing that life is not within the body but within the soul.

Iron is stronger than stone, stone is stronger than wood, wood is stronger than water, and water is stronger than air. But there is something that we can neither feel, nor see, nor hear that is stronger than anything else. It existed before, it exists now, it will always exist and will never disappear. What is it? It is spirit, the soul that lives in every person.

We are amazed at the size of a big mountain, the sun, or the stars in the universe. But these great things are nothing compared to our souls — the most powerful thing in the world.

JANUARY 3

One Soul in All

A river does not look like a pond, nor a pond like a barrel, and a barrel looks different from a glass of water. But each holds the same water within. Likewise, it is the same spirit that lives in all kinds of people — a healthy adult, a sick child, a young king, or a poor woman. The same spirit gives life to us all.

When we see in others the same spirit that lives in us, we feel as if we have awakened from a long sleep.

We are united with all people and all creatures. Thus, we must treat as we would like to be treated not only other people but animals as well.

God lives in every kind person.

If people could understand that they do not live individual lives but that their lives and souls are linked to others’, then they would know that in doing good deeds for others, they do good for themselves.

JANUARY 4

God

People often say that God is love, or that love is God. People also say that God is intellect, or that the intellect partakes of God’s power. But this cannot be the case. Love and the intellect are qualities of God that are known to us. What God is we certainly do not know.

Everyone can feel God, but no one can truly understand God. Thus, do not attempt to understand God, but try instead to feel God’s presence within you. If you are unable to find God there, then you will never find Him.

When you look inside yourself, you see what is called “your own self” or your soul. You cannot touch it or see it or understand it, but you know it is there. And this part of yourself— that which you cannot understand — is what is called God. God is both around us and inside of us — in our souls.

The more you understand that you are at one with God, the more you will understand that you are at one with all His worldly manifestations.

JANUARY 5

Unification in Spirit

When Socrates was asked where he was born, he answered, “On this earth.” When he was asked of which state he was a citizen, he answered, “A citizen of the world.” We must remember those profound words. We all live on the same earth, under God’s great power, which is superior to that of men, and under God’s law.

We know in our hearts that we should strive for unification with all people. The more united we become, the better our lives will be. Likewise, the more we separate from each other, the worse our lives will be.

Every person has two masters: the body and the soul. When the body rules, one struggles and experiences animosity toward others. However, the more one grows in spiritual understanding, the more one’s internal power transfers to the soul — to the spirit that seeks unification with the souls of others.

JANUARY 6

Universal Love

Every person loves his or her own self, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with this. However, to love only the body is to bring suffering to others.

You become what you love. If you love earthly things, you will become earth. If you love God, then you will become part of God.

Love that is caused by something else, that has a reason, is not pure love. Only love without limits — unconditional love — is eternal. It does not disappear but grows continuously with time.

There can be neither virtue nor goodness without love.

JANUARY 7

Pride

People tend to be proud of things for which they should be ashamed, such as their wealth or power over others.

A person can believe that he or she is better than someone else only when the other’s character is not truly known.

When you perform acts of goodness, it is often difficult to tell for certain whether you do them for the soul, for God, for another person, or to satisfy your own pride. It is easy to tell, though, if you ask yourself whether you would do these things if no one was made aware of them. When you perform acts of goodness anonymously, you do so for your soul and for God.

It is all right when people praise you for your work. But it is wrong to do your work in order to be praised by others.

JANUARY 8

Vanity and Fame

You cannot be loved and praised by all. Indeed, if you act as a good person, bad people will scold you. If you act as a bad person, good people will disapprove of your actions. The best solution is to be kind and good while ignoring the opinions of others.

Only those who have abandoned their soul for fame and wealth will be concerned about the opinions of others.

Nourish your soul, not your fame or popularity.

If a person is free from vanity, it is easier to serve God.

One who lives a true life does not need praise or fame.

JANUARY 9

Greed and Wealth

A person who lives among the needy but is wealthy and proud of that wealth lives a life in the absence of truth.

People who spend all their lives acquiring wealth will never be satisfied. The wealthier they become, the more they want, and so on without end.

You must remember that life is a lesso...

Table of contents

• Cover page
• Title
• Contributors
• Half title
• Copy right
• Acknowledgments
• INTRODUCTION - Tolstoy’s Last MajorWork: Its Importance, the History of Its Creation and Publication, and Its Major Message
• Introduction by LeoTolstoy to For Every Day
• January