Hearing the Call across Traditions

Adam Davis, senior research and teaching associate at the Project on Civic Reflection, is coeditor of The Civically Engaged Reader: A Diverse Collection of Short and Provocative Readings on Civic Activity and Talking Service: Readings for Civic Reflection.Dr. Eboo Patel is the founder and director of the Interfaith Youth Core and is one of the world's most sought-after speakers on the subject of the interfaith movement and the interfaith youth movement in particular. He serves as a board member for several major interfaith associations and holds membership in such exclusive organizations as the Council on Foreign Relations and the EastWest Institute. Dr. Patel is currently working on a book on the role of religious youth in themodern era. He is author of Acts of Faith: The Story of an American Muslim, the Struggle for the Soul of a Generation.

"An original and necessary work that deserves to be passed on to reading publics and citizens who gather to make things better in a spiritually and ideologically warring world."—Martin E. Marty, Fairfax M. Cone Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus, University of Chicago"A usable, wonderful instrument designed to take our dreams of action and make them real. Provides new insight and wisdom that will deepen our understanding of ourselves and our place in the world. I commend this book to readers and seekers of all ages!"—Michelle Nunn, CEO, Points of Light Institute; cofounder, Hands On Network; author, Be the Change! Change the World. Change“Brings the best wisdom of our respective traditions to guide us on the journey to faith, service and reconciliation.”—Rabbi Sid Schwarz, founder, PANIM: The Institute for Jewish Leadership and Values; author, Judaism and Justice: The Jewish Passion to Repair the World“A rich abundance of both provocative readings and, more importantly, good questions to lead those bold enough to explore with others across these lines…. [A] required anthology of readings for those earnestly seeking the path of religious cooperation.”—Rev. Bud Heckman, director for external relations, Religions for Peace; editor, InterActive Faith:The Essential Interreligious Community-Building Handbook“A delightful symphony of inspiring readings from the world's religions. Finds harmony in a shared commitment and value for service and celebrates the distinctive and inviting melodies on this theme played in diverse communities of faith.”—Anantanand Rambachan, professor and chair of the religion department, St. Olaf College“An important contribution to the field of public service. And for those who are motivated to serve because of deep faith commitments, this book will only strengthen that calling.”—Wendy Kopp, CEO and founder, Teach for America

• PREFACE:THE HEAVENS OF FAITH,THE HARLEM OF LIFEBy Eboo PatelEDITORS' INTRODUCTIONPart I: Why Do I Serve? MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.The Drum Major InstinctWhy the Buddha Had Good Digestion, from AvadanasatakaIn Praise of Generosity, from the Rig VedaABRAHAM JOSHUA HESCHELSolidarity, Reciprocity, and Sanctity, three selections fromWho Is Man? TAYEB SALIHA Handful of Dates, in The Wedding of Zein and Other StoriesJANE ADDAMSThe Subjective Necessity of Social Settlements, in Twenty Years at Hull-HouseCHUANG-TZUAction and Non-ActionIsaiah 58:2–12SHIH TEThree PoemsLuke 10:25–37HAMZAYUSUFMiserliness, from Purification of the HeartFLANNERY O'CONNORThe River, in A Good Man Is Hard to Find and Other StoriesTHE DALAI LAMACompassion, from The Essential Dalai Lama: His Important TeachingsFRIEDRICH NIETZSCHEThe Joy of Giving Joy, from On the Genealogy of MoralitySelfless Service, from the Bhagavad GitaSurahs 93 and 107, from the Qur'anTIM O'BRIENChurch, in The Things They CarriedRABINDRANATH TAGORESection 50, from Gitanjali: Song OfferingsHAROLD M. SCHULWEISBetweenWALTWHITMANThe Base of All Metaphysics, in Leaves of GrassPart II: Whom Do I Serve? LAO-TZUA Good Traveler Has No Fixed Plans, in the Tao Te ChingDOROTHY DAYThe Faces of Poverty, in Loaves and FishesHAFIZThe Difference BetweenLESLIE MARMON SILKOThe Man to Send Rain CloudsI. L. PERETZIf Not HigherANNA SWIRThe Same Inside, in Talking to My BodyJOHN OSKISONThe Problem of Old HarjoTHICH NHAT HANHMeditation on Compassion and Not Two, from Peace Is Every StepThe Legend of the Lowly Devotee, in The TiruvaçagamRuth 1–4:22CESAR CHAVEZThe Mexican-American and the ChurchCHITRA BANERJEE DIVAKARUNIThe Walk, from Leaving Yuba CityLINDA GREGGThe Shopping-Bag Lady, in AlmaBIDPAIThe Camel Driver and the AdderVALERIE MARTINA Rich Young Man on the Road, fromSalvation: Scenes from the Life of St. FrancisRUMISay Yes QuicklyMIKHAIL NAIMYHis GracePart III: How Do I Serve? GERARD MANLEY HOPKINSGod’s GrandeurSWAMI VIVEKANANDAThe Secret of Work, in The Complete Works, I:3SHOLOM ALEICHEMReb Yozifl and the Contractor, in Inside KasrilevkeRYOKANFirst Days of SpringWILLIAM TREVORSitting with the Dead, in A Bit on the SideUMAR FARUQ ABD-ALLAHMercy:The Stamp of CreationMAHATMA GANDHIYajna,Welfare, and Service, from a letter to Narandas Gandhi, October 28, 1930GEORGE ORWELLReflections on Gandhi, from the Partisan ReviewMAIMONIDESLevels of Giving, in Mishneh TorahMARY OLIVERThe Buddha’s Last Instruction, in House of LightMARK HELPRINNorth Light—A Recollection in the Present Tense, in Ellis Island and Other StoriesRUMICome Out and Give SomethingPEGGY PAYNEThe Pure in Heart, in RevelationGABRIELA MISTRALThe HouseABRAHAM LINCOLNProclamation of a National Fast-DayKABIRThe Yogi Dyes His GarmentsANNE LAMOTTWhy I Make Sam Go to Church, from Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on FaithAppendix I Toward Action:The Interfaith Youth Core Model for Interfaith Reflection and ServiceAppendix II Questions for DiscussionAppendix III Guide to Readings by Faith Tradition and GenreAbout the Supporting OrganizationsPermissions