March 12

A human being’s deeds are his life. And his deeds become his fate, good or bad. That is the law of our life, and that is why the most important thing in the world for a human being is that which he is doing right now.

— Agni Purana

1

The Persians have this tale:

After death, a soul was flying towards the heavens, when suddenly a terrifying woman appeared in its path, hideous, dirty, covered with purulent wounds. “What are you doing here, so repulsive and vile, worse than any devil?” asked the soul. “Who are you?” The terrifying woman replied:

“I am your deeds.”

2

To do good deeds, to be charitable, gentle, humble, to say good things, to wish good things for others, to have a pure heart, to always be learning, to always speak the truth, to restrain your anger, to be patient and satisfied, to be amiable, bashful, respectful to the elderly, to honor your parents and teachers—all these things are friends of those who are good and enemies of those who are evil.

To tell lies, to steal, to look at women with an impure gaze, to deceive, to quarrel, to wish your neighbor ill, to be proud, idle, slanderous, greedy, disrespectful, shameless, hot-headed, to take other people’s things, to be revengeful, stubborn, envious, to do your neighbor ill, to be superstitious—all these things are the friends of those who are evil and the enemies of those who are good.

— Persian catechism

3

It is not reasonings about the good life that are important, but good deeds.

— The Talmud

4

Never postpone a good deed that you can do right now, because death does not discriminate whether or not a human being has done that which should have done. Death waits for no one and nothing. It has neither enemies, nor friends.

— Agni Purana

5

When you came into the world, you cried, while everyone around you was joyful; make it so that when you are about to leave the world, everyone will cry, but you alone will smile.

— Hindu saying

6

It is only after you have fulfilled the truth which you know that a new one will be revealed to you.

— Lucy Mallory

No matter how much past deeds influence the direction of one’s life, a human being can always change it through spiritual effort.