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The Primacy of Inner Purity Over Outward Ritual

Shared across 7 traditions

Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Taoism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Stoicism

Buddhism

Not nakedness, not platted hair, not dirt, not fasting, or lying on the earth, not rubbing with dust, not sitting motionless, can purify a mortal who has not overcome desires.

The Dhammapada, v. 141-142, F. Max Müller (Sacred Books of the East, Vol. 10), 1881

Christianity

Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

The Bible (King James Version), Psalm 51:6, 1611

Confucianism

The Master said, "If the people be led by laws, and uniformity sought to be given them by punishments, they will try to avoid the punishment, but have no sense of shame. If they be led by virtue, and uniformity sought to be given them by the rules of propriety, they will have the sense of shame, and moreover will become good."

The Confucian Analects, bk. ii, c. iii, James Legge, 1893

Taoism

When the Great Tao (Way or Method) ceased to be observed, benevolence and righteousness came into vogue. (Then) appeared wisdom and shrewdness, and there ensued great hypocrisy.

The Tao Te Ching, ch. 18, James Legge (Sacred Books of the East, Vol. 39), 1891

Hinduism

ALL this, whatsoever moves on earth, is to be hidden in the Lord (the Self). When thou hast surrendered all this, then thou mayest enjoy. Do not covet the wealth of any man!

The Upanishads, Part 1, Isha Upanishad, v. 1, F. Max Müller (Sacred Books of the East, Vol. 1), 1879

Sikhism

If I am pleasing to Him, then that is my pilgrimage and cleansing bath. Without pleasing Him, what good are ritual cleansings?

Shri Guru Granth Sahib, Japji section, anonymous English translation, 1877

Stoicism

There are things which are within our power, and there are things which are beyond our power. Within our power are opinion, aim, desire, aversion, and, in one word, whatever affairs are our own.

The Enchiridion, ch. 1, Epictetus, Thomas W. Higginson translation, 1948 (public domain text at Project Gutenberg)