About discipline and "self" control:-
Matthew 10:37-38
10:37
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter (or anyone or anything) more than me is not worthy of me.
10:38
And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
10:39
He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
10:40
He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth Him that sent me.
10:41
He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.
Mark 8:34-35
8:34 And when he had called the people [unto him] with his disciples also, he said unto them,
Whosoever will come after me, let him deny his "Self", and take up his cross, and follow me.
8:35
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
Luke 9:23-25
9:23 And he said to [them] all,
If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
9:24
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
9:25
For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
Luke 14:26-27
14:26
If any [man] come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own (human) life also, he can NOT be my disciple.
14:27
And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, can NOT be my disciple.
Galatians 2:20
My "Self" is crucified with Christ: nevertheless
I live; yet not I (the "Self"), but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Sura 6:162. Say: "Truly, my prayer and my (daily) service of "Self" sacrifice (
Luke 9:23;
14:26-27), my life (of selflessness) and my death (to "Self"), are (all) for "I AM", the Cherisher of the Worlds:
Sura 92:18-21
92:18. Those who spend their wealth for increase in "self"-purification,
92:19. And have in their minds no favour to anyone for which a reward is expected in return,
92:20. But only the desire to seek for the Countenance of their Lord Most High;
92:21. And soon will they attain (com
From the Bhagavad Gita:
8:28 A person who accepts the path of devotional service is not bereft of the results derived from studying the Vedas, performing austere sacrifices (
Matt. 10:38,
Mark 8:34,
Luke 9:23,
Gal. 2:20,
Sura 6:162), giving charity (
Matt. 6:1-4) or pursuing philosophical and fruitive activities. At the end he reaches the supreme abode.
12:9 My dear Arjuna, O winner of wealth (
Matt. 5:3), if you cannot fix your mind upon Me without deviation, then follow the regulated principles of bhakti-yoga [loving adoration through the keeping of the Commandments (
John 14:15,
Rev. 12:17) and daily “self” crucifixion -
Matt. 10:38,
Mark 8:34,
Luke 9:23,
Gal. 2:20,
Sura 6:162]. In this way you will develop a desire to attain to Me.
12:13 One who is not envious (
Exod. 20: 17) but who is a kind friend to all living entities, who does not think himself a proprietor, who is free from false ego (
Luke 9:23) and equal both in happiness and distress,
16:1 The Blessed Lord said: Fearlessness, purification of one's existence (
Matt. 5:48), cultivation of spiritual knowledge (
Hos. 4:6), charity (
Matt. 6:1-4), self-control (
1 Cor. 9:27), performance of sacrifice (
Luke 9:23), study of the Vedas (
Ps. 1), austerity and simplicity; nonviolence (
Luke 6:29), truthfulness, freedom from anger (
James 1:19);
16:2 renunciation, tranquility, aversion to faultfinding (
Matt. 7:1-4), compassion and freedom from covetousness (
Exod. 20:17);
16:3 gentleness, modesty and steady determination (
Prov. 12:24); vigor, forgiveness (
Matt. 6:12), fortitude, cleanliness (
Lev. 10:10), freedom from envy (
Sol. 2:24) and the passion for honor (
Matt. 5:6)—these transcendental qualities, O son of Bharata, belong to godly men endowed with divine nature.
16:4 Arrogance, pride, anger, conceit, harshness and ignorance—these qualities belong to those of demonic nature, O son of Pṛthā (
1 Cor. 6:8-10).
16:5 The transcendental qualities are conducive to liberation (
James 1:25), whereas the demonic qualities make for bondage (
John 8:25). Do not worry, O son of Pāṇḍu, for you are born with the divine qualities.
From the Diamond Sutra:
Chapter 6. Awaken Faith
"Subhuti, any person who awakens faith upon hearing the words or phrases of this Sutra will accumulate countless blessings and merit (
Deut. 28:1-14).
"How do I know this? Because this person must have discarded all arbitrary notions of the existence of a personal self (
Luke 9:23,
Sura 6:162), of other people, or of a universal self. Otherwise their minds would still grasp after such relative conceptions. Furthermore, these people must have already discarded all arbitrary notions of the non-existence of a personal self, other people, or a universal self. Otherwise, their minds would still be grasping at such notions. Therefore anyone who seeks total Enlightenment should discard not only all conceptions of their own selfhood, of other selves, or of a universal self, but they should also discard all notions of the non-existence of such concepts.
When the Buddha explains these things using such concepts and ideas (
Rev. 10:6-10), people should remember the unreality of all such concepts and ideas (
Sura 31:30). They should recall that in teaching spiritual truths the Buddha always uses these concepts and ideas in the way that a raft is used to cross a river. Once the river has been crossed over, the raft is of no more use, and should be discarded. These arbitrary concepts and ideas about spiritual things need to be explained to us as we seek to attain Enlightenment (
John 3:3-12). However, ultimately these arbitrary conceptions can be discarded. Think Subhuti, isn't it even more obvious that we should also give up our conceptions of non-existent things (
Isa. 30:8-15)?"
Chapter 17. All Dharmas Are Non-Dharmas
At that time, the venerable Subhuti then asked the Buddha, "World-Honored One, may I ask you a question again? If sons or daughters of a good family want to develop the highest, most fulfilled and awakened mind, if they wish to attain the Highest Perfect Wisdom, what should they do to help quiet their drifting minds (
Ps. 46:10) and master their thinking (
Mark 10:17-23)?"
The Buddha replied:
"Subhuti, a good son or daughter who wants to give rise to the highest, most fulfilled, and awakened mind must create this resolved attitude of mind: 'I must help to lead all beings to the shore of awakening, but, after these beings have become liberated, in truth I know that not even a single being has been liberated (
John 3:13).' Why is this so? If a disciple cherishes the idea of a self, a person, a living being or a universal self, then that person is not an authentic disciple (
Matt. 10:37-38,
Mark 8:34,
Luke 9:23,
Luke 14:26-27,
Gal. 2:20,
Sura 6:162,
Sura 92:18-21). Why? Because in fact there is no independently existing object of mind called the highest, most fulfilled, and awakened mind.
Matthew 28:18-20
28:18 And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying,
All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
28:19
Go ye therefore, and MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS*, baptizing them with the Holy Spirit: in my name (The Saviour),
28:20
Instructing them to observe (and DO) all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, [even] unto the end of the world (age). Amen.
*Note well Christ's
COMMAND to make
DISCIPLES of all nations,
NOT "Christians". Discipline is the hallmark of every disciple.