The question of who lives a holy life is an important one for many religions. Most faiths encourage their followers to pursue holiness, righteousness, or godliness in their daily lives. But what does it actually mean to live a holy life? And what are the characteristics of someone who is truly holy? In exploring this topic, we will look at how different religions define holiness, the key qualities of a holy person, and the practical steps involved in cultivating a holy life. Gaining insight into holiness can help motivate us to grow spiritually and walk more closely with God.
Defining Holiness
Holiness has to do with being set apart for divine purposes. A holy person is dedicated to serving God and reflecting His character. The word “holy” itself comes from an Old English word meaning “whole.” So in a religious sense, holiness implies moral wholeness and completeness in relationship to God. Let’s explore how holiness is understood in Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism:
Christianity
In Christianity, holiness is associated with living a life modeled after Christ. Christians are called to “be holy as I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16), reflecting the character and teachings of Jesus. Key facets of holiness include love, self-sacrifice, humility, purity, righteousness, and devotion to God’s will. Christians believe holiness comes through sanctification or being made holy by the work of the Holy Spirit.
Judaism
In Judaism, holiness or kedushah relates to things that are set apart for sacred purposes. Places, days, rituals, and the community of Israel all have holiness attributed to them. For the individual, holiness involves obedience to God’s commandments, engaging in spiritual disciplines like prayer and study, and being philanthropic. The prophets emphasized that true holiness requires ethical integrity and justice.
Islam
In Islam, holiness is embodied in the teachings of the Qur’an and in the example set by the Prophet Muhammad. Muslims pursue holiness by adhering to the Five Pillars of Islam: professing faith, ritual prayer, almsgiving, fasting, and pilgrimage. Holiness also requires perfecting one’s character by following divine virtues such as honesty, generosity, courage, humility, and patience.
Hinduism
Hindu teachings encourage the pursuit of holiness through disciplines that cultivate spiritual knowledge and detachment from worldly desires. Holiness is associated with tapas or ascetic practices that burn away impurities and ego. Holiness may also be cultivated through karma yoga (selfless service), jnana yoga (study of scripture), and bhakti yoga (loving devotion to God). Those considered most holy include sages, gurus, ascetics, and devotees of the gods.
Buddhism
In Buddhism, holiness is synonymous with enlightenment or realizing one’s true Buddha nature. Buddhist teachings stress ethics, wisdom, and mental purification as essential to the holy life. Key virtues include nonviolence, detachment, compassion, equanimity, patience, generosity, and mindful awareness. The Buddha’s Eightfold Path provides guidelines for moral discipline, meditation, and developing insight. Buddhists believe cultivating these qualities leads to transcending worldly suffering.
Qualities of a Holy Person
While definitions of holiness vary, we find common themes across faiths regarding the qualities of a holy person. Here are some of the key virtues and characteristics:
Devotion to God
A paramount quality of holiness is devotion to God or the Divine. Holy persons orient their lives around worship, prayer, and service to the Sacred. They seek intimacy with the Divine and alignment to the holy will.
Purity of Heart
Holy persons are pure in heart, mind, and body. They maintain ethical integrity, unstained by lies, lusts, greed, anger, or violence. Their minds are focused on higher things rather than distracted by base desires.
Self-Discipline
Cultivating holiness requires self-mastery and discipline. Holy people demonstrate restraint over destructive habits and passions. They are sober, modest, and upright in conduct. Many devote themselves to fasting and ascetic practices.
Compassion
Holy persons display abundant compassion, caring, and benevolence. They are giving, generous, and concerned for the welfare of all beings. Their hearts overflow with love that expands beyond their own self-interest.
Wisdom
Holiness is marked by wisdom and discernment. Holy people grasp divine truths and teachings. Their decisions, words, and actions flow from spiritual understanding rather than ignorance. They often provide counsel to guide others.
Humility and Selflessness
True holiness is not characterized by arrogance or pride. Holy figures demonstrate humility, modesty, and selflessness. They do not seek acclaim but rather direct attention to God and service. Holiness involves emptying the self rather than self-aggrandizement.
Nonviolence
Most traditions connect holiness with nonviolence or ahimsa. Holy persons display a profound reverence for life. They avoid causing injury through thought, word, or deed. Even under duress, they respond with gentleness and seek the nonviolent path.
How to Live a Holy Life
We have explored definitions and qualities of holiness. Now let’s look at practical steps and spiritual practices to help cultivate a holy life:
Dedicate Yourself to God
The cornerstone of holiness is dedicating oneself fully to God or one’s object of worship. Make God the top priority in life through continual prayer, worship, study of scripture, and listening to divine guidance. Offer up all your thoughts, words, and deeds as spiritual offerings.
Purify Your Heart and Mind
Seeking inner purity is essential. Reflect on your conscience and motivations. Confess and renounce anything impure. Nurture virtuous qualities through fasting, charity, mantras, and meditation. Guard your senses and thoughts from temptations.
Cultivate Self-Discipline
Developing holiness requires training the body and mind. Practice self-restraint, simplicity, fasting, silence, vigilance over thoughts. Avoid overindulgence. Establish rhythms of self-discipline through regular spiritual practices. Mastering desires liberates you to love and serve fully.
Perform Selfless Service
Express holiness through generous service. Identify needs around you and seek to meet them selflessly. Volunteer, tithe, and offer simple acts of kindness. Treat all people as vessels of the Divine to be honored and cared for. Service purifies the ego and develops saintly virtues.
Live with Integrity
Monitor that your actions match your values. Speak truthfully. Deal honestly in business. Be faithful in relationships. Ask God daily for moral strength and integrity. Avoid hypocrisy by making your outer life align with your inner.
Show Loving Compassion
Make compassion a conscious focus. Greet others warmly. Listen attentively. Be generous with your encouragement. Refrain from judgment. Be patient and forgiving. Offer help to those in need. Compassion displays God’s selfless love.
Practice Nonviolence
Commit to nonviolence in a spirit of reverence for life. Never use harmful speech. Avoid anger and confrontation. Refrain from killing any creatures. Oppose violence through active peacemaking. Defend victims nonviolently. Nonviolence witnesses to God’s mercy.
Conclusion
The holy life is one marked by utmost devotion to the Divine, inner purity, virtue, self-mastery, compassion, integrity, and nonviolence. These qualities transcend any one religion. Anyone who wholeheartedly commits to serving God and embodying divine attributes thereby lives a holy life. Though the path requires sacrifice, its rewards are unspeakable blessings of closeness with the Sacred, liberation from suffering, and the profound joy of righteousness.