Text of the meditation
Instruct me in the doing that is according to the Eternal, so that I may be watchful and not fail. The unrighteous person is swayed by their feelings; likes and dislikes are their masters; prejudices and partialities blind them; desiring and suffering, craving and sorrowing, they know no self-control, and great is their unrest.
The righteous person is master of their moods; likes and dislikes they have abandoned as childish things; prejudice and partiality they have put away. Desiring nothing, they do not suffer; not craving enjoyment, sorrow does not overtake them; perfect in self-control, great peace abides with them.
Do not condemn, resent or retaliate; do not argue or become a partisan. Maintain your calmness with all sides; be just, and speak the truth. Act in gentleness, compassion and charity. Be infinitely patient. Hold fast to love, and let it shape your doing. Have goodwill toward all without distinction.
Think equally of all, and be disturbed by none. Be thoughtful and wise, strong and kind-hearted.
James Allen (1864–1912), Book of Meditations for Every Day in the Year (1913) – public-domain text, gently modernised.
The original 1913 text is in the public domain.
