Wisdom from the Major World Relgions

On the theme of: NATURE

Baha’i

"Look not upon the creatures of God except with the eye of kindliness and of mercy, for Our loving providence hath pervaded all created things, and Our grace encompassed the earth and the heavens."
Bahá’u’lláh

Buddhism

As a mother with her own life guards the life of her own child, let all- embracing thoughts for all that lives be thine.
Khuddaka Patha, Metta Sutta

Christianity

The land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants.
Throughout the country that you hold as a possession, you must provide for the
redemption of the land. 
Lev. 25:23-24.

Confucianism

“To love a thing means wanting it to live”
Confucius

Hinduism

The mode of living which is founded upon a total harmlessness towards all creatures or [in case of actual necessity] upon a minimum of such harm, is the highest morality.
Mahabharata, Shantiparva 262.5-6

Islam

No creature is there crawling on the earth,
no bird flying with its wings,
but they are nations like yourselves.
We have neglected nothing in the Book;
then to their Lord they shall be mustered.
Qur'an 6.38

Jainism

Have benevolence towards all living beings.
Tattvarthasutra 7.11

One should not injure, subjugate, enslave, torture, or kill any animal, living being, organism, or sentient being. This doctrine of nonviolence is immaculate, immutable, and eternal. Just as suffering is painful to you, in the same way it is painful, disquieting, and terrifying to all animals, living beings, organisms, and sentient beings.
Acarangasutra 4.25-26

Judaism

The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof,
the world and those who dwell therein.
Bible, Psalm 24.1

Native African

The stream crosses the path, the path crosses the stream:
Which of them is the elder?
Did we not cut the path to go and meet this stream?
The stream had its origin long, long ago.
It had its origin in the Creator.
He created things pure, pure, tano.
Ashanti Verse (Ghana and Ivory Coast)

They gave the sacrifice to the East,
the East said, "Give it to the West,"
the West said, "Give it to God,"
God said, "Give it to Earth, for Earth is senior."
Idoma Prayer

One going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird should first try it on himself to feel how it hurts.
Yoruba Proverb (Nigeria)

Native American

Thus all living beings came from the earth. When we look around, we see part of our Mother everywhere.
Okanogan Creation

New Thought

The sky is the daily bread of the eyes.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Shall I not have intelligence with the earth?  Am I not partly leaves and vegetable mould myself?
Henry David Thoreau

Sikhism

This earth is a garden,
The Lord its gardener,
Cherishing all, none neglected.
Adi Granth, Mahj Ashtpadi 1, M.3, p. 118

Taoism

Buy captive animals and give them freedom.
How commendable is abstinence that dispenses with the butcher!
While walking be mindful of worms and ants.
Be cautious with fire and do not set mountain woods or forests ablaze.

Do not go into the mountain to catch birds in nets, nor to the water to
poison fishes and minnows.
Do not butcher the ox that plows your field.
Tract of the Quiet Way

A horse or a cow has four feet. That is Nature. Put a halter around
the horse's head and put a string through the cow's nose, that is man.
Therefore it is said, "Do not let man destroy Nature. Do not let
cleverness destroy destiny [the natural order]."
Chuang Tzu 17

 Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. 
~Lao Tzu

Zoroastrianism

He who abhors and shuns the light of the Sun, He who refuses to behold with respect the living creation of God, He who leads the good to wickedness, He who makes the meadows waterless and the pastures desolate, He who lets fly his weapon against the innocent, An enemy of my faith, a destroyer of Thy principles is he, O Lord!"
Zoroaster