Teachings Jesus had in common with Lao Tzu

In the following days, I will be examining some of the teachings which Jesus had in common with Lao Tzu or the Tao Te Ching (3rd century BC Chinese manuscript).  

Today, I’m starting with this idea of living in the now.  Not being obsessed with our thoughts about the past or the future.  But being fully aware and present to now, to what is.

Do not worry about tomorrow. 

Here’s what Jesus said, according to Matthew—6:25 

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?  27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?  31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

 

 

Jesus got it.  Now is the only time we have.  Worry is about trying to control the future, to manipulate it in such a way that everything turns out the way I think it should.  But we cannot control the future.  The future doesn’t even exist.  There is only now, this moment, continuously unfolding.  And even when I get what I think I want or don’t get what I think I don’t want, I’m still unhappy, unsatisfied after a while, because I’m trying to fulfill myself with something external, either possessions or people or circumstances. 

The Tao (precept 44) asks “which is dearer, fame or your life? Which is greater, your life or possessions?  Which is more painful, gain or loss?” These are externals which I convince myself that I need, want, must have or don’t want (like loss).  And yet, even when we get what we think we want, we are only satisfied for a short time until desire for more takes over, making us dissatisfied with our lives.  

Precept 46 says the real sufficiency comes from knowing what is enough is an eternal sufficiency.  It does not come from the outside.  It comes from within. This is the peace which passes all understanding.  This is the peace which fills us even in the midst of suffering.