Fethullah Gulen - The Balance Between Physicality and Spirituality

(Video Duration: 4 mins. 38 secs.)

The true life is the one lived at the spiritual level. Those whose hearts are alive, conquering the past and the future, cannot be contained by time. Such people are never excessively distressed by sorrows of the past or anxieties of the future. Those who cannot experience full existence in their hearts, and thus lead banal, shallow lives, are always gloomy and inclined to hopelessness. They consider the past a horrifying grave, and the future an endless well. It is torment if they die, and it is torment if they survive.

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Fethullah Gulen - Man of Service

(Video Duration: 1 min. 48 secs.)

Man of service must, for the sake of the cause he has given his heart to, be resolved to cross over seas of filth. When he has attained his object, he must be so mature that he will attribute everything to its Rightful Owner, and be respectful and thankful to Him.

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Fethullah Gulen - Addiction to Comfort

(Video Duration: 4 mins. 37 secs.)

Every noble cause and truth will gain constancy and a universal identity by its adherents' determination to protect it and their devotion to it. If those who have embraced that cause and truth are not perceptive, faithful, and persevering, that which they have embraced eventually will be erased from human memory by the hostility of its determined enemies.

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Fethullah Gulen - Love Of Position

(Video Duration: 3 mins. 50 secs.)

Each individual has the seeds of virtue as well as the potential for evil. Such undesirable characteristics as passion and the desire to show off exist alongside such good qualities as sincerity, altruism, and self-sufficiency. We should take all these qualities into account when considering human nature so that we will not be disappointed.

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Fethullah Gulen - Religion

(Video Duration: 5 mins. 5 secs.)

Since its appearance on the Earth, humanity has found true peace and happiness in religion. As it is impossible to talk of morality and virtue where people do not practice the true religion it is also difficult to imagine real happiness for morality and virtue originate in a good clear conscience. Religion is what makes one's conscience good and clear for it is a connection between humanity and God.

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Fethullah Gulen - Love

(Video Duration: 5 mins. 44 secs.)

Love is one of the most subtle blessings that the Most Merciful One has bestowed upon humanity. It exists in everyone as a seed. This seed germinates under favorable circumstances and growing like a tree blossoms into a flower and finally ripens like a fruit to unite the beginning with the end.

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Fethullah Gulen - Morals

(Video Duration: 2 mins. 29 secs.)

Morals are a set of noble principles that originate in high spirituality and govern human conduct. For this reason people who neglect spirituality and are therefore lacking in spiritual values cannot sustain conduct in accordance with these principles.

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Fethullah Gulen - Holding One's Tongue

(Video Duration: 4 mins. 06 secs.)

Talking too much is a personality defect stemming from mental and spiritual imbalance. Use precise words that do not confuse the listener's mind and do not use more words than necessary to convey the intended message. Indeed using many words may even be harmful for the more words you use the greater the chance of contradiction which will confuse the listener even more. This development will not benefit the listener; on the contrary it will work to his or her detriment.

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Fethullah Gulen - Prudence

(Video Duration: 6 mins. 53 secs.)

Always exercise prudence for it can prevent any remorse and regret engendered by loss or failure. So many who have initiated projects have regretted their actions or blamed fate just because they failed to assess their situation prudently and competently. Such people are doubly in error: for inadequate deliberation and then for criticizing fate.

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Fethullah Gulen - Upbringing

(Video Duration: 4 mins. 19 secs.)

The future of every individual is closely related to the impressions and influences experienced during childhood and youth. If children and young people are brought up in a climate where their enthusiasm is stimulated with higher feelings they will have vigorous minds and display good morals and virtues.

Little attention and importance is given to teaching cultural values although they are essential to education. When we give them their deserved importance we shall have reached a major objective.

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Fethullah Gulen - Children

(Video Duration: 2 mins. 34 secs.)

Adam the first man and Eve the first woman were created together at the very beginning of human existence. This indicates that marriage is natural. Reproduction is the most important purpose of this natural state. A marriage made for reasons other than bringing up new generations is no more than a temporary entertainment and adventure. The children who come into the world through such a marriage are the unfortunate products of a transient emotion.

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Fethullah Gulen - The Rights of Children

(Video Duration: 3 mins. 19 secs.)

A child has the same meaning for humanity's continuation as a seed for a forest's continued growth and multiplication. People who neglect their children decay gradually and those who abandon them to a foreign culture risk losing their identity.

Children form the most active and productive part of a community after every thirty or forty years. Those who ignore their young children should consider how important an element of their own community's life they are disregarding and then shudder.

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Fethullah Gulen - Youth

(Video Duration: 2 mins. 25 secs.)

Those who wish to predict a nation's future can do so accurately by analyzing the education and upbringing being given to its young people.

Desires resemble sweets and virtues resemble food that is a little salty or sour. When young people are free to choose what are they likely to prefer? Regardless of this however it is our obligation to bring them up to be friends of virtue and enemies of indecency and immorality.

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Fethullah Gulen - What We Expect of Science

(Video Duration: 5 mins. 1 sec.)

Since "real" life is possible only through knowledge those who neglect learning and teaching are considered "dead" even though they are still alive for we were created to learn and to communicate what we have learned to others.

Right decisions depend on having a sound mind and on sound thinking. As science and knowledge illuminates and develop one's mind those deprived of science and knowledge cannot reach right decisions and are always exposed to deception and misguidance.

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Fethullah Gulen - Progress

(Video Duration: 2 mins. 59 secs.)

A nation's development and progress depends upon the intellectual and spiritual training given to the people who live within its borders. A nation whose members are lacking in intellectual and spiritual development should not be expected to develop and progress.

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Fethullah Gulen - Culture

(Video Duration: 2 mins. 52 secs.)

Culture is an important resource that must be used by those seeking to develop their community in the most beneficial and appropriate way. There is a vital link between the cohesion and strength of a community's direction and the authenticity of its cultural resources.

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Fethullah Gulen - Civilization

(Video Duration: 2 mins. 14 secs.)

Civilization does not mean being rich and putting on fine airs nor does it mean satisfying carnal desires and leading a luxurious dissipated life. What it really means is being civil and courteous kind-hearted profound in thought and respectful to others.

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Fethullah Gulen - Humanity

(Video Duration: 3 mins. 46 secs.)

When interacting with others always regard whatever pleases and displeases yourself as the measure. Desire for others what your own ego desires and do not forget that whatever conduct displeases you will displease others. If you do this you will be safe not only from misconduct and bad behavior but also from hurting others.

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Fethullah Gulen - Freedom

(Video Duration: 2 mins. 19 secs.)

Freedom means that the spirit voluntarily limits itself to nothing other than sublime feelings and thoughts and serves no principles other than goodness and virtue.

Many people who are actually imprisoned or in chains remain free in their conscience and so do not feel their imprisonment. Many others however do not taste the true meaning of freedom although they inhabit the grand spaces of palaces and gardens.

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Fethullah Gulen - Tolerance

(Video Duration: 3 mins. 55 secs.)

Be so tolerant that your heart becomes wide like the ocean. Become inspired with faith and love for others. Offer a hand to those in trouble and be concerned about everyone.

Applaud the good for their goodness appreciate those who have believing hearts and be kind to believers. Approach unbelievers so gently that their envy and hatred melt away. Like a Messiah revive people with your breath.

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