The Path

This from the beginning of the 16^th chapter of the Bhagavad Gita. Krishna is talking to Arjuna:

"A man who is born with tendencies toward the Divine, is fearless and pure in heart. He perseveres in that path to union with Brahman which the scriptures and his teacher have taught him. He is charitable. He can control his passions. He studies the scriptures regularly, and obeys their directions. He practices spiritual disciplines. He is straight-forward, truthful, and of an even temper. He harms no one. He renounces the things of this world. He has a tranquil mind and an unmalicious tongue. He is compassionate toward all. He is not greedy. He is gentle and modest. He abstains from useless activity. He has faith in the strength of his higher nature. He can forgive and endure. He is clean in thought and act. He is free from hatred and from pride. Such qualities are his birthright.

"When a man is born with demonic tendencies, his birthright is hypocrisy, arrogance, conceit, anger, cruelty, and ignorance.

"The birthright of the divine nature leads to liberation. The birthright of the demonic nature leads to greater bondage."

Swami Prabhavananda & Christopher Isherwood Translation

And the same passage from another translation (maybe my favorite):

"Be fearless and pure; never waver in your determination or your dedication to the spiritual life. Give freely. Be self-controlled, sincere, truthful, loving, and full of the desire to serve. Realize the truth of the scriptures; learn to be detached and to take joy in renunciation. Do not get angry or harm any living creature, but be compassionate and gentle; show good will to all. Cultivate vigor, patience, will, purity; avoid malice and pride. Then, Arjuna, you will achieve your divine destiny.

"Other qualities, Arjuna, make a person more and more inhuman: hypocrisy, arrogance, conceit, anger, cruelty, ignorance.

"The divine qualities lead to freedom; the demonic, to bondage."

Eknath Easwaran Translation

And from the perspective of the bible, in 1 Timothy Paul tells Timothy, who has been appointed a teacher:

"Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

...

"[S]et the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. ...[D]evote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have,... Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers."

ESV

Food for thought.