Selections from "The Pathway of Life" by Leo Tolstoy (vegetarian): Volume 1, Faith, Part 1 of 2

However, yearning for more than success, fame, and wealth, Leo Tolstoy eventually established himself as a moral philosopher and spiritual leader during the last 30 years of his life. In addition to adopting and promoting the vegetarian diet, he became a fervent Christian pacifist through an interpretation of the ethical teachings of Christ. We would like to share an insightful excerpt from Volume 1 of “The Pathway of Life,” a collection of Tolstoy’s philosophies on religion, life, death and more. Faith “In order to live right, it is needful to understand what life is, as well as what to do and what not to do in this life. These things have been taught at all times by the wisest and best living men of all races. The teachings of all these wise men, in the main, agree as one. This one doctrine common to all people as to what is the life of man, and how to live it, is the true faith.” “The Doctrine of True Faith is Always Clear and Simple ‘To have faith is to trust in what is being revealed to us, without asking why it is so, and what will come out of it. Such is the true faith.’” “If I have faith in God, I need not ask what will be the outcome of my obedience to God, because I know that God is love, and nothing can come from love but what is good.” “The law of life asks nothing of us but to love our neighbor. And to love is not difficult, but pleasant. When a man comes to know the true faith, he is like unto a man lighting a lamp in a dark chamber. All things become clear, and joy enters his soul.” “‘Love one another, even as I have loved you, thus shall all men know that you are My disciples, if you have love one for another,’ said Christ.” “Faith with different people, and in different times, may differ, but love is one and the same at all times and with all people. The true faith is one to love all that is living. Love bestows blessedness on people because it unites man with God.” “The life of man is good or evil only as he understands the true law of life. The more clearly man understands the true law of life, the better is his life; the more hazy is his understanding of that law, the worse is his life.”