Bart Marshall > Quotes

“One who attains Unity sees the world is not real,
yet the world persists because it is taken by others as real.”
― Bart Marshall, The Perennial Way (Expanded Edition): New English Versions of Yoga Sutras, Dhammapada, Heart Sutra, Ashtavakra Gita, Faith Mind Sutra, Tao Te Ching, and more

“Intentional focus on any sense experience will enhance
perception and still the mind.”
― Bart Marshall, The Perennial Way (Expanded Edition): New English Versions of Yoga Sutras, Dhammapada, Heart Sutra, Ashtavakra Gita, Faith Mind Sutra, Tao Te Ching, and more

“The Lord said, “Who has made man's mouth? Who takes away his voice or hearing? Who makes him see or be blind? Is it not the Lord? 4:11 Therefore go. I will help you speak. I will teach you what to say.” 4:12 Moses said, “O my Lord, I pray you, send someone else.” 4:13 The Lord became angry with Moses. But then he said, “What about Aaron the Levite, your brother? I know he can speak well. He is on his way to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.”
― Bart Marshall, The Torah: The Five Books of Moses

“For I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God, and to those who hate me I punish their children for their fathers’ sins down to the third and fourth generation.”
― Bart Marshall, The Torah: The Five Books of Moses

“You shall serve Yahweh your God, and I shall bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness from your midst. 23:25 None shall miscarry their young, nor be barren in your land, and I will give you the full measure of your days. 23:26 I will send fear of me before you, and I will destroy all the people to whom you come. I will make your enemies turn their backs to you. 23:27 I will send hornets before you, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite and the Hittite, from before you. 23:28 I will not drive them out in one year, lest the land become desolate and the beasts of the field multiply against you. 23:29 Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until your numbers increase, and you inherit the land. 23:30 I will set your boundaries from the Red Sea to the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert to the river. And I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out. 23:31 You shall make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. 23:32 They must not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against me. For if you serve their gods, they will surely ensnare”
― Bart Marshall, The Torah: The Five Books of Moses

“Moses spoke to all Israel, and said unto them, 31:1 “I am a hundred and twenty years old this day. I can no more go out and come in. Also, Yahweh has said to me, ‘You shall not go over Jordan.’ 31:2 Yahweh will go over before you, and he will destroy those nations, and you shall possess them. Joshua shall lead you, as Yahweh has said. 31:3 Yahweh shall do unto them as he did to Sihon and Og, kings of the Amorites, whom he destroyed.”
― Bart Marshall, The Torah: The Five Books of Moses

“that all may know the Lord distinguishes between Egypt and Israel.”
― Bart Marshall, The Torah: The Five Books of Moses

“The time the Israelites dwelt in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. 12:40 And at the end of four hundred and thirty years, exactly to the day, all the hosts of Yahweh went out from the land of Egypt.”
― Bart Marshall, The Torah: The Five Books of Moses

“Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying to 4:1 tell the children of Israel, “If a soul sins against any of Yahweh’s commandments through ignorance of the things that ought not be done, and does any of them, 4:2 or if the anointed priest sins and brings guilt upon the people, let him bring a young bull without blemish for a sin offering to Yahweh. 4:3 He shall bring the bull to the door of the tabernacle and lay his hand upon the bull's head, and kill the bull before Yahweh. 4:4 The anointed priest shall take the bull's blood, and bring it to the tabernacle of the congregation. 4:5 And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle the blood seven times before Yahweh in front of the veil of the sanctuary. 4:6 The priest shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of sweet incense before Yahweh, which is in the tabernacle, then pour all the blood of the bull at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle. 4:7 And he shall take from the bull all the fat for the sin offering— the fat that covers the innards, and all the fat that is upon the innards, 4:8 and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, which he shall take away with the kidneys, 4:9 just as it was taken from the bull of the sacrifice of peace offerings— and the priest shall burn them upon the altar of the burnt offering. 4:10 The skin of the bull, and all his flesh, and his head, and his legs, and his innards and his dung— 4:11 the whole bull he shall carry outside the camp to a clean place where the ashes are poured out, and burn him on a wood fire. Where the ashes are poured out, he shall be burnt.”
― Bart Marshall, The Torah: The Five Books of Moses

“Right posture is to be seated in a manner both solid and relaxed.”
― Bart Marshall, The Perennial Way (Expanded Edition): New English Versions of Yoga Sutras, Dhammapada, Heart Sutra, Ashtavakra Gita, Faith Mind Sutra, Tao Te Ching, and more

“Moses heard the people weeping, every man in the door of his tent, and the anger of Yahweh was kindled greatly. Moses was also displeased. 11:10 Moses said to Yahweh, “Why have you afflicted your servant? Have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of these people on me? 11:11 Am I the father of all these people? Have I begotten them, that you should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom as a nurse bears a sucking child into the land you promised to their ancestors?’ 11:12 Where am I to get meat for all these people? They cry out to me, ‘Give us flesh, that we may eat.’ 11:13 I am not able to bear all these people alone. It is too heavy for me. 11:14 If you would deal with me thus, just kill me now, I pray you. But if I have found favor in your sight, let me not endure this wretchedness.”
― Bart Marshall, The Torah: The Five Books of Moses

“I am Yahweh, who brought you out of Egypt so that I could be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.”
― Bart Marshall, The Torah: The Five Books of Moses

“Yahweh shall bless you, as he promised. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow from any. You shall reign over many nations, but none shall reign over you.”
― Bart Marshall, The Torah: The Five Books of Moses

“Yahweh spoke unto Moses that same day, saying, 32:48 “Go into the mountains of Abarim, unto Mount Nebo, in the land of Moab opposite Jericho, and behold the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel for a possession. 32:49 You will die on that mountain and be gathered unto your ancestors, as Aaron died on Mount Hor and was gathered unto his ancestors, 32:50 because you trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah-Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, and because you did not sanctify me in the midst of the children of Israel. 32:51 You shall see the land before you, but you shall not go in. You shall not cross over into the land I give to Israel.”
― Bart Marshall, The Torah: The Five Books of Moses

“You shall not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of your people.”
― Bart Marshall, The Torah: The Five Books of Moses

“Tell the house of Jacob, and tell the Israelites, 19:3 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I lifted you up on eagles' wings and brought you to me. 19:4 Now therefore, if you will obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be a special treasure to me above all people. For all the earth is mine. 19:5 You shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
― Bart Marshall, The Torah: The Five Books of Moses

“You may lend with usury to strangers, but unto your brother you shall not charge interest,”
― Bart Marshall, The Torah: The Five Books of Moses

“You shall not boil a kid in his mother's milk.”
― Bart Marshall, The Torah: The Five Books of Moses

“Physical and mental purification produces an indifference
to one's own body, and ends one's infatuation
with the bodies of others.”
― Bart Marshall, The Perennial Way (Expanded Edition): New English Versions of Yoga Sutras, Dhammapada, Heart Sutra, Ashtavakra Gita, Faith Mind Sutra, Tao Te Ching, and more

“When right posture is attained,
the practice of intentional breathing then follows.
2.49
Intentional breathing controls the three phases of breath—
exhalation, inhalation, and hiatus.”
― Bart Marshall, The Perennial Way (Expanded Edition): New English Versions of Yoga Sutras, Dhammapada, Heart Sutra, Ashtavakra Gita, Faith Mind Sutra, Tao Te Ching, and more

“If a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not vex him. 19:33 A stranger who dwells with you shall be to you as one born among you. You shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. I am Yahweh, your God.”
― Bart Marshall, The Torah: The Five Books of Moses

“The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten my honor upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.”
― Bart Marshall, The Torah: The Five Books of Moses

“For Moses had said to them, “Consecrate yourselves to Yahweh today. Every man shall kill his son and his brother, that Yahweh may bestow upon you a blessing this day.”
― Bart Marshall, The Torah: The Five Books of Moses

“Yahweh spoke to me, saying, 2:17 ‘Today you shall pass through Ar, on the border of Moab. 2:18 When you come near the Ammonites, do not trouble them or contend with them in battle, for I will not give you any of their land. I have given it unto the children of Lot for a possession.”
― Bart Marshall, The Torah: The Five Books of Moses

“Moses wrote this law and delivered it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who bore the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, and to all the elders of Israel.”
― Bart Marshall, The Torah: The Five Books of Moses

“You shall not hate an Edomite, for he is your brother. You shall not hate an Egyptian, for you were a stranger in his land.”
― Bart Marshall, The Torah: The Five Books of Moses

“May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” And”
― Bart Marshall, The Torah: The Five Books of Moses

“Useless Effort Well Spent

A topic that often comes up among seekers is the question of effort versus non-effort on the spiritual path (or no-path). Great teachers are divided on this. Some prescribe maximum effort in spiritual matters. Others say there is nothing to be done, that you are already That which you seek. Those who advocate effort admit their own realizations did not come as a result of their efforts. Those who say there is nothing to be done have usually realized this truth after diligent inquiry and meditation. What's a seeker to do (or not-do)?

In thinking about this we might first inquire if effort and action are the same. Experience tells us no. Enjoyable activity often feels effortless, and doing nothing is sometimes difficult. Effort appears to be more a state of mind, a description of the way we do or not-do, not the what—more to do with thoughts about an action than the thing itself. Experience also tells us that when these thoughts of effort are absent—whether from activities or meditation—things generally go better.

Which leaves the question of action versus non-action in spiritual matters. Should I practice meditation, read books, attend meetings, find teachers... or not? To do, or not to do?

... it may be that in the end Self-realization is all a matter of destiny, yet it does appear that yearning and intent might play a role. Again, observation teaches us that it's in the area of one's greatest interest and activity that providence is most visible—that opportunities materialize, coincidences occur, revelation happens. Einstein had no epiphanies about cubism. Picasso none about math.

Which brings us back to the koan: "To do, or not to do?" The answer, I suppose, is "Yes." Act tirelessly without effort. Do nothing without being idle. Live life on the pinpoint of paradox and leave the rest to God. Advaita is right. You are already That which you seek, and there is nothing you can do to cause Self-realization. Hold this truth close as you effortlessly seek Self-realization with everything you've got, and Grace may befall you.”
― Bart Marshall

“When you go forth to war against your enemies, and Yahweh has delivered them into your hands, and you have taken them captive, 21:10 and you see among the captives a beautiful woman, and have a desire to have her for a wife, 21:11 you shall bring her to your house. She shall shave her head, cut her nails 21:12 and take off the clothes she was captured in. She shall remain in your house and mourn her father and her mother a full month. After that you shall go unto her and be her husband, and she shall be your wife. 21:13 If you have no delight in her, you shall let her go whither she will. You shall not sell her. You shall not make merchandise of her because you have humbled her.”
― Bart Marshall, The Torah: The Five Books of Moses

“Then we passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab. 2:8 Yahweh said to me, ‘Do not trouble the Moabites, nor contend with them in battle, for I will not give you any of their land.”
― Bart Marshall, The Torah: The Five Books of Moses